AP Physics B Summer Assignment
Welcome to AP Physics B! It is a college level physics
course that is fun, interesting, and challenging on a level
you’ve not yet experienced. This assignment will review all of
the prerequisite knowledge expected of you. There are four
parts to this assignment. By taking the time to review and
understand all parts of this assignment, you will help yourself
acclimate to the rigor and pacing of AP Physics B. Use the
internet if you need to, but really this is all stuff you already
know how to do (basic math skills). It is VERY important that
this assignment be completed individually. It will be a total
waste of your time to copy the assignment from a friend. The
summer assignment will be due the first day of class.
Wherever necessary complete the work on a separate sheet
of paper. Good luck! 
Part 1: Scientific Notation and Dimensional Analysis
Many numbers in physics will be provided in scientific notation. You need to be able to read and simplify
scientific notation.
Express the following the numbers in scientific notation. Keep the same unit as provided. ALL answers in
physics need their appropriate unit to be correct.
1. 7,640,000 kg
2. 8327.2 s
3. 0.000000003 m
4. 0.0093 km/s
Often times multiple numbers in a problem contain scientific notation and will need to be solved.
Before you practice this, remember the rules for exponents you learned in algebra:
- When numbers with exponents are multiplied together, you add the exponents and multiply the bases.
- When numbers are divided, you subtract the exponents and divide the bases.
- When an exponent is raised to another exponent, you multiply the exponents and raise the base to the
designated power.
Using the three rules from above, simplify the following numbers in proper scientific notation:
5. (3x106)(2x104) =
6. (1.2x104) / (6x10-2) =
7. (4x108)(5x10-3) =
8. (7x103)2 =
9. (8x103) / (2x105) =
10. (2x10-3)3 =
Fill in the power and the symbol for the following unit prefixes. Look them up as necessary. These should be
memorized for next year. Kilo- has been completed as an example.
Prefix
GigaMegaKiloCentiMilliMicroPico-
Power
Symbol
103
k
Not only is it important to know what the prefixes mean, it is also vital that you can convert between metric
units. If there is no prefix in front of a unit, it is the base unit which has 100 for its power, or simply “1”.
Convert the following numbers into the specified unit. Use scientific notation when appropriate.
1. 24 g =
kg
2. 94.1 MHz =
3. 6 Gb =
4. 640 nm =
Hz
kb
m
It is important that you know how to use your calculator for scientific notation.
5. (3.67x103)(8.91x10-6) =
6. (5.32x10-2)(4.87x10-4) =
7. (9.2x106) / (3.6x1012) =
8. (6.12x10-3)3
Part 2: Geometry
Calculate the area of the following shapes. It may be necessary to break up the figure into common shapes.
1.
2.
7m
22 m
12 m
16 m
6m
15 m
18 m
Area =
Area =
Calculate the unknown angle values for questions 3-6.
3.
4.
60°
A
B
C
m
D
E
θ
F
G
n
H
ϕ
Lines m and n are parallel.
θ = 16°
ϕ=
5.
A = 75°
B=
C=
D=
E=
F=
G=
H=
6.
θ4
θ2
θ5
θ1 =
θ3
θ1
70°
θ1
B
A
θ = 37°
C
θ2 =
D
θ
θ3 =
θ4 =
A=
B=
θ5 =
C=
D=
Part 3: Trigonometry
Write the formulas for each one of the following trigonometric functions. Remember SOHCAHTOA!
cosθ =
sinθ =
tanθ =
Calculate the following unknowns using trigonometry. Use a calculator, but show all of your work. Please
include appropriate units with all answers. All triangles are right triangles.
y
dx
1.
12 m
2.
y
θ
x
θ = 60°
y=
x=
θ
4.
3.
θ
59.3 km
θ = 30˚
c
dy
x
dx =
θ = 17˚
x=
dy =
y=
39.8 m
2.3 m
θ
θ
θ
5. 17 m
6.
d
R
5.4 m
c=
R=
d=
θ=
θ=
θ=
13.7 m
7.
8.
y
9.
d
θ
21.6 km
x
θ
θ = 26°
6.7 m θ
y=
x=
R=
θ=
d=
θ=
R
Part 4: Algebra
Solve the following. Units on the numbers are included because they are essential to the concepts, however they do not
have any effect on the actual numbers you are putting into the equations. In other words, the units do not change how you
do the algebra. Show every step for every problem, including writing the original equation, all algebraic manipulations, and
substitution! You should practice doing all algebra before substituting numbers in for variables. Clearly show all of these
calculations on a separate sheet of paper.
Section I: For problems 1-3, use the four equations below:
Formula Set #1
1. Using the equations above, determine t if vo = 5 m/s, vf = 25 m/s, and a = 10 m/s2. Clearly show below the formula
you select, the substitution of given values, and a final answer with units.
2. Using the equations above, determine x if xo = 5m, t = 3.5 s, vo = 15 m/s, and a = 9.8 m/s2. Clearly show below the
formula you select, the substitution of given values, and a final answer with units.
3. Combinations of formulas. Sometimes you will need to use multiple formulas in sequence to complete a
calculation. Determine the Σ F if a 15 kg object is accelerated from 0 m/s to 30 m/s in 4.5 seconds. Clearly show
below the formula you select, the substitution of given values, and a final answer with units.
Section II: For problems 4-5, use the four equations below:
Formula Set #2
4. Using an equation above, determine the strength of the magnetic field B that can apply a force FB of 150 N to an
electron (charge q = -1.6x10-19C) traveling at 1.2 x 104 m/s at an angle of 80 degrees to the field. Clearly show
below the formula you select, the substitution of given values, and a final answer with units.
5. Michael Faraday discovered that a wire immersed in a magnet field could would have a force exerted on it causing it
to move, eventually this discovery lead to the invention of the electrical engine. (Pretty useful thing!) If a 3.5 meter
long wire carrying a current of 2.3 A is oriented perpendicular to a magnetic field with strength B = 35T, what is the
force FB on the wire? Clearly show below the formula you select, the substitution of given values, and a final
answer with units.