Summer Assignment

As is the case with many AP classes, there simply isn't enough time in the regular school year to cover all the material in the AP Physics course. You're already familiar with the idea of a "summer reading assignment" for your English classes. In the same way, spending 6-8 hours this summer preparing for your study of physics will

  • go a long way towards giving us a head start on the course,
  • providing us with a little more time to spend on the more difficult material later on in the year, and
  • reduce a little of the stress that tends to build up during the regular school year.

Good luck, and be sure to let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

List of Items for AP Physics Summer Assignment

Best done in the order indicated.

  1. Dig around this website a little
    You'll be interacting with this site from time to time, so it only makes sense to become a little familiar with what's here.

  2. Read the Course Description (~10 minutes)
    It's a bit dry, I admit, but it's got some important background information that you should know.

  3. Watch the Video Podcast part 1 (15 minutes)
    I am so sorry that you have to watch this before the school year has even started. The short lecture, though, should help prepare you for the homework assignment.
    NOTE: If the file doesn't play in your browser, you may need to update your Quicktime Plug-in!
  4. Download & print the AP Physics C Equation Sheet (~5 minutes)
    A sheet very similar to this is what you'll be using when you take the AP Physics exam next May. In the meantime, you're free to use this one on assignments in this class, including for unit tests--make sure you keep a copy in your notebook at all times! (Note that you only need the sheets that say "AP Physics C" at the top--you can discard the others.)
  5. Do Kinematics Homework assignment #1 (~30 min)
    1. You may not have your textbook yet, so read the scanned pages 25-28. Note that this information is password protected--you'll need to enter a username poly and a password technic to access the textbook and problems. This is a large file that you'll be looking at, so be patient while it loads.
    2. Do Problems 1-5 (listed at the end of the scanned chapter). Be sure to do the Problems, not the Questions, and be sure to follow the homework guidelines.
    3. Not sure if you did the homework problems correctly? Take a look at the Chapter 2 Solutions (another large file).
  6. Fill out the secure student info form (~10 min)
    I know you guys get sick of doing these, but it'll save us time and trouble later on.

  7. Check out the Course Calendar (~5 min)
    It's subject to change, of course, but you'll be using the calendar a fair amount, to keep track of assignments, to download lab assignments and practice tests, etc. There's some bad news hidden there during the first week of school. Sorry! :)

  8. Watch the Video Podcast part 2 (~ 15 minutes)
    Some of the finer points in the chapter, explained.

  9. Do Kinematics Homework assignment #2 (25 min).
    1. Read scanned pages 28-34. Again, note that this information is password protected--you'll need to enter a username poly and a password technic to access the textbook and problems.
    2. Do Problems 7, 9, 11, 12, 15.
  10. Watch the Video Podcast part 3 (~ 25 minutes)
    A little more advanced this time.

  11. Do Kinematics Homework assignment #3 (~30 min)
    1. Read scanned pages 36-46
    2. Do Problems 33, 21, 23, 29, 24, 40, 43, 49
  12. Sign up at LearnAPphysics.com
    Yes, it's my website. No, you don't have to sign up. Yes, you will do better in this class if you take advantage of this opportunity.
  13. Print out and take the Practice Test (~2 hrs)
    This test is approximately the same length and difficulty as a typical unit test that we'll be taking throughout the school year, although it will almost certainly feel easier than future tests—you have already learned most of this material during your freshman year, after all! Answers / Solutions are included at the back of the Practice Test. Questions? Don't understand something? Talk to me!