CP Physics Energy Test Study Guide

Here are the list of topics to study for the CP Physics Energy Test on Friday

1.  knowing when work is done and when it is not done

2.  Calculating work and knowing the units of work

3.  Calculating Gravitational Potential Energy

4.  Calculating work when displacement is at an angle other than 90 degrees to Force

5.  work when displacement and force are at 90 degrees to each other

6.  Sign of work when force and displacement are 180 degrees apart

7.  Work accomplished when carrying something across a room

8.  Calculating Kinetic Energy given mass and velocity

9.  Calculating velocity given KE and mass

10.  Kinetic Energy Work Theorem,  solving for an unknown like final velocity  given initial velocity, force and distance

13.  solving for v when setting KE equal to GPE

14.  Calculating elastic potential energy

15.  setting one form of energy like kinetic equal to potential and solving for one variable like "v"

16.  Hooke's Law problem for a spring, solving for "k"

17.  Calculating power given work and time or given force and velocity

18.  Units of power including horsepower, watts, kilowatts, joules/sec

19.  definition of power

AP Physics Rotational Motion Test

Here are the topics covered for the test:

7.4 centripetal acceleration
7.5 Newtonian Gravitation
7.6 Kepler's Laws
8.1 Torque
8.2 Torque and equilibrium
13.4  Position, velocity, acceleration (Mass Spring stuff)
13.5  motion of a pendulum

Numbered Heads Force Review

Numbered Heads Instructions

1. Form into the designated groups

2. Take out one full sheet of paper per group and list the name of the group at the top. Then list the names of the group members and place numbers next to each name (1, 2, 3…..If four members then write 4 also). It doesn’t matter who gets what number.

3. Hand the paper to the instructor. It will be used for assessment and graded.

4. Begin reviewing/ learning the listed concepts. Make up sample questions related to the concept. Try and figure out what question the teacher will ask. Time is limited; so don’t waste it!

5. Once you understand the concepts make sure each group members also understand by assessing them. Do not ask yes or no assessment questions.

Good Assessment. “Sam, could you show me how to do number three on the list?”

Poor Assessment. “Do you guys all know it?”

6. When the instructor calls a number randomly (ex. = 3) the three will go to a designated area alone and respond to a similar question. Make sure they have something to write with and a calculator. After they leave begin studying the next set of concepts for the next round.

7. After a short amount of time the person will then return to the group and their answer will be graded by the teacher and given to the entire group as a communal score.

8. The returning group member may be called again so they should receive extra instruction to help get caught up.

9. The scores are added at the end to determine winners. The top three groups receive extra points on the test.




1.  Things that influence or cause acceleration.

2.  description of force

3.  Why do objects change direction

4.  derive a Newton from units of mass and acceleration

5.  understanding  that force is vector

6.  drawing free body diagrams and resolving into a single overall force

7.  inertia

8.  first law, second law, third law definitions

9.  breaking resultant down into perpendicular components

10.  forces required to produce equilibrium

11.  finding a given mass and acceleration

12.  finding 'a" using kinematics and then applying to get net force on an object

13.  definition of action and reCTION PAIRS

14.  DEFINITIONS OF WEIGHT AND MASS

15.  sleds on slopes , solve for perpendicular or parallel force

16.  coefficient of friction units

17.  solve for frictional force given mu and weights on a flat surface and on a ramp.

Introduction to Forces Video Links

For those of you who would like some additional instruction on from forces here is:

Link to understanding how to draw free body diagrams

Free body diagram video





Link to understanding Newton's First Law of Motion
First Law of Motion Video