<p>The AP Test is in less than 3 weeks and counting! </p>
<p>Where is everybody in the curriculum? How are all of you studying?</p>
<p>Right now, I'm revising Kaplan's Physics B+C guide over and over again, until I hopefully memorize it.</p>
<p>One question: How much of Phys C stuff is Phys B if there is any overlap?</p>
<p>There better be overlap, because I have gone over all the B stuff but NONE of the C stuff. Since I am taking B and C, I get to take C on a late test day. So, I will spend the last week cramming PR, 5 Steps, and Cliffs guides. Before that, I might look over Fundamentals of Physics.</p>
<p>OK, i'm JUST started teaching myself magnetism (that can't be good, right?), but i'm OK with mechanics and electricity. I'm taking C by the way, so hopefully i can get some credit for mechanics at least...</p>
<p>tapedDuck, Physics C requires a background in Calc, and solving problems becomes a bit harder as a result. Many of the formulas found in Physics B can be derived and expanded upon with calculus. However, I'm not sure how fast you can transition yourself into calculus-based physics...</p>
<p>we just got done with Faraday's law like 3 weeks ago and inductance....we are reviewing now</p>
<p>@abhim 89</p>
<p>I found that the calculus is almost completely pointless on the Physics C exam (I'm taking the mech. exam so I'm not too sure about the electricity). The only reason I'd use calculus is for the problems that ask for instantaneous acceleration at a certain velocity because it saves lots of time. </p>
<p>For all the other topics, calculus just seems way to cumbersome (and I take Calc BC so calculus isn't my weak point). Seriously, whats the point of using calculus for conservation of momentum problems if you already know the formulas? The only topic where calculus is absolutely necessary to derive the formulas is in harmonic motion (but even then, you can just memorize the final formula and never touch calculus again.)</p>
<p>Maybe you can clarify why everyone suggests that calculus is so necessary?</p>
<p>i guess its not 100% necessary, especially if your short term goal is to do well on the exam by memorizing certain formulas. However, calculus def helps you understand where the formulas are coming from. As you derive physics formulas, you get a much better grasp of the concepts. Also, i only memorize very common formulas or formulas that take a long time to derive; other than that, i just use calc instead.</p>
<p>atomicbomb, my comments were mostly directed at E&M. yes, i agree that you can probably learn all the calculus you need for mechanics in one hour (really its just simple derivations and integrations with power/chain rules). i feel that e&m is much much more calculus intensive, and requires a much more complete calculus background. E&M makes a whole lot more sense with calculus, while with Mechanics you understand much of it without calculus (i know i did last year, before i took any calc)</p>
<p>you absolutely need calculus for E/M...no other way to derive some of the electric potentials and electric fields for continuous distributions</p>
<p>the only thing in mechanics that demands calculus is kinematics (S/V/A)</p>
<p>I have already taken AP Calc AB and I got a 5 on that, so I think I am OK for calc. Also, in that class, we did problems on mechanics with motion equations, so thats a start into Phys C. For Phys B, I am sure I can get at least a 4, probably a 5. So, will the transition to calculus-based physics be hard? What should I focus on more (I am taking both Mechanics and E/M)?</p>
<p>Also, do you HAVE to derive formulas on the FRQS or can you just memorize them before hand and use them? And would I get credit for using calculus on Physics B problems (I doubt there will be any questions with calc on the AP test)?</p>
<p>for B you can use calculus to simplify the calculation, you just dont have to.</p>
<p>We are currently done with the curiculum, done with the first full review of Mech and E&M are taking tests and starting the 2nd review of weird stuff that people tend to screw up on (rolling w/o slipping or Inductance anyone??)</p>
<p>And no, mech needs calc in a ton of stuff. To get I you ahve to integrate across volume, to get Work you have to integrate if force is not constant etc.</p>
<p>And why would you memorize equations and hope to do well? To much work for one, for a 2 second power rule integration and its very easy to do g/l instead of l/g</p>
<p>@doh,</p>
<p>I self-study, and I haven't seen a question yet that involves a changing force that is non linear. If the Force is linear you can just take an average of the instantaneous work done done (which is without calculus).</p>
<p>Can you give me an example of where you've seen a Force that has a shape of a curve? Also what do you mean by the last part of what you say? Sorry not familiar with the terms you're using (2nd power rule, g/l, lg).</p>
<p>Also, for I they usually give you the constant (actually, I've never seen a question where the constant is not given).</p>
<p>We are done with mechanics. We only take mechanics at our school. So next week we start doing AP practice free responses. I traded with someone and got all of them so hopefully a bunch of easy As!!!</p>
<p>I think that doh is saying that taking a derivative or integral is much easier than memorizing it. You might also make a mistake when you are memorizing an equation: e.g. period of a pendulum 2pi sqrt(l/g) or 2pi sqrt(g/l).</p>
<p>I don't think getting the equations mixed up will be a big problem for me, but I'm just worried if there is a LONG derivation. </p>
<p>What exactly is I?</p>
<p>What's the BEST stand-alone self-study book?</p>
<p>Hey all, I'm looking for the 2004 MC for Mech/E&M w/sol.</p>
<p>I'm sure I have something I can trade you:
Phy C MC 84, 88, 93, 98
Phy C FR pre 1999 many years</p>
<p>I also have Phy B, Calc AB/BC, Bio, Chem, Lang, Lit, US Hist, and others.. just ask and I'll see if I can get it from a friend</p>
<p>Please don't pm me for free tests.. thanks!</p>
<p>Calc AB should be enough to cover the calc skills required for Phys C, right?</p>
<p>MissRis, I don't like your chances of getting your hands on that test. Almost everyone on CC has access to those AP tests.</p>
<p>Really?! Seems like there are lots of posts looking for tests. Do you mean that people are getting them from their teachers.. or that there's a site to download them from ;P?</p>