Mr. Gilroy's
AP Physics C

 

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JMGPC

 

AP Physics C Summer Assignment

Please be sure to read this entire page.

rev: 2008 0901

 

There are several components to the summer reading assignment:
 
 
Textbook
The textbook is Fundamentals of Physics 8th edition by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker. This is a new edition this year -- do not purchase earlier editions! Also, note that the Hun School bookstore will not be stocking copies of this book; you must obtain it yourself.
 
The publisher offers the book in a bewildering array of options. You can find the book at amazon.com or Barnes & Noble online; below are links for the latter.
 

The best option, in my opinion, is to purchase separate copies of

(NB: These are paperback textbooks, which is why the publisher is willing to offer them at a slight discount compared to the combined edition.)

We use only two and a half chapters of Part 2 (Chapters 13 and 15, with some of Chapter 12). I don't feel this justifies the extra $60 it would cost to buy.

 
You could also buy the hardvoer combined edition, but I would recommend against buying the extended edition (Chapters 33-44), unless you think that you'll be majoring in Physics in college.
 
Please note: Use of the Student Solution book (also available online) would constitute a violation of the Honor Code and would be prosecuted as such.. The weekly problem sets are an integral -- indeed, crucial -- part of the assessment of your progress in the course; using the solution manual undermines their use and hence the entire course. Save yourself from temptation; don't even buy it.
 
Summer Reading Book
Keep in mind that there is also an actual summer reading book, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward Tufte.
 
There will be an assessment of your reading during the first week of class.
 
Problem Sets
  • You should read each chapter in its entirety (except Chapter 3 -- read only through section 3.7 for now).
  • Note that the answers to odd problems can be found in the back of the book.
  • Be sure to read the rubric as to what is expected in solutions to H&R problems. The sample solutions will go up at the rate of approximately one chapter per week starting on Jul 22.
Chapter
Sections to Read
Problems (not Checkpoints or Questions) to be handed in
solutions
Problems in solution file
1
all
6, 7, 14, 18, 24, 26, 40, 45
9, 34, 36, 46
2
all
16, 25, 32, 48, 56, 86, 114
10, 28, 42 46, 74
3
3.1 through 3.7
4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 22, 28, 30
13, 23, 29
4
4.1 through 4.9
6, 16, 20, 24, 26, 34, 48, 70, 74*, 78*
17, 25, 71, 100
* = Problems on material we will cover during the first week.
  • Each chapter is a separate problem set; all problem sets will be due on Fri Sep 12 at the start of class.
  • You should expect an additional problem set of approximately equal length and complexity each week.
Email
Before 2008 Sep 8, you are to send an email to Mr. Gilroy at bgilroy@hunschool.org. This email should be sent from the account you most commonly check. I will use this address (rarely!) when I need to contact the class on short notice. The subject line should read "AP Physics 2008" plus your first and last names. The body should contain the classes you are taking this year, as of the day you send the email.