Cracking the AP Physics B & C, 2002-2003 Edition

by Steven A. Leduc

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the AP Physics exam is very different from getting straight As in school. The Princeton Review doesn't try to teach students everything there is to know about... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375762272
• ISBN13: 9780375762277
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Princeton Review
• Length: 672 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

A must buy study guide for AP physics B

This book is extremely useful for studying the AP Physics B test~ I am not really sure about C, but I used this book and I got a 5 on the B test. Although some ppl prefer Barron and say Princton Review is too easy, but a lot of stuff in the "hardcore" barron book are not even on the AP test. So don't waste time trying to understand all the materials taught in Barron Buy this book~ it gives you I guess, 90% of the review you need for the test.. the other 10% comes from hte homeworks from your textbook..

excellent review

I used this book to prepare for the AP Physics B test two months ago (and got a 5), and I have to say that this book is marvelous. The B and C topics are clearly divided, the layout is very good, the review chapters explain concepts extremely clearly and comprehensively, and there are many illustrative examples. Exercises after each chapter are slightly harder than the real test (especially the free response questions), so it's really good preparation. The explanations are good too. The only weak point is that it does not have enough practice tests, only one for each test (B and C), but then you can get practice tests everywhere. Not mentioning the AP test, the review part also most definitely helped me understand a lot of physics concepts much better and clear up confusion. I strongly recommend this book.

extremely helpful

I took the AP Physics B exam as a freshman, taking just a regular honors physics course, and used only this book, the non-AP textbook, plus some tests from previous years to prepare, and managed to get a 5, so this book is really something. It also helped me prep for the SAT IIs (800 on that).Not really having paid attention to the Physics C parts, I don't have much say on that, but the B sections were quite helpful. Everything is explained very clearly, provided that you understood the chapters that came before.The reason that this book really deserves 5 stars is because it is the only book I've come across that goes over the information in so much detail and more depths than what was actually required on the AP. So when the test rolled around it actually seemed very EASY.Some people might say that spending all that time on the extra information is a waste if you really don't need it, but I really think it provides a very sturdy ground for you to stand on while taking the AP. So instead of stressing about it and biting your nails like the person to your right is doing, you're just thinking, "Oh, this is simple." It's the greatest feeling to open up the test, see the problem and sigh with relief--because after this book you'll know how to do all the problems right off the bat.Granted, the beginning is a little shaky, some of the mechanics and torque not being explained very well, but there isn't much torque on the test anyway, and if you take any physics class, you should've covered mechanics and torque in that long before the AP actually takes place.The only complaint to be made is that many of the practice problems and examples have mistakes/typos in them, which could get pretty aggravating.Overall, if you're prepping for the AP it's really YOUR attitude that matters, any book, as long as it's got the info will work. Some of my friends used the SAT II version of this same book or the Barron's AP book and got 5s, so you might want to consider too.Also, taking practice tests will help a lot, especially actual exams from past years (the resident physics teacher should have quite a stock of those). And keep in mind that you can get a 70% and still get a 5, so don't stress out too much ^_^.Good luck!

A great way to study for Physics B

I highly recommend this book. In September, I completely relied on class preparation to nail the AP Physics B. But, when by March, we hadn't started Electricity and Magnetism, I (as well as my parents) started to seriously worry. I had purchased the Princeton Review book about a month before, just in case. So, I started studying the Princeton Review book, chapter by chapter, every night trying to do practice problems. It was hard, because I had to study some difficult topics on my own. Now, I am glad I used this book. Our class, after being stuck on Electricity and Magnetism, finally ran through electricity and magnetism, with the teacher barely explaining the concepts. The actual exam had many questions which were similar to the ones in this book. I would not have been able to do many of the problems if I hadn't studied this book. I received a 4, and am very happy. I am scared to think what I would have received if I hadn't used this book. The only problem is the single practice test, which forced me to use internet sources to obtain practice tests. Otherwise, this is a great buy, which saved me from AP Physics "disaster."

Excellent Book - AP success made easy!

I used this book for my AP Physics C - Mechanics course last year and it was PHENOMENAL. It also serves as a nice reference for formulae and theorems with a few challenging, thought-provoking problems for each chapter. I still use it for reference and refresher in my Lagrangian Dyanmics course now. I GUARANTEE - IF YOU COMPLETE ALL OF THE END-0F-CHAPTER MC AND FR AND GET GREATER THAN ABOUT 80%, YOU WILL EARN NO LESS THAN A FOUR ON THE AP PHYSICS EXAM (ALMOST CERTAINLY A 5!).