First Year Physics

BloodyFrozen

I've always had problems with learning physics. It's not that I don't like it or can't do the calculations, but rather the memorization of thousands of equations that can easily derived. Of course, memorizing the important ones are necessary, so we don't have to constantly rederive them. So, my question is: What is a rigorous first year college (AP Physics C) leveled physics text WITH the use of calculus?
With mechanics, electricity, magnetism, modern physics.


Thanks.

mishima

I didn't know colleges required students to memorize formulas at that level. I don't recall having to memorize formulas at all until my junior year in physics degree. Maybe I was at a crappy college. Or are you talking about the AP physics C test?

As for books, I can definitely say Kleppner's Mechanics is wonderful. Purcell is good for E&M if you have had some E&M before. I don't know of a dedicated modern physics text at that level with calculus.

BloodyFrozen

I'm just talking about my school's physics program. It's all memorization. We're given a bunch of fornulas and told to memorize them. I'd just like to have an actual book(s) that give the reader how the result is derived. Regardless, I will be taking the AP Physics C exam, so I would like to be prepared too.

Thanks for those suggestions. If Kleppner is as good as you say, I'll definitely getting them!

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0070350485/ref=aw_d_cr_books

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/cr/1107013607/ref=aw_d_cr_books

Those are the ones (with calculus) right?

BloodyFrozen

Also, is Grffiths any good for electricity and magnetism?

Mmm_Pasta

Griffiths is for upper-level E&M. If you want rigorous first-year-level stuff, get Purcell.

BloodyFrozen

Ok. All of this will also prepare me for the AP exam?

naele

Isn't AP physics C purely mechanics? Either way, the standard calculus based physics textbook is Halliday and Resnick Fundamentals of Physics. Get yourself a previous edition like the 6th and that'll cover everything you need for the AP test and includes EM

BloodyFrozen

There's two AP Physics C tests. Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism. I'm planning to take both.

Is this the right book?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/047110...pi=SL500_SY125

Is Halliday and Resnick good in your opinion?

naele

Sure looks like it. It's probably the best calculus physics book out there, but I mean physics is physics so any book will do as long as there aren't any glaring deficiencies.

BloodyFrozen

Alright, thanks.

BloodyFrozen

What is the difference between these two? They look almost exactly the same in the product description.

http://www.amazon.com/Electricity-Ma...etism+volume+2

http://www.amazon.com/Electricity-Ma...ref=pd_sim_b_6