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Old 05-22-2012, 06:04 PM   #1
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Join Date: Oct 2010
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Best AP Physics AB TEXTBOOK ?

Hello! I am going to take AP Physics AB (there is no BC in our school), and I am also planning to start studying during summer vacation. I tried to select the fantastic AP Physics AB textbook. I searched for a while and heard that Serwey and Giancoli Physics are really efficient and good. Which textbook is best for AP Physics AB (not prep book)?
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Old 05-22-2012, 06:58 PM   #2
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Well first of all not to correct you or anything but the name of the course is Ap Physics B. I heard serway and faughns 7th edition college physics is good (I have it). However, there is material in there that is way beyond the scope of the course. For this reason, maybe use the princeton review to get a broad idea? I just think that using a textbook will make you unhappy and overprepared. For this reason try one of the review books for the sake of consistancy. Hope this helps! If you have any questions feel free to ask.
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Old 05-22-2012, 07:37 PM   #3
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do you mean calculus AB????
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Old 05-23-2012, 09:31 PM   #4
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My course used Cutnell & Johnson Physics. It's very adequate, but I would personally supplement it with books from For Dummies or the Demystified series as well as AP prep books.

Then again, you can probably get a 5 with just any college physics book and with Khan Academy.
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Old 05-23-2012, 10:07 PM   #5
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College Physics by Serway is good. It's an algebra based physics textbook.
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Old 05-24-2012, 11:05 AM   #6
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Thanks for the advices!

My school has Serwey's College Physics textbook, so I checked it out. I also bought used copy of Giancoli Physics from online store ($34). Are Dummies and Demystified Series are good? I heard that they are good for explanation but I do not want to spend any money on those books...Is Khan Academy good for explanation of concepts and principles enough to substitute Demystified and Dummies? Also how good is MIT OCW Physics?
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Old 07-09-2012, 09:37 PM   #7
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MIT OCW is, in my opinion, helpful and interesting, especially Walter Lewin's 8.01-8.02 courses. good luck! (:
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