An Introduction to AP – AP Physics 1

From this school year, our secondary students from G9-G10 are able to choose from 9 AP courses, containing AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science, AP English Language and Composition, AP Physics, AP World History Modern, AP Human Geography and AP Chinese Language and Culture. These advanced courses will provide students an opportunity to really be able to be successful and to push forward and to try their hardest. STEM course is also available to G7-G10 students.

 

Mr. Nara DanduproluAP Physics Teacher

AP Physics allows learners to explore in-depth knowledge and understanding of physics concepts while doing hands-on, interesting experiments. Students connect the concepts with mathematical relationships by developing solid critical thinking and reasoning skills. Assessments are designed based on evidence, reasoning, and claims (ERC) and qualitative and quantitative translations (QQT).

Course Units

Kinematics – Position, velocity, and acceleration; Representations of motion

Dynamics – Systems; The gravitational field; Contact forces; Newton’s First Law; Newton’s Third Law and free-body diagrams; Newton’s Second Law; Applications of Newton’s Second Law

Circular Motion and Gravitation – Vector fields; Fundamental forces; Gravitational and electric forces; Gravitational field/acceleration due to gravity on different planets; Inertial vs. gravitational mass; Centripetal acceleration vs. centripetal force; Free-body diagrams for objects in uniform circular motion

Energy – Open and closed systems: Energy; Work and mechanical energy; Conservation of energy, the work–energy principle, and power

Momentum – Momentum and impulse; Representations of changes in momentum; Open and closed systems: momentum; Conservation of linear momentum

Simple Harmonic Motion – Period of simple harmonic oscillators; Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator

Torque and Rotational Motion – Rotational kinematics; Torque and angular acceleration; Angular momentum and torque; Conservation of angular momentum

Class Insight

G10 students are studying the first unit: Kinematics. This unit introduces students to the study of motion and serves as a foundation for all of AP Physics 1 by exploring the complex idea of acceleration. It also shows students how representations can be used to model and analyze scientific information as it relates to the motion of objects.

By studying kinematics, students are supposed to learn to represent motion – both uniform and accelerating – in narrative, graphical, and/or mathematical forms and from different frames of reference.

These representations will help students analyze the specific motion of objects and systems while also dispelling some common misconceptions they may have about motion, laying a solid foundation for their future scientific studies.

To learn kinematics, students worked as groups and did experiments to find acceleration of free fall in three different methods.

 

In the first experiment, students used meter sticks, ball and stopwatch to determine the acceleration due to gravity, g, by dropping a ball from a known height and measuring how long it takes to fall. By using the data collected and applying the equations of motion, a value for g can be determined.

students work in groups to measure the height, time and record the data

 

The second experiment is finding acceleration of free fall using pendulum. They were required to write an experiment report as their summative assessments of this unit.

excerpts of student’s report on the experiment

 

The third experiment, students learned to use the light gates to measure the acceleration of an object allowed to fall under the force of gravity.

students are learning how to use the light gate

students use the light gate to measure the acceleration

 

Sally: I love this class, studying with a friend in the Physics classroom, as it has great teachers and expands my understanding and knowledge of physics more than ever.

Minju: I learned various kinds of forces such as gravitational force, normal force, and friction. It is interesting as they are all forces on an object, but have different names and ways to work on an object.

Het: I think that physics is very interesting and a realistic way to explain why objects behave the way they do.

Zach: I think Physics class is interesting and it helps me expand my knowledge and possibly open up my love for a new subject.

quotes from students

 

Assessment and Exam

The AP Physics 1 Exam assesses student application of the science practices and understanding of the learning objectives outlined in the course framework. The exam is 3 hours long and includes 50 multiple-choice questions and 5 free-response questions.

Sample Exam Questions