I’m taking AP physics this upcoming school year–any advice on how to prepare for it?

Buy a review book early, and use it to study and cement the ideas in your mind as you go. If you’re good at math, it isn’t that hard. It’s basically applying the math you’ve learned in math classes in a different way. I can only speak for the Mechanics part of the test (there are two separate Physics C tests, and I only took Mechanics), but the concepts aren’t hard. I didn’t necessarily do WELL on it, but it never seemed hard to me, lol.

Are you taking C or B? If you’re doing C, I suggest learning some Calculus, or taking Calc at the same time. B covers mostly the same material, but does it in a (in my opinion) round-about way to avoid the Calculus. None of it is really intensive math, but it does help to know how to integrate and differentiate for some of it.

But there’s really no way to prepare for it ahead of time for Physics. You can get a look at what the course is all about on College Board (http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/physics_c/topics.html?physicsc )and go ahead and buy a review book (I always recommend the Princeton Review). When you get your text book for the year, flip through it some. Mostly, just go along with the class, keep up with your work, and pay attention. You should be taught everything you need to know within the class.

(Although, really, that might be wishful thinking, lol. I had a teacher first semester who was actually fired for her incompetence [we spent the first two weeks going over significant digits, of all things, and then watched movies on theoretical physics until someone lodged a complaint] and didn’t come back after Christmas; second semester we had a coach who hadn’t taught Physics in 5 years and didn’t know a bit of Calculus. We only ever did the Mechanics, and didn’t get to the E&M, so we only took the Mechanics part of the test. I’m not usually one to blame my teachers for my scores, but I do blame the system for that one.)

Good luck with that, and may you get a good teacher!

i began HS final year, and you have been put in residing environment (Biology) quickly. once you bypass that direction, you are able to %. the two Earth technological expertise or Chemistry. I took Chemistry, and that’s fantastically problematical. in basic terms a pair days in the past, I have been given counsel for next years programming. I actually be able to take Physics, activities drugs, or medical technologies. quite, on your freshman year, i might recommend biology, in view that’s plenty greater straightforward, and you gets your grade up with it. some staple products in Physics will look in Chemistry.

Yes. Go to your local public library. If it’s anything like mine (Pasadena, South Pasadena, Glendale) then there will be plenty of freshman-level textbooks you can check out. So check out a couple, and leaf through them.

You might also have a look at the physics books by Isaac Asimov.

You can get out a review book and begin studying it. I like the REA review books the best.

buy the Prinston review from a bookstore for physics, it really helps!

I’m taking AP Physics too. 🙂

Can’t help you though.

hahhaha good luck.. Just make sure you read your chapters and study hard and keep your notes. I did really poorly in that class.

Brush up on your math.

If you’re good at math and care about science, you’ll be fine.

You will do fine.