Conceptual Physics

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CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS
COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND GOALS

We will study the classical areas of physics: mechanics, including kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy, power, momentum, simple harmonic motion; electricity and magnetism; waves and sound, and waves and optics. We will greatly reinforce your algebra skills, your vector skills, and your ability to interpret graphs. Mostly, we will try to understand, a little better, this wonderful, amazing world of ours.

Coursework
Assignments (computer-graded and teacher-graded)

Quizzes/Tests (computer-graded and teacher-graded): One attempt is given with a 60 minute time limit.

Final Exam
When you complete all of the coursework and your instructor has reviewed it, you will be given permission to take the final exam.

Role of Homework
Physics is very much a participatory sport. Reading and problems will be assigned at the beginning of each chapter, and discussed in class. There will be laboratories based on the chapters in the book and lab write-ups will be submitted for grading. I strongly urge you to keep your problems in an orderly fashion in a notebook. This notebook facilitates study for tests and final exams.

The online resource we will use is the Physics Classroom.

Grading
Tests will be given at the end of each chapter, or at the end of two chapters. Tests will count for 70 percent of your grade, laboratory and homework 30 percent.

Conceptual Physics I Fall Semester –

Unit I – Constant Motion
a. Graphing motion – position-time graphs, velocity-time graphs and acceleration-time graphs
b. Constant Velocity Calculations
Lab – PhET Simulations...... THE MOVING MAN: DISTANCE, DISPLACEMENT, SPEED & VELOCITY

Unit II - Accelerated Motion
b. Graphing motion – position-time graphs, velocity-time graphs and acceleration-time graphs
c. Mathematical relationships between displacement, velocity and acceleration
d. Freefall motion
Lab – PhET Simulations......Maze Game - Acceleration

Unit III - Motion in two-dimensions
a. Vector addition
b. Projectile motion
c. Relative velocity
Lab – PhET Simulations ….. Projectiles Simulation

Unit IV – Newton’s Laws
a. Forces and force diagrams
b. Newton’s Laws (First, 2nd and Third)
Lab - PhET Simulations—Forces in 1D

Unit V – Work and Energy
a. Work-Energy Theorem
b. Conservative and nonconservative forces
c. Conservation of Energy
d. Kinetic Energy, Gravitational Potential Energy and Spring Potential Energy
e. Hooke’s Law
f. Power
Lab - PhET Simulations Build-a-Park….

Unit VI – Momentum
a. Impulse
b. Conservation of momentum
Lab - PhET Simulations Momentum and Simple 1D Collisions

Physics 2 Spring Semester –

Unit I Circular Motion & Gravitational Force
a. Centripetal Acceleration & Centripetal Force calculations
b. Newton’s law of Gravity
Labs – PhET Simulations … Universal Gravitation Lab

Unit II Vibration & Waves
a. Simple Harmonic Motion – springs and pendulums
b. Waves – frequency, amplitude and wavelength
c. Speed of waves on a wire
Labs - PhET Simulations …..
1. Pendulum Simulation
2. Wave on a String Simulation

Unit III Sound
a. Interference of waves
c. Doppler effect
d. Standing waves and Beats
Lab - PhET Simulations …Sound Waves

Unit IV Light & Reflection
a. Speed of light
b. Law of reflection
c. Curved and flat mirrors – object distance, image distance and magnification

Unit V Refraction
a. Speed of light in different media.
b. Lenses – Converging and Diverging
Labs - PhET Simulations …..
1. Bending Light
2. Geometric Optics

Unit VI Electrostatics
a. Charging by conduction and induction
b. Electric Force
c. Electric Field
Labs –
1. Electrostatics Simulation
2. Charging and Electroscope Simulation
3. Electric Field Simulation

Unit VII Current & Circuits
a. Current
b. Ohm’s Law
c. Electric Power
d. Series Circuits
e. Parallel Circuits
f. Combination series/parallel circuits
Lab –PhET Simulations ….. Circuit Construction Kit (AC + DC)