AP Physics C: Mechanics

Congratulations on choosing to study AP Physics C: Mechanics!  You are about to embark on an incredible adventure of challenging, rewarding learning.  To facilitate your learning, you are asked to complete the following work over the summer. 

Please note: these assignments are due on the first day of school!  I am willing to go over some problems that you may have difficulty with.

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Textbook

Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach 5e (AP Edition)

Chapter 1: Concepts of Motion

• Skim Chapter 1
• Reach Chapter 1 Summary
• CQ #4-8

Chapter 2: Kinematics in One Dimension

• Skim sec. 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6
• Read Problem-solving strategy 2.1 on p. 47
• Read sec. 2.2, 2.3 (these sections introduce Calculus), 2.7
• Read Chapter 2 Summary
• Example Problems 2.14, 2.15, 2.17, 2.18
• "Stop to Think" 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6
• CQ #4, 6, 14
• Exercises #10, 13, 19, 21, 23, 28, 31, 33* [Calculus!]
• Problems #49, 58, 70

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*Note: Answers to Stop-to-Think as well as Odd-numbered Exercises and Problems can be found in the back of the book, in Appendix starting on page A-9.

Appendix A: Math Review on p. A-1 through A-3 could be quite helpful [especially the Calculus!]

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Some Notes about the Summer Work from the Textbook:

• Skim implies that the material is a rehash of what you’ve previously learned in Honors Physics; these are important topics, but they are not “new” to you.  You should look over the material, but it should be more of a reminder than new learning. 
  • You should answer the “Stop to Think” questions at the end of each of these sections.
• READ implies that this is important information, and may include new material that you have not yet learned.  These sections will require more thorough and careful attention.  *Note that a few of these sections will include some advanced math concepts. 
  • You MUST answer the “Stop to Think” questions at the end of these sections.
• Problem-Solving Strategies suggest useful practices and a consistent, thorough approach to solving a Physics problem.  Simple problems do not necessarily require or benefit from these strategies; however, they could be very helpful for the more challenging problems we will face.
• Example Problems are intended to help you learn how to apply concepts and solve problems.
• [CQ] Conceptual Questions should require little or no calculation; they are designed to assess your Conceptual understanding of the presented material.
• Exercises are generally a straight-forward application of the concepts, relationships and/or equations that are defined in the chapter.
• Problems are generally more in-depth, requiring some assumptions to be made, combinations of concepts, or multiple steps toward a solution.

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Please view the following videos on YouTube:

MIT OCW Lectures

• Lectures #1, 2, 3 in the MIT OCW 8.01x Physics course 

AP DAILY VIDEOS

• 1.1 - Kinematics: Motion in 1D Part 1
• 1.1 - Kinematics: Motion in 1D Part 2

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