<p>Hey guys</p>
<p>I'm doing Physics C independantly over next year (the MIT OCW guy is <em>awesome</em>). Would it really help to take Multivariable calculus or Differential Eqns for the Physics C AP? they say the more math you have the easier it'll be, so what do you guys think? I can only take one of them</p>
<p>Also, any suggestions for textbooks? i know everyone says use PR but that's a review book and I'm taking it independantly</p>
<p>Fermat</p>
<p>Hm..you should try the red textbook by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker..</p>
<p>As for calculus - you only need very basic calculus for Physics C, stuff that can be covered in about a week. I don't think it will really help your Physics if you take a really advanced calculus course since you will not use it, but maybe it will help strengthen your concepts as is the case with math..the more you know, the easier it gets.</p>
<p>you shouldn't need any multivariable calc.</p>
<p>That said, knowledge of the first week or two of Calc 3/multivariable calc would help you on some portions of the Physics C: E&M. But that benefit is limited.</p>
<p>You don't need diffeqs at all except for the traditional euler equations (i.e., v(t) = dx(t)/dt, a(t) = dv(t)/dt = d^2 x(t)/dt^2 )</p>
<p>Dude - you only need AB calc to pass the C exam. Don't worry about DiffEq or Multivariable (unless you just want to).</p>
<p>And don't tell me about the OCW guy at MIT - I got rejected from there three months ago :( !!! The admissions people were pretty awesome though, even though they rejected me.</p>
<p>I can't speak for E&M, but I self studied Mech, and I didn't use anything beyond basic AB calculus as Alexandre said.</p>
<p>for the exam itself you'll need to know how to differentiate and integrate polynomials, exponenial functions, sin, and cos IN ONE VARIABLE. and the actual computations are never that difficult.</p>
<p>halliday, reznick, and walker is a classic. if you can't get your hands on that, serway and jewett are alright.</p>
<p>if you want to take your physics knowledge to the next level, feynman's "lectures on physics" is the bible.</p>
<p>dude, i took calc 3/4 and physics C last year. you don't need any real calc to do physics. occasionally there will be a derivation question, but that isn't much calc, and they are so rare, it's unnecessary.</p>
<p>calc ab only necessary... i only came upon one thing that needed bc. everyone is right HRW is the best!</p>