Preparing to self-study AP Physics C. Some questions, please help!

Test Preparation AP Sciences
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<p>I will self-study AP Physics C this summer. I want a solid base in Physics, as I want to go on to major in physics, AND I want to prepare for USAPhO. First, I want some textbook recommendations. The textbooks should be cost-effective, and should give me a thorough understanding (not looking for an easy 5). Here are some of my choices:</p>

<p>1) 2 Volumes of Physics by Halliday, Resnick, Krane (~1300 pages total):
[Physics</a>, Volume 1: David Halliday, Robert Resnick, Kenneth S. Krane: 9780471320579: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Physics-1-David-Halliday/dp/0471320579]Physics”>http://www.amazon.com/Physics-1-David-Halliday/dp/0471320579)
[Amazon.com:</a> Physics, Volume 2 (9780471401940): David Halliday, Robert Resnick, Kenneth S. Krane: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Physics-2-David-Halliday/dp/0471401943/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368988978&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Physics-2-David-Halliday/dp/0471401943/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368988978&sr=1-1)</p>

<p>2) Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick, Walker (1 Vol, still ~1300 pages):
[Fundamentals</a> of Physics: David Halliday, Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker: 9780471232315: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Physics-David-Halliday/dp/0471232319/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368989039&sr=1-1&keywords=fundamentals+of+physics+halliday+resnick]Fundamentals”>http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Physics-David-Halliday/dp/0471232319/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368989039&sr=1-1&keywords=fundamentals+of+physics+halliday+resnick)</p>

<p>3) University Physics by Young, Freedman (seems easy, might get it as a supplement):
[Amazon.com:</a> University Physics with Modern Physics with MasteringPhysics (12th Edition) (9780805321876): Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman, Lewis Ford: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/University-Physics-Modern-MasteringPhysics-12th/dp/080532187X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368989108&sr=1-2&keywords=university+physics+freedman]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/University-Physics-Modern-MasteringPhysics-12th/dp/080532187X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368989108&sr=1-2&keywords=university+physics+freedman)</p>

<p>Second, any advice on preparing for the APs, or for USAPhO?</p>

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<p>The explanations in University Physics are better than those of Fundamentals of Physics, but the problems in Fundamentals are more challenging and varied than those of University Physics.</p>

<p>And about studying for the AP’s, just make sure to pace your studying. I made the mistake of spending too much time on mechanics, and I had to learn E&M from the ground up in 2 weeks.</p>

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<p>I took AP Physics B then decided to self study E&M while taking Mechanics in school.</p>

<p>Honestly all I needed was this guy’s lectures:</p>

<p>[Viren’s</a> Videos Free AP Physics Review Help](<a href=“http://www.apphysicslectures.com/]Viren’s”>http://www.apphysicslectures.com/)</p>

<p>and working past year’s FRQs. I also used the AP Advantage for Physics C by James Mooney to refresh my memory but I don’t think it was necessary.</p>

<p>I don’t know how helpful my advice is though since Physics B kind of introduced some topics of Mechanics and E&M, but I can’t stress how helpful those guy’s lectures were. It was impossible to read a textbook after watching his exceptionally clear videos.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the suggestions, and I will definitely check out Viren’s videos (as a supplement to the textbook).</p>

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<p>+1 for Viren’s videos. If you know and understand those well, you’ll get a 5 on both tests.</p>

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<p>Your calculus has to be good, especially integration and differential equations. You should memorize the differential equations of the exponetial, restricted and logistic growth functions because I ran into 2 questions requiring me to solve the differential equation on this year’s AP physics C mechanics exam, and one of them was the MOST difficult question and appeared in frqs.</p>