Waltham Public Schools

Narrative:

AP Physics 1 is a full-year course that is the equivalent of a first-semester introductory college course in algebra-based physics. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion, electric charge and electric force, DC circuits, and mechanical waves and sound. There is an emphasis on conceptual understanding, student-driven experimental design, and physical reasoning. Students are required to complete summer work and are expected to take the Advanced Placement Physics 1 examination. This course is a lab science and fulfills a unit of lab-based science for MassCore

Unit	Time- frame	Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)	Major Learning Experiences from Unit
Math and Trig Review	Summer + 2 wk	*Trigonometry, Vector Addition & Decomposition, Scientific Notation*	N/A - Review
Kinematics	4 wks	*Motion representation, prediction and explanation of motion.* *Essential Questions:* *How can motion be represented algebraically and graphically?* *How can the motion of objects be predicted and/or explained?*	CR2a: Calculation of distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration of objects in motion in 1D and 2D. Creation and interpretation of position, velocity, and acceleration graphs. Application of mathematical routines to quantities that describe natural phenomena.
Dynamics	5 wks	*Newton’s laws of motion, gravitational field.* *Essential Questions:* *How can Newton’s laws of motion be used to predict the behavior of objects?* *How do objects with mass respond when placed in a gravitational field?* *How do we define a system?*	CR2b: Construction and identification of key information on free body diagrams. Calculation of the acceleration of an object with multiple different forces acting in 2D. Design of an experiment to determine the coefficient of friction between any two objects.
Circular Motion	2 wks	*Centripetal forces, gravitational force, circular motion.* *Essential Questions:* *What factors affect the gravitational force and how?* *What force is causing circular motion to occur in various scenarios?*	CR2c: Calculation of the centripetal force and acceleration for an object in uniform circular motion.
Energy	5 wks	*Energy exchange and transformation within or between systems, law of conservation of energy.* *Essential Questions:* *How is energy exchanged and transformed within or between systems?* *How does the law of conservation of energy govern the interactions between objects and systems?*	CR2d: Determination of whether or not energy is conserved within a specified system and explanation of reasoning using relevant scientific principles. Calculation of a specific type of energy present in a system that includes at least 3 different types of energy.
Momentum	3 wks	*Linear momentum of a system, law of the conservation of momentum.* *Essential Questions:* *How do interactions with other objects or systems change the linear momentum of a system?* *How does the law of the conservation of momentum govern interactions between objects or systems?*	CR2e: Calculation of the momentum of an object before or after a collision in 2D. Determination of whether or not energy and/or momentum is conserved in an interaction between 2 objects and explanation of reasoning using relevant scientific principles.
Simple Harmonic Motion	2 wks	*Restoring force, harmonic motion, conservation of energy.* *Essential Questions:* *How does a restoring force differ from a “regular” force?* *How does the presence of restoring forces predict and lead to harmonic motion?* *How can conservation of energy be used to analyze the motion of objects in simple harmonic motion?*	CR2f: Explanation of how the period of an object changes as a result of various factors and why. Calculation of the motion of an object in simple harmonic motion using the principle of conservation of energy. Analysis of graphs of objects in simple harmonic motion. Calculation of period and frequency of pendulums and springs.
Rotational Motion	5 wks	*Rotational equilibrium, system and rotation point, external net torque, conservation of angular momentum, rotational inertia.* *Essential Questions:* *How does a system at rotational equilibrium compare to a system in translational equilibrium?* *How does the choice of system and rotation point affect the forces that can cause a torque on an object or a system?* *How can an external net torque change the angular momentum of a system?* *How does the conservation of angular momentum govern interactions between objects and systems?* *How does the rotational inertia of an object affect its motion?*	CR2g: Design of an experiment to determine the mass of an object using the principles of torque and rotational motion. Calculation of various aspects of an object’s rotational motion. Identification of the forces and torques keeping an object in equilibrium. Explanation of how the moment of inertia and changes to it can affect an object’s motion. Determination of whether or not energy and/or momentum is conserved in an interaction between 2 objects involving linear and rotational motion and explanation of reasoning using relevant scientific principles.