<p>Hey all, first post.
So due to previous unfortunate circumstances, I was held out of being in advanced classes early on (Pre-Calc/Bio as a Freshman, etc) so now, coming on my senior year, my schedule looks like:</p>
<p>Spanish III (required)
Physics P
AP English Lit
AP Calculus (BC)
AP Government/Politics
AP Chemistry.</p>
<p>Now, I love science with a passion, and hope to study Physics in college, but my school doesn't offer any AP sciences besides Chem (which is after school 3 days a week, a blended course). And due to being just on track, and having a full schedule, I've never been able to take Calc or Physics. I'm fairly set on studying AP Physics, though, so my question is as to which one; B, or C: Mechanics? Will I be able to pick up enough Calculus to manage C? I've heard colleges barely acknowledge B. Also, I know Chem is difficult, but I know I can manage another class with it. And, for whichever seems best, what reading materials would you suggest? (Text, and for prep, Princeton Review, Barron's, etc.)</p>
<p>Sorry if this is in the wrong place, or complicated. Thank you!</p>
<p>You’d get wrecked in C if you didn’t know calculus going in. You’ll gradually pick up everything you need to know for Physics C by taking Calculus BC, but the amount you’d need to know before you could even start physics would make it really hard.</p>
<p>Physics B was pretty easy, but I had a good teacher and I already knew all the math (basic algebra) that I needed to know. In your situation, I’d do B.</p>
<p>Edit: And as far as credit from colleges, you’re not likely to get recognition even for taking C. Most of the schools I’ve looked at award credit for Calculus (AB or BC) but not for either physics.</p>
<p>Ah, that’s what I was afraid of. I mean, I know some basic Calculus already, but surely not enough to be taking the course, if that’s the case. And if college recognition isn’t an issue, then Physics B seems a lot more appealing at the moment, lol.</p>
<p>Remember, though, that AP Physics C is taught as two one-semester courses, Mechanics and Electromagnetism. It’d very feasible to learn calculus first semester, and then self study AP Physics C Mechanics second semester.</p>
<p>Wait sorry if I didn’t read closely enough, but are you taking Calc BC without Calc AB? That is perfectly okay to do, but a lot of schools have you take AB first anyway. </p>
<p>If your school has had you take Calc AB already, that is all you need. </p>
<p>If not, then what Mapletree suggested would work perfectly. Learn the first semester of Calc BC (which is basically Calc AB) and then learn Physics C Mech. </p>
<p>You only need Calc AB (1st half of Calc BC) for Physics C, I think. Just basic derivatives and integrals.</p>
<p>Well now they’re putting in more problems involving separable differential equations so you might want to learn about that as well (although you can just skip those problems until your second semester which is when you’ll probably learn about those in your AP Calculus class).</p>
<p>You’re in Calculus BC, so you’d be perfectly fine - BC students finish basic differentiation, integration, and differential equations in the first semester, which is all you need for Mechanics.
Even if your course didn’t cover differential equations first semester, they’re not necessary to learn Mechanics. The use of DEs will follow naturally when you solve a problem that requires them. </p>
<p>@Shalooky
No. As aldfig0 stated, you need to know differential equations as well.</p>
<p>Well, yes, my class will bring going over both AB and BC. I just feel the need to specify because some kids choose to stop at AB, instead of continuing into BC topics. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>So what you can do is pick up a calculus based physics book, like Serway’s Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Then just work through the whole book, doing all the odd exercises. That will prepare you for both Physics B and C, and the US Physics Olympiad, and freshman physics at Caltech. You can learn the calculus along the way. Physics doesn’t require that much calculus, and I think you learn calculus better by learning it in a physical context anyway.</p>
<p>Don’t learn physics from a test prep book, that’s for weenies and it won’t give you a deep understanding. But Princeton Review is good when you have to prepare for the test.</p>