Regis, I'd like to phone a friend

[goin4thewyn]

I have done my research on the WTM boards as well as on Amazon, home school/textbook reviews and other web sites, yet I am still very confused regarding Conceptual Physics. There are so many books, editions, media updates (what does that mean?), practice books etc. that I feel I'm on a wild goose chase. I am sure this is what we want to do for my 10th grade, college bound daughter. Can anyone give me at least a 50/50 on what books and/or resources are must haves for a complete high school course and which are optional but helpful. I would split my million dollar prize for editions and/or ISBN #s.

I thank you kindly and now let's play.....Who Wants to be a Physicist?

Happy New(ton) Year!!

[In The Great White North]

I used:

Text ISBN: 0-316-35974-2
Inst. Man ISBN: 0-316-35975-0
Test Bank ISBN: 0-316-35976-9

It was an older college edition that I found bundled in a used book store. It was more than adequate. We skipped the nuclear physics parts, as they were outdated, but the mechanics, electricity, etc hasn't changed.

Ds read it like a novel in 11th and retained about 100% of it. He's doing calc based physics now.

I also have:

0-673-52185-0

This is a 7th edition but appears to be a high school text (more colors and cartoons), which I will probably use with my youngest in 8th grade.

[Corraleno]

I also have:

0-673-52185-0

This is a 7th edition but appears to be a high school text (more colors and cartoons), which I will probably use with my youngest in 8th grade.

This is actually an older edition of the college textbook (which is now in it's 11th edition). The high school texts say "The High School Physics Program" on the bottom, and the most current version (2002) appears to be only the 3rd edition. This is what the HS texts look like:

http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&PMDBSUBCATEGORYID=24830&PMDBSITEID=2781&PMDBSUBSOLUTIONID=&PMDBSOLUTIONID=6724&PMDBSUBJECTAREAID=&PMDBCATEGORYID=814&PMDbProgramId=18281&elementType=earlierEditions&elementId=list

Can anyone give me at least a 50/50 on what books and/or resources are must haves for a complete high school course and which are optional but helpful. I would split my million dollar prize for editions and/or ISBN #s.
Are you looking for ISBNs for the high school text or the college text?

Jackie

[CynthiaOK]

Here's what I think you need:

Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program (3rd edition)
Definitely need the student book and I'd suggest the teacher book. If you only get one, get the teacher book. If you can wait until the end of the school year, my co-op class will have a lot of the 3rd edition student books with teacher manuals for sale.

You will need some sort of lab source. You can use the lab book that is correlated with the program, but you will not be able to do many of the labs but some are quite good and easy to do. I have found the book, Practical Physics Labs by Walch publishers (ISBN: 0825111683X), to be handy. I've also pulled many experiments/demos off the internet.

The Physics Classroom (http://www.physicsclassroom.com/), is loaded with interactive games, virtual labs, etc.

Here are the ISBN's I have:

Teacher edition: 0130542563
Student edition: 0130542547
Student lab book: 0130542571
Teacher lab book: 013054258X (I would highly recommend this if you get a lab book)

I believe there may be a new edition (2006) of the high school program text, but have never really verified that. Perhaps the publishers website would have more information on the latest editions.

[goin4thewyn]

I so appreciate your experience and letting me benefit from your trial and error. That's part of the problem.....I'm not sure what I should be looking for. As a 10th grader, I thought she would need the high school level, although many reviews have said a high schooler could easily handle the college leveled text which I'd prefer for transcript/college application purposes if that's truly the case. She is an above average, although not advanced student. She is currently in Apologia Biology for 9th with the plan being Conceptual for 10th and dual enroll for Chem in 11th. She'll have some flexibility for 12th. I found a great syllabus on this board (thanks again to those who have shared their labors) and other supportive links but I think that's with the college edition. I plan on using Quality Science Labs Physics (manual + supplies) to cover the lab component which we need for credit if I can't get Prof. Hewitt figured out. I'm not so good at piecing labs together with household items. (Here honey, do this lab with a Cheeto, a sock, hair brush, and a Lego.) Don't know if that clarifies anything for the experienced Conceptual Physics users and your recommendations, but that's my dilemma. I wish there was a CLEAR summary from the publisher about which resources you need for each class. Or how about this, Mr. Publisher? A nice homeschool set!

Thanks again for your help. The ISBN #s listed in the above sets are invaluable.

P.S. Just ordered TTC "Physics in Your Life" to go with during their incredible sale.

[Jane in NC]

I don't know if this will help, but I compared one of older college editions with the high school one which we own. I found more similarity then difference--a few combined chapters in the college book, but many of the same diagrams. The problem sets did not coincide, but as I recall the difference was not noteworthy.

My conclusion is to use whatever edition you can find which has an associated teacher's book. Even this math person found the solutions to be useful.

Jane

P.S. Welcome to the boards! I see that you are new in these parts.

[CynthiaOK]

Here's a link to the Arbor Scientific site which has supplemental labs for Conceptual physics (as well as the materials to use):http://www.arborsci.com/Labs/CP_Labs_Selection_2.aspx

It is true that a high schooler can easily handle the college text because there is no significant difference in material covered and the method in which it is covered between the two texts. I had both the 9th edition college text and the 3rd edition high school text side by side. The material and textual component were almost identical. The advantage of the high school text, IMO, is more graphics and a bit more explanation in some areas. The problem sets were the same, the sequence was the same, etc. You truly won't get anything more from the college text than you would get from the high school text, and, IMO, it isn't nearly as fun as the high school text. I don't think there would be any difference on a transcript because the books are almost identical - the college text is covered in college in a semester and the high school text is covered in a year.

TTC videos are a wonderful supplement. However, they don't cover a lot of mechanics. It is geared more for the really fun aspects of physics (sound, light, electricity, etc.). The labs that you can do from the CP lab manual are quite easy and the materials are readily available. For mechanics, you won't go wrong using the Physics Classroom interactives. They are excellent.

As Jane mentioned, either text will do the job.

[goin4thewyn]

Alright! Now we're cooking with gas. Good stuff. I'm feeling drawn to the high school texts. Check. A student AND teacher's manual are the for sures. Check. I'm a possible on the Conceptual labs and teacher's lab manual unless I use another resource. (Several excellent alternatives mentioned although didn't see any Cheeto/Lego ones :D.....check.) Now, what about tests, practice problem books, and "media update" workbooks I see? Yes? No? Do they go with the high school version? Looks like just the college. Would the answers to all those extras be in the TM?

I'm getting closer to my final answer! Hang on, Regis!

Thanks again for your time and hand holding.

[CynthiaOK]

Well, there is a test bank you can get for the high school level (as well as a plethora of other resources - overheads, extra practice books, etc.) and we do use the tests. However, I have found that there is a significant leap in critical thinking required for the tests over the chapter questions.

I was lucky enough to get the test bank with my bundle and it contained a CD-rom which allows me to create my own tests using a wide variety of questions for each chapter. Even so, there are some questions that are just way beyond what the chapter discussed. I can't say that I recommend it unless you are confident yourself about how to arrive at the answers. I have had to work backwards from the answers sometimes to figure out how to solve the problems. My advice would be to use some of the chapter questions as a test rather than investing in something that might not be practical.

I'm teaching this for a second time in our local co-op. We have kids from 8th grade through 12th. Some of the 8th find that it really stretches them, but I think they are getting it. Hewitt says that the "getting of the concepts" is much more important than the mathematics. My boys (8th and 9th) are doing great with it and they really enjoy the class. I do think that the further in math the student is, the easier it is to understand some of the concepts - I don't know why that is, but that is what I'm observing in our co-op.

This curriculum is one of my top 5 favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

[Corraleno]

Kinetic Books offers a "virtual lab" program for physics, here is a list and description of the 16 labs that are included:
http://www.kineticbooks.com/products/labs/labs_sum.html

I haven't used this yet, but plan to when we get to Conceptual Physics. The cost is only $25-30 depending on whether you want a year of web access or a CD.

Jackie

ETA: they also offer a digital Conceptual Physics course (as well as an AP and an intermediate level), if you want to explore that possibility as well:
http://www.kineticbooks.com/products/textbook/text_levels.html

[mooooom]

the Conceptual Physics lab book had too many things we couldn't do. Light and Sound were not really very good, but electricity, magnetism, heat were, and they have many others. My kids did a lab every day w/ TOPS.

[goin4thewyn]

Thank you so much for your replies and welcoming greetings to the board. Long time listener....first time caller. I definitely feel I now have more direction rather than clicking on everything titled "Conceptual Physics" and wondering if I need that to ensure a successful year. I had up to 6 items in my cart. Thanks for all your help as well as super ideas and more great links to help.

We are so blessed already, but many more to you and yours in 2010. Happy New Year!