Resources for physics?

[WhoTookMyUsername]

Just wanted to know what you guys have felt most useful throughout this year.

Are the any Uni textbooks we should have (e.g. like Campbells for Bio)? What should we buy or what should we borrow from the library?

[pi]

This question seriously depends on who you have for physics next year at MHS... (If you get Mr H or Mr K, self-study is going to be the only way you'll pass, no joke)

Overall, I'd say that uni resources are unnecessary, although using the Internet to cement understanding of concepts can be useful (through reading, videos or going over animations).

You'll be using Heinemann, and I think that has got a fair amount of crap in it, so I'd try and get a copy of the Nelson one (has a better rep) from library (+CD of course).

One last thing, you had a lot of resources for bio, but if you accumulate the same amount for the rest of your subs, you are going to burn out in like 3 weeks. Additionally, you don't want to spend so much time reading over stuff, especially when chem, physics, MM and SM are much better learnt through practically doing questions (unlike bio or english, to an extent).

Good luck!

[Lasercookie]

Most of my reading for physics was really just out of pure interest. I started reading out of the course at around Unit 4 (and also for special relativity) and I think that's partially one of the reasons why I enjoyed special relativity and Unit 4 so much. I am not sure if I derived much else than enjoyment out of it though (but enjoying yourself is important too ).

If you do have an out-of-the-course question, Google seriously is your friend. There's so much free lecture notes, practice problems and stuff out there on the internet. Even if you do find it interesting, purchasing anything pricey isn't necessary since the quality of the stuff available for free is that good.

Oh yeah, I can also vouch that the Nelson textbook is good stuff. Definitely take a good look at it.

[Lasercookie]

A lot of good websites are listed in Rohitpi's thread: Physics Resources and Links (Units 1 - 4)

MIT Highlights for Highschool is mentioned there. Also just other opencourseware websites - MIT, Yale, Stanford, Harvard etc. http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/
http://oyc.yale.edu/physics

UNSW also has a page for HSC physics - pretty sure it's listed in that thread (physclips or something like that). Youtube also has a lot lectures.

But if you just start googling a physics concept, you'll be bombarded with stuff. For example: searching for wave-particle duality gave me:
http://www.physnet.org/modules/pdf_modules/m246.pdf
http://vergil.chemistry.gatech.edu/notes/quantrev/node6.html

If you start adding in the search operators, you can start finding the information you're after quite quickly. Limiting searches to just edu, pdf or even maybe just the website of a specific university will give you a lot of great stuff.

Personally, I didn't like all those smartstudy guides, checkpoints etc.  I looked at the A+ Notes for Physics, didn't think that they were anything impressive. All that kind of stuff is in the textbook anyway. That's just my opinion though, a lot of people seem to love them and get a lot of use out of them.

[HERculina]

Just wondering, next years heinemann is a new edition. Is ib important that i get the new edition or can i just buy the old one for half price . Also, my friend had the tsfx masterclass books for units one and two and i thougt they were really good as in they helped me understand a lOt of things; anyone done tsfx physics this year?

[Lasercookie]

Just wondering, next years heinemann is a new edition. Is ib important that i get the new edition or can i just buy the old one for half price .

Heinemann has a habit of re-releasing their textbooks as "enhanced" copies. Usually the changes are minimal (like different pictures and stuff). I have a feeling that it would not be worth getting that new version. The study design for physics is not changing next year, so there are no major content changes.

[b^3]

(Remember this is my opinion and this may/may not represent that actual quality of the book) Whatever you do, don't use Jacaranda, it was useless thoughout the year and the explanations were horrible (Compared to Heinemann and Nelson).

[xZero]

If you want an uni book, get Knights Physics for scientists and engineers 2nd edition, their explanation is really good

[LinusX]

I got a 48 this year and the only resource I really used were textbooks and checkpoints. I used the Heinemann textbook (best questions) in class
and the Jacaranda textbook (better sections occasionally) to study the subject during the year. Where Checkpoints come in is just before a SAC, you need to make sure that you complete the relevant section for the SAC. So it's actually better is you get older Checkpoints so you can do past exams properly at the end of the year (I used 2009 versions).
Another really important thing to do is to go through past exams and not just discard them, but to continually add to cheat sheets and review the exams. Some people say they did 100 practice exams or whatever but there is no point if you don't remember them or learn from mistakes. Before each exam, I copied worded questions onto my cheat sheet and good answers so that I wasn't rambling and wasting time in the exam. This works because there is so much repetition in physics exams. Other than that, there is not much more you need. Just do all the checkpoints questions and as many practice exams as you can and you'll be fine.

[queendaisy]

...the only resource I really used were textbooks and checkpoints. I used the Heinemann textbook (best questions) in class
and the Jacaranda textbook (better sections occasionally) to study the subject during the year. Where Checkpoints come in is just before a SAC, you need to make sure that you complete the relevant section for the SAC. So it's actually better is you get older Checkpoints so you can do past exams properly at the end of the year (I used 2009 versions).

+1
textbook and checkpoints = best resources. and i agree, do the older checkpoints, even if a few things are no longer in the study design. i used the 2009 checkpoints too, so that the 2009 and 2010 vcaa exams would be all new questions for me.