Dear Student,
Welcome, to the new and improved algebra based Physics class, AP Physics 1. This is a college level algebra based class that covers topics such as motion, forces, energy, momentum, waves, and electricity. This packet is to be completed during the summer break. It is due the first day of class. You may be quizzed on the content covered within this packet on the first day of class. The assignment will be subject to the standard late deductions (10% off each day) if not completed by the first day of class. The packet has been broken down into sections. I recommend that you complete this packet in sections as to not overwhelm yourself with some new information though much of this should be review. Show up to the first day ready to start learning and with a willingness to do homework, classwork, and experiments. You will be asked to put in as much time as it takes for you to succeed. The amount of time will vary from person to person so be ready to work.
Thank you for your interest in the class, I look forward to the coming year and I hope you do too.
Instructions: Follow the instructions for each section, if you have any questions or concerns about what you should do or the information provided please feel free to email me at .
Section 1: Type of Learner
Description: You will be given tasks and assignments based off of your personal learning style. This questionnaire will provide me with a starting point as we further explore your learning styles it may be altered. Please take this questionnaire seriously it is important to me and to your success.
Task:
- Go to: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire
- Answer the Questions
o Note: you can and should select more than one answer if more than one is applicable
- Copy the information: Either in picture or text and email it to me with the contact information in section 2 (please note: that a link to the webpage will not provide me with the results)
Section 2: Contact Me
Description: In order to keep in contact and to distribute any necessary information I would like to have your contact information and you to have mine. So please:
Task:
- Email me at:
o Include:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Student ID Number
- Last Math class taken and grade in it
- What you hope to get out of this course (besides a good grade)
- The results of your VARK Questionnaire (from section 1)
You are more than welcome to contact me with questions/concerns/issues throughout the summer assignment
Section 3: Sign up for the Online Quizzes
Description: In order to check you understanding and assess you summer learning and levels you will be asked to complete quizzes for a grade at the end of most of the sections. In order to access the quizzes you must first sign up for the class.
Task:
- Sign up for the class
o Go to http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp
o Click Sign Up
o Type in your information PLEASE use a username you will NOT forget
o Click Register
o Click on “Click here to search a new class”
o Search for class title: “AP Physics 1” or by Instructor: “Jade Lauzon”
§ Click the checkbox
§ Click Register
o Once your have successfully registered. Click the classes tab
o There your will see the link to the quizzes you need to take (the majority of the quizzes allow you two attempts… if it is different it tell you with the quiz description)
- Visit the classes webpage
o http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
§ Or go to northeasthigh.org and search AP Physics 1
Section 4: Greek Letters
Description: You will see in Physics that many things are represented with different letters of the alphabet. For example t = time and ac = centripetal acceleration. We also use Greek letters to represent different variables. For example λ = wavelength, Δ = change and θ = angle in degrees. These letters may confuse you if you are not familiar with them. So:
Task:
- Spend some time looking over the table below which contains both the upper and lower cases and get to know the symbols and their names. None of the symbols should surprise you during the year. For example I shouldn’t hear the question “Why does that zero have a line through it” when I write they symbol theta (θ).
Section 5: How to watch, learn, and take notes from a video
Description: AP Physics 1 is designed differently from most other classes. If you are interested, the term is “Flipped Classroom” or “Blended Learning”. That means that the lecture and notes portion of the class is completed at home leaving time for higher level questions, discussions, and laboratory experiments to be completed in the classroom this way you can obtain extra help from the teacher and your peers, and have active hands on learning. In order to be successful in a class designed this way you need to be able learn the information, effectively take notes, and retain it. This lesson is a video on how to do effectively learn this way.
Task:
- Watch the “How to…” video at: http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
Section 6: Scientific Notation
Description: Scientific Notation is something that you should become very familiar with. It is used in all levels of science and math classes and is very easy to do and understand once you get the hang of it.
Task:
- Watch the Scientific Notation video at: http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
- Answer the Scientific Notation questions at: http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp
Section 7: Units
Description: Units are a vital part science. You may remember when NASA lost 125 million dollar because two groups of people were using different systems of units (http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric.02/). Units are also EXTREMLY helpful in helping us figure out what we are solving for or how we should solve for it. In this lesson you will learn how to convert between units within the metric system and in/out (miles to meters etc.) of the metric system. You will also explore what happens when units are added, subtracted, multiplied and divided.
Task:
- Watch the Units video at: http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
- Answer the Units questions at: http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp
Section 8: Geometry
Description: Area and angles are an important part of calculations in Physics. For example knowing the area under a velocity vs. time graph can provide you with the distance the object moved. Knowing the angle that light strikes a mirror can tell you where the light will reflect off to. These are important calculations in physics. In this lesson you will learn about the area and angles aspect of geometry. We will also cover circles and the relationship between area, diameter, and radius.
Task:
- Watch the Geometry video at: http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
- Answer the Geometry questions at: http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp
Section 9: Trigonometry
Description: Angles as stated above are an important part of calculations in Physics. For example knowing the angle that a ball was thrown at will help determine the height and distance of its travel. This and MANY more situations are important calculations in physics. In this lesson you will learn about the angles aspect of trigonometry. This is a VERY important lesson make sure you are comfortable with what you learn in this lesson.
Task:
- Watch the Trigonometry video at: http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
- Answer the Trigonometry questions at: http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp
Section 10: Algebra
Description: AP Physics 1 is defined as algebra based math class. That would suggest (and rightly so) that you will be doing A LOT of algebra. You MUST be able to do algebra without difficulty. If you struggle in algebra and are not prepared to take the time to truly master it AP Physics is not the place for you. In this lesson I will return to the basics of algebra; solving for an unknown.
Task:
- Watch the Algebra video at: http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
- Answer the Algebra questions at: http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp
Section 11: Expressions
Description: Expression is the term used for when solving for something with letters instead of numbers. When determining the expression you are responsible for rearranging the letters to obtain the end equation in which you could plug numbers in and solve for it. For example v= dt if I was to ask for the expression of what t equals you would rearrange it to obtaint= dv. This lesson is almost algebra step 2, since it is missing the simplification step that numbers alow.
Task:
- Watch the Expressions video at: http://tinyurl.com/nhsapp1
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
- Answer the Expressions questions at: http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp
Section 12: Scalars and Vectors
Description: Scalars and Vectors are the building blocks of physics. You will hear the term vector, scalar, and magnitude throughout the year. AP Physics is especially concerned about things happening in two dimensions so the second video is just as important as the first.
Task:
- Watch the video at(not by me this time):
o http://www.khanacademy.org/science/mcat/physical-processes/vectors-and-scalars/v/introduction-to-vectors-and-scalars
o http://www.khanacademy.org/science/mcat/physical-processes/vectors-and-scalars/v/visualizing-vectors-in-2-dimensions
- Take Notes (they will be checked on the first day so make sure you have them)
- At the end summarize the content of Mr. Khan’s presentation in 3 sentences.
- Write at least 1 question per video of something you didn’t understand or a possible extension of the concepts presented.
This summer assignment is an introduction and/or a refresher of the math you should already know when entering the course. Make sure to keep your notes in a binder and have them on the first day of class. You may very well have an open notes quiz on the information covered in these lessons. If you completed this earlier in the summer make sure you go back and refresh yourself on anything that you may not have already mastered.
Thank you for completing this summer assignment and I look forward to getting to know you in the coming school year.