| Curriculum Map 2006-2007 | |||
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The Dwight School |
| Period | Content | Purpose/ Objectives | Activities & Resources | Areas of Interaction | Assessments | |
| Intro : | METHODS OF PHYSICS. Techniques used by physicists The concept of a constant Measurement SPEED OF TOY CARS LAB: September Week 3 Techniques used by physicists: Graphing The concept of a constant determined by slope of a graph Measurement: Significant figures Metric distance units Units of time Significant figures Metric distance units  Systeme International: SI units |
Measure and calculate to determine the speed of a toy car from the slope of a distance vs time graph Record measured numbers with units to the maximum precision allowed by the measuring instrument and the situation Estimate uncertainties of a measurement Calculate with measured numbers to provide a result with a reasonable degree of precision and correct units Determine a physical constant and use that constant to make predictions by interpolation and extrapolation Construct a data table with appropriate headings and units Measure and record two data streams for the same event. Graph data and calculate and interpret slope |
Activity: use of meter sticks to attempt to measure the position of a moving object Written production: Lab report including data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results. Measure, record and plot distance vs. time for a variety of battery powered cars. Calculate speed as the slope of distance vs time graph |
Approaches to Learning: What is the nature of a physical constant in physical law and to what extent does a physical law provide us an understanding of nature? What are the limitations on the predictions made using a physical constant? How does a graph of data contribute to conceptual understanding as opposed to inspecting raw data? How does the speed of an object relate to the steepness of the velocity graph? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Written and oral communication Constructing and labeling a data table and a graph. Summative: Lab report: Speed of Toy Cars Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: slope, units, distance, speed, significant digits |
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| Kinematics : | GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION NEAR THE EARTH? SURFACE Accurate measurement of time and motion Prediction of time, displacement, and velocity for objects in freefall. Kinematics of Freefall |
Develop and demonstrate facility with modern triggered electronic time-measuring apparatus Determine a physical constant and use that constant to make predictions by interpolation and extrapolation Explain the distinction between direct and indirect methods of inquiry. Use the kinematics equations to predict outcome of freefall events. |
Determination of Gravitational Acceleration: Students may choose one or more of the following methods to determine a value of 'g.' Stroboscopic Photograph of a Falling Ball: measure the displacement of a ball at 0.1 second time intervals to determine average speed in each interval. Measure change in average speed between intervals to calculate acceleration. Galileo? Method.: Measure the distance and time for an air cart accelerating down a slightly inclined air track. Use angle correction for calculating acceleration during freefall. Time is measured using laser photogates and computerized counter. Freefall Method: Use a Pasco Freefall TimerTM measure the distance and time for a falling steel marble to calculate acceleration during freefall. |
Approaches to Learning, Homo Faber How can we measure and calculate to determine gravitational acceleration directly and indirectly? Which approach is better suited to a low-tech investigation? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Written and oral communication Constructing and labeling a data table and a graph. Problem solving in kinematics. Summative: Lab report: Determination of Gravitational Acceleration Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: scalar and vector quantities, distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration for objects in freefall. |
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| Forces and Newton's Laws : | Study the dynamics of particle interactions through Newton's three laws. Forces and Newton's Laws |
Develop and demonstrate an understanding of Newton's laws as applied to static and dynamic situations. Develop skill at constructing free-body diagrams and solving problems algebraically using these diagrams. |
Calculate the tension in angled strings supporting a body in a gravitational field. Calculate the acceleration of a massive object experiencing a net force. |
Homo Faber How can Newton's Laws lead to predictions about the behavior of objects in equilibrium and in disequilibrium? What is the origin of forces that form force-pairs in the context of Newton's third law? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Summative: Lab report: Sum of Forces in Equilibrium Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: Explain each of Newton's Laws. Use trigonometry to calculate magnitude and angle of forces applied to objects in equilibrium. Use Newton's Laws to calculate acceleration of objects experiencing forces. |
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| Friction : | COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION Discovery of friction between solid objects as a force. Behavior of friction between sliding solid objects with varying normal force and speed. Friction on Inclined Plane |
Develop skill in the use of computer-interfaced force sensor. Develop skill in the use of a protractor to measure angle between rotating objects. Develop skill in the use of free-body diagrams. |
Calculate the coefficient of friction of object pairs by two different methods: slide angle method and drag force method. Analysis is done using free-body diagrams in each case. |
Approaches to Learning What is the use of measuring and calculating a physical constant in different ways? How close must separately determined values be to be in a agreement with each other? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Written and oral communication Constructing and labeling a data table and a graph. Summative: Lab report: Coefficient of Friction Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: normal force, friction force, free-body diagrams with and without friction, coefficients of static and kinetic friction |
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| Work and Energy : | Energy as the ability to do work. Conservation of Energy, Transfer of Energy. Elastic and Inelastic Collisions Incorporate conservation of energy, friction losses, and kinematics into analysis of a multifaceted event: HIT-THE-SPOT LAB Work and Energy |
Incorporate several physics laws and skills into the modeling and prediction of a single event. Develop and implement corrections to predictions based on real-world interference from friction within apparatus to minimize sources of error. |
Set up a toy car track on an incline to provide horizontal launch of a toy car from the surface of a table to impact on the floor. Measure height of incline and drop height to predict impact site. Measure and correct for car/track friction for accurate prediction. |
Approaches to Learning How carefully must the experimenter attend to disturbance within the apparatus? What is the value of investigating and compensating for internal disturbances that constitute sources of error? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Written and oral communication with multiple group members to measure and record multiple data streams for a single event. Summative: Lab report: Hit the Spot. Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: conservation of energy, transfer of energy, prediction of outcome of elastic collisions. |
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| Momentum and Impulse : | Conservation of Momentum Impulse, the change in Momentum Momentum |
Measure and calculate to compare the total momentum before and after a collision Manipulate and interpret vector quantities Develop skill in the use of the ultrasonic motion detector |
Using an ultrasonic motion detector measure the mass and velocity of lab carts before and after inelastic collision to test the conservation of mass. |
Approaches to Learning What is the use of vector quantities like momentum to describe motion when we have scalar quantities like kinetic energy? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Written and oral communication with multiple group members to measure and record multiple data streams for a single event. Summative: Lab report: Conservation of Momentum in an Inelastic Collision Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: momentum of a moving object and of a system of objects, determination of contact time and outcome of inelastic collisions from momentum and impulse considerations |
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| Advanced Mechanics : | Study circular motion, centripetal acceleration and Newton's universal gravitation. The centrifugal effect and the mythical centrifugal force. Circular Motion and Universal Gravitation |
Solve problems involving circular motion and Newton's universal gravitation including idealized planetary orbits. |
Circular Motion Lab: predict the period of a mass rotating on a string held by a smooth tube with a mass hanging below. Measure actual period and compare to predictions. Calculate the period and/or orbital radius of objects in circular orbit about a massive planet or star. |
Homo Faber What is the nature of universal gravitation? How does the gravitational force vary with distance? When astronauts float weightlessly on the space shuttle in orbit around the Earth, are they in a zero-gravity environment? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Summative: Lab report: Circular Motion Lab Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: circular motion,centripetal force, universal gravitation |
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| Thermal Physics : | Study the macroscopic behavior of matter and heat and interpret this behavior in terms of the atomic/kinetic model of matter. Determine specific heat capacity experimentally. Make predictions about the outcome of objects in thermal contact. Thermal Physics |
Explain the behavior of ideal gases in terms of the kinetic model of matter. Explain the states of matter in terms of the atomic/molecular theory of matter. Explain and solve problems related to phase change and specific heat capacity and latent heat capacity of matter. |
Specific Heat Lab: Measure the specific heat capacity of metal samples by the full immersion method and compare these to published values. |
Approaches to Learning How do thermal sensible heat and latent heat relate to kinetic and potential energy of atoms and molecules? How can we use these properties to make accurate predictions? Homo Faber How can we use our understanding of thermal properties to optimize the design of living and work spaces? |
Formative: Accurate observation and measurement Summative: Lab report: Specific heat capacity of metal Test Format: multiple choice and/or short answer questions, calculation questions Test Content: Heat Capacity, Sensible and Latent Heat, heating and cooling curves of pure substances, final temperature prediction of mixed liquids. |
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