AP Physics E (electromagnetics)?

Question

Hey guys, i took AP Physics C (mechanics) last school year, and this 2008-2009 school year, i will be taking AP Physics E.

Do you have any good suggestions that might make this class go by smoothly? Anything at all? What should i do to get prepared or to keep organized?

Thanks in advance and i greatly appreciate any suggestions.

Answer 1

How much math do you know?

Two books that I found absolutely invaluable for my introductory electromagnetism class were:

Div, Grad, Curl, and All That by H. M Schey

and



Introduction to Electrodynamics by David J. Griffiths

The class I took required only third quarter calculus (multivariable calc), but Div, Grad, Curl taught me the necessary vector calculus (line integrals, divergence, curl, etc) to read Introduction to Electrodynamics.

Chances are, your book will be a dumbed down version of electrodynamics, in which they hide the true math behind the physics.  By learning a little extra math and getting the *real* deal you'll have a much better understanding of *why* the things you're learning happen.