AP Physics B Objectives

Links:

College Board Topic I:
Newtonian Mechanics

Topics:

3. Work, energy, power
1. Work and work-energy theorem
2. Conservative forces and potential energy
3. Conservation of energy
4. Power

Time Range:
4 weeks

Suggested Teaching Strategies:

• Core lab will help invent the concept of work. Analysis of errors in the data can illustrate how simple machines create extra work due to friction, leading to the concept of efficiency.
• A fun power lab is to have students run stairs at the stadium and measure their horsepower output.
• Do a concept web about the six forms of energy (mechanical, chemical, electrical, nuclear, radiant, thermal). A good activity is to walk students through the energy transformations in an automobile using videotape from NFEE & Ford Motor Co.
• Another interesting example is to calculate mass-to-energy conversions with E=mc² and videotape of nuclear bombs.

Aligned Resources:

• Core Lab 10: Work
• Core Lab 11: Power
• Inquiry Physics curriculum: Unit 13 - Work, Power, and Energy including Lab B: Personal Power
• Videotape: Mechanical Universe segment on work and energy
• Videotape and worksheet: Energy Transformations in an Automobile from NFEE & Ford Motor Co.
• Videotape: Roller Coaster! from NOVA as well as Roller Coaster Physics (Program #745174) from Discovery Channel
• Videotape: Trinity and Beyond - The Atomic Bomb Movie

Revision Date:
May 2001