<p>Right Now I am in AP calculus AB and Physics B. I want to take the BC and physics C exam in May. Is this realistic? What books can I use to help me prepare? Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>First of all, there are two Physics C exams: Mechanics and E&M.</p>
<p>For the BC, I think it's perfectly realistic. The extra material in BC amounts to not a lot at all: Maclaurin/Taylor series, parametric/polar, working with some vectors, nothing much more than that. If you really wanted, you could learn it all in a week or two.</p>
<p>Physics C Mechanics is pretty similar to the Physics B material; you would need to cover inertia by yourself, though, which is one of the tougher Physics C concepts. </p>
<p>Physics C E&M goes much deeper into electromagnetism than B does, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are pretty motivated. It's also quite heavy on the calculus, so unless you're good at Calculus B (integrating), I would say it might be challenging. Also, some E&M concepts are really weird trying to understand without anyone to explain it. There's a good chance you'll get lost somewhere around Maxwell's equations.</p>
<p>What books are good for Calculus BC and Mechanics?</p>
<p>I could talk for a long time about elementary calculus books. Basically, it comes down to how good you are and how much effort you're willing to put into calculus. There is a huge disparity between books like, say, Stewart's Calculus (easy) and Apostol's Calculus (hard). If your only goal is to know enough calculus to get a 5 on the AP exam, Stewart's is more than good enough. If you plan on taking math seriously, look into other books.</p>
<p>For physics, which I don't know nearly as much about, I personally used Serway's Physics for Engineers + Halliday/Resnick/Walker's Fundamental Physics (the one with the volcano on the cover).</p>
<p>Are you allowed to take both Physics B and C tests in one year?</p>
<p>If not, I suggest you just take Calc BC and Physics B. Colleges accept 8-12 credits for your work in AP Physics B; however, AP Physics C: Mechanics only earns you four credits if you earn a five, or a four, depending on the school to which you matriculate.</p>
<p>I know the text book you are talking about but I want to know which are good test prep books like barron's or kaplan's etc for those AP exams.
one more thing...joshjmgs...since I am pursuing engineering in college, they will give no credit for physics B exam even if I get a 5 that is why I want to take the Mechanics part so I will get some credit at least.</p>
<p>You can take both PHY B and C in the same year. You will just have to do one of the two on the makup date 3 weeks later.</p>
<p>I am sort of in the same rut. My school only offers AP Physics B. For my degree in meteorology, most colleges state that they will not give me any credit for B; they want C/mechanics. I have noticed that, at least around here, it is difficult to find high schools that offer C. Perhaps the calculus involved has caused them to shy away from it (possibly fewer students would sign up for it), but it would just be nice if it was there as an option.</p>
<p>Resnick Halliday Walker (6th edition) rocks!</p>
<p>It is definitely possible for you to self-study Calculus BC and still get the grade you want.</p>
<p>I can tell you that it would be a better idea to take both Physics C exams, if possible, because these will be more widely accepted at universities than Physics B.</p>