<p>Now, I know that it is more than 2 months into the school year (first quarter just ended for us), but after some research, I have decided to self study AP Physics B by myself over the next few months. I am enrolled in an honors physics class, so it's not like I will have no idea what I am doing. I plan to utilize physics in some way or another for my dream career, so not only do I care about getting a 5 on this AP exam, I actually want to get something out of it.</p>
<p>Anyways, my primary question is: what materials do you guys suggest? I have looked at a few text books, and I was thinking about getting Giancoli 6/E, but I'm not really sure. I am guessing that I should really get a study book to go along with the textbook, but I'm not really sure which company (PR, Barron's, etc.) makes the best AP Physics B book. </p>
<p>Also, some advice when it comes to self-studying is welcome; I am completely new to this.</p>
<p>Are you sure you want to do AP Physics B, and not AP Physics C? Physics B, I’ve heard, often looks weak to colleges, while Physics C is recommended for someone who plans to go into a physics or otherwise science-related field.</p>
<p>No I mean AP Physics B. I don’t see how it would look bad on a resume considering my school doesn’t offer either AP Physics. Self-studying for either is better than just taking the honors physics class I am in. I am a junior right now, and I figure self-studying for AP Physics B and getting a 5 on the exam would be a challenge, but a feasible one. It will provide me with the foundation that I need for AP Calc C (which I plan on self-studying my senior year). Plus, I am only in pre-calc right now (if it wasn’t for a schedule conflict I had last year, I would be in Calc right now), so I would have limited, if any knowledge of calculus that is required for AP Calc C. </p>
<p>Once again, I need some suggestions for text books, and advice for self-studying in general!</p>
<p>Use hippocampus.org for the basics and buy a princetonreview book for practice problems. Depending on what year you’re in you should look into later doing physics c, which indeed looks better and is more rigorous.</p>
<p>Only thing you might want to consider with taking Physics B is that not all colleges give credit for it.
If you’re going to major in science, and plan on going to a top school, it’s a serious possibility that even on 5 on physics B will not get you a single credit…</p>
<p>Maybe consider self studying physics C mechanics, and teaching yourself some basic calc thats needed for it.</p>
<p>Oh, and Giancoli’s Physics is pretty good, by the way. I’m taking Physics B, and I like the Princeton Review to accompany the regular text (Giancoli also has an AP prep book for AP B that supplements the text, quite helpful:))</p>
<p>I plan on self-studying for AP Physics C next year. Due to the fact that I lack knowledge of calculus (I am only in pre-calc, a schedule conflict hindered me from taking trig/pre-calc last year), I figure that it’d be better to just self study for AP Physics B. I don’t really care if colleges don’t hand over credits for it; it’ll still look good if I pursue a course on my own. I am doing this to learn more of the concepts behind Physics. Hell, if I just took AP Physics C, sure I might learn all of the fancy equations and such, but I I would never be able to truly grasp the basic concepts. I remember reading a study that some ridiculous percentage of Physics majors had problems with the simple concepts behind all of the formulas. Plus, I do not have THAT much time; I would most likely need a period in school devoted to studying AP Physics C. Because AP Physics B is more closely related to my honors physics class, a bit of extra time at home every night I believe will be enough.</p>
<p>I’m self-studying AP Physics B next year, and will study AP Physics C my senior year since my school offers neither. Most people here recommended Giancoli’s Book, but Giancoli has 3 Physics textbooks published under his name which one should I use?</p>