AP PHYSICS – SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
Welcome to A.P. Physics! I hope you are enjoying your summer, and I look forward to meeting with
you and working with you this year.
I am sure you have heard that there is quite a bit of material to master to prepare for A.P. Physics testing
this coming spring. In order to get a head start, there is a summer assignment you need to complete
before the first day of class. In order to complete this assignment, you will need the following:
1. The A.P. Physics Textbook (Available in the school store)
2. Access to online course materials (email me at curt_bixel@yahoo.com) I will get you enrolled
and contact you back with log in information.
3. A BrainScape account for flashcards (sign up at https://www.brainscape.com/)
Once you have all of these, you are ready to get started!
STEP 1 – BrainScape Flash Cards
Once you have an account at BrainScape, follow this link and study the flash card deck titled
“Chap 1 Concepts of Motion.” Study these a few minutes each day until you have them mastered.
STEP 2 – Chapter 1 Reading Assignment – ALPHA
This includes a reading guide as well as a set of problems to be completed.
STEP 3 – Chapter 1 Problem Set
The problem set is due on the first day. Most of this material is review from physical science, so
it should be quite doable. ☺
STEP 4 – Study for the Chapter 1 Quiz
You should come to class on the first day with the material from Chapter 1 mastered. Be ready
for the Chapter 1 Quiz on the first day of class.
AP PHYSICS – SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
CHAPTER 1
CONCEPTS OF MOTION – READING ASSIGNMENT ALPHA
This should all be review from physical science and/or chemistry. The expectation is that you will read
and assure that you understand the following parts of this chapter. You should skip the parts that are
crossed out LIKE THIS.
1.1 – Motion diagrams.
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great treatment of important concept
1.2 – The Particle Model
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excellent introduction to “modeling.”
1.3 – Position and Time (perhaps too simple to be useful)
1.3 – Vector addition and subtraction (a bit more than is necessary)
1.4 – Velocity
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Good section, but don’t spend too much time with the quantitative/mathematical
discussions.
We don’t really care that much about average vs. instantaneous velocity on motion
diagrams.
1.5 – Linear Acceleration
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Good initial development.
Motion diagrams at bottom of page 16 are a bit too quantitatively complicated and should
be skipped
1.6 – Motion in One Dimension
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Good for introducing the meaning of sign in linear motion. Also introduces x-t graphs.
1.7 – Solving problems in physics.
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Good structure – close to what we will use in class
“Tactics box 1.5” should be carefully studied.
1.8 – Units and Significant figures.
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Skip pages 24 and 25. You should mastered this in chemistry or physical science.
Read the “Assessment” section on page 26
Skip the “Significant Figures” section
Read the “Orders of Magnitude and Estimating” on page 28
Now, complete the problem set titled “Concepts of Motion Problems.”
CONCEPTS OF MOTION PROBLEMS
Concepts – 1 (Conc 1.1)
Concepts - 7 (Conc 1.7)
Concepts – 2 (Conc 1.2)
Concepts - 3 (Conc 1.3)
Concepts - 8 (Conc 1.8)
Concepts - 4 (Conc 1.4) (see tactics box 1.4 page 18)
Concepts - 5 (Conc 1.5)
Concepts - 9 (1.4)
Concepts - 10 (1.12)
Concepts - 11 (1.13)
Concepts - 6 (Conc 1.6)
Concepts - 12 (1.14)
CONCEPTS OF MOTION PROBLEMS
Concepts - 13 (1.15)
Concepts - 20 (1.25)
Concepts - 21 (1.26)
Concepts - 14 (1.16)
Concepts - 15 (1.17)
Concepts - 16 (1.19)
Concepts - 22 (1.27) (a – 12-in) (b – 50 mph) (c – 3 miles) (d - .25 in)
Concepts - 17 (1.20)
Concepts - 23 (1.28) (a- 846) (b- 7.9) (c-5.77) (d-13.1)
Concepts - 18 (1.23)
Concepts - 19 (1.24)
Concepts - 24 (1.29)
CONCEPTS OF MOTION PROBLEMS
Concepts - 25 (1.46)
Figure P1.46 shows a motion diagram. Write a short one
or two sentence story about a real object that might have
this motion. Your story might start like this: “Dave is
standing at a crosswalk when the light begins to flash
WALK…..”
Concepts - 29 (1.51)
Below is a motion diagram. The acceleration vectors are
missing. Add them.
Concepts - 26 (1.47)
Figure P1.47 shows a motion diagram. Write a short one
or two sentence story about a real object that might have
this motion. Your story might start like this: “A ball is
dropped….”
Concepts - 30 1.52)
Figure P1.52 shows a motion diagram. The acceleration
vectors are missing. Add them.
Concepts - 31 (1.56)
Concepts - 27 (1.49)
Figure P1.49 show a motion diagram. The acceleration
vectors are missing. Add them.
Concepts - 32 (1.57)
Concepts - 28 (1.50)
Figure P1.50 shows a motion diagram. The acceleration
vectors are missing. Add them.