Taking AP
Physics C: An analysis of approaches to surviving all DAY long.
Troy Long - troylong1@sbcglobal.net – APPC – 3rd Hour – 2006
I chose this topic because I don’t think anyone else is brave enough or desperate enough for information to go through the different ways in which people attempt to score hard in AP Physics C (APPC). Right now there are several main methods with several branch methods being put into practice in this class. Let’s classify them.
I think that these three categories, in general, cover all the different approaches. While there may be some overlap, everyone can squeeze towards one category more than another.
Here’s where you can find my problem
How much time was spent on homework this year?
|
Data Table (sample size = 8) |
|||
|
<10 Minutes |
10-30 Minutes |
30-60 Minutes |
>60 Minutes |
|
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Where do you rank yourself?
(Source: an in-class survey)
The Good
The Good – Those inherently good at physics or those with the drive to work.
There are several examples of these people in our APPC class. I will not mention any names, but Joseph, Jason, Jill, and Brian fit this description, to name a few with out names.
This style of behavior is probably the most preferred in this class room under the DAYlight. Their work and enthusiasm towards physics helps them actually learn about physics in this classroom.
Here we can see many kids working to further their physics endeavors.
This is the product of proper physics.
I would recommend this mode of trying the work and asking questions for surviving in DAY’s class.
However, most are not practitioners.
The Bad’s are those who don’t know enough mathematics or didn’t have calculus before this course. I’m not going to name any names, but the lack of a year of calculus before taking this course hinders one’s performance in the first semester.
The Lazy – Those not motivated enough to put forth full effort in the APPC class.
Explaining lazy would take too much time, so I’ll let you all just imagine it. I won’t put a picture with this one because everyone falls into this category at some time or another. The secret to surviving DAY’s class is to spend as little time here as possible.
Take it from someone who belongs here: You don’t want to be in the “Lazy” group. It is not worth it.
There’s an inverse correlation between how much time you spend in this group and how much you learn. Follow that curve wisely.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_physc.html - The Collegeboard physics page
http://www.hwscience.com/Physics/apphysicsc.html - HWScience
http://www.ticalc.org/archives/files/fileinfo/19/1904.html - Physics notefolio
http://www.jal.cc.il.us/~mikolajsawicki/bad_physics.htm - Bad Physics (Check this out DAY)
http://www.addictinggames.com/ - For when it gets overwhelming
http://oneslime.net/ - The best game ever
http://www.hinsdale86.org/staff/mbreig/AP%20Physics/ap_physics_faq.htm - APPC FAQ
http://www.fayar.net/east/teacher.web/Math/young/APPC0506.htm - DAY’s APPC site
The question begged in my web page is: “how much effort is enough?” The answer to that depends on each person. The question one really has to ask themselves is how much they want to get out of APPC. If they want to learn physics, it is ready and willing to fuse with their brains. However, if one just wants to get by with a decent grade in a tough AP class, that, too, is possible with minimal effort. The downside with the latter approach is in not learning anything except how to slack off. In the end, the approach with effort can build a bridge that will hold, while the lack of effort’s bridge falls. It’s all up to you.
I can’t answer the question this site poses, but I hope that kids taking the class in future years will read this and realize that they’re making a mistake in not trying.
This page is applicable to the read world because it holds a first-hand experience of the benefits of trying when a class gets tough.
Thank you for reading.
I certify that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment or test.
Troy Long