- Good Morning.
Today we are going to reflect on what I learned
through creating the solutions to the free response
questions in the 2015 AP physics one exam.
♫ Flipping Physics ♫
Previously, I did create a video called
"8 General Suggestions for the Free Response Questions
of any AP Exam", and with two important exceptions,
I am not going to repeat anything from that video.
The first one, however, is a repeat.
Write legibly.
You may think I am kidding, however, I am not.
You will not receive credit for any parts
the AP graders cannot read.
So please, write legibly.
Graphs are answers,
so draw curves and lines carefully.
Use a legend to identify different lines,
solid and dotted lines are good options.
If a line is straight, use a straightedge
to draw that line.
Beware of lowercase and uppercase variables.
Free response question number five
had a lowercase m and an uppercase M
which stood for two different masses.
This confused students.
Don't let this be you.
Free body diagrams are answers.
Draw them carefully.
The relative lengths of the arrows
represent the relative lengths of the forces.
Speaking of forces,
only forces appear in free body diagrams.
Speaking of forces, label your forces,
force normal, force of gravity, force of static friction,
force of tension, for example.
Do not break forces into components
in your initial free body diagram.
If you need to break forces into components,
redraw the free body diagram.
Algebra.
Don't let algebraic mistakes be responsible
for losing points on the AP Physics exam.
So walk through your algebra slowly and carefully, please.
There's specific terms you need to be familiar with.
Describe means you need to show you understand
the underlying physics principles
in a situation or event.
Explain means you need to provide evidence
which clarifies what you just described.
Justify means an evidence based argument
to support a previous answer.
You will likely include equations and refer to graphs;
however, you need to write in full sentences.
Derive means to start with fundamental equations.
I'll say that again.
Derive means to start with fundamental equations,
and use algebra and/or geometry to arrive at your final answer.
And your final answer will most likely be an equation;
however, it might be a number.
Calculate means you need to start with an equation;
however, it does not have to be a fundamental equation,
and then use algebra and/or geometry
to arrive at your final answer.
And your final answer most likely is a number;
however, it might be an equation.
"What is" and Determine both mean there is no
explanation necessary.
They are just looking for an answer.
Sketch means to draw a graph
which estimates the relationships,
and be careful to distinguish between a
straight line and a curve.
Plot means to add specific data to the graph
using a provided scale or a scale you need to create.
Weight and mass are not the same.
I made an entire video to address this misconception.
Click the link if you need a refresher, please.
You will have to design an experiment.
They will provide you with some possible materials
and give you something that they want you to prove,
or disprove, and you'll have to design an experiment
to do so, guaranteed.
There will be short answer and paragraph-length response.
This means you will have to write complete,
legible sentences.
You will have to compare different variables.
This means you will have to look at a situation
and be able to figure out what's going to happen
to one variable when you change a different variable.
There you go.
Please enjoy learning from my AP Physics 1
review videos.
Yep. Click the link.
Thank you very much for learning with me today.
I enjoyed learning with you.
- Hold up.
What about that golden nugget of advice
that's going to make it so I get a
five on the exam?
- Study.
Consistently.
All Year.
- Great.
Thanks.