Ap Physics Summer Assignment
AP Physics Summer Assignment with
Dr. Crymes
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 7 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. The summer assignment will be “due” the first day of class. Good luck!
1. First off: send me your email address to jonathan_crymes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us so that I can make a class list and hopefully send you some cool stuff over the summer. No extra work, I promise. Preferably today, but …show more content…
no later than June 30, email me to introduce yourself. Please include the following information with your email:
- First name, last name, last math class taken and grade received.
- What do you hope to get out of this course besides a good grade?
- Do you have any physics questions you’ve always wondered about like: what is a black hole? Is time travel really possible? What is “relativity”? or “quantum physics”? or “if the Universe is filled with stars, why is it dark in space but not on Earth?” or the classic “Did Einstein really fail his math class?”
2. Okay, remember how in chemistry they use symbols like “O” for oxygen and “H” for hydrogen and there’s like 120 elements all total? And if you know them, life in chemistry was much easier? Well, physics has some common symbols that they use too! You will be quizzed regularly on these, so go ahead and start learning them now. Some you already know, like time, distance, and speed. Some you’ve probably never heard of before. If you want to know what one is, like “Magnetic Flux Density”, just look it up on the internet. Make some flash cards and start quizzing yourself. I’ll give you a grade on the first day based on how many you know AND on how awesome your flash cards are so make them flashy! See “What the Units Tell You” at the end of this packet.
3. A little more memorization: English became the international language of science after WWII. Before
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr.
Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
that German, Latin, and Greek were the big guys. Because of this, a LOT of physics symbols are Greek so we need to learn some of the Greek letters. Same deal here: make some flash cards, learn them, and bring your amazing flash cards to class the first day OR make a memory card/matching game. The shortened list of Greek letters you need to know is at the end of this packet as well.
4. You like TV, right? I want you to watch a couple of classic, and I do mean CLASSIC, physics videos.
You can find them on YouTube (search for “Frames of Reference (1960)”) and at http://www.archive.org/details/frames_of_reference. About the first 40 seconds are silent, just so you know. You might find the videos in 2 parts and they should be around 27 minutes total. I want you to write down 20 good physics facts from watching.
5. This is a quick refresher of the Metric System:
Everything in physics is measured in the metric system. The only time that you will see English units is when you convert them to metric units. The metric system is also called SI (from the French, “Système
International”). In the SI system fundamental quantities are measured in meters, kilograms, …show more content…
Coulombs, and seconds. Once again, flash cards or memory cards!
Name of prefix piconanomicromillicentikilomegaGiga- 6.
Numerical value
-12
10
-9
10
-6
10
-3
10
-2
10
3
10
6
10
9
10
Abbreviation p n μ m c k
M
G
Scalars and Vectors
Hooray for the Internet! Watch the following two videos: http://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/v/introduction-to-vectors-and-scalars http://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/v/visualizing-vectors-in-2-dimensions
For each video, summarize the content Mr. Khan is presenting in three sentences. Then, write at least one question per video on something you didn’t understand or on a possible extension of the elementary concepts he presents here.
If you have issues paying attention or if your Facebook is open as you are trying to focus on these videos, you might have to watch them more than once. Trust me, these concepts are some of the building blocks of Physics. Get this down and you are on the fast track to success.
7. Lastly, here are some websites to help you throughout the year. The internet was invented by physicists
(actually true) and any question you have about basic physics can be answered there. You just need to look a little and these sites are a good place to start. I highly recommend you make time to visit these sites and familiarize yourself with them:
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
a.
b.
c.
d.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/ http://www.archive.org/details/ap_physics_b http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/physics/physics/index.htm http://www.animations.physics.unsw.edu.au/mechanics/index.html This course is a wonderful opportunity to grow as a critical thinker, problem solver and great communicator.
Don’t believe the rumors – it is not impossibly hard. It does require hard work, but so does anything that is worthwhile. You would never expect to win a race if you didn’t train.
Similarly, you can’t expect to do well if you don’t train academically. AP
Physics is immensely rewarding and exciting, but you do have to take notes, study, and read the book (gasp!). You CANNOT get it from just paying attention in class or from giving up the first time you try just like you can’t learn to play an instrument in one lesson. I guarantee that if you do what is asked of you that you will look back to this class with a huge sense of satisfaction! I know I can’t wait to get started… Let’s learn some
PHYSICS!!!
SEE YOU IN AUGUST!
~DR. CRYMES
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
WHAT THE UNITS TELL YOU (AP PHYSICS B)
Units are the little letters that come after numbers when writing data. The units are
VERY useful because they tell you WHAT VARIABLE YOU’VE JUST GIVEN OR BEEN GIVEN!
For example, if you see in a word problem “9.8 m/s2”, the “m/s2” only tells you ONE THINGwhat variable you’ve been given, in this case, the acceleration or a.
Here’s a list of some common units and what they are used for:
The Unit you see
What the Unit is used for
Mechanics m (meter) s (seconds) m/s (meters/second) m/s2 (meters/second squared)
(degree symbol) kg (kilogram) kg*m/s (kilogram meter/second)
N*s (Newton*second)
N (Newton)
N/m (Newton per meter)
J (Joule)
W (Watt)
N*m (Newton-meter)
Variable(s) for the Unit
distance or radius time speed or velocity acceleration angle mass momentum impulse force spring constant work or energy power torque (moment of inertia)
d, r, x, y, l t s, v, vf, vi a (theta), (phi) m p
J
F k KE, PE (U), W
P
(tau)
Electricity
C (Coulomb)
A (Amp or Ampere)
V (Volt)
N/C (Newton per Coulomb)
Ohm or
F (Farad)
T (Tesla)
Wb (Weber)
charge current voltage electric field resistance capacitance magnetic field strength magnetic flux density
q or Q
I
V
E
R
C
B
(uppercase phi)
Waves
Hz (Hertz) s (seconds (per wave or oscillation)) m (meter)
frequency period wavelength
f
T
(lamda)
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
It’s all G(r)eek to me!
Greek Letter
, φ γ λ
Name
Alpha (lowercase)
Commonly used for radiation particle (Helium)
Beta (lowercase)
Radiation particle (electron)
Delta (uppercase)
Epsilon (lowercase)
Showing a change in a quantity (subtraction!)
Permittivity
Phi (Uppercase, lowercase)
Magnetic Flux, work function
Gamma (lowercase)
Radioactivity (x-ray), relativity
Lambda (lowercase)
Wavelength
Mu (lowercase) pronounced “moo”
coefficient of friction, ‘micro-’
Pi (lowercase)
Mathematical constant
Theta (lowercase)
Angle name
Rho (lowercase) pronounced “row”
Density, resistivity
Sigma (uppercase)
Showing the sum of numbers
Tau (lowercase) pronounced like “towel”
Torque
Omega (uppercase)
Resistance (to electricity)
Xi (uppercase) (it looks like a cursive “E”)
Electromotive force; induced voltage C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
Dr. Crymes
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 7 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. The summer assignment will be “due” the first day of class. Good luck!
1. First off: send me your email address to jonathan_crymes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us so that I can make a class list and hopefully send you some cool stuff over the summer. No extra work, I promise. Preferably today, but …show more content…
no later than June 30, email me to introduce yourself. Please include the following information with your email:
- First name, last name, last math class taken and grade received.
- What do you hope to get out of this course besides a good grade?
- Do you have any physics questions you’ve always wondered about like: what is a black hole? Is time travel really possible? What is “relativity”? or “quantum physics”? or “if the Universe is filled with stars, why is it dark in space but not on Earth?” or the classic “Did Einstein really fail his math class?”
2. Okay, remember how in chemistry they use symbols like “O” for oxygen and “H” for hydrogen and there’s like 120 elements all total? And if you know them, life in chemistry was much easier? Well, physics has some common symbols that they use too! You will be quizzed regularly on these, so go ahead and start learning them now. Some you already know, like time, distance, and speed. Some you’ve probably never heard of before. If you want to know what one is, like “Magnetic Flux Density”, just look it up on the internet. Make some flash cards and start quizzing yourself. I’ll give you a grade on the first day based on how many you know AND on how awesome your flash cards are so make them flashy! See “What the Units Tell You” at the end of this packet.
3. A little more memorization: English became the international language of science after WWII. Before
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr.
Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
that German, Latin, and Greek were the big guys. Because of this, a LOT of physics symbols are Greek so we need to learn some of the Greek letters. Same deal here: make some flash cards, learn them, and bring your amazing flash cards to class the first day OR make a memory card/matching game. The shortened list of Greek letters you need to know is at the end of this packet as well.
4. You like TV, right? I want you to watch a couple of classic, and I do mean CLASSIC, physics videos.
You can find them on YouTube (search for “Frames of Reference (1960)”) and at http://www.archive.org/details/frames_of_reference. About the first 40 seconds are silent, just so you know. You might find the videos in 2 parts and they should be around 27 minutes total. I want you to write down 20 good physics facts from watching.
5. This is a quick refresher of the Metric System:
Everything in physics is measured in the metric system. The only time that you will see English units is when you convert them to metric units. The metric system is also called SI (from the French, “Système
International”). In the SI system fundamental quantities are measured in meters, kilograms, …show more content…
Coulombs, and seconds. Once again, flash cards or memory cards!
Name of prefix piconanomicromillicentikilomegaGiga- 6.
Numerical value
-12
10
-9
10
-6
10
-3
10
-2
10
3
10
6
10
9
10
Abbreviation p n μ m c k
M
G
Scalars and Vectors
Hooray for the Internet! Watch the following two videos: http://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/v/introduction-to-vectors-and-scalars http://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/v/visualizing-vectors-in-2-dimensions
For each video, summarize the content Mr. Khan is presenting in three sentences. Then, write at least one question per video on something you didn’t understand or on a possible extension of the elementary concepts he presents here.
If you have issues paying attention or if your Facebook is open as you are trying to focus on these videos, you might have to watch them more than once. Trust me, these concepts are some of the building blocks of Physics. Get this down and you are on the fast track to success.
7. Lastly, here are some websites to help you throughout the year. The internet was invented by physicists
(actually true) and any question you have about basic physics can be answered there. You just need to look a little and these sites are a good place to start. I highly recommend you make time to visit these sites and familiarize yourself with them:
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
a.
b.
c.
d.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/ http://www.archive.org/details/ap_physics_b http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/physics/physics/index.htm http://www.animations.physics.unsw.edu.au/mechanics/index.html This course is a wonderful opportunity to grow as a critical thinker, problem solver and great communicator.
Don’t believe the rumors – it is not impossibly hard. It does require hard work, but so does anything that is worthwhile. You would never expect to win a race if you didn’t train.
Similarly, you can’t expect to do well if you don’t train academically. AP
Physics is immensely rewarding and exciting, but you do have to take notes, study, and read the book (gasp!). You CANNOT get it from just paying attention in class or from giving up the first time you try just like you can’t learn to play an instrument in one lesson. I guarantee that if you do what is asked of you that you will look back to this class with a huge sense of satisfaction! I know I can’t wait to get started… Let’s learn some
PHYSICS!!!
SEE YOU IN AUGUST!
~DR. CRYMES
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
WHAT THE UNITS TELL YOU (AP PHYSICS B)
Units are the little letters that come after numbers when writing data. The units are
VERY useful because they tell you WHAT VARIABLE YOU’VE JUST GIVEN OR BEEN GIVEN!
For example, if you see in a word problem “9.8 m/s2”, the “m/s2” only tells you ONE THINGwhat variable you’ve been given, in this case, the acceleration or a.
Here’s a list of some common units and what they are used for:
The Unit you see
What the Unit is used for
Mechanics m (meter) s (seconds) m/s (meters/second) m/s2 (meters/second squared)
(degree symbol) kg (kilogram) kg*m/s (kilogram meter/second)
N*s (Newton*second)
N (Newton)
N/m (Newton per meter)
J (Joule)
W (Watt)
N*m (Newton-meter)
Variable(s) for the Unit
distance or radius time speed or velocity acceleration angle mass momentum impulse force spring constant work or energy power torque (moment of inertia)
d, r, x, y, l t s, v, vf, vi a (theta), (phi) m p
J
F k KE, PE (U), W
P
(tau)
Electricity
C (Coulomb)
A (Amp or Ampere)
V (Volt)
N/C (Newton per Coulomb)
Ohm or
F (Farad)
T (Tesla)
Wb (Weber)
charge current voltage electric field resistance capacitance magnetic field strength magnetic flux density
q or Q
I
V
E
R
C
B
(uppercase phi)
Waves
Hz (Hertz) s (seconds (per wave or oscillation)) m (meter)
frequency period wavelength
f
T
(lamda)
C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx
It’s all G(r)eek to me!
Greek Letter
, φ γ λ
Name
Alpha (lowercase)
Commonly used for radiation particle (Helium)
Beta (lowercase)
Radiation particle (electron)
Delta (uppercase)
Epsilon (lowercase)
Showing a change in a quantity (subtraction!)
Permittivity
Phi (Uppercase, lowercase)
Magnetic Flux, work function
Gamma (lowercase)
Radioactivity (x-ray), relativity
Lambda (lowercase)
Wavelength
Mu (lowercase) pronounced “moo”
coefficient of friction, ‘micro-’
Pi (lowercase)
Mathematical constant
Theta (lowercase)
Angle name
Rho (lowercase) pronounced “row”
Density, resistivity
Sigma (uppercase)
Showing the sum of numbers
Tau (lowercase) pronounced like “towel”
Torque
Omega (uppercase)
Resistance (to electricity)
Xi (uppercase) (it looks like a cursive “E”)
Electromotive force; induced voltage C:\Users\e199201050\Desktop\Dr. Crymes Summer Assignment AP B.docx