Cracking the SAT II: Physics, 2001-2002 Edition [Paperback]

Steven A. Leduc (Author)

Book Description

Series: Princeton Review: Cracking the SAT Physics Subject Test | Publication Date: March 20, 2001

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the SAT II: Physics exam is very different from getting straight As in school. They don't try to teach students everything there is to know about physics--only what they'll need to score higher on the exam. There's a big difference. In Cracking the SAT II: Physics, The Princeton Review will teach test takers how to think like the test makers and:

* Dodge the test traps and pitfalls that can cost test takers points
* Learn and practice techniques to break questions down and improve scores
* Use targeted review techniques to crack mechanics, kinetics, thermodynamics, modern physics, and other complex topics

*** This book includes 2 full-length simulated SAT II: Physics exams. All of the sample test questions are just like the ones test takers will see on the actual exam, and every solution is fully explained.

Contents Include:

I Vectors
II Kinematics
III Newton's Laws
IV Work, Energy, and Power
V Linear Momentum
VI Rotational Motion
VII Newton's Law of Gravitation
VIII Oscillations
IX Thermal Physics
X Electric Forces and Fields
XI Electric Potential and Capacitance
XII Direct Current Circuits
XIII Magnetic Forces and Fields
XIV Electromagnetic Induction
XV Waves
XVI Optics
XVII Modern Physics

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the SAT II: Physics exam is very different from getting straight As in school. They don't try to teach students everything there is to know about physics--only what they'll need to score higher on the exam. There's a big difference. In Cracking the SAT II: Physics, The Princeton Review will teach test takers how to think like the test makers and:

* Dodge the test traps and pitfalls that can cost test takers points
* Learn and practice techniques to break questions down and improve scores
* Use targeted review techniques to crack mechanics, kinetics, thermodynamics, modern physics, and other complex topics

*** This book includes 2 full-length simulated SAT II: Physics exams. All of the sample test questions are just like the ones test takers will see on the actual exam, and every solution is fully explained.

Contents Include:

I Vectors
II Kinematics
III Newton's Laws
IV Work, Energy, and Power
V Linear Momentum
VI Rotational Motion
VII Newton's Law of Gravitation
VIII Oscillations
IX Thermal Physics
X Electric Forces and Fields
XI Electric Potential and Capacitance
XII Direct Current Circuits
XIII Magnetic Forces and Fields
XIV Electromagnetic Induction
XV Waves
XVI Optics
XVII Modern Physics

About the Author

Steve Leduc has been teaching at the university level since the age of 19, earned his Sci. B. in theoretical mathematics from MIT at the age of 20, and his M.A. in mathematics from UCSD at the age of 22. After completing his graduate studies, Steve co-founded Hyperlearning, Inc., an educational services company that provided supplemental courses in undergraduate math and science for students from the University of California, where he lectures on 17 different courses in mathematics and physics. He's published two math books, Differential Equations in 1995, and Linear Algebra in 1996. He also published Cracking the AP Physics B & C in 2000. Hyperlearning merged with The Princeton Review in 1996, and Steve now holds the position of National Director of Research and Development for Hyperlearning, the medical division of The Princeton Review.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review; 2001-2002 ed edition (March 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037576187X
• ISBN-13: 978-0375761874
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,120,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book, July 8, 2004

By 

S. Chang "veritas" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cracking the SAT II: Physics, 2003-2004 Edition (College Test Prep) (Paperback)

I took the June 04 SAT II Physics after taking a freshman Honors Physics course. In this class we did not cover electricity, magnetism, nuclear physics, particle physics, or relativity.

I studied for about two and half months prior to the exam, maybe half an hour every day, and in the last month, an hour a day, and the last two weeks, two hours a day.

This book is very good as it is extremely thorough, and I found its explanations of uncovered topics to be quite helpful.

However, there was a lot of unnecessary material that was in the book. Rotational Kinematics and a lot of particle/nuclear physics were not covered in the least on the actual exam. I don't know if this is the standard for all tests or if the edition I took was an exception.

The practice tests were much harder than the actual thing. I received a 720 and 760 on the Princeton, and an 800 on the actual thing.

In addition to the Princeton Review, I used the Kaplan and Sparknotes books and studied them thoroughly, and I glossed over the Barrons. My suggestion for doing well? Use the Kaplans and work through that in the first month or so (it is not indepth, just provides the basic ideas, and the practice tests are a joke). Then, move onto the Princeton, and perhaps take a look at some of the Barrons problems as they are extremely hard and good. However, I would advise those not to use the Sparknotes as it is plagued with errors, although the material is very good.

Good luck to all those who take the Physics SAT II. If you are any good at Physics I would advise taking it as it is one of the more lenient SAT II's (Get 8 wrong, and you can still pull off an 800 or 790).

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is embarrasing, April 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cracking the SAT II: Physics, 1999-2000 Edition (Paperback)

This book is not what you want for reveiwing for the SAT II Physics test. It attempts to make the subject material seem easy and ends up over simplifying most of it. Many of the practice test's questions are flawed and have conflicting answers in the answer keys. The second practice test has almost nothing to do with the material discussed in the book. I got a 760 on the first test and a 610 on the second. Do not buy this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Cutting corners, May 23, 2004

By 

Zhivago - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the SAT II: Physics, 2003-2004 Edition (College Test Prep) (Paperback)

Really, if you want to buy this book I'd suggest you buy the AP Physics Review published by Princeton Review instead. Why? Because its the SAME thing! The only difference is that they took out the Physics C-level stuff and scarped out all the free response questions. All the multiple choice are the same, and so are the review material (from the diagrams to the explaination).