NEWARK CATHOLIC PHYSICS
Physics Home * Equations * Physics Syllabus * Physics Information * Objectives * Vocab * How to Study
Course Objectives for Chapters 1 - 10
Chapters 1- 10 Chapters 11- 20 Chapters 21 -31
Chapter 1
What Is Physics
Physics: The Search for Understanding
Objectives:
(1) Define Physics
(2) Relate theory, experiment, and applications to the role they play in physics research.
(3) Demonstrate that while there is no single scientific method , there are common methods used by all scientists.
Chapter 2
A Mathematical Toolkit
2.1 The Measures of Science
Objectives
(1) Define the SI Standards of measurement.
(2) Use common metric prefixes.
(3) Estimate measurements and solutions to problems.
(4) Perform mathematical operations using scientific notation.
2.2 Measurement Uncertainties
Objectives
(1) Distinguish between accuracy and precision.
(2) Indicate the precision of measured quantities with significant digits
(3) Perform mathematical operations with significant digits.
2.3 Visualizing Data
Objectives
(1) Graph the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
(2) Recognize linear and direct relationships and interpret the slope of the curve.
(3) Recognize quadratic and inverse relationships
Chapter 3
Describing Motion
3.1 Picturing Motion
Objectives
(1) Draw and Use motion diagrams to describe motion.
(2) Use a particle model to represent a moving object.
3.2 Where and When?
Objectives
(1) Choose coordinate systems for motion problems.
(2) Differentiate between scalar and vector quantities.
(3) Define a displacement vector and determine a time interval.
(4) Recognize how the chosen coordinate system affects the signs of vector quantities.
3.3 Velocity and Acceleration
Objectives
(1) Define velocity and acceleration operationally.
(2) Relate the direction and magnitude of velocity and acceleration vectors to the motion of objects.
(3) Create pictorial and physical models for solving motion problems.
Chapter 4
Vector Addition
4.1 Properties of Vectors
Objectives
(1) Determine graphically the sum of two or more vectors.
(2) Solve problems of relative velocity.
4.2 Components of Vectors
Objectives
(1) Establish a coordinate system in problems involving vector quantities.
(2) Use the process of resolution of vectors to find the components of vectors.
(3) Determine algebraically the sum of two or more vectors by adding the components of the vectors.
Chapter 5
A Mathematical Model of Motion
5.1 Graphing Motion in One Dimension
Objectives
(1) Interpret graphs of position versus time for a moving object to determine the velocity of the object.
(2) Describe in words the information presented in graphs and draw graphs from descriptions of motion.
(3) Write equations that describe the position of an object moving at constant velocity.
5.2 Graphing Velocity in One Dimension
Objectives
(1) Determine from a graph of velocity versus time the velocity of an object at a specified time.
(2) Interpret a v-t graph to find the time at which an object has a specific velocity.
(3) Calculate the displacement of an object from the area under a v-t curve.
5.3 Acceleration
Objectives
(1) Determine from the curves on a velocity-time graph both the constant and instantaneous acceleration.
(2) Determine the sign of acceleration using a v-t graph and a motion diagram.
(3) Calculate the velocity and the displacement of an object undergoing constant acceleration.
5.4 Free Fall
Objectives
(1) Recognize the meaning of the acceleration due to gravity.
(2) Define the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity as a positive quantity and determine the sign of the acceleration relative to the chosen coordinate system.
(3) Use motion equations to solve problems involving freely falling objects.
Chapter 6
Forces
6.1 Force and Motion
Objectives
(1) Define a force and differentiate between contact forces and long-range forces.
(2) Recognize the significance of Newton's second law of motion and use it to solve motion problems.
(3) Explain the meaning of Newton's first law and describe an object in equilibrium.
6.2 Using Newton's Laws
Objectives
(1) Describe how the weight and the mass of an object are related.
(2) Differentiate between the gravitational force weight and what is experienced as apparent weight.
(3) Define the frictional force and distinguish between static and kinetic forces
(4) Describe simple harmonic motion and explain how the acceleration due to gravity influences motion.
6.3 Interaction Forces
Objectives
(1) Explain the meaning of interaction pairs of forces and how they are related by Newton's Third law.
(2) List the four fundamental forces and illustrate the environment in which each can be observed.
(3) Explain the tension in ropes and strings in terms of Newton's third law.
Forces and Motion in Two Dimensions
7.1 Forces in Two Dimensions
Objectives
(1) Determine the force that produces equilibrium when three forces act on an object
(2) Analyze the motion of an object on an inclined plane with and without friction.
7.2 Projectile Motion
Objectives
(1) Recognize that the vertical and horizontal motions of a projectile are independent.
(2) Relate the height, time in the air, and initial vertical velocity of a projectile using its vertical motion, then determine its range.
(3) Explain how the shape of the trajectory of a moving object.
7.3 Circular Motion
Objectives
(1) Explain the acceleration of the object moving in a circle at constant speed.
(2) Describe how centripetal acceleration depends upon the object's speed and the radius of the circle.
(3) Recognize the direction of the force that causes centripetal acceleration.
(4) Explain how the rate of circular motion is changed by exerting torque on it.
Chapter 8
Universal Gravitation
8.1 Motion in the Heavens and on Earth
Objectives
(1) Relate Kepler's laws of planetary motion to Newton's law of universal gravitation.
(2) Calculate the periods and speeds of orbiting objects.
(3) Describe the method Cavendish used to measure G and the results of knowing G.
8.2 Using the Law of Universal Gravitation
Objectives
(1) Solve problems involving orbital speed and period.
(2) Relate weightlessness to objects in free fall
(3) Describe gravitational fields
(4) Distinguish between internal mass and gravitational mass.
(5) Contrast Newton's and Einstein's views about gravitation.
Chapter 9
Momentum and Its Conservation
9.1 Impulse and Momentum
Objectives
(1) Compare the system before and after an event in momentum problems.
(2) Define the momentum of an object.
(3) Determine the impulse given to an object
(4) Recognize that impulse equals the change in momentum of an object.
9.2 The Conservation of Momentum
Objectives
(1) Relate Newton's third law of motion to conservation of momentum in collisions and explosions.
(2) Recognize the conditions under which the momentum of a system is conserved.
(3) Apply conservation of momentum to explain the propulsion of rockets.
(4) Solve conservation of momentum problems in two dimensions by using vector analysis.
Chapter 10
Energy, Work, and Simple Machines
10.1 Energy and Work
Objectives
(1) Describe the relationship between work and energy.
(2) Display an ability to calculate work done by a force.
(3) Identify the force that does work
(4) Differentiate between work and power and correctly calculate power used.
10.2 Machines
Objectives
(1) Demonstrate knowledge of why simple machines are useful.
(2) Communicate an understanding of mechanical advantage in ideal and real machines.
(3) Analyze compound machines and describe them in terms of simple machines.
(4) Calculate efficiencies for simple and compound machines.