Books for self-study AP Physics C : Mech & Electromag

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books suitable for self-studying AP Physics C, specifically focusing on mechanics and electromagnetism. Participants share their opinions on various textbooks and seek advice on which books to prioritize based on their learning preferences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant compiled a list of recommended textbooks for AP Physics C, categorizing them into main texts, electromagnetism, and mechanics.
  • Some participants suggest that Serway is the only book needed for the course, emphasizing its sufficiency.
  • Others highlight the older editions of Halliday and Resnick as outstanding resources, particularly for their discussions on Maxwell's equations.
  • A participant inquires about the differences between editions of Halliday and Resnick, specifically asking about the Krane and Walker versions and their respective difficulties.
  • There is mention of the affordability of older editions, with one participant noting they purchased a specific edition for a low price.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on which textbooks are essential, with some advocating for Serway while others support the inclusion of Halliday and Resnick. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best choices for self-study.

Contextual Notes

Participants have varying preferences for learning styles, with some seeking books that emphasize underlying theories and others looking for problem-solving resources. There is also uncertainty about the comparative difficulty of different editions of the same textbook.

Who May Find This Useful

Students preparing for AP Physics C who are interested in self-study resources, particularly those looking for recommendations on textbooks for mechanics and electromagnetism.

elwenn
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Hai guys iam kinda new here, this is actually my first post. So after i chose to independently self-study the whole of AP Physics C, i ended up compiling a list of books i needed. They are:

Main:

-Halliday, David, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walke. 2008. Fundamentals of Physics, 8th ed. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.

-Serway, Raymond A., Robert J. Beichner and John J. Jewett. 2000. Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 5th ed. Pacific Grove, Calif.: Brooks/Cole Publishing.

Electromagnetism:

-2000 Solved Problems in Electromagnetics (Schaum's Solved Problems Series) (Paperback) by Syed A. Nasar (Author)
-A Student's Guide to Maxwell's Equations (Paperback)by Daniel Fleisch (Author)
-Engineering Electromagnetics (Hardcover) by Nathan Ida (Author)
-Electricity and Magnetism, Vol. II (Hardcover) by Edward M. Purcell (Author)

Mechanics:

-Elements of Newtonian Mechanics: Including Nonlinear Dynamics (Paperback) by Jens M. Knudsen (Author), Poul G. Hjorth (Author)
-Newtonian Mechanics (M.I.T. Introductory Physics Series) (Paperback) by A. P. French (Author)
-An Introduction To Mechanics (Hardcover) by Daniel Kleppner (Author), Robert Kolenkow (Author)

Obviously, iam not a rich guy and can't afford all these; if i were i wouldn't be postin this. So what i need is for someone, who studied/knows these books, to give me an idea of what he/she would purchase out of all these giving a maximum of 1 main, 3 electromagnetism, and 2 mechanics. In my style of studying, i prefer to have a book which imprints the underlying theories of a topic and then alloys those theories into the math of it. The other one, namely the book with lots of problems (ex 2000 Solved Problems in Electromagnetics) should give practice for me to apply those skills gained from the aforementioned type of book into problems. Those problems ofcoarse should have nice solutions. Iam still looking for a problems book for mechanics, again it would be very nice to list a book you know of that gives Newtonian mechanics (pregraduate) type of problems. Thanks a lot, whoever you are !_!
 
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Serway is the only book you need. The older editions of Halliday and Resnick are outstanding. They contain particularly good discussions of Maxwell's equations.
 
Brian_C said:
Serway is the only book you need. The older editions of Halliday and Resnick are outstanding. They contain particularly good discussions of Maxwell's equations.

Not to mention that I bought the 5th edition of the halliday book for under $5.00 on amazon...!
 
Brian_C said:
The older editions of Halliday and Resnick are outstanding.

Hey Brian do u mean the Krane one, or the Walker one. I heard there was a difference between the two, and somebody mentioned that the krane version was more harder. Which book do u prefer ? Thanks dud
 

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