<p>Calc-based, with an eye towards robotics. I've been reading up on various aspects of robotics and mechanical engineering, but usually formulas and concepts are whipped out that readers are expected to already know about and understand. I don't because I've never taken a physics course and the most math I've had is geometry (I'll be starting Algebra II soon) and some stuff I looked up online . Two problems:</p>
<p>1) My school doesn't allow physics until junior year</p>
<p>2) I won't have calc until then, either.</p>
<p>So I'm going the autodidact route. I can handle that, I've done it with several other subjects, but for the others either they were Wikipedia-friendly or a friend pointed me to a good site/book. No such physics friend exists, and learning math/hard, conceptual science on Wikipedia sucks. So before I start, I need to know where to start. How much calculus will I need for physics (basic stuff, physics C level maybe since I've mostly been reading stuff for uni frosh/sophs)? What is the best way to learn calculus, since I'm only using it for physics? Am I best off learning calculus and then physics, or cherry-picking bits of calculus as I need them?</p>
<p>What is the best way for me to learn the two subjects? Should I take a class online or at my local CC? Alternatively, can anyone recommend good textbooks or websites for self-learning calc/physics?</p>
<p>Sorry for the question barrage.</p>
<p>tl;dr: What are some good resources to learn calc and physics?</p>
<p>Qualifications: self-studied precalc, AP Calc BC, and all the AP Physics exams, getting mostly 5s except E&M (which I didn’t have much time to study for).</p>
<p>For Physics C, you’ll need to know how to differentiate, how to solve differential equations, and how to integrate. For learning those, you can use:</p>
<p>Those will cover everything you need and then some (i.e. you don’t need the “applications of <derivatives integrals=”“>” chapters).</derivatives></p>
<p>Note: for textbooks, getting older editions is definitely fine. Calculus, mechanics, and E&M haven’t changed very much at all for a while.</p>
<p>My sequence was pretty much Physics B + Algebra 2 -> precalc -> calculus -> Physics C. If you’re learning calculus for the sole purpose of learning physics, then you can learn them simultaneously, reading up on whatever you need from calculus as you go along. I do recommend learning calculus first, but if you’re starting at this point and you want to learn the AP material by May, then you might not have time for that.</p>
<p>Of course, you could also take online ([EPGY[/url</a>] or [url=<a href=“http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/gll/]CTD[/url]”>Online Programs | Northwestern Center for Talent Development]CTD](<a href=“http://epgy.stanford.edu/]EPGY[/url”>http://epgy.stanford.edu/)</a>) courses or CC courses. But online courses can be expensive, and CC courses might end up only being offered in the morning or becoming full before you can register (the latter of which happened to a physics class I was going to take). If it were possible, I would have taken CC courses instead of learning everything on my own, because pacing yourself to finish stuff on time can be difficult with a lot of schoolwork.</p>
<p>Wow, you are the man. I was not expecting anyone to be so helpful.</p>
<p>I didn’t even think of taking the AP exams, that’s an interesting idea. I think I may try for the physics exams this year (I’ll see how far I am in January and decide then), and just wait to do Calc BC until I take the class. Hmm, eliminating the 2.5 credits of physics I had planned for will do some interesting things to my schedule. I’ve tried to sign up for CC courses before and had trouble with scheduling. They all seemed to be during/right after my school or in the campus on the other side of the county. Maybe I’ll be able to fill the new gaps in my school schedule with some classes on my district’s dime though?</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your help, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I have a similar issue. :-/ I talked to an admissions counselor at one of the school I plan on applying to, and she said it’s strongly suggested you take Physics in high school for an engineering major. She said Physics w/ calculus is best, but I’m a rising Junior about to take HNR Pre-Calc. However, I’d rather just like to have a basic knowledge of Physics than come in completely clueless. Should I maybe take a class at a CC or self-study for an AP … any recommendations?</p>
<p>^Are you taking physics this year? I’m guessing not, but just making sure.</p>
<p>Does your school offer an AP Physics C course or does it let you take a CC calculus-based physics course? Can you take one of those classes in your senior year alongside calculus? </p>
<p>If so, then take that class.</p>
<p>If not, then refer to my post above. If you want the full advantage of calc-based physics on your applications, then you’ll have to self-study calc and physics before the AP exams or take a bunch of CC classes this year. If you’re fine with just telling colleges on your applications that you’re self-studying calculus-based physics, then you can just self-study physics in senior year alongside a calculus class in school. Either way, you’re probably going to have to learn some calculus on your own if you want to pace yourself well.</p>
<p>(Sorry if this doesn’t seem to be coherent - I’m typing this at 3 AM.)</p>
<p>Whoa, thanks, energize and all. I was actually thinking along the same lines as OP, except my time is starting to run out (a junior for this school year). The main annoyance is that my school balks at the idea at anyone who’s not a senior taking either calculus or physics (let alone both).</p>
<p>Yeah…I’ve thought about taking an AP exam at the end of this year, screw my school stupidity-enforcement. Arrgh! It doesn’t even offer an actual AP class, just a normal old course for physics because there’s no qualified teacher willing to teach where we live. So all those sophomores taking Physics C and stuff, feel blessed. Feel blessed indeed.</p>
<p>As for me, I think I might look into a few not ridiculously expensive textbooks (especially the aops) for calc and physics and see how much my poor brain can handle. Ah, but thanks. This definitely helps.</p>
<p>You don’t need calculus to take a non-AP Physics class. I found it to be the easiest of the three(bio/chem/physics) and definitely the most fun.</p>
<p>However, I did take a little bit of physics my freshman year, but it was just an integrated science course; thus, not covering any in-depth concepts.
The class just gave us an elementary feel for physics, nothing more.
I’m probably just going to take Physics w/ calc the summer of my Senior year along w/ Calculus II at my CC, after completing Calculus AB in high school.</p>
<p>I think we might have a non-HNR/AP physics class at my school. I’m going to have to talk to my counselor and see.</p>