<p>Is it true that in the test you are not given a data booklet consisting of all the formulas to be used in the test? and secondly, you cannot use the calculator at all in this test? </p>
<p>I would freak out at the heaps of formulas we have to learn for sat2 physics, seriously, if they don't have a data booklet or some sort!</p>
<p>You aren't given a formula sheet, but most of the formulas are easy, like F=ma or PE=mgh. On a few hard questions, you need to know the more complicated ones, but if you can remember that things are directly or inversely proportional, or that the force of gravity decreases with the inverse square, you can put the numbers together and figure things out. The only constant you'll really need to know is gravity, and even for that you can just round it to 10 m/s^2.</p>
<p>You aren't allowed a calculator, but the most complex math you'll run into is 20/5 or 9 x 2. If it involves trig, they'll give you certain trig values (ie, cos 30 degrees = .87).</p>
<p>I went into the physics test with a few memorized formulas and passible mental math abilities and got an 800 (also, physics comes very naturally to me, and I have a stack of science magazines three feet high in my room).</p>
<p>Good luck- I'm sure you'll do fine if you prepare.</p>
<p>I think Kaplan's fomula are quite comprehensive.
and you only need one step to calculate.
by the way, UncleFeezus, you are really a physics person. I never read any science magazine!</p>
<p>wow, that is crazy man.... i mean i have PR physics and the formulas, especially for electricity and magnetism is way crazy, were so many.... i don't know how i can cope memorising all of them <em>faints</em></p>
<p>Can anyone post the essential formulas to remember?</p>
<p>I know these mechanics equations are necessary:
F = ma
v^2 = u^2 + 2 as
v = ut + 1/2 at^2</p>
<p>Ugh.. I'm having to self-study the material because our school doesn't cover it.. It's hell, but I really do like physics.
Do any of you guys have any tips? Is it more conceptual than problem solving? Any good prep books? How is the electricity part of it?.. There are a ton of forumals in the PR book for this..it's crazy.</p>
<p>Haha tennis, I didn't read your post. Yes, the forumals in elect. and magnetism are downright crazy..</p>
<p>heh. just remember that energy is conserved. work your way down from that, kinda like a pyramid! worked for me.</p>
<p>I went into the test with very poor training: bits and pieces of waves, basic mechanics (so basic, in fact, that we hadn't even covered kinematics), and resistor circuits (electrostatics and capacitors supposedly involved "too much math"). I taught myself everything else and got an 800. So I don't think that "not having learned the stuff in class" is any excuse for not scoring well on the exam. If you love Physics, you should be able to learn the stuff on your own.</p>
<p>As for formulas, I can't really think of any mindboggling E&M formulas that you would need to know...</p>
<p>F = kQq/r^2 = qE
E = kQ/r^2 = F/q
V = E/q = Ed = kQ/r
induced EMF = (change in flux)/t
V = IR
P = IV = (I^2)R = (V^2)/R
C = Q/V = eA/d (e = permittivity of free space)</p>
<p>Nothing here should be hard to memorize. It's not like you need to know things like magnetic field generated by a wire, Ampere-Maxwell Law, etc. Now THOSE are hard to memorize!</p>
<p>No formula sheet.
No calculator.</p>
<p>Otherwise, everyone would get 800s.</p>
<p>The SATII Physics will mostly ask you general concept, a few FBDs, one or two projectile motion (simple projectile motion). There is not a whole lot of math.</p>
<p>So, don't go learn differential equations and how to derive the formula for the trajectory of an object with air resistance (pretty rough).</p>
<p>Just get a prep book like Kaplan, memorize it, and you should get an 800.</p>
<p>Firstly, you do NOT NEED a calculator for the physics. You have to know how to multiply and divide numbers like 2*10^3, though. Also, for PR's physics book, you do not have to memorize many of the equations, because if you study them, and study HOW PR concluded that those are valid formulae, you should have no problem reproducing them on the test.
There is not question, however, that you must know all of the kinematics equations by heart. And at least, most equations in mechanics.</p>
<p>You have to know how to interpret graphs for the SAT II. It helps to know calculus based physics, because you already know what would be the integral (area under the graph) or the first (or second) derivative (slope of the graph).</p>
<p>There are a lot of conceptual questions on the SAT II, so don't ONLY memorize equations for the test.</p>
<p>I think PR is an excellent review of an honors physics class. Some of its questions aren't exactly what one would find on the test, but are close enough. Stay AWAY from sparknotes and barrons. I used sparknotes--it was horrible to say the least. And if barrons' SAT II physics is anything like its AP Physics C (the only Physics C review book), I would not spend the money on it.</p>
<p>I took the SAT II twice; once preparing Sparknotes only (big mistake), and they other with PR. The tests were comepletely different. The second time I took it, about 75% of the questions dealt with E&M, with optics, and with modern physics, which I think is very weird. E&M should onlly consist of ~25% of the test, but ETS was moody that administration and didn't want to follow its published syllabus. Be prepared if ETS does that to you too. And don't stress out if you don't get an 800, the standard here is ridiculous.</p>
<p>i doubt that they'd ask any questions on E&M formulas, all that i remembered were on mechanics and kinematics. Perhaps some stuff on fluid dynamics.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks.. I'm going through the PR book again.
Hearing that somebody else got an 800 by self-study kinda motivates me.</p>
<p>what about formulae on thermodynamics and relativity? how important are those?</p>
<p>how many can you miss/omit for a 700 or above?</p>
<p>a whole lot... like 18-20 or so not sure exactly..</p>
<p>I definitely recommend buying (or checking out from the library) the ?12? Real SAT II book. It has a complete physics test + a table to convert your raw score to a scaled score.</p>
<p>"a whole lot... like 18-20 or so not sure exactly.."</p>
<p>More like 8-10... (from Real SAT II)</p>
<p>they asked for 700 score not 800</p>
<p>what formulas are important for E&M, joshjmgs</p>