Interesting that they wouldn’t say whether it’s B or C. My guess is probably B if it’s your first AP physics class (ordinarily you can’t take C without B). Cheesesteak brings up a good point in that the “principles of physics” is a very vague term which can cover a lot of fields (no terrible pun intended). It could mean basic things that apply to all of physics, such as conservation of energy, law of entropy (even though it’s phrased in thermo terms, it is applicable to all of phyics), etc… Or it could include mechanics, e.g. gravity, inertia. Or it could mean E and M, thermo, what have you. Can you quote us some text from the assignment sheet or something to clarify?
AP PHYSICS SUMMER ASSIGNMENT:
“Welcome to the challenging world of AP Physics. In order to set the tone for next year I have come up with a variation of my typical summer assignment. Since all of you have completed Honors Physics you all should know the basics of physics. In order to start the year off right I want you, and a partner (if you chose) to make a video. The video should be a demonstration of the principles of physics. I am not asking for a lecture, I am asking you to make a video that correctly demonstrates some principles of physics and an explanation of their application. You are also required to submit a written journal that illistrates the physics involved. The journal should be more than three pages long (double spaced with standard margins). …”
there it is…
<3nina.
Sounds like he wants you to do an example of a physics principle. Then you have to make a video of a demo you did to prove that principle.
Principles like magnetism, light, electricity etc…
How about the ol’ swinging bowling ball trick?..potential energy, kinetic energy and conservation of energy.
I think handy’s got it. Looks to me like your teacher wants you to perform a few home-spun physics experiments showing various things you’ve learned in the first class, backing up the experiments with the theory and formulas.
I am assuming AP Physics is Newtonian. We didn’t have it in my high school, but I took Honours Physics and it was only Newtonian. QM and stuff like I didn’t see until my second year of physics in college.
I am assuming that the principles are Newtonian Principles, with some other stuff thrown in.
Make a video showing those principles. Videotape something falling. =)
Conservation of angular momentum is always easy and fun to demonstrate. Get a chair that spins. Extend your arms, with two heavy-ish objects in your hands and have someone spin the chair (not too fast). Bring your arms in and you’ll start spinning much faster, put them back out and you’ll slow down again.
When I was a grad student, I taught intro to physics and let my students spin me for the demonstration. Unfortunately, I have incredibly long arms --> much more angular momentum. I fell off. They laughed. Everyone had a good time.
It sounds like you’re one the right track now. Here are two video ideas. I’ll leave you to work out the physics behind them.
Tape a variety of short ‘events’ such as burning something, dropping a ball on a spring, a pendulum, throwing a pebble in a pond, etc. Watch them forwards and backwards. Which ones look the same, which ones look different and what does this have to do with types of ‘events’?
Put a target (bullseye type) on the ground. Have someone carry a tennisball and run / bike / skateboard as quickly as possible and try to drop the ball on the target. Even when you know exactly what’s going to happen - it’s harder than it sounds!
Have fun and be creative!
thanks everyone… you helped a lot. i will let you know how things turn out.
<3nina.
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Janus20