Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the start of the modern era of Physics!

SJS AP Physics 1 C Mechanics   

Questions and comments: contact Mr. Friedman via email from the SJS directory
or look for him in any of the Physics classrooms, the Science office (S 208),
various parts of the Mewbourne building and/or the Math office.

Physics 1 AP C is a full-year intensive study of that branch of Physics known as 'Mechanics' -
no, not the mechanics that fix your car: The science of motion!

That means we have only three things to worry about:

Space --- Time --- Mass
OK, we also worry about the interactions between them
(and some of those can get tricky!)

We do labs twice a week, because
"the sole test of the validity of any idea is experiment."
-- Richard Feynman

We integrate our curriculum with the Calculus at every opportunity,
recognizing that a complete understanding of Physics requires both
a conceptual framework and a thorough mathematical analysis.

We begin with a thorough treatment of the 'clockwork universe' of Kepler, Galileo and Newton. We examine the fundamental importance of Einstein's relativity in shaping 'modern physics'.
A special feature of the course is particle physics, which requires that we dabble in some topics in electricity, magnetism, optics and quantum mechanics.

Additional topics of interest, including wave motion and sound are also included as time permits.

“Every age, every generation, has its built in assumptions. 'The world is flat', 'the world is round', and so on. These are things we take for granted, that may or may not be true. Of course, in the vast majority of cases, these things turn out not to be true. Presumably, if history is any guide, much of what we now take for granted about the world simply isn’t true. But we’re locked into these precepts, without even knowing it.”
--- Dr. John Hagelin, Professor of Physics, quoted in the movie 'What the Bleep Do We Know?'

Elektra:"You speak in riddles, old man."
Sensei: "It keeps my students alert."
--- from the movie 'Elektra'

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need any roads."
-- Doc Brown in the movie 'Back to the Future'

Administrative Info

Course Outline

Lab Procedures Guide

Lab Error and Uncertainty

Names you will probably hear

Getting to know your textbook

Class News

WebAssign Home Page

Quarter Projects

Science News

The math-physics connection

Some words regarding honor

Newton realizing that the same force causing an apple to fall keeps the moon in orbit
Be sure to check the Whipple Hill course page
for assignments and announcements on a regular basis!

Physics is a subject that builds upon itself.
If you are confused about something early on, ask for help right away.
Chances are extremely good that somebody else is confused about the same thing. I am here to help you get things right!

Questions and comments: contact Mr. Friedman via email from the SJS directory
or look for him in any of the Physics classrooms, the Science office (S 208), various parts of the Mewbourne building and/or the Math office.
Have some computer time to spare? Need a cool screen-saver?
Sign up to be part of the Einstein@home project, using home PC's to help study data in the search for gravitational waves.

May 2007