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Check-In
Most important, please fill out this brief survey, so that I have your contact information. Once the online homework/e-textbook becomes available this summer, I will send you a link.
Beginning Course Material
Traditionally, I begin the year in A. P. Physics with a general treatment of the area usually referred to as "Modern Physics". Modern Physics is comprised of the Theories of Relativity as put forwad by Albert Einstein at the beginning of the last century, and a study of atomic and nuclear structure and behavior. Physics graduate students in the 21st century would most likely delve further into the area of sub-atomic physics by investigating either aspects of the Standard Model, or String Theory.
Although these topics are not on the A.P. Exam (for which we are preparing), I begin the year with these topics for a number of reasons.
1. Most likely none of you have discussed these topics in other science classes, and since the chances of you studying them is good if you continue on in physics at a higher level, why not "see what you are in for"?!
2. We will be using calculus as we revisit topics in mechanics, and this gives you time to learn it in math class before you are required to apply it in physics class.
3. I feel that it is a good idea to "stretch" your brains early in the year, so that there will be room for more information as we progress through the course! 😊
Summer Preparation
Follow this link Relativity Assignment to a pdf of the same title which will describe the reading that I want you to do from the Einstein book titled "Relativity".
This material is also covered in Chapter 38 of your e-text (see Q1 syllabus as listed on the AP course homepage). Try to get a handle on this material before we meet in the fall. It is important that we "hit the ground running".
You should also take some time to register for, and familiarize yourself with WebAssign. To log into WebAssign, use the following link (note: this will not go "live" until sometime in July. I will send you log-in credentials once it becomes available. Do NOT attempt to log in until you receive credentials from me!) ...
Please refer to the WebAssign login instructions which I emailed to you in order to get started. If you did not receive these instructions, please contact me ASAP!
Before our first class in the fall, you should have completed the "Intro to WebAssign" assignment, and you should also read through and start working on the "Chapter 38 Homework" assignment (also in WebAssign). If you still feel uncomfortable with WebAssign, and would like to address some concerns in class, you can begin looking at the Chapter 38 homework problems in the book as they are listed on the syllabus (WebAssign problems are the same as book problems, only some of the numerical values will differ.).
Best of luck. Enjoy the summer as much as possible. --Mr. C
New! Bonus Material: Follow this link for the Frames of Reference video
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