LONG BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL
Advanced Placement Program
2014-15 Supplemental Assignment
AP Physics 1
Required Materials
Additional Resources
None
Physics & Math Tutorials on the Web


Due Date(s)
www.hippocampus.org

Math review videos

Physics Videos at various levels
www.physicsclassroom.com/Class
Teacher Contact Information
First Day of School
jkeagle@longbranch.k12.nj.us
Expected time for completion:
4 Hours
Mr. Keagle
Note: The time required to complete this assignment will
vary this is only a rough estimate to help with planning.
Students should keep in mind their own study habits and
pace of work in budgeting time to complete this assignment.
Purpose of assignment:
This assignment serves as the beginning of our rigorous course of study in AP Physics B. The primary goal of this
assignment is to serve as a math review that will help you brush up on the mathematical concepts utilized
throughout the course
Skills/Knowledge required for completion:
Algebra and Geometry math skills
Ability to follow a given procedure
Grading:
Graded for completion and assessed with a Major Assessment within the first week of school
NBC AP Physics B, Summer Assignment 2013
1
AP-B Physics
Name
__
Summer Assignment 2013
Dear Student,
Welcome to AP Physics B at Long Branch! AP Physics 1 is a first year physics course that
covers the equivalent of 1 semester of college level physics. Due to the large amount of
material in the AP curriculum and the short amount of time we have to cover that material, this
course moves at a very fast pace. This level of academic rigor is likely more than you have
experienced in your past studies, but in the end you will not only be prepared to take the AP
exam, but you will also be ready for the style of academic study found with most college
programs.
Physics, and AP Physics in particular, requires an exceptional proficiency in algebra,
trigonometry, and geometry. In addition to the science concepts, Physics often seems like a
course in applied mathematics. The following assignment includes mathematical problems that
are considered routine in AP Physics. This includes knowing several key metric system
conversion factors and how to employ them, graphical analysis of data, and understanding
vectors.
The attached pages contain carefully crafted review, hints, and example problems. It is hoped
that combined with your previous math knowledge this assignment is a review and a starting
point in your study of physics.
Please read the text and instructions throughout.
There will be a test covering this packet the first week of
class.
II. What if I don’t get all the problems or don’t understand the instructions?
A. Seek help!
1. Physics & Math Tutorials on the Web

www.hippocampus.org
 Math review videos
 Physics Videos at various levels

www.physicsclassroom.com/Class
B. Show work in order to receive credit.
C. Come to class the first day with your questions, in order to resolve these issues prior to
the test.
NBC AP Physics B, Summer Assignment 2013
2
SECTION ONE: Working with Equations / Scientific Notation
1. The following are ordinary physics problems. Place the answer in scientific notation when appropriate and
simplify the units (Scientific notation is used when it takes less time to write than the ordinary number does. As
2
8
an example 200 is easier to write than 2.00x10 , but 2.00x10 is easier to write than 200,000,000). Do your
best to cancel units, and attempt to show the simplified units in the final answer.
a.
b.
________________
K 
6.6 10
1
2
kg2.1110 4 m / s  
2
_
2
c.
2 3.2109 C  9.6109 C 


9 N m
F 9.010


1
d.
Rp
f.

0.32m
C 2 

1

1
_
2
RP 
_
 
_
4.5 102  9.4 102 
1.33sin 25.01.50sin
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
3
Often problems on the AP exam are done with variables only. Solve for the variable indicated. Don’t let the
different letters confuse you. Manipulate them algebraically as though they were numbers.
g.
v 2 vo  2as so  , a 
2
_
xm  mL
d
,d 
_
m. pV nRT
,T 
_
,c 
_
,v 
_
, si 
_
l.
h.
i.
1
K  kx2
2
Tp 2
,x 
L
_
,g 
_
g
j.
k.
Fg G m1m2
r2
1
mgh  mv2
2
n.
,r 
sinc 
n1
n2

_
o.
1 2
qV  mv
2
,v 
p.
1
f

1
so

1
si
SECTION TWO: Measurements
When using a measuring device, you MUST estimate between the smallest marks on the instrument. For example,
if a ruler is marked off in increments of whole millimeters, you estimate the length of an object to the closest tenth of
a millimeter.
Use the ruler below to measure the length of the arrow. Remember to estimate between the smallest marks.
The length of the arrow is
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
mm.
4
SECTION THREE: Units
Science uses the KMS system (SI: System Internationale). KMS stands for kilogram, meter, second. These are
the units of choice of physics. The equations in physics depend on unit agreement. So you must convert to KMS
in most problems to arrive at the correct answer.
There are two categories of unit conversions: [1] Converting with SI prefixes & [2] converting to different unit scales
[1]
kilometers (km) to meters (m)
and meters to kilometers
centimeters (cm) to meters (m) and meters to centimeters
millimeters (mm) to meters (m) and meters to millimeters
nanometers (nm) to meters (m) and metes to nanometers
gram (g) to kilogram (kg)
[2]
o
Celsius ( C) to Kelvin (K)
atmospheres (atm) to Pascals (Pa)
3
liters (L) to cubic meters (m )
[1] One Simple Method for Converting SI Prefixes:
Where you see the prefix, simply replace with the exponential notation of the number.
Example:
600 nm
-9
from above chart n 
nano 
10
600 x 10-9 m
[2] Factor Label Method for Converting Units:
Similar to stoichiometry!
Example: 150 yards to inches
What if you don’t know the conversion factors? Colleges want students who can find their own information (so do
employers). Hint: Try a good dictionary and look under “measure” or “measurement”. Or the Internet? Enjoy.
a.
4008 g
=
kg
c.
823 nm
=
m
b.
1.2 km
=
m
d.
298 K
=
o
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
C
5
=
cm
i.
8.23 m
=
km
8.8x10 m
=
mm
j.
40.0 cm
=
m
g.
25.0 m
=
m
k.
6.23x10 m
=
nm
l.
1.5x10 m
=
km
h.
2.65 mm
=
m
e.
0.77 m
f.
-8
-7
11
SECTION FOUR: Geometry Review
Solve the following geometric problems.
a.
Line B touches the circle at a single point. Line A extends through the center of the circle.
i.
VOCAB: What is line B in reference to the circle?
_
ii.
VOCAB: What is line A in reference to the circle?
_
iii.
How large is the angle between lines A and B?
_
C
b. What is angle C?
_
30o
45o
c.
What is angle ?
30o
_

APB Physics, Summer Assignment
6
d.
How large is ?
_

30o
e.
The radius of a circle is 5.5 cm,
i.
What is the circumference in meters?
ii.
_
What is its area in square meters?
_
4
f.
What is the area of the space enclosed between the plotted line
on the graph and the x and y axis at the right?
_
12
20
Using the generic triangle to the right, Right Triangle Trigonometry
and Pythagorean Theorem solve the following. Your calculator
must be in degree mode.
a.
= 55 and c = 32 m, solve for a and b.
b.
= 45 and a = 15 m/s, solve for b and c.
o
o
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
7
Use the image to the left to solve for the unknown values (this is a problem we will do again a few weeks into the
semester when we discuss forces on inclined planes)
X=
Y=
Y
20 units
SECTION FIVE: Graphical Analysis
60o
X
You should be familiar with graph construction (by hand and on Excel). This is a topic that often appears on AP
exams and is an easy way to score points on any assignment.
Note:
When you are told to graph Apples vs. Oranges, the 1st thing goes on the y-axis. The 2nd thing is on the x-axis.
Fill in the following table and plot the points on the grid below as distance versus time. Be sure to correctly label the
graph (axes labels, including units, and title)
Time, t (s)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
Distance, d (m)
0
5.1
9.9
15.2
25.2
Draw the best fit line through your data points.
2
Now use Excel to plot the graph. Record the equation of the best-fit line and R value.
basics @ http://www.associatedcontent.com/video/14714/graphing_on_excel.html
(Attach Excel graph to this packet or cut and tape in below)
What is the slope of the line that you plotted (with correct units)?
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
8
SECTION SIX: Vectors
Most of the quantities in physics are vectors. This makes proficiency in vectors extremely important.
Magnitude: Size or extent. The numerical value.
Direction: Alignment or orientation of any position with respect to any other position.
Scalars: A physical quantity described by a single number and units. A quantity described by magnitude only.
Examples: time, mass, and temperature
Vector: A physical quantity with both a magnitude and a direction. A directional quantity.
Examples: velocity, acceleration, force
Notation: A
A
or
Length of the arrow is proportional to the vectors magnitude.
Direction the arrow points is the direction of the vector.
Negative Vectors
Negative vectors have the same magnitude as their positive counterpart. They are just pointing in the
opposite direction.
A
A
Vector Addition and subtraction
Think of it as vector addition only. The result of adding vectors is called the resultant. R
A B R
A
+
B
R
=
So if A has a magnitude of 3 and B has a magnitude of 2, then R has a magnitude of 3+2=5.
When you need to subtract one vector from another think of the one being subtracted as being a negative
vector. Then add them.
A B is really A B R
A
+
B
R
=
A negative vector has the same length as its positive counterpart, but its direction is reversed.
So if A has a magnitude of 3 and B has a magnitude of 2, then R has a magnitude of 3+(-2)=1.
This is very important. In physics a negative number does not always mean a smaller number. Mathematically
–2 is smaller than +2, but in physics these numbers have the same magnitude (size), they just point in different
o
directions (180 apart).
Vectors in 2 dimensions
nd
Tip to Tail (draw the first vector & at the tip of the first vector then draw the 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdHqYlZFEGM
A+B
vector)
B
A
B
A
B
A–B
A
-B
R
-B
A
B
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
A
R
A
9
Draw the resultant vector using the tip to tail method of vector addition. Label the resultant as vector R
Example 1: A + B
B
A
T–S
b.
B
S
T
A
R
Example 2: A – B
c.
P+V
-B
B
A
a.
A
P
R
V
X+Y
X
C–D
d.
C
Y
D
Component Vectors
A resultant vector is a vector resulting from the sum of two or more other vectors. Mathematically the resultant
has the same magnitude and direction as the total of the vectors that compose the resultant. Could a vector
be described by two or more other vectors? Would they have the same total result?
This is the reverse of finding the resultant. You are given the resultant and must find the component vectors
on the coordinate axis that describe the resultant.
R
+Ry
R
+Rx
R
or
+Ry
+Rx
Any vector can be described by an x axis vector and a y axis vector which summed together mean the exact
same thing. The advantage is you can then use plus and minus signs for direction instead of the angle.
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
10
For the following vectors draw the component vectors along the x and y axis.
a.
Obviously the quadrant that a vector is in determines the sign of the x and y component vectors.
Trigonometry and Vectors
Given a vector, you can now draw the x and y component vectors. The sum of vectors x and y describe the
vector exactly. Again, any math done with the component vectors will be as valid as with the original vector.
The advantage is that math on the x and/or y axis is greatly simplified since direction can be specified with plus
and minus signs instead of degrees. But, how do you mathematically find the length of the component vectors?
Use trigonometry.
cos
adj
hyp
10
10
y
o
40
x
sin
opp
hyp
adj hyp cos
opp hyp sin
x hyp cos
y hyp sin
x 10cos40o
x 7.66
y 10sin 40o
y 6.43
Solve the following problems. You will be converting from a polar vector, where direction is specified in degrees
measured counterclockwise from east, to component vectors along the x and y axis. Remember the plus and
minus signs on your answers. They correspond with the quadrant the original vector is in.
Hint: Draw the vector first to help you see the quadrant. Anticipate the sign on the x and y vectors. Do not bother
o
to change the angle to less than 90 . Using the number given will result in the correct + and – signs.
The first number will be the magnitude (length of the vector) and the second the degrees from east.
Your calculator must be in degree mode.
o
Example: 250 at 235
a.
o
89 at 150
x hyp cos
235
o
x 250cos235o
x 143
y hyp sin
250
y 250sin 235o
y 205
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
11
o
b.
6.50 at 345
c.
o
0.00556 at 60
Given two component vectors solve for the resultant vector. This is the opposite of the above. Use Pythagorean
Theorem to find the hypotenuse, then use inverse (arc) tangent to solve for the angle.
R2 x2 y2 tan 
Example: x = 20, y = -15

adj
opp 


 adj 
 y 
 tan1  
x 
 tan 1 
R
R
20
opp

-15
R 25




d.
x = 600, y = 400
f.
x = -32, y = 16
e.
x = -0.75, y = -1.25
g.
x = 0.0065, y = -0.0090
How are vectors used in Physics?
APB Physics, Summer Assignment
They are used everywhere!
12