AP Physics Summer Review Assignment

There isn't enough time in the regular school year to cover all the material—content and skills—in the AP Physics C course. You are already familiar with the idea of a "summer reading assignment" for other classes, perhaps. In the same way, spending 6-8 hours this summer preparing for your study of physics will:

• remind you of important material that you've already covered in your Integrated Science and Math courses,
• give us a head start on the material for our own course,
• provide us with more time to spend on difficult material later on in the year,
• slow the pace of the course during the school year, and
• reduce some of the time-related stress that tends to build up during the regular school year.

Instructions

To complete the AP Physics Summer Review Assignment, go through each of the items in the list below, in order. If you have any questions at any point, don't hesitate to reach out to Mr. Lu or Mr. White. All AP Physics C students are completing this assignment.

You will receive a follow-up email from your instructor as the beginning of the school year approaches with further information about this class. Keep an eye out for an email from Mr. Lu or Mr. White on or around August 10.

In the meantime you should get started on these items at your convenience!

List of Items for AP Physics Summer Review Assignment

1. Download & print the AP Physics C Equation Sheets (5 minutes)
   You only need to print the sheets that say "AP Physics C" at the top. You'll use equation sheets like these 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.
2. Get our textbooks (5 minutes)
   This course uses two open-source textbook from Rice University's OpenStax project. Use these links to either download a PDF of each book, or bookmark a link to the online version of the text.
   
   • University Physics Vol 1
   • University Physics Vol 2
3. Download the Student Solution Guide for each of those books by using those same links: click on the Student Resources tab for each book to find the guide.
   Perhaps more importantly, almost all homework assignments will have instructor-provided solutions that provide sketches, reasoning, and answers. See below for links to solutions to these Summer Review assignments.
   
   You may use provided homework solutions to check your work and provide insights into how to solve a problem. Do not just copy solutions. If you're still confused even after looking at a solution, check with classmates or the instructor.
   
   Your primary goal is not to "turn in homework." Your primary goal is to develop your skills, and practice them by solving homework problems. :)
4. Watch the Video Screencast, part 1 (30 minutes)
   This lecture is intended to prepare you for the first homework assignment. Take notes if you wish.
5. Do Kinematics Homework assignment #1 (30 min)
   1. Read sections 3.1 and 3.2 in the textbook University Physics Vol 1.
      Note that most reading assignments in this course are optional. You may well pick up all the information you need to know from the in-class discussion, but these sections are given as a reference in the event you miss class or wish to explore a topic in more detail.
   2. Watch the video "How to do Physics Homework" (6 minutes). There are some really important points included here, and watching the entire six minutes is well worth your time before you get started.
   3. Do Chapter 3, problems 25, 27, 29, 30, 33, 35. You can find these in the Volume 1 textbook: Mechanics > 3. Motion in a Straight Line > Chapter Review > Problems
   4. Verify that you did the homework problems correctly either by looking at the Student Solution Guide or checking the instructor's solutions here.
6. Watch the Video Screencast, part 2 (30 minutes)
   Some of the finer points in the chapter, explained.
7. Do Kinematics Homework assignment #2 (40 min).
   1. Read sections 3.3 and 3.4 in the textbook.
   2. Do Problems 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 49, 53, 57, and check your work here.
8. Watch the Video Screencast, part 3 (30 minutes)
9. Do Kinematics Homework assignment #3 (30 min)
   
   1. Read sections 3.5 and 3.6 in the textbook.
   2. Do Problems 67, 69, 71, 78, 79, and check your work here.
10. Check out LearnAPphysics.com
    This website is a side project by Mr. White.
11. 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.

You're Done!

The start of the school year is always an exciting time, and we hope that you'll find that these introductory activities will have been of use to you.

We're looking forward to working with you. See you soon!