Mouse Trap Vehicle Description for AP Physics

Project Description:

This is a performance based assessment, meaning you are graded largely on how your project performs not on the number of hours you worked on it.  There are no partners and no teams.  Students will use one Victor brand mouse trap as the energy source to drive a vehicle as far as possible down the hallway.  They will get a maximum of three tries to produce their best distance and that distance will be the basis for their grade.

You may use any materials you wish as long as those materials do not add energy to the vehicle.  For example rubber bands or springs or rockets that store elastic energy are forbidden.  However, no kits are allowed.  The use of a kit will result in a 30 point reduction in score.  A 90 would become a 60.


Due Date:  The first lab  day after return from Winter Break.

Point value:  100 points for the final test output, with other point values assigned also.   Example 5 points for drawing and materials list.



Grade Scale for mouse trap project

D = 10-12.99 meters

D+ = 13-14.99 meters

C- = 15-16.99 meters

C = 17-18.99 meters

C+ = 19-20.99 meters

B- = 21- 23.99meters

B= 24- 27.99 meters

B+ = 28-29.99 meters

A- = 30 -32.99meters

A = 33-34.99 meters

A+ beyond 35 meters

Numbered Heads Electrostatics Test Rview

Numbered Heads Instructions

1. Form into the designated groups

2. Take out one full sheet of paper per group and list the name of the group at the top. Then list the names of the group members and place numbers next to each name (1, 2, 3…..If four members then write 4 also). It doesn’t matter who gets what number.

3. Hand the paper to the instructor. It will be used for assessment and graded.

4. Begin reviewing/ learning the listed concepts. Make up sample questions related to the concept. Try and figure out what question the teacher will ask. Time is limited; so don’t waste it!

5. Once you understand the concepts make sure each group members also understand by assessing them. Do not ask yes or no assessment questions.

Good Assessment. “Sam, could you show me how to do number three on the list?”

Poor Assessment. “Do you guys all know it?”

6. When the instructor calls a number randomly (ex. = 3) the three will go to a designated area alone and respond to a similar question. Make sure they have something to write with and a calculator. After they leave begin studying the next set of concepts for the next round.

7. After a short amount of time the person will then return to the group and their answer will be graded by the teacher and given to the entire group as a communal score.

8. The returning group member may be called again so they should receive extra instruction to help get caught up.

9. The scores are added at the end to determine winners. The top three groups receive extra points on the test.

Electrostatics Test Review Concepts

1.  Be able to write out the Coulomb's Law Formula, E field Formulas (there are two)

2.  Explain how to get an induced charge and relate it to lightning 

3.  Find the size and direction of a force given two charges, a distance and K

4.  Know your prefixes, nano, centi, milli, micro, kilo

5.  Find the size and direction of the resultant force when three charges form two forces that are perpendicular

6.  Find the size and direction of the resultant force when three charges form two forces that are nonperpendicular

7. Calculate the resulting E field on a point charge when the vectors are linear.

8  Calculate the resulting E field on a point charge when the vectors are perpendicular

9.  Calculate the resulting E field on a point charge when the vectors are  non perpendicular

Numbered Heads Refraction Test Review

Numbered Heads Instructions

1. Form into the designated groups

2. Take out one full sheet of paper per group and list the name of the group at the top. Then list the names of the group members and place numbers next to each name (1, 2, 3…..If four members then write 4 also). It doesn’t matter who gets what number.

3. Hand the paper to the instructor. It will be used for assessment and graded.

4. Begin reviewing/ learning the listed concepts. Make up sample questions related to the concept. Try and figure out what question the teacher will ask. Time is limited; so don’t waste it!

5. Once you understand the concepts make sure each group members also understand by assessing them. Do not ask yes or no assessment questions.

Good Assessment. “Sam, could you show me how to do number three on the list?”

Poor Assessment. “Do you guys all know it?”

6. When the instructor calls a number randomly (ex. = 3) the three will go to a designated area alone and respond to a similar question. Make sure they have something to write with and a calculator. After they leave begin studying the next set of concepts for the next round.

7. After a short amount of time the person will then return to the group and their answer will be graded by the teacher and given to the entire group as a communal score.

8. The returning group member may be called again so they should receive extra instruction to help get caught up.

9. The scores are added at the end to determine winners. The top three groups receive extra points on the test.

Refraction Test Review concepts

1.   Memorize three formulas:  index of refraction,  snell's law and critical angle

2.  calculate angle of refraction using snell's two indices of refraction, and an incident angle

3.  calculate an index of refraction using the speed in the material

4.  Describe and calculate refraction bending in terms of the normal  when given different indices for two mediums

5.  calculate the critical angle

6.  Solve for object distance given q and f  for either diverging or converging lens

7.  Solve for object distance given f and the height of image and object.  Substitution required

8.  Solve for magnification given p and q

9.  Know the sign conventions for diverging and converging lenses

10.  Draw an image formed by converging lens when object is in various positions

11.  Draw an image formed by diverging lens

Refraction of Water Optics Lab

Here is the link to the optics lab.  Please read the entire lab first and then ask questions before beginning.

Numbered Heads Review Waves and Good Vibrations

Numbered Heads Instructions

1. Form into the designated groups

2. Take out one full sheet of paper per group and list the name of the group at the top. Then list the names of the group members and place numbers next to each name (1, 2, 3…..If four members then write 4 also). It doesn’t matter who gets what number.

3. Hand the paper to the instructor. It will be used for assessment and graded.

4. Begin reviewing/ learning the listed concepts. Make up sample questions related to the concept. Try and figure out what question the teacher will ask. Time is limited; so don’t waste it!

5. Once you understand the concepts make sure each group members also understand by assessing them. Do not ask yes or no assessment questions.

Good Assessment. “Sam, could you show me how to do number three on the list?”

Poor Assessment. “Do you guys all know it?”

6. When the instructor calls a number randomly (ex. = 3) the three will go to a designated area alone and respond to a similar question. Make sure they have something to write with and a calculator. After they leave begin studying the next set of concepts for the next round.

7. After a short amount of time the person will then return to the group and their answer will be graded by the teacher and given to the entire group as a communal score.

8. The returning group member may be called again so they should receive extra instruction to help get caught up.

9. The scores are added at the end to determine winners. The top three groups receive extra points on the test.

Waves and Vibrations Concepts

1.  Definition of Simple harmonic Motion and Energy conversion in SHM

2.  What happens to acceleration  in  SHM (Simple Harmonic Motion) when displacement is increased or decreased by a factor ?

3.  In a mass spring system or pendulum at maximum displacement things that are true.

4.  In a mass spring system or pendulum at minimum  displacement things that are true.

5.  amplitude calculation in a pendulum given total angle of swing

6.  relationship between frequency and period .

7.  relationship between frequency and cycles per second or hertz?

8.  What happens to the period in a pendulum if the frequency changes from 30 hz to 90 hz?

9.  What happens to the period in a pendulum if the length changes from 10 m to 90 m?

10.  By what factor should the length of a pendulum change in order to have 5 X the period?

11.  By what factor should the length of a pendulum change in order to have 5 X the frequency?

12.  What changes if the pendulum's length is changed?

13.  Calculate the "a" due to gravity using a pendulum.   You also have to know by what factor it would change.  Ex if period is 2X normal this would happen if gravity were 1/4 of normal.   Know your formulas.

14.  Calculate a spring constant

15.  Calculate period given frequency

16.  Calculate period of a pendulum

17.  Calculate frequency of a wave  given wavelength and speed.

18  Calculate period of a wave given wavelength and speed

19.  Be able to explain in depth how thin film coloration works.  Ex how you would see cyan (Blue green)  in a particular spot on a CD.The explanation must reference destructive interference and film thickness as  a multiple of wavelength.  

Link to Thermodynamics Quiz 1

Here is the link to the quiz.  This must be completed by 5:00 pm day of the quiz

Numbered Heads Fluids Test Review

Numbered Heads Instructions

1. Form into the designated groups

2. Take out one full sheet of paper per group and list the name of the group at the top. Then list the names of the group members and place numbers next to each name (1, 2, 3…..If four members then write 4 also). It doesn’t matter who gets what number.

3. Hand the paper to the instructor. It will be used for assessment and graded.

4. Begin reviewing/ learning the listed concepts. Make up sample questions related to the concept. Try and figure out what question the teacher will ask. Time is limited; so don’t waste it!

5. Once you understand the concepts make sure each group members also understand by assessing them. Do not ask yes or no assessment questions.

Good Assessment. “Sam, could you show me how to do number three on the list?”

Poor Assessment. “Do you guys all know it?”

6. When the instructor calls a number randomly (ex. = 3) the three will go to a designated area alone and respond to a similar question. Make sure they have something to write with and a calculator. After they leave begin studying the next set of concepts for the next round.

7. After a short amount of time the person will then return to the group and their answer will be graded by the teacher and given to the entire group as a communal score.

8. The returning group member may be called again so they should receive extra instruction to help get caught up.

9. The scores are added at the end to determine winners. The top three groups receive extra points on the test.

Fluids Test Concepts

1.  What defines a fluid?

2.  difference between liquid and gas

3.  calculate buoyant force  given density and volume

4.  True things about floating objects 

5.  True things about submerged objects

6.  units of pressure (4)

7.  Pascal's Principle

8.  P = F/A all relationships

9.  calculate pressure (Pa)  given force and dimensions of area (cm squared or m squared)

10.  calculate force given pressure and area

11.  gauge pressure v absolute pressure

12.  pressure v (depth, density) relationship

13.  calculate gauge pressure given absolute pressure and atmospheric

14.  calculate absolute pressure given gauge and atmospheric

15.  A1 V1 = A2V2 calculate one variable given other 3

16 calculate new speed of fluid given change in pipe diameter as a ratio

17.  in pipes where diameter changes know what happens to pressure 

18.  hydraulic lift calculate maximum mass to be raised given two areas and an input mass

19.  calculate absolute pressure at a depth in meters below water given atmospheric pressure and density of the water