Advanced Physics Through Inquiry 1
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The following is a complete list of lab activities from PASCO's Advanced Physics Through Inquiry 1 Teacher Guide. Each activity includes an editable student handout, software data files, IB/AP-alignment details, and a Teacher Guide. The experiments in this manual can be performed using individual PASCO sensors, sensor bundles, or lab stations. A complete materials list is available below. The materials for each experiment are also listed within the student handouts.
Grade Level: Advanced Placement
Subject: Physics
Teacher Collection Files
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Activities
01) Graphing Motion
In this lab, students use a motion sensor to measure the position and velocity of a cart on a track to determine the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration versus time graphs.
02) Newton's Second Law
In this lab, students use a motion sensor to determine the relationship between a system’s mass, acceleration, and the net force being applied to the system.
03) Atwood's Machine
In this lab, students use a photogate and pulley system to determine the mathematical relationship between the acceleration of an Atwood’s machine, the difference between its two masses, and the sum of those two masses.
04) Coefficients Of Friction
In this lab, students use a motion sensor and a force sensor to determine the static and kinetic friction coefficients between two contacting surfaces.
05) Two Dimensional Motion: Projectiles
In this lab, students use a photogate and mini launcher to measure the variables that affect the two-dimensional motion of a projectile launched horizontally, and then use those variables to accurately predict and test the projectile's horizontal range.
06) Conservation Of Mechanical Energy
In this lab, students use a photogate and dynamics system to explore how a cart's kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and total mechanical energy changes as it rolls down an inclined track.
07) Work And Kinetic Energy
In this lab, students use a photogate and dynamics system to investigate the relationship between the change in kinetic energy of an object experiencing a non-zero net conservative force and the work done by that net force on the object, and then use their data to establish a measurement-based relationship between work and kinetic energy.
08) Conservation Of Momentum
In this lab, students use a motion sensor and a dynamics system to demonstrate that linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved in an elastic collision, and linear momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not conserved in an inelastic collision.
09) Momentum And Impulse
In this lab, students use a motion sensor, force sensor, and dynamics system to investigate the relationship between the change in momentum of a cart undergoing a collision and the impulse imparted to the cart to change its momentum, and then use their data to establish a measurement-based relationship between change in momentum and impulse.
10) Rotational Dynamics
In this lab, students use rotary motion sensors to determine the mathematical relationship between torque, rotational inertia, and angular acceleration of a rotating object.
11) Rotational Statics
In this lab, students use a force sensor and tension protractor to demonstrate that the sum of the forces acting on an object in static translational equilibrium is equal to zero, and the sum of the torques acting on an object in static rotational equilibrium is equal to zero.
12) Periodic Motion: Mass And Spring
In this lab, students will use a motion sensor to determine the physical properties that affect the period of oscillation of a hanging mass and spring system. Then, students will use their data to support a mathematical model relating period, mass, and spring constant.
13) Simple Pendulum
In this lab, students will use a photogate and pendulum to determine the physical properties of a simple pendulum that affect its period. Then, students will use their data to support a mathematical model that relates period to pendulum arm length.
15) DC Circuits
In this lab, students will use a voltage–current sensor and an AC/DC electronics laboratory to construct simple resistor circuits with resistors in series or parallel, or both (with at most one parallel loop of resistors), to demonstrate the validity of Kirchhoff's loop rule (conservation of energy), and Kirchhoff’s junction rule (conservation of charge).
