<p>Sorry if this is too early, but now that the AP exams are nearly over I thought it would be a good idea to start this forum. I am taking this as a class next year but my class will only cover Mechanics (I still plan to self study E&M). Could anyone provide any tips on how to get a head start on the class over the summer (any recommended prep books, websites, or resources)?</p>
<p>Anyone have any suggestions?</p>
<p>I used Barron’s when I was preparing Physics C. You should be fine if you can understand most of it, but the questions on Barron’s are really hard.</p>
<p>Are you saying that Barron’s is overkill, so if I understand most of it the test will be a breeze? And how much would you say that I should rely on a textbook?</p>
<p>Anyone else have any tips or advice?</p>
<p>I am taking AP Physics B next year (only AP Physics my school offers). However, I think C sounds more interesting. I’ve already completed AP Calculus. Any ideas how hard it would be to self-study C? I’ll probably just do mechanics, not E&M. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m going to be a senior in high school. My school offers AP Physics C: Mechanics (which I plan on taking) but not AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. I haven’t taken ANY previous physics courses. Is it still possible for me to self-study it?</p>
<p>@baileyj57</p>
<p>[Learn</a> AP Physics - AP Physics C](<a href=“http://www.learnapphysics.com/apphysicsc/]Learn”>Learn AP Physics- Physics C)</p>
<p>Enjoy! :)</p>
<p>I’m planning on taking AP Physics C: Mechanics next year. This is the second year our school has had it. I had the teacher in 10th grade for Honors Earth Science–I recall him writing the curriculum throughout the year and asking us if we’d be interested in AP Physics. (as opposed to the regular Physics our school offered before)</p>
<p>Last year, the AP and regular Physics class were the same period, which resulted in A LOT of people dropping AP for the regular. I was talking to the teacher at the end of this year, and he mentioned he’s pushing for it to be its own period this year. I hope so.</p>
<p>Last year, there were only 4 people in it, and they weren’t the most driven people in the world, so they didn’t do much. This year, as far as I know, there are 5 of us registered–my group of best friends–and 4/5 of us are in the top ten of our class entering our senior year.</p>
<p>I’m actually excited for this class. I’m captain of the Scholastic Quiz team, and there are ALWAYS physics questions I never know how to do. They also made trebuchets, roller coasters, and a Rube Goldberg machine!</p>
<p>The textbook was quite large though, from what I saw.</p>
<p>The amount of material on the Physics C tests is not much (especially compared to the Physics B material). I was successful in “self-studying” for both C tests in the month before the test. The material is just slightly more intense and involves Calculus. </p>
<p>It is entirely possible to study for C while in B (which I did). There are material you have to teach yourself (such as rotational kinematics and nearly most of E&M) as well as being able to apply calculus to various problems (which is easy if you remember the graph-type questions on the Physics B). If you had no prior Physics experience, then I recommend reading a textbook (calculus-based, even if you are taking B) before looking at a prep-book. If there is something within the textbook you don’t understand, either look in the prep-book or ask someone to explain it for you. A year is plenty of time to prepare for both C tests (although I took a year for all three physics tests). </p>
<p>Because Mechanics is like the backbone of Physics, I’d recommend putting as much effort as possible studying for that exam first. </p>
<p>The projects were fun to do though! (Although I did most of them in Pre-AP Physics). The class has built Gliders, Catapults/Trebuchets, Bridges, and so on, and my teacher had crazy demonstrations involved too, like an “air cannon” using a cardboard box. In case you were wondering, my school was going to offer AP Physics C, until my Pre-AP Physics instructor left, so my school ended up offering only AP Physics B (taught by someone new, whom I also enjoyed having as an instructor)</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the great advice!</p>
<p>My school doesn’t offer ap physics would i be able to take the test after taking these classes at a local community college:
PHYS 108A:
G
eneral Physics I
4.0 Units. 3 lecture and 3 lab hrs/wk. Prerequisite: Math 104 or sufficient score
on the Math Assessment Test. Advisory: Math 121.
This course introduces topics in physics including motion, forces,</p>
<h2>energy, oscillation, waves, fluids, heat, and thermodynamics. Empha</h2>
<p>sizes problem-solving based in algebra and trigonometry, as well as
laboratory investigations and experimental techniques. (CSU/UC)
AA/AS Area A, CSU Area B-1 and B-3, IGETC Area 5A and 5C
PHYS 108AC:
G
eneral Physics I (Calculus Supplement)
1.0 Unit. 1 lecture hrs/wk. Prerequisite: Physics 108A or concurrent enrollment,
and Math 121 or sufficient score on the Math Assessment Test.
Covers basic concepts of kinematics, forces, rotational motion, fluids,
oscillations, and waves, heat, and thermodynamics with a calculus-
based set of problem assignments. (CSU/UC) CSU Area B-1
PHYS 108B:
G
eneral Physics II
4.0 Units. 3 lecture and 3 lab hrs/wk. Prerequisite: PHYS 108A.
A continuation of introductory topics in physics, focusing on the
basic laws and concepts of electricity and magnetism, including
the treatment of electric fields, charges and potentials, capacitance,</p>
<h2>electric current, basic DC and AC circuits, magnetism, electromag</h2>
<p>netic induction, electromagnetic waves, light, and geometric optics.
Emphasizes problem-solving based in algebra and trigonometry, as
well as laboratory investigations and experimental techniques. (CSU/
UC) CSU Area B-1 and B-3, IGETC Area 5A and 5C
PHYS 108BC:
G
eneral Physics II (Calculus Supplement)
1.0 Unit. 1 lecture hrs/wk. Prerequisite: PHYS 108B or concurrent enrollment,
and Math 122.</p>
<h2>An introduction to the fundamental concepts of electricity, magne</h2>
<p>tism, light, and modern physics with a calculus-based set of problem
assignments. (CSU/UC) CSU Area B-1</p>
<p>My school doesn’t off any form of AP Physics whatsoever, but I self-studied for the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam and plan on self-studying for E+M this year. At the time that I had taken the exam, I had completed Calculus I and II at my local community college (the equivalent of AB and BC). I also took honors physics at my school. There were some people who took the AP test for Physics B without any additional studying and only got a 3, and they were easily getting A’s in the class, so that’s about the caliber of my class. I used a Barron’s book for Physics C and (obviously) only did the Mechanics part. I did as many practice tests as I could get my hands on. In fact, the day before the test I bought the Princeton Review Prep book just for the additional practice tests. Barron’s was fine for me, but I only had about a month to study. Since you have so much time I recommend using MIT Opencourseware (which I found too late). Here is the link for the Mechanics class: [Physics</a> I: Classical Mechanics | Physics | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/]Physics”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/)</p>
<p>I plan on using the E+M class here to study this year, since hopefully I’ll be able to give myself more than a month. [Physics</a> II: Electricity and Magnetism | Physics | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02sc-physics-ii-electricity-and-magnetism-fall-2010/]Physics”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02sc-physics-ii-electricity-and-magnetism-fall-2010/)</p>
<p>I got a 5 on Mech, so if you have questions about it or the self-studying process just PM me.</p>
<p>@samson920
I am familiar with OCW but I was wondering whether or not it comprehensively covers all of the topics included in the AP exam. I know that you said you didn’t have enough time to use it for studying but would you say that those two courses (or at least the mechanics one, 8.01) would be a rigorous coverage of the topics on the AP exam?</p>
<p>Taking both exams this years a junior! Im also going to do the sat subject physics test (since its similar to physics b which I took.)</p>
<p>Using Princeton review for both. It’s pretty good. Probably will pick up Barron’s later this year. What chapter are you all on? I just finished Newtons laws and going I energy stuff.</p>
<p>Hey so im in AP Physics C: Mech right now but I was thinking about self studying for E+C How hard is it to do this ? … and how much different is E+C compared to Mech … I mean different like as in how much harder is it, how much more calculus is in it, is it mostly math or concepts etc.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you mean E&M or not, but if you do, I’m in the same situation as you. I’m going to be using some online videos and my textbook to self study. However, I would also like to know how difficult it is to study for the E&M exam. Anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>Omg I wrote “E+C” 
idk why but I find that typo so funny … Idk what I was thinking but yes I do “E&M”</p>
<p>Haha is no one taking this class? 
What are you guys currently doing in your class? In my class, we are on the unit of dynamics.</p>
<p>Which textbook do you use?</p>