How to Prepare for the AP Physics B (Barron's How to Prepare for the Ap Physics B Advanced Placement Examination)

CliffsAP Physics B & C, is for students who are enrolled in AP Physics B or C, or who are preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination in AP Physics B or C. Inside, you’ll find hints for answering the free-response and multiple-choice sections, a clear explanation of the exam formats, a look at how exams are graded, and more:

Sample questions (and answers!) and practice tests reinforce what you’ve learned in areas such as vectors, mechanics (forces), motion, and thermodynamics. CliffsAP Physics B & C also covers the following areas:

This comprehensive guide offers a thorough review of key concepts and detailed answer explanations. It’s all you need to do your best — and get the college credits you deserve.

*Advanced Placement Program and AP are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.

Master the SAT II Physics Subject Test and score higher... Our test experts show you the right way to prepare for this important college exam. REA's SAT II Physics Subject test prep covers all Physics topics to appear on the actual exam including in-depth coverage of vectors, kinetic theory, mechanics, magnetism, and more. The book features 5 full-length practice SAT II Physics exams. Each practice exam question is fully explained to help you better understand the subject material. Use the book's glossary for speedy look-ups and smarter searches.

Follow up your study with REA's proven test-taking strategies, powerhouse drills and study schedule that get you ready for test day.

DETAILS
- Comprehensive review of every physics topic to appear on the SAT II subject test
- Flexible study schedule tailored to your needs
- Packed with proven test tips, strategies and advice to help you master the test
- 5 full-length practice SAT II Physics Subject exams. Each exam question is answered in complete detail with easy-to-follow, easy-to-grasp explanations.
- The book's glossary allows for quicker, smarter searches of the information you need most

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THE TEST
ABOUT THE REVIEW
SCORING THE TEST
ABOUT RESEARCH & EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
PHYSICS COURSE REVIEW
Chapter 1 Vectors and Scalars
Chapter 2 Mechanics
Chapter 3 Electricity and Magnetism
Chapter 4 Waves and Optics
Chapter 5 Physical Optics
Chapter 6 Heat, Kinetic Theory, and Thermodynamics
Chapter 7 Modern Physics
List of Units and Measurements
THE PRACTICE TESTS
Test 1
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
Test 2
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
Test 3
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
Test 4
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers
Test 5
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Detailed Explanations of Answers

EXCERPT

About Research & Education Association
Research & Education Association (REA) is an organization of educators, scientists, and engineers specializing in various academic fields. Founded in 1959 with the purpose of disseminating the most recently developed scientific information to groups in industry, government, high schools, and universities, REA has since become a successful and highly respected publisher of study aids, test preps, handbooks, and reference works.

REA's Test Preparation series includes study guides for all academic levels in almost all disciplines. Research & Education Association publishes test preps for students who have not yet completed high school, as well as high school students preparing to enter college. Students from countries around the world seeking to attend college in the United States will find the assistance they need in REA's publications. For college students seeking advanced degrees, REA publishes test preps for many major graduate school admission examinations in a wide variety of disciplines, including engineering, law, and medicine. Students at every level, in every field, with every ambition can find what they are looking for among REA's publications.

While most test preparation books present practice tests that bear little resemblance to the actual exams, REA's series presents tests that accurately depict the official exams in both degree of difficulty and types of questions. REA's practice tests are always based upon the most recently administered exams, and include every type of question that can be expected on the actual exams.

REA's publications and educational materials are highly regarded and continually receive an unprecedented amount of praise from professionals, instructors, librarians, parents, and students. Our authors are as diverse as the fields represented in the books we publish. They are well-known in their respective disciplines and serve on the faculties of prestigious high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and Canada.

ABOUT THE TEST
The SAT II: Physics Subject Test is developed by the College Board and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test development process involves the assistance of educators throughout the United States, and is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.

Although some colleges require SAT II: Subject Tests as part of their admissions process, most colleges use the scores from the SAT II: Subject Test for student placement purposes. Test scores are used as a means of determining a student's aptitude for a particular course of study.

The SAT II: Subject Test in Physics is one hour in length and consists of 75 multiple-choice questions. These questions are designed to measure your knowledge of physics and your ability to apply that knowledge. The general difficulty level of the test is designed for students who have taken a one-year introductory course in high school physics. To assist you in preparing for the exam, the College Board has provided the following list of exam topic percentages: mechanics (34-38% of exam); electricity and magnetism (22-26%); waves (15-19%); heat, kinetic theory, and thermodynamics (8-12%); modern physics (8-12%); miscellaneous (measurement, math skills, laboratory skills, history of physics, 2-4%). Concept application percentages are also provided: recall (20-33%); single-concept problem (40-53%); multiple-concept problem (20-33%).

Primarily, the test assesses your knowledge and understanding of the most significant concepts in physics and your ability to apply that knowledge. Laboratory experience will contribute to your understanding of some of the questions on the test. Since the mathematical calculations are limited to simple algebraic, trigonometric, and graphical relationships, students are not permitted to use electronic calculators or slide rules during the test. For the majority of the test, metric units are used.

For information on upcoming administrations of the exam, consult the publication Taking the SAT II: Subject Tests, which can be obtained from your guidance counselor or by contacting:

College Board SAT II Program
P.O. Box 6200
Princeton, NJ 08541-6200
Phone: (609) 771-7600
Website: www.collegeboard.org

ABOUT THE REVIEW
The topical review in this book is designed to refresh your knowledge and further your understanding of the test material. It includes problem-solving techniques you can use to enhance your scores on the exam. Also included in the review are extensive discussions and examples to sharpen your skills in physics. Topics covered in the review include:

- Vectors and Scalars
- Mechanics
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Waves and Optics
- Physical Optics
- Heat, Kinetic Theory, and Thermodynamics
- Modern Physics

SCORING THE TEST
When you take the actual Physics Test, your test will be scored electronically by a scanning machine. For each correct answer, you will receive one point. For each incorrect answer, you will lose one-fourth of a point. This method compensates for random guessing. Unanswered questions will not be counted.

I first went through the "Review of Undergraduate Physics" by Hamermesh to get myself up to speed, then hit this book. It was great preparation for the real thing. I am now buying both books for my students.

How to Prepare for the Advanced Placement Exam Physics B (Barron's How to Prepare for the Advanced Placement Examination. Physics B)

Average customer rating:

horrible
Questions accurate of AP-style, but explanations are bad
Excellent review of the Physics B curriculum.
Don't buy this book!
Great Summaries!

How to Prepare for the Advanced Placement Exam Physics B (Barron's How to Prepare for the Advanced Placement Examination. Physics B)
Jonathan S. Wolf
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Test Prep Central | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

The Barron's book is strong in it's practice exams. I found the questions to be of the same style and difficulty as on the AP, especially the multiple choice. And for some of the easier chapters (vectors, 1-D motion, waves), the summaries aren't too bad although the information is a little muddled.

But that's all that's really good about this book. The answers for the practice questions are to difficult to explain and a lot of the time just plain-out incorrect. They might explain how to do it mathematically and show the calculations which would be completely incorrect. Or they'd write the incorrect equations. If you're a strong Physics student most of this shouldn't bother you, but there were a few questions where the method they used to solve the problem was entirely incorrect. Also when the book tries to explain the more complicated stuff, the language is just no basic and clear. And they introduce a lot of simplified versions of the common equations, obviously meant to increase speed, but mostly just confused me.

This was the only book I used to prepare for the exam so I don't know how the other prep guides are in comparison. But I wouldn't recommend this book.

Having used this book almost as my primary source for most of the fourth quarter, I have to say it does an excellent job of what it says it will -- helping a student prepare for the AP Physics B exam. From problem-solving strategies to excellent short summaries of each topic to sample exams to even a review of algebra, the book provides everything needed to succeed on the Physics B exam.

With a teacher who was out with a serious illness for most of the fourth quarter, I knew I'd need extra help if I was going to get through the AP exam. (It's one of six I took, so it's not like I haven't experienced the "fun" of these exams before). I picked up this book and found myself quite happy with it, and its review of dozens of test topics definitely helped me through both my physics class and the AP exam itself. In retrospect, I wouldn't have done as well as I did without this review guide.