Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than some text books, July 2, 2004
I took AP Physics C in my high school, and often, I found that the textbook we were using was very badly laid out and difficult to understand. I decided to abandon the textbook. Instead, I solely used this AP Physics study guide. I noticed an immediate improvement in my grades. They went from previously being 87-93 to consistently being 98+ (and this is in a class with a dynamic curve based on how well you do compared to the rest of the class). I couldn't believe how well this book prepared me for tests.However, this book goes into so many details and gives such incredibly complicated examples, that I often found myself skimming. Also, simply reading the book takes enough time as it is, I found that making time to actually try example problems was very difficult. This isn't necessarily a shortcoming, though, because I found I understood the material much better because the book didn't condense the information. Now, on to what people really care about: How did the AP exams go? Well, after having read this book, I breezed through the mechanics test and instantly knew I had a 5. (and I did get that score) The electricity and magnetism test raped me very badly, even to the point where I felt like I was making things up to fill space. Would you believe I still made a 5? I can only imagine how horribly you'd have to do (and feel) to make a lower score. Despite the fact that this book is not condensed and that it is incredibly difficult to the point where I almost want to throw the book at the wall and say "Just tell me the equation, and be done with it!!!!" , I cannot complain because this book has taught me physics better than any other book that I have consulted, and it has achieved its main purpose: It gave me a 5 on both AP Physics exams. Also, from my E&M results, I think it's clear that although the book is difficult to plow through, it's because the material is difficult, not because the author wants to torture our little minds. Definitely recommended.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Test-taker's best friend, July 17, 2003
I purchased this book in the winter of my senior year, having decided to study for the Physics C exam independently, as my school does not offer such a course. The book, on first sight is quite thick, and is a bit daunting to get into, however, Mr. Pelcovits does a tremendous job explaining each concept as it comes along, One is expected to have a foundation in calculus, however, the major concepts regarding derivatives, integrals and vectors are presented so that a reader less versed can catch up (if you're trying to learn calculus, however, this is not the book for you, although it will reinforce major calculus concepts with concrete examples).I ended up only taking the Mechanics portion of the exam due to time constraints, and admittingly, the material overlapped very well with my Calculus BC course so it was easier than it would have been if I had done it exclusively, nevertheless, the book provides very solid explainations, plenty of examples that are, frankly, alot harder than i would have liked them to be, but as most of the reviewers have noted, after mastering the diffcult questions in the book, the actual test was a breeze. I got a 5 on the exam, and my only regret is that I did not take the E/M portion of the test. Even after the test, I plan to use it as I study E/M next year at Stanford. (In a side note, the book is comparable in material and depth (though it is much more example oriented) to the venerable "Mechanical Universe" freshman physics textbook by Goodstein et. al.)
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
worth every penny, August 28, 2002
As usual, Barrons has produced an amazing comprehensive AP prep. Sure, the questions are so difficult my physics genius father grudgingly admits he would've had trouble solving them at my age. Sure, they give disturbingly detailed coverage on derivations of equations and so many integrals and differential proofs your mind can go dizzy looking at all that calculation.
But it's excellent preparation for the AP exam, and as usual, after surviving Barrons, the AP exam truly seems like a joke.Without having taken any physics before this, jumping straight int Physics C cold, and without taking any classes at school or colleges and relying only on guidance from my father who rather likes teaching physics in the exact style Barrons does (2 sentences of explanation, millions of practice problems, and hard ones at that...ok, maybe slight exaggeration), I've been able to handle AP Physics *very*, *very* well. I couldn't have done it without Barrons.
Only warning: sometimes, the problems are ambiguous and sometimes they put the problems in nonsensical order (really hard problems followed by really easy problems).
Nonetheless, this book is BRUTAL but will meticulously prepare you for the AP exam if you are brave enough to stand the faultlessly thorough preparation.
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