<p>I have a good grade in physics right now and am doing well I suppose but I don't think I'll be ready for the AP exam at all.. I have the Princeton review for the test but... It's alot harder to grasp when my teacher uses different formulas, variables and names. Any suggestions on how I can start preparing to get a (preferably) 5 on the test?</p>
<p>For formulas, use the [AP</a> Physics Formula Sheet](<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/Physics_equation_tables.pdf). If reading review books is too confusing, there are plenty of sites (e.g. Khan Academy) that you can use to supplement classwork.</p>
<p>Haha thanks for the response; I find it funny that’s the same formula sheet my teacher gave me (only part of it) but I could never tell which formula I should use since our formulas in class look way different … </p>
<p>I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one confused by the books! :)</p>
<p>Well what differences in variables have you seen? We here at CC could probably help!</p>
<p>That’s a good idea… But now as I really look at the formulas I can see the differences a little more clearly. I guess what’s mostly worrying me is the complexity of the work my book has (Princeton review) with things I’m supposed to have already learned… But I couldn’t replicate some of these problems on my own… :\ and I think a lot of the problem is that he hasn’t taught us stuff like impulse or most any of the Vocab (scalars, vectors, impulse,mechanical energy,static friction, the law of inertia etc) even though we’ve passed those units (we’ve covered 2d motion up to energy, forces, momentum and torque)</p>
<p>Here’s a quick look at some of those topics 
-Scalar vs. vector - basically something with direction is a vector and something without is scalar. Vectors: velocity, acceleration Scalars: distance, speed
-impulse: not a major topic. Just remember there’s this formula:
Impulse = Force<em>time = change in momentum = mv(final)-mv(initial) — symbol for impulse on the AP formula sheet (linked above) is J
-mechanical energy- we didn’t cover this in my class but formula is Mechanical energy = potential energy + kinetic energy
-static friction: not something major to worry about. With friction there’s either friction while moving (kinetic) or while at rest (static). The equation is the same… Force friction = force normal</em>coefficient of friction (static or kinetic)
-Law of inertia- Newton’s first law. States:
“An object that is at rest will stay at rest unless an unbalanced force acts upon it.”
“An object that is in motion will not change its velocity unless an unbalanced force acts upon it.”</p>
<p>Teaspoons, you have a sucky teacher. We already learned those topics within the first three or four months.</p>
<p>In my class we’ve done motion (1D/2D), forces, energy, momentum/collisions/impulse, rotational motion, torque, fluids, thermodynamics (including work), internal energy, and springs/waves…</p>
<p>:( it really sucks. I’ll just have to spend some time on my own studying the material…</p>
<p>Quick Question, How do you start a thread?</p>
<p>As for your question, The same thing happened to me. If it was an updated review book then go along with it because it will be right. I got a tutor and had him explain it to me and also had the other physics teacher explain it to me and their answers matched. I used that and I ended up getting a 5 on the AP Physics B exam.</p>
<p>@teaspoons, still faster than my class, you covered more than mine by the end of the first semester which did 5/30 book chapters. And nobody got a 5 out of 30 but there were a few 4s.
I actually don’t think Princeton makes a great review book as it is plagued with errors, redundant examples, and at times I can explain things in a lot simpler way / to the point–but it did help me get a 4 with last minute cramming.
Princeton doesn’t give enough problems for you to do is the main thing. Find a problems bank on different topics and practice from there and you shall succeed. (Use the princeton to try to figure out how to do the problems, but you have to figure out your own method to do a variety of them and repeatedly get the correct answer)</p>
<p>@chemistry, um I use the iPhone app… So it’s in the top right hand corner but I don’t remember on the site… I think it’s also on the top right just above where topics begin to be listed. Also thanks for your advice . We only have one physics teacher but I have a friend who has an old sister majoring in physics so if I’m really confused ill go to her.</p>
<p>:( I’m getting really nervous about all this… At my school people tell me it’s hard to get 5s… I actually didn’t even know you could get a 5 before I came on here (since the highest score anyone I knew last year was just a 4)… I guess I really won’t know till I try but getting 3s and 2s would really devastate me (pretty much proves the class was bs and my grades were inflated if I get all A’s…), really would be a hit to me and how overconfident I was. :\ I’m gonna try and dedicate time everyday to physics (we don’t have any hw for that class anyways, and I’m exempt from labs since I turn in my notes for the class to use…) hopefully I can earn myself a 5 by may or march or whenever</p>
<p>I’m in AP physics B this year, but I’m self studying to take the physics C test (only mechanics, I’m not crazy enough for. E&M). I recommend going to MIT open courseware. They have textbooks on almost every subject and I find their physics ones helpful. While it may be a bit confusing if you are just learning calculus like me, I find that it gives me a much better understanding of the algebra based physics we do in class. Also Halliday and Resnick 7th edition is an amazing text to read as well. Personally I took honors physics last year as a junior (required pre req for ap) and am taking ap as a senior, so I already know most of mechanics, but it is still good to grasp the less conventional topics. </p>
<p>Also our class is about to start impulse and momentum (probably spend about 3 days on it) and then move into thermo/waves/optics</p>
<p>Yea, I have it this year and my teacher really…doesn’t teach much. I searched AP Physics on Youtube and there are some really good instructors on there. I’m really nervous about the test because we just barely finished covering work in my class. <em>sad face</em></p>
<p>By work do you mean all of energy, or just work in specific?
What sections have you guys covered?
As long as you wrap up mechanics within the next few weeks you should be fine</p>
<p>We supposedly just finished Newtonian physics (stuff you can see) and now we’re going into pressure and thermodynamics… We never learned impulse… We should collaborate links and info to things we’ve found helpful… It seems like a lot of people are having trouble… I’m out of a computer right now so I mostly use my phone for everything… The Khan Academy Physics 4 app is just around my next unit… Pretty useful</p>
<p>I know the physics B class at my school is just about to go into rotational stuff (just finished Impulse/Momentum). Granted, our school year starts somewhat late, and the teacher spends more time on kinematics and forces than anything else.</p>
<p>As long as you’re heading into thermo/E&M then you’re doing fine. Impulse and momentum is very simple and doesn’t require much teaching. Just look up the equations and understand how to use them, maybe look up some practice problems, or ask one of the other teachers in your school to go over it with you one day after school. Fortunately my teacher is good, and I haven’t needed to rely on outside sources for any learning, but I find MIT open courseware to be very useful for glancing over topics</p>
<p>I’m not having any difficulty at all, my teacher is really good at explaining things though, so that helps. She said that our class usually scores about an equal amount of 4 and 5s depending on the year. We’ve had a few years where every kid besides one or two got fives and there are more normal years where 6 to 8 kids (out of 15-20) get 5s. I’m hoping to be one of those kids this year, I’m really looking forward to E&M, mechanics is too simple for my tastes</p>