Calculus, no problem. Physics...ehh maybe not

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>^^^ AP is college level isn’t it?? (according to College Board, but its far from the truth. . .) I think all APs use college textbooks. </p>

<p>Anyway for calc-based physics, it’s useless to study from a AP Physics B book. You need to get REA Physics Problem Solvers [Amazon.com:</a> Physics Problem Solver (Problem Solvers) (9780878915071): Joseph Molitoris, The Staff of Research and Education Assn: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0878915079/ref=NOSIM/netrific1234-20]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0878915079/ref=NOSIM/netrific1234-20) if you want to learn physics better. I cannot stress the important of solving problems, it is absolutely essential to math, physics, chemistry, engineering, etc courses. You can understand concepts from reading any textbook. . . its the problem solving part that students struggle with.</p>

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<p>Any college calc-based physics textbook will already contain a ton of problems. Another text with problems is very useful as well (I agree, practicing problems is vital for success in the aforementioned courses), however an AP Physics B book covers the exact same depth of problems as college introductory physics but requires a more thorough understanding of the concepts behind it all. Learning through a Physics B prep book is another method in how to understand the complicated concepts of physics rather than always having to learn the concepts through problem solving.</p>

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<p>Thanks EngyHead, but I already developed an understanding of it. The problem was that most sources want to give you a mathematical description using angular momentum equations. This doesn’t <em>explain</em> gyroscopic precession, it just tells us how to describe it mathematically. I think many professional physicists just stink at explaining things.</p>

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<p>Alternate sources are a great idea. There’s a simple reason for this… not every textbook writer can explain everything extremely clearly. Sometimes something may be understandable to some people and not others. That’s what makes us human. It would be smart to just take a look at another publisher’s calc based physics book just to see if it’s you or if it’s the explanation that’s the problem. If you still have problems, go to MIT’s open courseware site and watch a lecture, Walter Lewin does a good job in my opinion of lecturing. It’s not comprehensive like a textbook, but you get the ideas down well.</p>

<p>Just keep looking for alternative sources, that is the best way to do it. If a physics B book is going to help you then fine. There is no one way to help people.</p>

<p>AAAAND my earlier quote I thought the guy I quoted said ‘Everyone understands physics BUT Watler Lewin.’ I was greatly offended, but now I see I was ■■■■■■■■ so I retract my previous post.</p>

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<p>Well, awesome for you, allow that website to serve for others who find mathematical explanations useless in their understanding of gyroscopes. Maybe every textbook should refer to HowThingsWork’s explanation of gyroscopes to compile upon their own explanations ;).</p>

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<p>At my University they offered free tutoring every night for the lower-level engineering/science courses, like calculus 1/2/3 and physics. </p>

<p>See if they offer free tutoring sessions at your university. It helped me immensely with the first 2 years of my undergraduate degree.</p>

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<p>I think I’m gonna cry</p>

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<p>It was the complete opposite for me.</p>

<p>I had received an A- in Physics and physics was relatively easy but chemistry was very hard and I received an embarrassing grade in chemistry.</p>

<p>Calculus is easy for me though.</p>

<p>Go to khanacademy.org</p>

<p>he has lessons on physics that will help you.</p>

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<p>Don’t cry. Just keep pushing forward. You will be through physics soon.</p>

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<p>^^^ agreed</p>

<p>Its fine. everyone has they’re classes that they arent good in or they just arent good at the college thing (as far as lecture classes go). Its fine. You can do it, saraleigh117. Keep going!! </p>

<p>a wise rapper said “God will take you through hell, just to get you to heaven”</p>

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<p>Isn’t that a bit of an oxymoron?</p>

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<p>Wat are you tryin to say about rap, bone??</p>

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<p>Oh hells to the naw…izzy…</p>

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<p>@bone </p>

<p>uhhh no its not</p>

<p>off topic: can someone tell me how to quote messages on here</p>

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<p>Draw your own conclusions about what I am saying. I can say rappers do not tend to very wise in high percentages, especially ones who say things like “if the Bible were written about modern day, I would be a central character.”</p>

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<p>^^^ lol. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>@Magneto: use [ q o u t e ] <a href=“I’ve%20spaced%20out%20on%20purpose”> / q u o t e </a></p>

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<p>You will be fine, I went through Physics I with the same worries haha. It gets better once you get the hang of it. Physics is a lot of work though, I spent pretty much over 90% of my time with homework on physics compared to other subjects. But with work, you will definitely be fine.</p>

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<p>You should all be happy to know that with all of my bickering and whining (and countless hours of study), I managed to pull off a 98 (which by the way was the highest test score in my particular lecture class) on the first exam of the semester. Yay me!!!</p>

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<p>I had Physics I, II, III, Modern Physics and Computational Physics (the last 3 just electives) and did not receive a 98 in any assignment or test in those Physics classes.</p>

<p>So in other words…SaraLeigh117…if you don’t get out of here with all that whinin’…</p>

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<p>hah way to go! I hope I do fine, I barely learned vectors in high school</p>