<p>I'm thinking about buying text books for physics and chemistry.</p>
<p>I think it would be wise to go through text books before practicing test questions..</p>
<p>So please recommend Physics and Chemistry text books.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Zumdahl is pretty good for chemistry, but I haven’t taken physics yet so I have no suggestion there.</p>
<p>For AP Physics B, I found that the Cutnell / Johnson text had good explanations and great practice problems. If you can do the one-star and two-star problems in Cutnell / Johnson, the AP exam will be a piece of cake. Similar advice goes for Giancoli’s textbook, but replace one-star and two-star with levels II and III.</p>
<p>If you’re referring to AP Physics C, Halliday / Resnick is widely considered your best option.</p>
<p>Most people recommend Zumdahl / Zumdahl for AP Chemistry. I’ve yet to look at a copy of Zumdahl, but my class uses Brady / Senese. It’s a wonderful textbook in terms of explaining concepts, but the problem sets are horrible. The qualitative problems are nothing but copying down textbook excerpts word-for-word, and the quantitative problems are plug and chug. They require almost no thought. However, I find that the conceptual teaching is so strong in Brady / Senese that I do extremely well on our class tests, which are exclusively former AP multiple choice and free response questions.</p>
<p>For AP Chem, I recommend the Brown “Chemistry: the Central Science” textbook. We are currently using that one for our AP Chem class, and the text explains the concepts REALLY well. It is really easy for me to read, and is organized well. The problem sets are decent and aren’t just mindless applications of the material.</p>
<p>My school uses Brown/LeMay/Bursten’s Chemistry - The Central Science<a href=“mentioned%20above”>/U</a> for Honors chem and Zumdahl/Zumdahl’s Chemistry 7th Edition<a href=“also%20mentioned%20above”>/U</a> for AP chem. I can’t say much about the former (I sold mine back last year), but the latter is generally helpful. I currently use it and it usually walks you through examples whenever there’s anything new that’s math-related. Both books contain a LOT of practice problems at the end of the chapters that are similar to AP-type questions (especially Zumdahl’s). </p>
<p>As for physics, I haven’t a clue since I’m not taking physics – but my school uses College Physics by Serway/Vuille. I hear it’s “decent” but nothing spectacular.</p>
<p>I agree that Zumdahl is good for chemistry.</p>
<p>I second the zumdahl, very good.</p>
<p>I second the zumdahl, very good.</p>
<p>I second the zumdahl, very good.</p>
<p>Zumdahl is pretty good for chemistry, like everyone else has said. </p>
<p>For physics, which one (B or C) do you mean?
For AP Phys B, Giancoli is a pretty good option. The book is sometimes poorly worded, but it’s not bad. </p>
<p>For AP Phys C: Mechanics, I really like University Physics Vol 1, by Young & Freedman. The book is pretty clear in explanations (in my opinion, at least) This book also uses basic single variable calculus, however. </p>
<p>AP AP Phys C: E/M, University Physics Vol 2 is pretty nice. It does involve some multivariable calculus though. I believe University Physics also comes in one huge textbook edition, so if you want to do both courses, just get that. </p>
<p>If you plan on buying your books, just get them on amazon and also buy an older edition. The new edition is practically the same, but just many times more expensive.</p>
<p>Serway and Beichner “Physics for Scientists and Engineers” is a good book.</p>
<p>For Physics B, listen to what Keasbey Nights said. I also recommend that you do the conceptual questions, too, in the textbook.</p>
<p>I used Chemistry: The Central Science to help me ace my AP Chemistry exam, but since many CCers say Zumdahl, go with that.</p>
<p>Chemistry, go with Atkin’s chemistry textbook.</p>