AP Physics Summer Review – Instructions
In the file named, “Summer Formula Work – 2015”, you will find a list of most (but not all, believe it or
not) of the formulas we learned last year in Pre-AP Physics, the constants that you were supposed to
commit to memory, and several conversion factors you should know. Your goal this summer is to
memorize them all (you should already have done that, so it is more of a “cement the memory in place”
assignment).
On page 2, you will find a set of 13 graphs. They are not labeled as to what they represent. Ignore the
four on the left of the page, and instead work with the graphs in the middle and far right columns. On a
separate sheet of paper, re-draw each graph, labeling the axes (so it is identified as a distance-time
graph, velocity-time graph, or an acceleration-time graph) and answer the following questions:
For each graph, assume that it is:
1) A distance-time graph
a. What can you say about the displacement?
b. What can you say about the velocity?
c. What can you say about the acceleration?
2) A velocity-time graph
a. What can you say about the displacement?
b. What can you say about the velocity?
c. What can you say about the acceleration?
3) An acceleration-time graph
a. What can you say about the displacement?
b. What can you say about the velocity?
c. What can you say about the acceleration?
Your graphs (redrawn on separate sheets of paper, and with the above questions answered) will be due
on the first day of school. Since there are 9 different graphs, you should have a total of 27 graphs and
the answers to the associated questions from above when you are finished. This packet of 27 graphs
will be the ONLY THING you need to create over the summer.
Questions you may have:
Did we really learn all this?
Yes, other than the diffraction equation and the gravitational potential energy formula, we used all the
information in this packet at some point in the year. There is quite a bit more that will one day be
added (think Vectors!!), but will not be on this summer’s work. We will do a quick review of vectors at
the start of school next year. As we go through the year, we will be adding additional formulas, but not
nearly as many as last year. The vast majority of the formulas you will need to know for AP Physics can
be found on the pages of the “Formula Review”.
How will I be tested on this information?
The exact method of testing is still under development, but what I currently plan to do is test you by
page – randomly selected of course. Testing would be over several days, and I would give you the
concept title, such as, “Inelastic Collision”, and you will be required to remember and produce any and
all equations that are listed underneath that title.
When will I be tested?
Testing will begin the first week of school.
How can I learn all this?
You should already know it. Just review, review, review. Make “practice sheets” on the computer (or by
hand) that have the concept labels, then practice writing them down from memory. I would suggest
working on only ONE page at a time, and once mastered, revisit the page again periodically.
Is this really worth the effort?
YES! Having the formulas committed to memory was one of the suggestions given by the AP Physics
students from last year – knowing the formulas by heart was vital to doing well on the multiple-choice
portion of the exam, where no formula chart is allowed or given. And if you commit them to memory, I
will be looking for you to advance very far in Academic UIL Science in the Spring!
I am REALLY looking forward to having you all in class next fall! In the event you have questions, or find
an error on any of the formula sheets, please send me an e-mail at dglebe@dickinsonisd.org . I will
periodically check my school e-mail over the summer, but it may be several days or a week before you
get a response, depending on when I check my e-mail.