Pre-calc. based physics texts?

[Juxxtaposition]

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Hello fellow SDNers!

I have a question about calc. based physics.

Math and calculus come easy to me, but I have never actually been exposed to physics in my high school years, and before taking calc. based physics in College (calc. based is required) I would like to know if you would recommend any books for me to get so that I can look over and work at physics over the summer so that I will not be completely lost when I do take it in college.

 

[Catalystik]

Why not buy the same text that you'll be using at your school? Used, of course.

 

[Lil Mick]

MIT Courseware has some good physics resources for calc-based physics--even some lectures and homework/tests posted.

 

[Big Dog]

wrote texts for both algebra-based physics (AP level) and Calc-based. His texts are used at many colleges. OTOH, can you borrow an AP text from your local HS over the summer?

 

[Juxxtaposition]

MIT gets a little bit confusing for me. I really like the idea of buying the textbook that will be used, never quite thought about it. I will look into the Giancoli book--thanks!

 

[IMSingular]

Here is one good book.
http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Physics-David-Halliday/dp/0471216437/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1#_

If you really want in depth book, then you have to read Feynman Lectures which has a great drawback of no having any problems.

 

[Juxxtaposition]

Thank you everyone, I will look into all of these.

Here is one good book.
http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Physics-David-Halliday/dp/0471216437/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1#_

If you really want in depth book, then you have to read Feynman Lectures which has a great drawback of no having any problems.

This book looks really good, thanks!

 

[ShoTyme]

Physics is the devil's spawn.

 

[Zork]

Hello fellow SDNers!

I have a question about calc. based physics.

Math and calculus come easy to me, but I have never actually been exposed to physics in my high school years, and before taking calc. based physics in College (calc. based is required) I would like to know if you would recommend any books for me to get so that I can look over and work at physics over the summer so that I will not be completely lost when I do take it in college.

The vast majority of physics done at the undergraduate level utilized primarily algebra and trig. The calculus at that level is primarily used to derive the kinematic equations and find gravitational or electric fields about odd shapes, or objects with non uniform densities.

That being said, if you know algebra and trig you should be able to handle most of what's in an undergraduate physics book.

Some recommendations:
Conceptual Physics (I don't recall the author)
College Physics, by Wilson and Buffa
And a slightly more advanced book for which there used to be a solutions manual floating around, Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Mosca and Tipler

I would learn about and practice drawing free body diagrams and calculating forces using them because that represents a large part of most undergraduate physics courses.