AP Physics C - Things To Work On During The Christmas Break
1. Look at your online syllabus and work 3 problems from each chapter to refresh your memory of
Mechanics
a. READ one chapter per day
b. Work 3 problems
c. When you work the problems, it is VITALLY important that you use the IGUESS method,
explicitly show every step, and DO NOT DEVIATE. The purpose of the IGUESS method is
to develop the kind of problem solving discipline that will make it easy for the grader in
June to follow your work, thus maximizing your score on the AP test. The letters for this
method stand for:
 Identify the key physics concept involved in the problem (e.g., conservation of
momentum)
 List the givens, with units
 List the unknown variable(s)
 List the starting equation that you are using. ALWAYS start with the standard
starting equation (see teacher’s equation sheet), as the AP grader will use this
equation to verify that you know which equation applies to the key concept for
the problem at hand
 Properly separate the unknown variable, and STAY SYMBOLIC until the very end
of the problem. Again, the AP grader will be looking for the symbolic separation
of the unknown variable on the AP test
 As the last step in the IGUESS method, substitute numbers into your final
equation, WITH UNITS on every number, and WITH LEADING ZEROS in front of
decimal points. Again, the purpose is to make it easier for the grader to follow
what you are doing.
d. Take notes – use these notes to come up to speed during AP test prep
e. THINK about the key concepts involved in each problem, and write them down
2. Review the key concepts on Mr. White’s web page
3. There are 6 pages of equations for Mechanics. Review ½ page of equations per day and
MEMORIZE them. When we get to E&M, I will draw analogies and comparisons between
Mechanics and E&M equations, but I CAN’T DO THAT if you don’t memorize the Mechanics
equations
4. Identified weak areas from the grade book
a. Chapter 5 – additional applications of Newton’s laws
b. Chapter 6 – work and kinetic energy
c. Chapter 8 – conservation of momentum
d. Chapters 9 & 10 – rotation
e. Chapter 12 – static equilibrium
5. Look in your notes for the derivations that are in the area of the chapter that you are reading,
and attempt to memorize the derivation. Those derivations are the general way to work the
problem of interest. They may explicitly appear on the AP exam, and they will DEFINITELY
improve your ability to work AP problems
6. Remember the key strategy for maximizing your AP test score:
a. Develop a disciplined approach to your problem solving
b. Practice working a lot of problems to learn how to solve difficult problems, AND TO
INCREASE YOUR SPEED. Even if you know how to work a problem, the AP test is timed,
and speed in problem solving is essential
c. Make sure that you ALWAYS prove to the grader that you know the key concept for the
problem at hand, and you know which equation goes with that key concept