Chesapeake Math Program
WINTER 2018
11/19/18 – Announcement:
Hello, everyone. The Chesapeake Math Program will be offering a winter intensive program to help students prepare for the F=ma exam that serves as the selection test for the USA Physics Olympiad. The classes will be taught by Kevin Huang, a two-time silver medalist on the USA Physics Olympiad and now a student at Stanford University.
If you are interested in the courses, please email registration information to Kevin Huang at kshc027(at)outlook.com and Catherine Asaro at asaro(at)pobox.com. CMP will be offering the F-ma exam later this year.
REGISTRATION
Name of student:
Student email:
Class student is signing up for:
School or homeschool:
Grade:
Parent name:
Parent email:
Address for awards/certificates:
Do I have permission to post student’s name on the website honor roll if they win an award?
TUITION
$300 for the seven-class course. The tuition includes fourteen hours of class, all class/contest materials and email help from Kevin for any questions students have about the course content.
COURSE DIRECTION
Even advanced physics students often struggle on the F=ma exam because they need more grounding in the conceptual side of physics. We hope that structuring the prep classes with several tiers will help with that. Students should enroll in only one level, either introductory or advanced. The difficulty both Kevin and I have run into for previous classes is that the variation in experience among the students makes it difficult to teach a single class at the optimal level. If we do problems for the less advanced students, the more experienced students find it too slow, but if we go at the speed for the advanced students, the newer students are left behind. For this reason, Kevin has made each class two hours in length, to give more time to go over the material and do examples at an appropriate level.
HOMEWORK
For students to get the most out of these classes, they must take home the assignments and do the HW. If they don’t do their HW, they won’t progress as well. I’m hoping that especially during winter break, students will have more time to devote to the study of physics.
HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS
Homeschool students, if you need a course syllabus and grade for your county or umbrella evaluations, I can provide that for you.
WINTER SCHEDULE
Kevin is offering two courses, as given below. These classes are structured with the same content as the previous summer intensive program. The location will be at the home of his family in Columbia. The times and dates are as follows:
F=ma Exam Preparation I: 6:00pm – 7:50pm (7 classes) – This class is intended for younger students who know algebra but haven’t been exposed to physics. The idea is to start building a conceptual foundation early.
Objective: Learn major concepts in mechanics to pass AP Physics 1 and approach F=ma exam
Content: Working through chapters in Giancoli, Serway, and Young. Suitable for motivated 8th and 9th grade students with mathematical background, but minimal exposure to physics.
Pre-requisite: Basic algebra
Topics:
· Kinematics
· Dynamics I: Laws of Motion
· Dynamics II: Circular Motion and Gravitation
· Conservation Laws I: Work and Energy
· Conservation Laws II: Linear Momentum and Impulse
· Rotational Motion
· Oscillations and Wave Motion
F=ma Exam Preparation II: 4:00pm – 5:50pm (7 classes) – This class is for the more advanced students who are ready for harder problems.
Objective: Learn major concepts in mechanics to pass AP Physics C and F=ma exam
Content: Working through past exams and developing problem-solving techniques. Suitable for motivated 10th and 11th grade students who have taken a physics class before.
Pre-requisite: AP Physics I, Basic calculus suggested
Topics:
· Problem-Solving Strategies and Kinematics
· Dynamics I: Statics
· Dynamics II: Using F=ma
· Conservation Laws I: Energy and Linear Momentum
· Conservation Laws II: Angular Momentum
· Gravitation and Fluids
· Oscillations
DATES
SUN 12/16 – Class 1
WED 12/19 – Class 2
FRI 12/21 – Class 3
SUN 12/23 – Class 4
WED 12/26 – Class 5
FRI 12/28 – Class 6
SUN 12/30 – Class 7
BIOGRAPHY: KEVIN HUANG
Kevin S. Huang is a sophomore at Stanford University with extensive research and teaching experience in physics. He is an invited Associate Member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, invited Member of the National Space Society, and Member of the Society of Physics Students. As a two-time silver medalist of the USA Physics Olympiad, Kevin is ranked among the top 100 physics students in the nation.
In high school, he conducted research on quantum error correction, studying the theoretical conditions to perform joint measurements in quantum dot systems. Kevin was invited to present this work at various regional events and his project won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize in Physical Science at the Baltimore Science Fair, an all-expenses paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and a full college scholarship from Towson University. Later, Kevin was invited as a visiting student to Johns Hopkins University where he studied the annihilation of domain walls in ferromagnets. His subsequent publication in Physical Review B was presented at the APS Match Meeting and a physics workshop at the Max Planck Institute. Currently, his research is in condensed matter theory of the quantum Hall regime.
For the past three years, Kevin has kept his teaching and tutoring activities active in the community. He co-founded the Howard County Chinese School Physics Program where he taught Olympiad Physics and AP Physics. Since joining the Chesapeake Math Program, he has taught multiple Physics Olympiad programs. Kevin has also been involved in various service activities, including serving as Associate Editor of the Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal, volunteer judging for science fairs, and publishing various teaching scenarios for students. He maintains an active blog (kevinshuang.com) used by numerous students including the prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School Physics Team. In his spare time, Kevin is a dedicated pianist, having performed at many prestigious venues in the US and abroad as well as at numerous hospitals, senior centers, universities, and government institutions.
BIOGRAPHY: CATHERINE ASARO
Catherine Asaro received her Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from Harvard University and wrote her doctorate in Theoretical Atomic and Molecular Physics. She currently directs the Chesapeake Math Program, which serves students in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia areas. She teaches math, physics, and chemistry at a high school and college level, and coaches competitive teams, including top-ranked students in national and international contests such as the USA Mathematical Olympiad and the American Regional Mathematics League.
Asaro has also appeared as a speaker or visiting professor for various institutions, including Harvard, the DASAR program sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, Georgetown’s Communication, Culture, and Technology program, the New Zealand National ConText Writer’s program, the University of Maryland, the US Naval Academy, and as a Guest of Honor at various science fiction conventions such as the National Science Fiction Convention of Denmark and the National Science Fiction Convention of New Zealand. Asaro is a member of SIGMA, a think tank of speculative writers and scientists who advise the government as to future trends affecting national security.
For the past twenty years, Catherine has also worked as a novelist, with over twenty-six books in science fiction, fantasy, and near future thrillers, as well as numerous works of shorter fiction and non-fiction. She was elected to two terms as president of the board of directors for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and is the president and founder of Starflight Music. She is a two-time winner of the Nebula® Award, sometimes known as the “Oscar of Science Fiction,” for her novel, The Quantum Rose and her novella “The Spacetime Pool,” and her work has won numerous other awards. She also appears as a vocalist in the US and abroad, and danced for about 35 years in ballet and jazz.
SUMMER 2018
6/3/18 – Announcement:
Hello. CMP will be offering a summer intensive course to help students prepare for the F=ma exam that serves as the selection test for the USA Physics Olympiad. The class will be taught by Kevin Huang, a two-time silver medalist on the USA Physics Olympiad and now a student at Stanford University. I will teach a weekly F=ma course in the Fall. I will have details of the syllabus, books, and a bio of Kevin in another email, but I wanted to get this one out there ASAP, since July is coming up in a month.
If you are interested in the courses, please email Catherine Asaro as asaro(at)pobox.com.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
1. Summer: Introduction to F = ma exam.
This class is intended for younger students who know algebra but haven’t been exposed to physics. The idea is to start building a conceptual foundation early.
2. Summer Advanced F = ma.
This class is for the more advanced students who are ready for harder problems.
3. Fall 2018/January 2019.
I will teach a weekly F=ma preparation class starting at the end of September.
4. Christmas intensive (if Kevin is available).
This will be a final intensive push to prepare for the exam, which usually takes place at the end of January or beginning of February.
5. Private lessons.
I have a few slots available to work with students privately this summer.
TUITION
Summer Courses
$320 for each eight-class session. The tuition includes sixteen hours of class, all class/contest materials except the text books (which students must purchase themselves), and email help from Kevin for any and all questions students have about the course materials.
Private one-on-one lessons: $75/hour.
Fall courses: TBA
COURSE DIRECTION
Even advanced physics students often struggle on the F=ma exam because they need more grounding in the conceptual side of physics. We hope that structuring the prep classes with several tiers will help with that. For the summer sessions, students should enroll in only one level, either introductory or advanced. The difficulty both Kevin and I have run into for previous classes is that the variation in experience among the students makes it difficult to teach a single class at the optimal level. If we do problems for the less advanced students, the more experience students find it too slow, but if we go at the speed for the advanced students, the newer students are left behind. For this reason, Kevin has made each class two hours in length, to give more time to go over the material and do examples at an appropriate level.
HOMEWORK
For students to get the most out of these classes, they most take home the assignments and do the HW. If they don’t do their HW, they won’t progress as well. I’m hoping that especially during the summer, students will have more time to devote to the study of physics.
Homeschool students, if you need a course syllabus and grade for your county or umbrella evaluations, I can provide that for you.
SUMMER SCHEDULE
Kevin is offering two sessions, as given below. The location will be at the home of his family in Columbia. The times and dates are as follows:
F=ma Exam Preparation I (~AP 1 level): 2pm – 3:50pm
F=ma Exam Preparation II (~AP C level): 4:00pm – 5:50pm
JULY: SESSION 1
TUE 7/10 – Class 1
FRI 7/13 – Class 2
TUE 7/17 – Class 3
FRI 7/20 – Class 4
TUE 7/24 – Class 5
FRI 7/27 – Class 6
TUE 7/31 – Class 7
FRI 8/3 – Class 8
AUGUST: SESSION 2
TUE 8/7 – Class 1
FRI 8/10 – Class 2
TUE 8/14 – Class 3
FRI 8/17 – Class 4
TUE 8/21 – Class 5
FRI 8/24 – Class 6
TUE 8/28 – Class 7
FRI 8/31 – Class 8
BIOGRAPHY: KEVIN HUANG
Kevin S. Huang is a rising sophomore at Stanford University with extensive research and teaching experience in physics. He is an invited Associate Member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, invited Member of the National Space Society, and Member of the Society of Physics Students. As a two-time silver medalist of the USA Physics Olympiad, Kevin is ranked among the top 100 physics students in the nation.
In high school, he conducted research on quantum error correction, studying the theoretical conditions to perform joint measurements in quantum dot systems. Kevin was invited to present this work at various regional events and his project won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize in Physical Science at the Baltimore Science Fair, an all-expenses paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and a full college scholarship from Towson University. Later, Kevin was invited as a visiting student to Johns Hopkins University where he studied the annihilation of domain walls in ferromagnets. His subsequent publication in Physical Review B was presented at the APS Match Meeting and a physics workshop at the Max Planck Institute. Currently, his research is in condensed matter theory of the quantum Hall regime.
For the past three years, Kevin has kept his teaching and tutoring activities active in the community. He co-founded the Howard County Chinese School Physics Program where he taught Olympiad Physics and AP Physics. Since joining the Chesapeake Math Program, he has taught multiple Physics Olympiad programs. Kevin has also been involved in various service activities, including serving as Associate Editor of the Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal and publishing various teaching scenarios for students. He maintains an active blog (kevinshuang.com) as a resource for learning physics. In his spare time, Kevin is a dedicated pianist, having performed at many prestigious venues in the US and abroad as well as at numerous hospitals, senior centers, universities, and government institutions.
BIOGRAPHY: CATHERINE ASARO
Catherine Asaro received her Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from Harvard University and wrote her doctorate in Theoretical Atomic and Molecular Physics. She currently directs the Chesapeake Math Program, which serves students in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia areas. She teaches math, physics, and chemistry at a high school and college level, and coaches competitive teams, including top-ranked students in national and international contests such as the USA Mathematical Olympiad and the American Regional Mathematics League.
Asaro has also appeared as a speaker or visiting professor for various institutions, including Harvard, the DASAR program sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, Georgetown’s Communication, Culture, and Technology program, the New Zealand National ConText Writer’s program, the University of Maryland, the US Naval Academy, and as a Guest of Honor at various science fiction conventions such as the National Science Fiction Convention of Denmark and the National Science Fiction Convention of New Zealand. Asaro is a member of SIGMA, a think tank of speculative writers and scientists who advise the government as to future trends affecting national security.
For the past twenty years, Catherine has also worked as a novelist, with over twenty-six books in science fiction, fantasy, and near future thrillers, as well as numerous works of shorter fiction and non-fiction. She was elected to two terms as president of the board of directors for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and is the president and founder of Starflight Music. She is a two-time winner of the Nebula® Award, sometimes known as the “Oscar of Science Fiction,” for her novel, The Quantum Rose and her novella “The Spacetime Pool,” and her work has won numerous other awards. She also appears as a vocalist in the US and abroad, and danced for about 35 years in ballet and jazz.
WINTER 2017
12/9/17 – Announcement:
The Chesapeake Math Program is offering the F=ma contest, the selection contest for the USA Physics Olympiad, and also a series of prep classes for the F=ma contest. If you would like to sign up for the test or either of the courses, please fill out the following registration form and email it to asaro@pobox.com
If you would like to sign up for both the class and the test, please send a registration form for each.
F=ma selection Test.
If students wish to take the F=ma test with the Chesapeake Math Program, they are welcome to do so. It will be on January 31, 2018, Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 pm at the Gary Arthur Center, 2400 MD-97, Cooksville, MD 21723. The cost is $10. For students who have already enrolled and paid for classes with CMP, the test is free.
Preparation classes.
The preparation classes will be held in Howard County at the residence of Kevin Huang, a former USAPhO silver medalist and now a student at Stanford. Each course level is seven weeks. The cost for one 7-week course is $150. If a student wishes to take both Intermediate and Advanced, they may take the second course at the discounted price of $125, for a total of $275. You can see more details about Kevin here: http://chesapeakemath.catherineasaro.net/biographies-catherine-asaro/
Intermediate Level Prep Class (4pm – 5pm)
Objective: Teach students major concepts in mechanics to approach F=ma exam
Content: Working through AP Physics from chapters in Giancoli, Serway, Young
Pre-requisite: At least knowledge equivalent to Honors Physics and basic algebra
Advanced Level Prep Class (5pm – 6pm)
Objective: Prepare students to pass the F=ma exam
Content: Working through past exams, discussing tricky problems, developing problem-solving techniques
Pre-requisite: At least knowledge equivalent to AP Physics 1. Basic Calculus suggested.
Class 1: Thursday 12/14/2017
Class 2: Tuesday, 12/19/2017
Class 3: Thursday, 12/21/2017
Class 4: Thursday, 12/28/2017
Class 5: Saturday, 12/30/2017
Class 6: Tuesday, 1/2/2018
Class 7: Thursday, 1/4/2017
Registration:
Name of student:
Class student is signing up for:
School or homeschool:
Grade:
Parent name:
Parent email:
Address for awards/certificates:
Do I have permission to post student’s name on the website honor roll if they win an award?
Student email: optional
That’s it!
Best regards — Catherine Asaro
WINTER 2016
1/5/17 – Announcement:
Because the F=ma Exam is a couple weeks away, we will be offering two review sessions. The charge for the two sessions will be $30, and they will be held on Sunday, 2:00-3:30 at the Gary Arthur Community Center for the next two weeks (1/8 and 1/15). Contact asaro@sff.net for registration.
FALL 2016
9/16/16 – Announcement:
Physics-Olympiad-Syllabus-2016-7
Class: Physics Olympiad Prep
Day: Every other Sunday, starting Septmeber 18, 2016
Time: 2:00-3:15 pm
Location: Gary Arthur Community Center, 2499 Md-97, Cooksville, MD 21723
Tuition: $190, Fall Semester
Contact: asaro@sff.net
9/16/16 – Announcement: Kevin is invited by Dr. Asaro to join Chesapeake Math Program faculty.
Chesapeake Math Program Faculty
Mr. Kevin Huang: Physics, Olympiad Training
Bio-Kevin-HuangDr. Catherine Asaro: Program Director, Math, Physics, Chemistry
Asaro-Bio
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