<p>I go to a school where APs are held in very high esteem and are extremely difficult. All of the good AP teachers pride themselves on having grades that go on a bell curve from C-A. Very few get Cs, most get Bs, very few get As. We also have a 3 AP limit because of their superior difficulty (or so they say). I am the only junior in my grade of 250 taking 3 AP courses this year, and one of them is AP Physics B. (school doesn't offer C). We had quite a few teacher transitions this year, and after 3 different teachers coming in and out, we got stuck with the biggest jackass in the western hemisphere. He spends the entire class playing with some stupid bubble machine, and we learn NOTHING. It is now March, and we have yet to cover Fluid Mechanics (Chapter 9/32). I just have two questions:</p>
<p>1) I am a good student, and even though I have B+s in my other two AP classes, all of my other classes (H1 level, the highest besides AP), I have 97%+. I have a 100% in Physics but that's because we've yet to have any grades in the third quarter, and we're halfway through it. I am looking at non-Ivy elite schools, and I think failing the AP exam will absolutely screw my admissions chances. I would be lucky to get a 2. So my first question is, will this predicted horrible score hurt my chances?</p>
<p>2) What should I do to not fail? Has anyone successfully self-studied, and if so, how? I'm already reteaching myself Bio and Chem for the SAT IIs, so I guess Physics couldn't hurt either. Any good books, etc?</p>
<p>^ Yes, but they probably had some amazing hooks.</p>
<p>Fact is, a failing score will probably be a red flag for either instructor negligence, student laziness, or grade inflation. If you’re worried (which I’m sure you are), then simply teach yourself physics. </p>
<p>Most of it is just learning how to approach a problem. I really suggest using your school textbook. Giancoli’s Physics 6th Ed. is a pretty comprehensive text - it evens shows you how to handle each type of problem in each topic. *University Physics<a href=“don’t%20remember%20the%20authors”>/I</a> is also a very good book. I’ve used it for USAPhO, and it’s probably more in-depth than what you’ll need for the AP exam.</p>
<p>Barrons AP Physics is a great review for the exam. It basically lists all the important formulas, and Physics B is easy enough that simply knowing all the types of problems is enough to pass it.</p>
<p>loll “…we got stuck with the biggest jackass in the western hemisphere” </p>
<p>feel your pain there. in our physics class all we do is read ppts and then take tests. we have touched our physics textbook only once thus far into the year, but we use a textbook called Giancoli. From the 10 minutes of experience i’ve had with it, it seems to be a very comprehensive textbook, though i am tempted to say overly difficult for what its covering. the problems arent hard in the book, but the explanations within the chapters can be a little unclear at times and somewhat hard to understand. </p>
<p>i would say get a physics review book and start going through it little by little each day and review what youve already covered (assuming you did some actual non bubble machine physics in class) so you are completely clear on previous material. from there begin to teach yourself. it seems your physics class is a sinking ship, and try not to go down with it. my best bet would be to teach myself with a princeton review or barrons review book and some online resources for phys. b from other threads. tho if u do find some good online sources for physics b dont be afraid to post here or pm me =p </p>
<p>AP scores don’t really matter that much for college admissions, except maybe for good scores on self-studies. It would be kind of dumb to penalize you for basically having a bad teacher.</p>
<p>Thanks so much that was a lot of help. And to galoisien, why should I take Physics C if I’m on like chapter 7 of a 32 page physics book? Thanks again, and yeah we officially covered approx. 6 chapters in one day today, and it made zero sense. He shoved Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Waves into an 8 slide presentation. I might as well just tie the proverbial physics noose right now, because I’m screwed.</p>
<p>1) Get your parents involved. The class is way behind. Someone needs to find out exactly how the teacher plans to have you prepared by May and to make sure they don’t force you to take this exam that you have little hope of being prepared for. </p>
<p>2) I think galoisien was suggesting taking the Physics C Mechanics exam. From where you are, with 8 weeks left, it may be easier to prepare for the Physics C Mechanics exam, most of which you’ve already learned. There are a few extra topics like rotational dynamics, and they use some elementary calculus, but the amount of material that you haven’t learned yet is much less for Physics C Mechanics than for AP Physics B. Physics C Mechanics gives you one semester of calculus-based Physics, whereas Physics B gives you a whole year of non-calculus based Physics. Even if you haven’t learned calculus yet, it still may be easier to learn the little bit that you need. </p>
<p>ClassicRockerDad, I am in AP calc AB right now, so do you think I should try the Physics C mechanics? Would it be easier because I am doing well with calculus right now, and my school’s ap calc program is amazing-hard, but amazing. Thanks so much for the advice, I will really look into it. What is covered on the Physics C Mechanics Exam? I just don’t think I could take it because it is being offered at the same time as the Physics B exam, and right now my school is staying adamant that we have to take it. It’s getting down to crunch time now and hope is dwindling. We are still on fluid mechanics - chapter 9 of 32.</p>
<p>“It should be noted that although fewer topics are covered in Physics C than in
Physics B, they are covered in greater depth and with greater analytical and
mathematical sophistication, including calculus applications”.</p>
<p>Look and this board and get a recommendation for a review book. I think Princeton Review is supposed to be good. Giancoli wrote another textbook called Physics for Scientists and Engineers which has much of the AP Physics B material repeated with the calculus sections added. This may be a good way to figure out what’s missing in Physics C in a context that you’re already familiar with. </p>
<p>Get your parents involved if you can and parents of other kids. I mean it. Your class is not being properly prepared for the Physics B exam. I would think given the awful situation that there are many other kids in your class who could benefit from changing now from Physics B to Physics C Mechanics, especially those taking calculus. You have learned more than enough calculus by now. This could be a good way to save face for your teacher and your school too. But hurry, because AP registrations are going on right now. </p>
<p>2) There is a day for conflicts if you have two AP’s at the same time. It’s not that uncommon to do Physics B and Physics C Mechanics in the same year, with one being taken on conflict day.</p>