Quakertown Community High School

AP Physics 1

Summer 2016Assignment

The AP Physics 1 course focuses on the big ideas typically included in the first semester of an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics sequence and provide students with enduring understandings to support future advanced course work in the sciences. Through inquiry-based learning, students will develop critical thinking and reasoning skills, as defined by the AP Science Practices.

Students will cultivate their understanding of physics and science practices as they explore the following topics:

  • Kinematics
  • Dynamics: Newton’s laws
  • Circular motion and universal law of gravitation
  • Simple harmonic motion: simple pendulum and mass-spring systems
  • Impulse, linear momentum, and conservation of linear momentum: collisions
  • Work, energy, and conservation of energy
  • Rotational motion: torque, rotational kinematics and energy, rotational dynamics, and conservation of angular momentum
  • Electrostatics: electric charge and electric force
  • DC circuits: resistors only
  • Mechanical waves and sound

The goal of the summer assignment is twofold: sharpen the math skills needed for

AP Physics 1, and cover Chapter 1 “Introduction, Measurement, Estimating” of our textbook.

The work should be completed over the course of the summer, and you should use all available resources.

The assignment will be due the first day of school. It will be graded and will serve as your first grade of the course.

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.

I guarantee that the concepts you learn in this class will last you a lifetime!

AP Physics 1

Summer Assignment

Student Name: ______

Period: ______

Part IMetric to Metric Conversions

  1. 40 mL = ______L
  2. 5000 L = ______kL
  3. 8 g = ______kg
  4. 12000 L = ______kL
  5. 50 mg = ______g
  6. 6000 m = ______km
  7. 200 kg = ______g
  8. 10000 g = ______kg
  9. 500 mL = ______L
  10. 2500 m = ______km

Part II English to Metric Conversions

  1. 205 ft = ______m
  2. 4.5 yds = ______m
  3. 125 lbs = ______kg
  4. 16.7 in = ______cm
  5. 100 yds = ______m
  6. 84 miles = ______km
  7. 55 mi / hr = ______km / hr

Part IIIQuantities

  1. 50 m + 50 m = ______
  2. 1500 kg – 1000 kg = ______
  3. 75 cm + 25 mm = ______
  4. 3 N x 2 m = ______
  5. 100 km / 2 hr = ______
  6. 250 cm / 2.50 m = ______
  7. 5 m x 5 m = ______
  8. 25 km + 1700 m = ______
  9. 5 m + 7 km = ______
  10. 50 km / 10 hr = ______

Part IVProperScientific Notation

  1. 326______
  2. 14500______
  3. 0.00413______
  4. 482300______
  5. 798______
  6. 6.43______
  7. 3427______
  8. 2205.2______
  9. 0.02______
  10. 176.5______

Part VSolving Equations

3x = 4x = ______

y / 2 = 10y = ______

x – 5 = 12x = ______

9x + 10 = x – 26x = ______

2x2 – 18 = 0x = ______

Part VIState the Number of Significant Figures in Each Measurement

  1. 250 m_____
  2. 67.23 kg_____
  3. 0.09 m_____
  4. 76.0901 s_____
  5. 509.010 m/s_____
  6. 52 km_____
  7. 100.07 kg_____
  8. 0.1076 cm_____
  9. 541.0 s_____
  10. 0.030305 m_____
  11. 0.025 mg_____
  12. 54000 mL_____
  13. 0.005670 mm_____
  14. 10200 km_____
  15. 0.0473 kg_____

Part VIIAdd or Subtract to the Correct Number of Significant Figures

1. 17.34 + 4.900 + 23.1 =

2. 27.34 + 6.90 + 13.124 =

3. 25.01 + 9.11 =

4. 9.80 - 4.762 =

5. 2.8023 - 4.762 =

Part VIIIMultiply or Divide to the Correct Number of Significant Figures

  1. 3.9 x 420 =
  2. 14.1 / 5 =
  3. 0.32 x 14.50 =
  4. 24.1 / 0.005 =
  5. 344.0 x 22.111 =

IXGeometry / Trigonometry

XGraphing Techniques

XIKhan Academy

You will now use the online resource Khan Academy to begin your study of

One Dimensional Motion, specifically the concepts of Displacement and Velocity.

On your computer, go to the web site:

Perform the following tasks and check off when completed:

Intro to PhysicsWatch Video (9:29)

What is Physics?Read Article

Intro to Vectors & ScalarsWatch Video(8:38)

What is Displacement?Read Article

Calculating Average Velocity or SpeedWatch Video(11:45)

Solving for TimeWatch Video(9:35)

Displacement from Time and Velocity ExampleWatch Video(4:59)

Instantaneous Speed & VelocityWatch Video(4:37)

What is velocity?Read Article

Position vs Time GraphsWatch Video (15:19)

What are Position vs Time Graphs?Read Article

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