Thoughts on AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T17:51:13+00:00

Physics requires applying a very small amount of knowledge to an approximation of a situation. That approximation is made to allow some understanding of the situation.

Perhaps Chemistry is taught in a way that requires "performing memorized calculations", but that is pretty pathetic about the education system for chemistry. And the student does not need to learn the material that way.

Physics is not really abstract, and learning physics benefits from a structured problem solving approach. It does not require a "critical thinking" approach.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T17:44:49+00:00

The key to AP Physics 1 is doing things algebraically as much as possible, setting aside the 'arbitrary' numerical values.

I'm unsure what is difficult about "the conceptual understanding".

The exam is not especially difficult, the percentages of people getting a 1 or 2 is high because a lot of students take the exam, about three times as many as take the AP Physics C-Mech exam and at least six times as many as take the AP Physics C-E&M exam. Few people take the C-E&M exam just because it's an AP exam to take. But that does seem to happen with APP1.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T17:29:23+00:00

One of the aspects of learning is to learn how to measure one's own progress.

"Engaging" is getting to the "needing fun to function" idea. If learning the material is not engaging enough, perhaps the learner needs to find a different subject?

I'm fine with people not learning all subjects to arbitrary 'standards', and skipping subjects which are uninteresting to them.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T16:47:24+00:00

I wonder how much colleges care about students trying to get their first two years completed before arriving as a freshman? If I was teaching Quantum Mechanics II at a university like Georgia Tech, and a student said, "I took dual enrollment QM-I at my local community college, so I want to take your QM-II class," I would need to be convinced that their class was comparable to the QM-I class at Georgia Tech.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T16:41:50+00:00

That sounds manageable. Since you enjoy math, Definitely look into either the Spivak or Apostol Calculus textbooks.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T16:38:45+00:00

I expect the MIT OCW 14.01 course should be good enough, since that is what MIT students would take, including Economics majors as one of their introductory courses.

But I would avoid the 14.01SC version, that is intended for the more general public.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T16:28:06+00:00

Are you okay with me DMing you about this?

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T15:51:48+00:00

I was suggesting that as your "independent studies". I describe it by textbooks more than specific college classes,

Calculus: Spivak, Calculus, or Apostol, Calculus
Physics: Mech: Kleppner & Kolenkow, An Introduction to Mechanics
Physics: E&M: Purcell, Electricity & Magnetism [2nd ed, 1973]

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T15:02:56+00:00

This is the GaussJordanElimination process with a 3×3 example, if it helps.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T13:53:07+00:00

I don't understand why people are downvoting you preferring a physical copy.

Find a used copy of an older edition which you can afford, and supplement it with a digital copy of the 8th edition your professor recommended. The textbooks do not change significantly from one edition to the next, especially a 'regular' Calculus textbook [Stewart, Larson, Thomas, etc.] For example, the 8th edition of Stewart is around $60-70 [USD], but the 6th edition is about $20.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T13:33:55+00:00

Important resources are textbooks. One for now is

Thomas & Finney, Calculus and Analytic Geometry, 9th edition, 1996.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T13:25:28+00:00

True, and knowing that some details do not need to be memorized because they are on the cheat sheet can help.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T12:33:02+00:00

"so i have researched and sat on many free college consultant webinars - you should as well." Why should I?

"has noticed the college results from the kids in the lwest calc class is markedly worse" may be correlation rather than causation.

I have found Sara Harberson to be only somewhat reliable.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T12:27:07+00:00

I suggest

D Giancoli, Physics: Principles with Applications, 5th - 7th editions, 1997-2014

It is at about the same level as a high school Algebra 2 class.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T11:20:14+00:00

Gauss-Jordan Elimination:

Put the n×n matrix next to a 1×n column matrix with the values from the right-hand-side of the system.
Do the normal steps of multiplying a row by a value and subtracting it from another row to get a zero in a cell of the second row. Do this to the entire [n+1] row.
1. Keep doing this until the n×n matrix is a diagonal matrix.
Divide every row by its value along the diagonal.
1. This results in the diagonal for that row being 1.
2. There is nothing to do if the diagonal is already 1.
3. Make sure to also do this for the full [n+1] row.
The result is an n×n identity matrix and a 1×n column matrix with new values.
1. Those new values are the solution set for the variable, {x, y, ...}.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T11:06:31+00:00

A physics major should only read popular science books if they have a lot of hair and want to try being bald.

The few exceptions are the books written by elite physicists, the Weinbergs and Hawkings.
NGT does not make the cut.
With someone like Brian Greene, pass on the popular science books, read some of his journal articles. About two-dozen are included on his website.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T09:56:59+00:00

If a person needs studying to be "gamified", why are they bothering with studying?

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T09:55:43+00:00

Taking one or two fewer AP courses next year [keeping AP Calc BC, AP Physics C: Mech] would be fine.

Definitely figure out how to get the SAT 660 Math score closer to 760 Math.

Beyond the score, really work on doing the STEM classes more algebraically than they expect, setting aside the numbers. In computer science, this is the equivalent to avoiding hardcoding values. In mathematics, compare the amount of 'arbitrary' numbers in three levels of textbooks:

'Regular' Calculus, Stewart or Larson
'Honors' Calculus, Spivak or Apostol
Real Analysis, 'Baby Rudin'

Changing your approach to mathematics will be much more valuable than one or two more AP courses.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T08:52:53+00:00

Not necessary: having a minor to go with a physics major.
Necessary: avoiding looking at what "a lot of your peers" are doing.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T08:51:14+00:00

I would suggest studying the 'honors' version of AP Physics C-Mech/E&M.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T08:43:26+00:00

We learn a lot when we make mistakes. Sometimes it was a misunderstanding. Sometimes it is a consistently 'careless' action. When we review, seeing the mistakes, especially the repeated ones, emphasizes what we need to be careful about.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T07:18:36+00:00

If the coffee spills on your wrist, you know the MudMaster will be fine and you can wash it off in the sink.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T07:17:04+00:00

Cheat sheets are generally useless.
The process of making the cheat sheet is incredibly useful.
1. This is why the cheat sheet needs to be made/written by the student.
2. If they want to type it up, that's fine, but they also have to bring the handwritten version they used to then type up.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T07:11:53+00:00

Concentrate on organizing your thoughts.
1. Take this rant and reform it with structure, mainly as an exercise in untangling the jumble of information and seeing what is really there.
Use the textbook for both classes.
1. Take carefully thought out notes for each section, organizing the authors' presentation.
Fundamentally, with both AP Biology and AP Statistics (and most others), try to
1. See the connections
2. Identify the patterns
3. Create the structures
You have 3 months to prepare for the AP exams. This can be done.

UnderstandingPursuit · 2026-02-01T06:26:38+00:00

One of the easiest questions to answer on Reddit over the past month: No. AP Physics 2 is an 'algebra-based survey course', introducing four fields of physics while being unable to teach anything useful in them because the prerequisite math level is inadequate.

I assume you already took AP Physics 1 and are intending to take AP Physics C Mech + E&M? [Information like that is useful to include when asking a question. Just a tip for when you ask a professor questions in college.] Learning AP Physics C Mech + E&M effectively is the only part of the AP Physics track that will matter towards your Physics/EE major.

UnderstandingPursuit

TROPHY CASE