<p>For those who self studied Physics C mechanics and EM, how did you do it? Did you go with a text book and later use the Review books or used the review books and the text book as supplement. How did you get tests to practice with, not just the AP practice tests but normal tests? Any input would be useful.</p>
<p>I used the Princeton Review guide to cover all the stuff my non-AP physics class didn't cover. It's thorough enough that you could use it as an exclusive source if you wanted to. Most review books have "chapter review" questions at the end of each chapter, but other than that, practice APs are really the only kind of test you need.</p>
<p>I bought the Fundamentals of Physics textbook by Halliday, Resnick, Walker. If you've taken calculus and some physics already, you should just have to read the section on rotations (cuz it goes into slightly more depth). The integrations and derivatives covered are by no means difficult. Easy easy 5.</p>
<p>Electricity and Magnetism is a slightly different story. I read through the same textbook, though a lot of the questions are intuition, as it's rather difficult to study like a thousand different hypothetical situations. For this reason it's not difficult, but slightly more tricky than mechanics. If you have inductors, capacitors, and deriving electric fields down though from the text, with other physics knowledge, the exam shouldn't be bad. Slightly more difficult 5.</p>
<p>If you study in advance it shouldn't be that bad...I was an ass and waited until the last few days though. I'm pretty sure I made out fine. My friend, however, who is about as good as I am in math and science, studied the last like 10 hours prior to the exam. He also felt he raped mechanics, but E&M was not fun for him (he wants to cancel).<br>
We both used Barrons to take some practice MC's...the mechanics is slightly more difficult, but the electricity is significantly easier than that material covered on the AP, but if you're getting in the ballpark of 0-5 wrong in barrons, ore even anything less than 15, you're golden.</p>
<p>One of my friends who took it last year used the online free-responses from CB, so if that's you're thing, go for it.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Phys C is not the best class to self-study unless you are really good at Math...</p>
<p>I self studied both parts withour any previous physics knowledge (though i do have a pretty good math background), and I'm confident I got fives on both parts. I used Serway's Physics for Scientists and Engineers (though halliday and resnik is also supposedly pretty good. i just used serway because i found a used copy for only $8 on amazon). i also used the barron's prep book.</p>
<p>my main advice is just to start early and get a lot of practice on problems. also, be sure to REALLY understand the concept! since you will not be in a class, you may not be able to get in nearly as much practice as those who take the class, so know the material well enough to be able to easily handle any new and unusual situations you may be given.</p>
<p>So how long do you think need to put into it each week or like would it take 3 weeks of hard studying, ect...? Thanks a lot for your inputs.</p>
<p>Well the amount of time you spend studying is entirely your decision. The factors that might help you to figure that out are your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts, mathematical ability and logical thinking.
I self-studied for the Physics C exam and spent about 2-3 hours a day for the last 2 weeks of preparation...i had been negligent enough not to start preparing in advance for the exam........i was able to manage only because of my strong calculus!
But i suggest that you should start early and practice all the problems from the previous years question papers within the time frame.....this will help you to get the feel of the exam as well as expose you to a variety of different questions. Another important that you should keep in mind is that study not for the grades but the concept....thats what is going to help you later.</p>