AP Physics B Summer Assignment 2011-2012
Forest Park HS
Mr. Longo
longo.physics@gmail.com
longodb@pwcs.edu
Welcome to AP Physics B. The purpose of this summer assignment is to give you a head start and keep
your brain engaged during the summer. The course is for serious students and requires dedication, and
commitment to hard work and a willingness to be challenged. I’m here to help and guide you through
this process of learning, but to a large degree you will be responsible for developing an understanding
through your own efforts (this is a skill you need to develop for college).
TEXTBOOKS:
o Giancoli, D (1998) Physics, 5th edition, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-611971-9.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
You should have these items on the first day of class.
o Scientific or graphing calculator
o Composition notebook (for homework and class examples)
o Composition notebook (for labs)
o 3 ring binder
o Paper for binder
SHOW YOUR WORK:
To receive credit you must show a logical progression of steps leading to your answers, starting with the
equation or statement of idea. Just like the AP exam, answers with no work will receive no credit.
Keep this philosophy of grading in mind when you work on problems:
o Identify the correct given information.
o Create diagram or drawing that represents the problem.
o Identify and manipulate formulas to solve the problem.
o Identify your reasoning or your approach (described in words) in solving the problems.
o Use correct significant figures, and correct use of units.
NEATNESS COUNTS:
Your answer must be neat and easy to follow.
COLLABORATION: You are encouraged to work with other students and to receive help from sources
available to you. However, it would be considered cheating if you simply copied another student’s work.
You may get the problem explained by another student, but you must then work through the problem on
your own. Not only is it considered cheating to copy the answers but you are truly doing yourself a
disservice to your overall grade and knowledge of physics. A strong understanding of physics concepts
is required for succeeding in this course and ultimately transferring that knowledge onto college.
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I. Email Address – Complete by June 17th.
Your first assignment is to email me at longo.physics@gmail.com.
Throughout the year I will send you important updates, corrections, clarifications, etc. Former students
can tell you this is the best way to ask questions. If you’re having difficulty with a problem, email me, and
I can help guide you through. If you don’t want me to know your personal address, then make a new one.
I use gmail, but there’s also yahoo, hotmail, or other free locations. Please make sure when creating an
email address that you make it neutral. By this I mean “bigdaddy@” or “yourmomma@” isn’t something
you would want to put on a college application or a resume. You may laugh, but this comes from
experience. Please use common sense.
Email should contain:
1. Your name (first, last)
2. Grade Level you will be in next year.
3. List all math classes passed in your high school career to date.
4. List all science classes passed in your high school career to date.
5. Define “physics”.
6. Explain why you are taking AP Physics.
II. Math & Physics Review – Due the 3rd class we return to school. Strongly suggest you finish over the
summer. Expect a quiz on the 3rd class we return to school.
AP Physics requires an exceptional proficiency in algebra, trigonometry, and geometry. In addition to the
science concepts AP Physics closely mirrors a course in applied mathematics. The following assignments
include mathematical problems that are considered routine in AP Physics.
 Read & Study
a. Chapter 1 – pg. 1-15
b. Appendix A – Sections A-1 to A-4, A-6 to A-7 (exclude identities),
c. Appendix B
 Answer Problems: Chapter 1 – pg. 16-18 Odd - Be sure to show work and/or explain.
 Complete “Math Skills WS”
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Math Skills WS
Please answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Show ALL work.
1. The following are ordinary physics problems. Place the answer in scientific notation when
appropriate and simplify the units.
4.5 x102 kg
?
2.0 x103 kg
2
s
a. Ts  2
 6.6 x10 kg  2.11x10   ?
 3.2 x10 C 9.6 x10 C   ?
9.0 x10
b. K 
1
2
F

c.
d. e 
4 m 2
s
2
9 N  m2
C2
9

9
 0.32 m 
2
1.7 x103 J  3.3x102 J
?
1.7 x103 J
e. 1.33sin 25.0  1.50sin 
 ?
f.
K max   6.63x1034 J  s  7.09 x1014 s   2.17 x1019 J  ?
g.
y
1
2.25 x108 ms
1
3.00 x108 ms
?
2. Solve for the variable indicated.
a. v2  v02  2a  x  xo 
a?
b. K  12 kx
x?
2
m L
d
d ?
i.
pV  nRT
T ?
sin  c 
n1
n2
c  ?
h. xm 
l
g
g ?
j.
m1m2
r2
r ?
k. qV  12 mv 
e. mgh  12 mv 2
v?
l.
c. Tp  2
d. Fg  G
f.
x  x0  v0t  12 at 2
g. B 
0 I
2 r
t ?
1 1 1
 
f s0 s f
v?
si  ?
r ?
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3. 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.
What if you don’t know the conversion factors? Colleges want students who can find their own
information (so do employers).
4.
a.
4008 g
= ___?___ kg
b.
823 nm
= ___?___ m
c.
298 K
= ___?___ oC
d.
8.8x10-8 m
= ___?___ mm
e.
1.2 atm
= ___?___ Pa
f.
25.0 m
= ___?___ m
g.
5.4 L
= ___?___ m3
h.
40.0 cm
= ___?___ m
i.
6.23x10-7
j.
1.5x1011 m
m
= ___?___ nm
= ___?___ km
Solve the following geometric problems.
a. Line B touches the circle at a single point. Line A extends through the center of the circle.
b.
What is line B in reference to the circle?
B
c.
How large is the angle between lines A and B?
d.
What is angle C?
A
C
30o
45o
e.
What is angle  ?
30o

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f.
How large is ?

30o
g.
The radius of a circle is 5.5 cm,
i.
What is the circumference in meters?
ii.
What is its area in square meters?
h.
What is the area under the curve at the right?
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5. Using the generic triangle to the right, Right Triangle Trigonometry and pythagorean Theorem
solve the following. Your calculator must be in degree mode.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
 = 55o and c = 32 m, solve for a and b.
 = 45o and a = 15 m/s, solve for b and c.
b = 17.8 m and  = 65o, solve for a and c.
a = 250 m and b = 180 m, solve for  and c.
a =25 cm and c = 32 cm, solve for b and .
b =65 cm and c = 104 cm, solve for a and .
*Please feel free to email (longo.physics@gmail.com) me at any time if you have questions or concerns.*
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