<p>Hello everyone! Currently I am a sophomore and am planning on taking AP Physics C: Mechanics next year and I am stuck with the question of how to prepare for this. Let me explain. Next year, I will be in AP Calc AB and am aiming to take Physics C: Mechanics in order to pursue my love for physics. I have come to understand that I will be required to know some basic calculus in order to do well in physics c. In order to do this I plan on learning some calculus over the summer of 2013 to prepare myself. Now I am pretty much planning on taking physics c: mech at my school next year. However, I am questioning self studying physics c: e&m next year along with mech because my school doesn't offer e&m. Is this a bad idea or not? If you think it is possible, let me know! I really want to do this but don;t know how to get started!</p>
<p>E&M is considered by many to be conceptually more difficult; it also requires more advanced math (e.g. multivariable calculus helps and is often listed as at least a co-requisite for college E&M courses). Due to the limitations on the expected math background of high school students, the E&M AP is less likely to be accepted at colleges than the mechanics AP.</p>
<p>^ This.</p>
<p>E&M is really difficult, that’s why you only like 10 people in AP Physics C E&M in my school. Don’t self-study, or you’ll be kissing death in the face.</p>
<p>If you are committed, E&M is a piece of cake. I’m not trolling and that is sincere advice. The only thing challenging about E&M is that unlike in mechanics, the forces involved in E&M are invisible and hard to visualize. But if you know vectors well and can apply logic, you should be fine. Further, as your school doesn’t offer E&M, colleges will be impressed by any decent score(3 and above) as you’d have challenged yourself by studying something that you love despite the challenges you face. So basically it’s a win-win situation for you if you put in some effort.</p>
<p>I’d personally wait till I’ve done mechanics, as it will give you a taste of what E&M is gonna be like. Also, both have many analogues.</p>
<p>Now some practical advice:
- Learn integration. I recommend the book Calculus and Analytic Geometry by Thomas & Finney. Don’t do all of it(it’s a pretty fat book). All you need to know is integration by substitution and the basics.
- Learn E&M from Halliday Resnick Walker. Do as many excercises as you can(you can leave out the additional questions if you like).
3.2-3 weeks before the AP exam, solve as many old question papers as you can(even if they’re pretty old) and go through Princeton Review’s AP book.
I did that and got a 5.
Good luck.</p>
<p>Don’t know if this helps, but I’m taking Physics C Mech concurrently with AP Calc AB and it’s nothing to worry about! The calculus in mech is very basic and you can learn it yourself easily if your calc class hasn’t gotten to it yet.</p>
<p>Can’t speak on behalf of E&M though (starts next semester), however I feel that those who commented above me covered that very well.</p>
<p>Good luck! I’m sure you will love the class :)</p>