Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Does anyone know any good prep books? Has anybody self studied Physics C before and done decently well 3 and above? I'm only going to do mechanics rite now. I think the electricity and mag. would be too much with a packed schedule. Any advice would be really helpful.

By Callmecollege (Callmecollege) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 05:55 pm: Edit

mechanics isn't that hard, if u know some calculus, it'll be easier. mostly memorization of formulas. i got a 4

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 07:03 pm: Edit

Thanks for the info. When most ppl say they take Physics C AP do they usually take both mech. and electricity or just one at a time?

By Amylase (Amylase) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 08:47 pm: Edit

I self studied and got five on both parts.

you can't ace the AP Physics C exam just by some prep books. Phy C is really hard.

I recommend Giancoli's physics for scientist and engineers. i also bought serway's text, but later found that it's a waste of money.

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 10:35 pm: Edit

Well I am actually gonna be in a Physics B AP class but study in the back using the serway's book. Is it really that bad? I want to get a 4 and maybe a 5. But for the ppl who take the regular AP physics C class(class w/ teacher), do you normally take both parts(mech. and elect) or just one?

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 12:35 am: Edit

I took the Physics C class, and yes, kids usually study mechanics first semester and then E&M second semester and take both tests at one time.

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 12:36 am: Edit

However, the mechanics test will give you credit for the semester college course, so you don't have to take e&m to get college credit.

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 08:43 pm: Edit

How hard is it to do the entire Physics C in a regular school year? This question is for the ppl who took the actual class. I wanna know cause i am only going to do mechanics and maybe elect.& mag. if i have time.

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 08:52 pm: Edit

If you have the AP physics C class and a good teacher, you can get through the entire course if you push hard every day. That class is a lot of work. Just remember, with physics B, your class will breeze through most of the concepts you'll need to study in much more detail for C, and your class will study lots of other concepts that aren't even on the C test. You should really tell your teacher about your plans so s/he can help you with the calculus and the more involved concepts. I got 5's on both Mechanics and E&M.

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 08:57 pm: Edit

Hmm ... thanks for the info. Do you think I can do the entire course? The reason is that i have a unique situation in which i'll be sitting in a Physics B class, but will be studying Physics C by myself while getting some help from the teacher with some concepts and problems so it is pretty much self study. I've already taken physics B and got a 4. Should i just stay with mechanics? I have a full load next year.

By Testtaker (Testtaker) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 11:18 pm: Edit

Is physics B much easyer than C?

I always thought that if one exam was more difficult than another, the curve would just be nicer. Any comments on this?

By Clickspring (Clickspring) on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 12:13 am: Edit

Oh, if you've already taken B and have the whole year, you should do both! Of course, you'll be able to gauge what you want to do once you begin studying mechanics, but it won't take you the full year to learn mechanics. Of course, you could really get a good handle on mechanics over the full year and easily get a 5. It's too bad you'll be missing out on all the lab work though