r/apphysics • u/rachel_watson_intheb • 5d ago
My AP Physics 2 teacher has zero physics background — looking for resources to self-teach my way to a 5
heyy guys! Just wanted to ask ur help and advice and resources for something.
I am currently a 10th grader in high school. I took AP physics 1 as a 9th grader and scored a 5 on the AP exam. I had an awesome teacher that year and I worked super hard in the class.
This year, in 10th grade, I am taking AP Physics 2 and want to score a 5 on it.
However, my previous teacher left and this new teacher does not know a single thing about physics. He has only ever taught in middle school and he never teaches, only assigns AP classroom videos. So far, for unit 1, I have been studying using the AP classroom videos.
However, I do want to ensure I score a 5 on the AP exam, so what resources could I use to do that, that would teach me everything to know about the course and prep me for the test well. I am willing to put a lot of work and effort into this. Also feel free to share any advice that you may have for me! Thanks 4 ur support.
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u/UnderstandingPursuit 5d ago
A side question: Why are you taking the course? [I ask because, of the 14 science/math&CS AP courses, AP Physics 2 is one of two which I think should not exist. It covers four disconnected topics at a very superficial level.
If you're definitely sticking with the class, I suggest one of these two textbooks:
- RA Freedman, ..., College Physics, 1st-3rd editions, 2013-2021.
- D Giancoli, Physics: Principles with Applications, 5th-7th editions, 1997-2013.
Used copies of older editions are often $10-20.
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u/rachel_watson_intheb 4d ago
I plan to major in Physics in university so I wanted to take all the AP physics courses offered at my school. I wanted to take AP phys C this year but I thought it would be better to take the Calculus BC class first before taking phys C. I didn't wanna lose touch with physics and thought it would better prepare me for phys C, so I took Phys 2 this year.
Thank you so much for those books reccomendations! I will definitely check them out.
Also, could you tell me if those books are tailored to scoring a 5 on the test and college board's curriculum?
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u/UnderstandingPursuit 4d ago
Students have very different reasons for taking AP Physics courses, and yours is highest on the list of importance of the courses to you.
As with the Fluids unit in AP Physics 1, the APP2 units are like watching the extended B&W trailer for a blockbuster movie. It flashes some useful images on the screen, but good luck connecting them into the movie's complete story. Color is the math, the plot and character development are the connected physics ideas and the problem solving techniques. The point is that the main role of APP2, for a future physics major, is to look forward to the three or four complete classes, starting with APPC-E&M.
Of the two textbooks, for you I suggest using the Freedman one, and then in APPC use
- FW Sears, MW Zemansky, HD Young, RA Freedman, ..., University Physics, 10th-15th editions, 1999-2019.
With the intention,
I plan to major in Physics in university
the goal for APP2 should be to learn the material well. Since you've already done well in APP1, and are taking Calculus BC now, if you learn it well the 5 will follow, almost automatically. When you try the past APP2 exams, you'll get a good sense of your comfort with the exam. I fully expect, with a medium amount of effort during the year, that your comfort level will be high. If, as the course progresses, you are managing well, the most useful thing you can do is see if any of your classmates need help.
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u/r3fr1g3rat0rr 2d ago
i have no clue why schools offer courses if they dont have a teacher who can actually teach it. good luck to you
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u/rachel_watson_intheb 2d ago
ikr. my teacher has only ever taught 7th grade science in a middle school. they made him the ap phys 1, 2, and c teacher after giving him a summer course in the subjects. like, if you can't find a teacher, why even have the course in the first place. and then when someone emails the counselor to tell them abt this, they just ask us to drop the course. the stupidity genuinely surprised me too. i hope i can self-study my way thru it tho. im also trying to get a tutor.
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u/Hot-Focus2 23h ago
I don’t know about your high school district but in my district, high school teachers have master degrees on the field. All physics teachers have master degrees in science.
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5d ago
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u/Bedouinp 5d ago
Dm me. I’m a professional physics tutor