AP Physics 🔭

2026-2027 Agendas

👨‍🏫 Mr. Porter

2026.10.16 AP Physics Do Now

A car is moving with constant speed vo when a tree falls into the roadway at . It takes the driver a time to react and apply the brakes. The car then slows with a constant acceleration of magnitude . Which of the following equations correctly expresses the distance traveled by the car from time to the instant the car comes to rest?

A.

B.

C.

D.

2026.10.16 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Who is your celebrity crush?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Finish Photogate Practical
  3. Advanced Problem-Solving

🎯 Goals

🥅 Use kinematic models to solve problems

📆 Upcoming

2026.10.15 AP Physics Do Now

A car on a straight track is at position and has initial speed when it begins to slow down with constant acceleration of magnitude . When the car reaches position it has speed . Which of the following is a correct expression for ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

2026.10.15 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: If you were to be in the circus, what would your circus act be?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Photogate Lab

🎯 Goals

🥅 Use mathematical models to make predictions

📆 Upcoming

HW Due Friday:

  • Set K12: VT Graph Challenges
  • Kinematics 4: Kinematic Eqs
  • Kinematics 5: Kinematic Eqs

🛝 Constant Acceleration Lab Practical

Today you get a cart, a ramp, and one number to hit.

Release the cart from rest. It rolls 20 cm and crosses photogate 1.

Put photogate 2 where the cart will take exactly 0.12 s to reach it.

Your reference table is the only equation sheet you get. No procedure is given — that is the point.

📐 The Setup

  • Cart released from rest:
  • cm — already marked on your ramp
  • Photogate 1 — already clamped for you
  • Photogate 2 — you decide where it goes

🎯 Target: s

Do not move the ramp or change its angle once you have measured your acceleration.

📋 Your Job

a. Design 🧪
Write a procedure to find your cart's acceleration.

b. Measure 📏
Run it. Table, units, resolutions. Report .

c. Derive ✏️
Get in terms of , , — symbols only.

d. Predict & Test 🎯
Substitute. Place gate 2. Run it. Percent error in the time.

e. Evaluate 🔍
Which measurement hurt you most? Which direction?

f. Reason 📈
Steeper ramp — does go up, down, or stay?

g. Argue 💬
Defend a classmate's claim with two reasons.

📓 In Your Notebook

Everything goes here

  1. Title, the task in your words, labeled sketch
  2. Your procedure
  3. Data table — units and resolutions
  4. Graph or calculation →
  5. Derivation in symbols
  6. Substitution →
  7. Measured + percent error
  8. Parts (e), (f), (g) in sentences
🏁 Close with a conclusion: did it work, what were you most sensitive to, what would you change?

2026.10.14 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: What is your favorite dinosaur? 🦖

📋 Agenda

  1. Review the Bear Question
  2. Kinematic Equations & The Cross Diagram
  3. Practice
  4. Two-stage Kinematic questions

🎯 Goals

🥅 Use mathematical models to make predicitons about motion

📆 Upcoming

HW Due Friday:

  • Set K12: VT Graph Challenges
  • Kinematics 4: Kinematic Eqs
  • Kinematics 5: Kinematic Eqs

2026.10.09 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: If you were to open a store, what would you sell?

📋 Agenda

  1. Review the Bear question
  2. Kinematic Equations and the Cross ➕ Diagram
  3. Solving Problems with the Kinematic equations

🎯 Goals

🥅 Model motion mathematically

📆 HW:

  • Set K12: Velocity-Time Graph Challenges
  • Kinematics 4: Kinematic Equations
  • Kinematics 5: Kinematic Equations

2026.10.09 AP Physics 🎃

❓ of the 📅: If you could pick any wild animal to keep as a pet, which would it be?

📋 Agenda

  1. Quiz
  2. Review the Bear question
  3. Kinematic Equations and the Cross ➕ Diagram
  4. Solving Problems with the Kinematic equations

🎯 Goals

🥅 Model motion mathematically

📆 Upcoming

2026.10.07 AP Physics Do Now

Eight possible signs of combinations for the instantaneous position, velocity, and acceleration of an object moving in one dimension are given in the table. Above the table is a coordinate axis that shows the origin, marked 0, and that indicates that the positive direction is to the left. Complete the chart.

Answer

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2026.10.08 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Would you rather be the hero or the sidekick?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Problem-solving with VT Graphs
    • work through entire question
    • check answer when done with entire question

🎯 Goals

🥅 Work through problem-solving with VT Graphs

📆 Upcoming

  • Quiz tomorrow: X-T Graph, V-T Graph, Stacks of Graphs

2026.10.07 Do Now

10 MINUTES

For each of these cases, if any, is...at the indicated point?

  1. the position zero ?
  2. the position negative?
  3. the velocity zero?
  4. the velocity negative?
  5. the acceleration zero ?
  6. the acceleration negative?

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2026.10.07 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Does your family have a "motto" – spoken or unspoken?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Notes - Graphical Representations
  3. Problem-Solving Graphically

🎯 Goals

🥅 Solve Problems Graphically

📆 Upcoming

2026.10.05 AP Physics Do Now

10 MINUTES

Physics Classroom

Complete: Mission KG2 Shape and Slope of Position-Time Graphs (MO)

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2026.10.05 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: What was your favorite halloween costume?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Finish Card Sort Data Collection
  3. Complete Summary Chart
  4. Notes on Graphical Representation
  5. Start Physics Classroom Homework

🎯 Goals

🥅 Model Motion Graphically

📆 Homework

Physics Classroom:

  • K10: Velocity-Time Graphs 1
  • K11: Velocity-Time Graphs 2

2026.10.02 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Which holiday has the best food?

📋 Agenda

  1. Lab Summary Notes
  2. Finish Writing lab conclusion
  3. Start Card Sort looking at different uniform motion

🎯 Goals

🥅 Model uniform motion graphically

📆 Upcoming

2026.10.01 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: If you could be any Disney princess, which would you choose?

📋 Agenda

  1. Finish Graphing x vs t data
    • print & describe in notebook: support, refute, need more
  2. Collect velocity data from xt graph
  3. Create VT Graphs
    • print & describe in notebook: support, refute, need more
  4. How is position and time related? Can we confirm quadratic somehow?
    • Intro to linearization

2026.09.29 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Would you rather be able to talk to animals or understand all human languages?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now Grab your lab notebook and 1 sticker to decorate it
  2. VT Graphs & Area
    • Notes and the area rule
  3. Ticker Tape Lab

🎯 Goals

🥅 Use VT Graphs to calculate displacement

🥅 Model changing velocity motion

📆 Upcoming

2026.09.28 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Is there intelligent life elsewhere in the universe? Why or why not? 👽

📋 Agenda

  1. Finish VT Graphs
  2. Discuss VT Graph Idea
  3. Fan Cart Lab

🎯 Goals

🥅 Calculate Displacement from a VT Graph5

📆 Upcoming

2026.09.25 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Would you rather be a dragon or own a dragon? 🐉

📋 Agenda

  1. Quiz
  2. Velocity Time Graphs and Displacement

🎯 Goals

🥅 Make calculations from VT Graphs

📆 Upcoming

2026.09.23 AP Physics Do Now

5 Mintes MINUTES

The position-time graph shown represents the motion of two children who are moving along a narrow, straight hallway.

  1. Do either of the children ever change direction?
  2. Are the two children ever at the same position along the hallway?
  3. Do the two children ever have the same speed?

2026.09.23 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: What's your favorite sandwich and why? 🥪

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. AP Workbook 1.A - 1.D
  3. Interpreting Velocity vs. Time Graphs

🎯 Goals

🥅 Make calculations from velocity vs. time graphs

📆 Upcoming

  • Quiz Friday: x vs. t graphs, average vs. instantaneous velo & speed, solving problems with

2025.09.22 Do Now

5 MINUTES

Each graph below shows the position of an object as a function of time.

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  1. Rank the displacement of each object from least to greatest.
  2. Rank the distance of each object from least to greatest.

2026.09.22 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: How do you make your marshmallow for s'mores? 🍫

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Go Over worksheet
  3. Defining Average vs. Instantaneous
  4. Mathematical Models
  5. PC Practice - Red Car vs. Green Car

🎯 Goals

🥅 Model motion with position vs. time graphs

🥅 Differentiate between average and instantaneous

📆 Homework

  • PC: Speed & Velocity
  • PC: Position Time-Graphs

2026.09.21 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: If you could make the world's biggest food fight, what food would you have?

📋 Agenda

  1. Motion Notes
  2. PC: Distance vs. Displacement
  3. Average vs. Instantaneous
  4. Using Mathematical Models

🎯 Goals

🥅 Start using a constant velocity model

📆 HW:

  • PC: Speed & Velocity
  • PC: Red Car vs. Green Car (if we do mathematical models)

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->> AP Exam Prep & Review

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->> General Physics Practice & Homework

2026.09.17 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: What was your favorite recess game from elementary school?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Using nPlot
  3. Graph & Whiteboard Results
  4. Board Meeting & Finish Lab Notebook
  5. Motion Notes
  6. PC: Distance vs. Displacement

🎯 Goals

🥅 Practice with Distance vs. Displacement

🥅 Define average & instantaneous

📆 Upcoming

2026.09.16 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: If you invited dragons 🐉 to a taco 🌮 party, would you give them spicy salsa?

📋 Agenda

  1. Buggy Lab
    • collect data and graph with nPlot
    • whiteboard results
    • discuss
    • write conclusions
  2. Motion Notes

🎯 Goals

🥅 Model motion graphically

📆 Upcoming

2026.09.15 AP Physics Do Now

5 MINUTES

How Far and Where?

In each case, a sphere is moving from left to right next to a tape marked in meters. A strobe (flash) photograph is taken every second, and the location of the sphere is recorded. The total time intervals shown are not the same for all spheres.

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  1. Which ball went the furthest over the first 3 seconds?
  2. Where is each ball at time ?
  3. What are two ways to define "furthest"?

2026.09.15 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: What is the best french fry shape? 🍟

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Finish Lab ~10 minutes
  3. Data Collection Best Practices
  4. Buggys Lab

🎯 Goals

🥅 Model Motion

📆 Upcoming

Buggy Lab 🚗

Question

Does your toy buddy move in a consistent manner?

Purpose

Collect data on your buggies so that you can represent the motion (all aspescts) of both buggies on the same graph. Your final models should be able to predict the position of your buggy at specified times.

Constraints

You will be given scenario card that describes the setup of your buggies

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2026.09.11 AP Physics Do Now

5 MINUTES

Lab Review

  1. Get your lab notebook
  2. Review your lab with your group
    - how did you do it?
    - what did you find?
    • what does your slope represent?
    • do you have a vertical intercept? is it negigible? what does it mean?
    • do you have any interesting findings that you think are unique to your experiment?

2026.09.11 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: If you could snap your fingers and have one thing done for you, which would it be?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now: Lab Review
  2. Board Meeting & Uncertainty
  3. Make Predictions & Test
  4. Finish Lab Notebook
  5. Data Collection Best Practices

🎯 Goals

🥅 Make predictions from mathematical models

🥅 Use uncertainty in predictions

🥅 Data collection best practices

2026.09.10 AP Physics Do Now

  1. Grab Handout and complete on your own
  2. Compare answers with your lab table
  3. Brainstorm together on how you would draw the best fit line for the data on the right

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2025.09.10 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Do you think it would be easier to give up sugar or technology?

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Drawing best fit lines
  3. Co. of Restitution Lab
    1. Finish Collecting Data
    2. Graph
    3. Whiteboard Results
  4. Discuss & finish lab

🎯 Goals

🥅 Learn quality data collection techniques

🥅 Engage in scientific discussion

🥅 Use graphs and data to answer questions

Board Meeting

On your whiteboard

  • Hypothesis and results
    • What did you do and what did you find? How does your data support or refute your hypothesis?

Things to consider:

  • What does your graph look like? Linear, curve, etc?
    • What does that mean? What do the graphical features like slope/intercept mean?
  • How confident are you in your data? High or low levels of uncertainty?

2026.09.09 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Sweet or savory for breakfast?

📋 Agenda

  1. Sit Anywhere
  2. Do Now (fill out questionnaire & card)
  3. Question of the Day
  4. Grouping Game
  5. Survival Island

🎯 Goals

🥅 Introductions

🥅 Classroom Culture

🏠 Homework

  • Signed Safety Contract

Do Now

  1. Fill out index card:
    1. Name
    2. Phone number to reach your parents/guardians if you sleep through the AP Exam
    3. Favorite Candy
    4. Favorite Emoji
    5. Emoji the describes your current mood
  2. Fill out Paper Quesionnaire

Lab Grouping Game

  • There are 13 of you
  • Based on your cards get into LOGICAL groups of three (plus one group of 4)
  • Check whole class answer with Mr. Porter
    • 4 Chances to Check
  • Reorganize if necessary

(Yes this is the game Connections)

Answers

  • KINDS OF BEANS - KIDNEY, MUNG, NAVY
  • DEVISE - CONCOCT, ENGINEER, HATCH
  • NASA SPACECRAFT - GALILEO, VIKING, VOYAGER
  • GAMES WHERE YOU SAY THE GAME’S NAME - BINGO, TAG, UNO

Survival Island 🌴

  1. Share your survival skill that you wrote down with your group
  2. Using everyone's skill develop a plan to survive or escape the deserted island
  3. On your whiteboard present your plan (drawing, mind map, set of instructions)
    • Highlight everyone's skill

Surivial Plan...

Coefficient of Restitution Lab

Determine whether the coefficient of restitution, , for a specific ball remains constant when dropped from various heights. Do this by comparing drop height to bounce height for your assigned ball.

🥼 Lets Science! 🥼

📓 Lab Notebooks 📓

What is a Lab Notebook?

  • A detailed, chronological record of a scientist's research activities, experiments, and observations.
  • Documentation of the scientific process from intial ideas to final results and conclusions.

Why keep lab notebooks?

  • Document Research
  • Develop Ideas
  • Organize Data
  • Collaboration Tool
  • Publication Support
  • Troubleshooting
  • Intellectual Property Protection
  • Historical Record

Lab Notebooks can be Legal Documents

  • Proof of invention in Patent Cases
  • Intellectual Property Protection
  • Admissibility in court - must be properly maintained
  • Note: Often property of the instituation where the research was conducted (i.e. Property of Regeneron, or Property of Cornell University)

Remember

  • Lab notebooks are most importantly scientific documentation
  • They represent the scientific process and are record of your thinking
    • This means your ideas and conclusions and hypotheses can change based on new data

Lab Notebook

  • Write in pen
  • All mistakes get a single cross through
  • Full Date (YYYY/MM/DD) at the beginning of each entry (for multiday labs date start of each day)
  • Enter Lab Pages into table of contents

Lab Notebook - Pre Lab

  • Title and objective of the experiment:

    • Write a clear, concise title for each experiment.
    • State the main objective or purpose of the experiment in 1-2 sentences.

  • Theoretical background:

    • Briefly explain the relevant scientific principles.
    • Include key equations or concepts that will be tested or applied.

  • Hypotheses:

    • State your predictions about the experiment's outcome.
    • Base these on your understanding of the theory.

Lab Notebook - Pre Lab

  • Materials and equipment list:
    • Provide a detailed list of all materials and equipment used.
    • Include model numbers and specifications where relevant.
  • Experimental procedure outline:
    • Write a step-by-step outline of the planned procedure.
    • Be specific enough that someone could replicate your experiment.

During the Experiment

  • Raw data in tables with units:
    • Create neat, organized tables for all numerical data.
    • Always include units and uncertainty estimates.
    • Label columns clearly and use consistent significant figures.
  • Observations and qualitative notes:
    • Record all relevant observations, even if they seem unimportant.
    • Note any unexpected occurrences or anomalies.

During the Experiment

  • Any changes to the planned procedure:
    • Document any deviations from the original procedure.
    • Explain why changes were made and how they might affect results.
  • Sketches or diagrams of experimental setup:
    • Include clear, labeled diagrams of your experimental setup.
    • Add dimensions and important details to aid in replication.

Post Lab

  • Data analysis and calculations:
    • Show all steps in your calculations, including formulas used.
    • Explain your reasoning for each step of the analysis.
  • Graphs and charts:
    • Create neat, properly labeled graphs and charts.
    • Include titles, axis labels with units, and legends where appropriate.

Post Lab

  • Discussion of results:
    • Interpret your results in the context of the experiment's objectives.
    • Explain any patterns or trends observed in the data
  • Comparison with hypotheses:
    • Explicitly state whether your results support or refute your hypotheses.
    • Discuss possible reasons for any discrepancies.
  • Sources of error and uncertainty:
    • Identify potential sources of experimental error.
    • Discuss how these might have affected your results.
    • Quantify uncertainties where possible.

Post Lab

  • Conclusions:
    • Summarize the main findings of the experiment.
    • Relate these back to the original objectives and broader scientific principles.
    • Suggest improvements or future directions for the experiment.

Ball Bounce Lab

Question:

Is the coefficient of restitution constant for your ball? Do this by comparing drop height to bounce height for your assigned ball.


Ball Bounce Lab

Question:

Is the coefficient of restitution constant for your ball? Do this by comparing drop height to bounce height for your assigned ball.

Background:

The coefficient of restitution (symbol: ) is a dimensionless quantity that describes how much energy is conserved in a collision, specifically how well an object bounces back after impact. It is used to characterize the elasticity of collisions between two bodies.



Buggy Lab 🚗

Purpose

Collect data on your buggies so that you can represent the motion (all aspescts) of both buggies on the same graph. Your final models should be able to predict the position of your buggy at specified times.

Question

Does your Buggy move in a consistent manner? [Define consistent]

Constraints

You will be given scenario card that describes the setup of your buggies


Scenarios

  • You can ignore the speed label, just use the colors for reference

Do Now: Register for...

  1. AP Classroom ->> AP Exam Prep & Review
  1. Physics Classroom ->> General Physics Practice & Homework

2025.09.09 AP Physics

❓ of the 📅: Is it OK to ask the genie for infinite wishes? 🧞

📋 Agenda

  1. Do Now
  2. Board Meeting
  3. Test out Physics Classroom -> Variables MOP
  4. Buggy Lab

🎯 Goals

🥅 Establish Board Meeting Norms

📆 Upcoming

  • Safety Contract Post

Physics Classroom

  • Interactives are a large collection of HTML5 interactive physics and chemistry simulations.
  • Concept Builders help discover and solidify learning concepts and discover and correct incorrect ideas.
  • Minds On challenge student's understanding in a game where correct answers progress you to the finish line.
  • Calc Pad provides students with math-based questions to practice their understanding and usage of equations and formulas.
  • Science Reasoning help students to learn and grow their scientific thinking and reasoning skills in the context of various physics related tasks.

Buggy Lab 🚗

Purpose

Collect data on your buggies so that you can represent the motion (all aspescts) of both buggies on the same graph. Your final models should be able to predict the position of your buggy at specified times.

Constraints

You will be given scenario card that describes the setup of your buggies


Scenarios

  • You can ignore the speed label, just use the colors for reference

AP Physics Do Now

  1. Go to Data Collection Best Practices Interactive
  2. Read and click through the examples
  3. Reflect on your Coefficient of Restitution lab, did you follow these practices? How can you improve upon your design?


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