AP Physics B Objectives

Links:

College Board Topic I:
Newtonian Mechanics

Topics:

6. Oscillations and gravitation
1. Simple harmonic motion (dynamics and energy relationships)
2. Mass on a spring
3. Pendulum and other oscillations
4. Newton's law of gravity
5. Circular orbits of planets and satellites

Time Range:
1.5 weeks

Suggested Teaching Strategies:

• The planetary gravitation concept does not lend itself to experiments or physical demonstrations, but the story of how Western models of the solar system progressed is one of the most compelling in the history of science. Emphasize historical development of solar system conceptions from the Greek geocentric to the Copernican heliocentric, followed by Galilean evidence, Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion, Newton's Universal Gravitation equation, Cavendish's measurement of the Universal Gravitation Constant, and Einstein's reconception of gravity as a warp in space-time.
• Oscillations are best covered when studying energy - elastic potential energy for simple harmonic motion, transfer between gravitational potential and kinetic for pendula, etc.

Aligned Resources:

• Software:
  • Gravity - simple solar system simulator
  • STSPLUS - orbital tracking software for satellites, shuttles, space station (or better yet, use online NASA J-Track)
  • Epicycle - simulates use of epicycles to explain retrograde planetary motion in geocentric systems
• Videotape: The Day the Universe Changed with James Burke - Infinitely Reasonable
• NASA warped space simulation movies from Inquiry Physics curriculum to illustrate Einstein's reconception
• Seasons and Phases of the Moon Powerpoint Presentation from Inquiry Physics curriculum

Revision Date:
December 2003