Mr. Rogers' AP Physics C: Mechanics (With IB Physics Topics) Objectives

Relevance: Check out the cost of a college class. Receiving college credit for AP Physics is worth at least $1000. For most students in Mr. Rogers AP Statistics class (most are juniors), a passing grade of 3 or higher will be seen by college recruiters. It is a badge of honor.

The AP Test Review Process

Most of the 4th quarter will be devoted to AP test Review. While a full quarter for review may sound like a lot, keep in mind that the test will be in May, hence, we will lose about a month of possible classroom time. Also we lose a week for spring break in the 4th quarter.

Passing the AP test is a goal worthy of review time, however, review is also an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding. Unlike earlier home work and class work problems, AP test problems often merge several problem types into a single problem with multiple steps. In many cases, it's not possible to work these problems until most of the subject has been covered.

See below for more details on the review process.

Daily Class Work: You will work a minimum of 9 sets of free response problems from old tests in class on the white board at the front of the room under Mr. Rogers' guidance. All problems will be graded as you complete them. You will be asked to keep a running tally of your scores to continuously ascertain your extent of readiness. Mr. Rogers will re-teach material as deemed necessary.  Problem sets can be found online at the AP Physics C Mechanics section of the American College Board site or will be provided by Mr. Rogers.

To get the best benefit from the in-class practice you will need to re-work as homework any problems you had difficulty with. It is often better to return to the same problem multiple times and completely understand it than work problem after problem with only partial understanding.

Quizzes: Mr. Rogers will periodically give quizzes on free response problems. These will consist of a free response problem selected at random from those that have been worked. Quizzes will not be curved and will count 15 points each just like those on the AP test.

Weekly In-Class Tests (summative assessments): An actual multiple choice AP test from previous a year will be given approximately once per week starting near the end of March (four tests total). These will count 100 points each toward your grade. They will be curved to approximate an AP grading system. At worst 50% correct will be a "C". In addition, each student will receive an estimate from 1 to 5 of their future grade based on each test.

Take-Home Tests (formative assessments): A minimum of 2 multiple choice AP-type take-home tests will be given. These will count 50 points each and be curved but not as generously as the in-class tests. Your work is to be turned in on each question. You may collaborate with other students and may compare answers but only if each person has actually worked the problem and written down their work. Allowing a student to simply copy your answers is strictly forbidden and may result in a grade of zero for both of the students involved.

The Good News: The highest in-class test will be cloned to help compensate for having a bad day. Take-home tests will not be cloned.

Mr. Rogers will typically offer numerous after school and Saturday guided study sessions. He has free response test sets going back to 1973 as well as additional study books other than the Barron's and Princeton Review books. There is little chance of running out of materials. Anyone whose test and in class practice grades falls below those needed for passing the AP test is expected to attend.

As mentioned on the first page, you will not reach your potential on the AP test without a lot of self study. This AP test study should start in December.  At that time you should be practicing the multiple choice practice tests in the Barron's AP review book provided by Mr. Rogers. These questions are close to those actually found on AP tests.

In March you should begin working multiple choice practice  problems in the Princeton Review book you have purchased. Mr. Rogers recommends that you read the entire section of the Princeton Review book's section on AP Physics C Mechanics some time in April.

Typically we will have a few  weeks left after the AP Test. Students will be required to attend class during this time. First we will catch up on any investigations physics we are behind on. In the event that we are totally caught up, we will start on next years topics.

Why does a red object look red?
White light is a mixture of all the wave lengths in the visible part of the EM spectrum. Shine white light on a red object, say an apple, and the apple will reflect most of the red waves while absorbing most of the others. Some of the reflected red light travels to your eyes so that you see an image of the red apple. Shine a blue light on a red apple and it will look black.