Where to Begin with Chemistry and Physics in Grade 11?

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A student preparing to take chemistry and physics in grade 11 seeks advice on foundational knowledge due to a lack of preparation in previous classes. Recommendations include utilizing MIT's OpenCourseWare for introductory courses, exploring online resources, and considering textbooks like Serway's Intro to Physics and Stewart's calculus text. Some participants share their experiences with these materials, noting that while they found Serway's textbook helpful, others struggled with its clarity. Online tutorials and links to educational resources are also suggested, providing additional support for mastering the subjects. The discussion highlights the importance of self-study and finding the right learning materials to build a solid understanding of physics and chemistry concepts.
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next year when i get to grade 11 I want to take both chemistry and physics, but my teacher from grade 9 didn't even touch base on the periodic table. And we did almost nothing in physics, he waasn't the best of teachers :(. And this year I messed up in choosing my class schedual so I was put in the less advanced science class so I coudl take my pre calc.

So I want to try to gain a foot hold on th basics of both physics and chemistry. Coudl you guys gie me advice on where to start?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
search OCW: MIT's open courseware...or search any university website for their intro to chem and phys classes (the first year ones)

if you got the cash flow pick up a good intro text. Serway's Intro to Physics/Modern Physics is a good pickup...also pick up a good calc text.
Stewarts Intro to calc text is. I understand that your only in grade 11. But most of the intro chapters for these textbooks should be very clear and easy to follow because they have a lot of examples.
 
Well, neuro, I'm very glad you added that last sentence or I would of thought you were crazy. But thanks for the help and refrences to some material. Do you know if there's any online versions of those texts?
 
Serway's Physics textbook? You must be joking...
At our school everyone is struggling with that textbook..
I can see where you're going with the suggestion that he try Stewart's text... it is pretty useful.
And wScott, I don't think you have to worry much about chemistry, let alone physics.
For chemistry, take a look in the tutorials forum for the links to the Neuroscience and Chemistry tutorials.
I'm using them right now (I'm in college-preparatory chemistry) and they are pretty useful, considering I take no notes, mess around in class, and am managing to keep up an A average on my tests. (Therefore, even if you aren't in the class, I guess they can give you a head start!)
For physics, check out the MIT OpenCourseware videos for Physics I.
Also, I recently found these, which are pretty useful for both physics and calculus:
http://www.archive.org/details/ap_physics_b
http://www.archive.org/details/ap_physics_c
http://www.archive.org/details/ap_calculus_bc

Enjoy.
 
Thanks for the links Pseudo. Can someone tell me what MIT and OCW are?
 
I'm using Giancoli's text this year and I find it pretty good, so check it out if you're interested.
 
wScott said:
Thanks for the links Pseudo. Can someone tell me what MIT and OCW are?

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a US University, has on their website "OpenCourseWare" (OCW), where they have posted some of their classes recorded on video (along with audio/lecture notes/etc).

Here is the first year physics course: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/8-01Physics-IFall1999/VideoLectures/index.htm
 
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thanks for the links you guys. But this computer so most of the benefits from all those links doesn't reach their full potential.
 
Sorry, I messed that last message up. This computer doesn't have sound on it so I can't really use those to their most potential.
 
  • #10
In that case I'll point you to our Tutorial section: https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=151

Googling can also find you quite a few tutorial/info pages:

http://www.launc.tased.edu.au/online/sciences/physics/tutes1.html
http://hypertextbook.com/physics/
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
http://www.falstad.com/mathphysics.html
http://wps.aw.com/aw_knight_physics_1
http://www.ping.be/~ping1339/index.html#Main-Purpose-=-MATH-

Snippets from books at Google books: http://books.google.com
 
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  • #11
wScott said:
Thanks for the links Pseudo. Can someone tell me what MIT and OCW are?
Do you live in the U.S. and not know what MIT is?
 
  • #12
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Manchot. Not exactly the U.S. as you can see :p
 
  • #13
I got to disagree, Serway was very good for me and other physics students. It seems like the non-science students did all have problems with it however which makes me wonder if its only good to certain ways of thinking/mindsets.
 
  • #14
serway was awesome..i didn't have to go to class because of that text.
Wscott you live in winnipeg and you haven't heard of MIT??
its one of the top schools in North America...
Do you know exactly waht your suppose to learn for teh grade 11-12 classes that your aiming for...it'd give us a better idea of what references to provide. You might be able to tak ea trip to ...um is it UoWin or UMan? can't remmeber and get a used book. Go to their website and take a look at teh undegrad course outline. Or take a look at UfT,UBC,Mac they might have course outlines, not sure if its what your looking for at the grade 11 but again...I"d only think you'd be learning motion equations.
 
  • #15
wScott said:
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Manchot. Not exactly the U.S. as you can see :p
Even so, it's considered to be one of the most prestigious schools in the world, especially with respect to the science-related fields.
 
  • #16
Manchot said:
Even so, it's considered to be one of the most prestigious schools in the world, especially with respect to the science-related fields.

yah... if say, i asked you if you knew what Cambridge was and you said 'no', i'd be falling off my seat.
 
  • #17
Pengwuino said:
I got to disagree, Serway was very good for me and other physics students. It seems like the non-science students did all have problems with it however which makes me wonder if its only good to certain ways of thinking/mindsets.
To each their own then. :rolleyes:
I happened to find his book(s)' problems very vague... and his explanations of concepts or lack of proofs & derivations very lacking. (e.g. there was that derivation of one of the rocket equations in "College Physics"... I remember the last bit of his proof/derivation was something like "And then we use calculus to get:"... which I did not understand how to reproduce)
Don't know, guess it's just that his way of writing just doesn't click for me... I'm more of an all-the-math-has-to-be-there-no-matter-how-advanced-it-is person.
 
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