<p>Hi everyone! This will be my first AP that I will self study for and am wondering how to exactly carry out the proper procedures that will help me achieve a 5 on the test. Let me explain. I am currently a sophomore and am very interested in physics. My school currently only offers Physics C: Mechanics to people who are taking Calc BC coherently. I am current in Hon Precalc plus taking AP Chem, AP euro, AP Comp Sci,and am going to be trying to study for the Physics Olympiad coming up in the spring. It was recommended that I should self study physics b (no knowledge of calc so b instead of c) in order to help prepare myself and get down some concepts. So here are my questions: </p>
<p>Will self-studying Physics B prepare me for both Physics C mech?
Will it help prepare me for the physics olympiad?
What is a good way to score a 5 on the exam?
Which textbook should I get? (also should I get a book such as Barron's?)</p>
<p>Once again, I am new to self-studying and would really appreciate the replies :D!</p>
<p>Hey SilkyBuns I am currently enrolled in an IB physics class and myself am self-studying for the AP physics B exam, my school does not offer any of the AP physics. However I love physics and am intending to major in it while in college. I am currently using two textbooks to study for the exam, Giancoli and Cutnell/Johnson I will link these textbooks at the bottom of this post. Giancoli is great textbook which supplies an immense amount of great problems that solidify concepts, Cutnell/Johnson is an alternative that helps give a different perspective. If you can do every level 3 problem in the chapters that pertain to the curriculum of AP physics B (so like the first 25/26 chapters) you are quite proficient in algebra based physics and have a fairly high chance of scoring well. </p>
<p>To answer your question yes self-studying AP physics B will help you with the AP physics C: Mechanics; Physics is physics and if you have a strong understanding of concepts thats what helps you the most.</p>
<p>Yes it will help in some ways prepare for the physics olympiad, HOWEVER there is much more prepartion since the rigor of the olympiad is at a much higher level of problem solving than is required for the AP physics B exam so more preparation will be needed to score adequately.</p>
<p>My final advice to you is to problem solve often, on all the topics you learn and make sure you can do a lot of challenging problems that test your conceptual understanding of the topic. Take practice Free responses from past tests and make sure you can do them and past multiple choice questions. Do this close to the exam date. </p>
<p>P.S. this lady explains all of the topics very well and she is constantly adding to all of the AP physics B topics </p>
<p>Enjoy and Good luck if you have any question just PM me, I self-studied AP chemistry last year and did well so that is my previous “experience” with this stuff.</p>
<p>I took Physics B last year while taking Calculus. College Board is correct in saying that no calculus is required or necessary. My success in the class was not influenced in the least by what I knew in calculus.</p>
<p>The holy Giancoli is the textbook we used- it’s great. As well, I had the Physics B Princeton Review and it helped know what topics to prepare for and the practice problems/tests were great practice.</p>
<p>Giancoli + review book + dedication = success</p>
<p>Physics B is equivalent to a university-level “Conceptual Physics” non-calculus class, typically aimed at pre-meds. Physics C is calculus-based, suitable for engineers/scientists. Giancoli and Cutnell & Johnson both are good Physics B texts, depends on your personal style.</p>