Dr. Laura Doyle
AP Physics C
2013 – 2014
SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
Welcome to AP Physics C! I am excited for the school year to begin and to meet you all. It is going
to be a great year to learn physics. This assignment is intended to help get us started and free up
time during the school year for field trips, exploratory labs and a thorough AP exam review.
The structure of this summer assignment is similar to how the class will be structured during the
school year. I will expect students to do the reading assignments before coming to class, and in class
will administer reading concepts quizzes (similar to the ones contained here). We will spend class
time solving problems and doing demonstrations and labs with some lecture to reinforce concepts.
We will begin our in class discussion during week 1 of the school year with Chapter 3 of the text
book (Physics for Scientists & Engineers 4th Edition by Giancoli).The assignment below should make you
experts on the first 2 chapters of the text so we can jump in in August.
To get you started, you can try this Sudoku:
Dr. Laura Doyle
AP Physics C
2013 – 2014
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction, Measurement, Estimating
Objectives for Chapter One (after reading the chapter you should be able to do the following):
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Define the following terms as they apply to physics:
Model
Uncertainty
Accuracy
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Theory
Significant Figures
Standard (unit)
Law
Precision
Dimensional Analysis
Perform measurements and calculations with appropriate number of significant figures.
Write physics quantities in scientific notation.
Distinguish between accuracy and precision.
Identify SI base units.
Convert from SI to English units
Use dimensional analysis to determine if relationships are correct.
Read Chapter One, all sections. After reading the chapter, refer back to the objectives listed above.
Do you feel confident that you have a basic understanding of the objectives? If not, go back and
carefully read the chapter again. If so, continue on with the reading quiz below.
Reading Quiz – Can you complete this without referring to the text? (no need to turn in answers to
this quiz)
1. How many significant figures does 23.21 have?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
2. The number 3.69 x 104 has how many significant figures?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
3. Accuracy represents
a. A repeatability of the measurement using a given instrument
b. How close a measurement is to the true value
c. An ideal number of measurements to make
d. How poorly an instrument is operating
Dr. Laura Doyle
AP Physics C
2013 – 2014
4. The standard unit of time is:
a. Day
b. Year
c. Second
d. Minute
5. The standard unit of ass is the:
a. Gram
b. Kilogram
c. Decagram
d. Milligram
2
6. [L ] represents the dimensions for which of the following?
a. cm2
b. Square feet
c. m2
d. All of the above
7. The smallest meaningful measure of length is called
a. The astronomical unit
b. The Plank length
c. The parsec
d. The angstrom
Complete the following problems. Please show all your work neatly and clearly identify your
final answer. Due in class on Monday, August 26th.
Problem 2, 7, 12, 15, 36, 37
Dr. Laura Doyle
AP Physics C
2013 – 2014
CHAPTER TWO: Kinematics in One Dimension
Objectives for Chapter Two:
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Define the following terms:
Kinematics
Frame of reference
Displacement
Vector
Scalar
Speed
Velocity
Acceleration
Gravity
Distinguish between distance and displacement of an object.
Describe the difference between a vector and a scalar and give an example of each.
Explain the difference between speed and velocity.
Determine the average speed and velocity of an object in motion.
Explain the difference between average and instantaneous velocity.
Use calculus to determine instantaneous velocity from position.
Determine the average and instantaneous acceleration of an object in motion.
Derive and apply the kinematic equations for constant acceleration.
Use the kinematic equations for constant acceleration to solve problems with free falling
objects.
Read Chapter Two, all sections. After reading the chapter, refer back to the objectives listed above.
Do you feel confident that you have a basic understanding of the objectives? If not, go back and
carefully read the chapter again. If so, continue on with the reading quiz below.
Reading Quiz – Can you complete this without referring to the text? (no need to turn in answers to
this quiz)
1. You and your dog go for a walk to the park. On the way, your dog takes many side trips to
chase squirrels or examine fire hydrants. When you arrive at the park, do you and your dog
have the same displacement?
a. Yes
b. No
2. Which quantity is NOT a vector:
a. Displacement
b. Average velocity
c. Speed
d. Acceleration
3. If the position of a car is zero, does its speed have to be zero?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It depends on the position
4. On a position vs time graph, the slope of a line between two points on the graph is:
a. The displacement
Dr. Laura Doyle
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
AP Physics C
2013 – 2014
b. The instantaneous velocity
c. The average acceleration
d. The average velocity
You drive for 30 minutes at 30 mi/hour and then for another 30 minutes at 50 mi/hour.
What is your average speed for the whole trip?
a. More than 40 mi/hour
b. Equal to 40 mi/hour
c. Less than 40 mi/hour
You drive 4 miles at 30 miles per hour and then another 4 miles at 50 miles/hour. What is
the average speed for the whole 8-mile trip?
a. More than 40 mi/hour
b. Equal to 40 mi/hour
c. Less than 40 mi/hour
“vo” represents
a. Final velocity
b. Initial velocity
c. Average velocity
d. The velocity of the object is zero.
If the velocity of a car is non-zero, can the acceleration of the car be zero?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Depends on velocity
You throw a ball straight up into the air. After it leaves your hand, at what point in its flight
does it have the maximum value of acceleration?
a. Its acceleration is constant everywhere
b. At the top of its trajectory
c. Halfway to the top of its trajectory
d. Just after it leaves your hand
e. Just before it returns to your hand on the way down.
Complete the following problems. Please show all your work neatly and clearly identify your
final answer. Use the problem solving technique described in Section 2-6. This should
include a diagram and identification of known and unknown variables. Due in class on
Monday, August 26th.
Problem 6, 11, 14, 16, 24, 25, 28, 35, 38, 51, 53, 59, 67, 80, 82
Dr. Laura Doyle
AP Physics C
2013 – 2014
CHAPTER THREE, Sections 1 -5: Introduction to vectors.
Objectives for 3.1 – 3.5:
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Define the following terms:
Vector
Scalar
Unit vector
Differentiate between vectors and scalars.
Identify scalars versus vectors.
Use the graphical method to add vectors
Demonstrate the commutative property of vector addition
Use the parallelogram method to add vectors
Subtract two vectors
Add vectors using components
Define a unit vector.
Vector components
Read 3.1 – 3.5. After reading the sections refer back to the objectives listed above. Do you feel
confident that you have a basic understanding of the objectives? If not, go back and carefully read
the chapter again. If so, continue on with the reading quiz below.
Reading Quiz – Can you complete this without referring to the text? (no need to turn in answers to
this quiz)
1. The graphical method of adding vectors is also called the:
a. Tail-to-tip method
b. Parallelogram method
c. Both a and b
d. Only a
e. Only b
2. One way to specify a vector in a given coordinate system is to
a. Give its magnitude
b. Give its magnitude and the angle it makes with the positive x-axis.
c. Give one of its components
d. Give its magnitude and the quadrant
3. The unit vector “j-hat” by definition points along the
a. x-axis
b. y-axis
c. z-axis
d. Any axis
4. If two vectors are given such that A + B = 0, what can you say about the magnitude and
direction of vectors of A and B?
a. Same magnitude, but can be in any direction
Dr. Laura Doyle
AP Physics C
2013 – 2014
b. Same magnitude, but must be in same direction
c. Different magnitudes, but must be in the same direction
d. Same magnitudes, but must be in opposite directions
e. Different magnitudes, but must be in opposite directions
5. If each component of a vector is doubled, what happens to the angle of that vector?
a. It doubles
b. It increases, but by less than double
c. It does not change
d. It is reduced by half
e. It decreases, but not as much as half.
Complete the following problems. Please show all your work neatly and clearly identify your
final answer. Use the problem solving technique described in Section 2-6. This should
include a diagram and identification of known and unknown variables. Due in class on
Monday, August 26th.
Problem 4, 5, 11, 13