Highschool Physics

[langfam]

Hello, I'm new to this forum.

Which curriculum do you use for high school Physics. I'm considering Apologia, Saxon. My son will be taking Calculus at the same time (either Saxon or Chalkdust... not sure yet). I'm wondering if doing Saxon Physics and Calculus will be too much "math" for each school day.

Would appreciate any input if you've used these.
Thanks so much.

Langfam

[kathleen]

My son is studying with Apologia physics this year and finds it pretty easy. He is also studying precalculus and doesn't find it all to be too much math (and math/science are far from his "loves").

I'm thinking that Saxon physics along with calculus might be a bit much in the math department, depending on his strengths. Some kids might love that idea!

[Anne/Ankara]

One inexpensive supplement to recommend is Kinetic Books Physics, which is a disk you can buy for only $35 or so, that has a wonderful description of physics topics, in Java-applet tutorials on your computer. We are using the Conceptual Physics course, algebra-based, and it is just excellent. Highly recommended as a supplement-- I would still use a textbook for more worked problems and all that...

http://www.kineticbooks.com/

[Ms. Riding Hood]

Guess I'm just agreeing with Kathleen.

I consulted with ds about this. This year he's doing Apologia physics at an accelerated rate (1 module/wk) plus Saxon Advanced Math. He said he doesn't feel like it's too much, not like doing two math classes or anything. He also said that if your ds is doing calc the physics math will all be easy for him, or if not easy, at least review of things he's done before. I've heard Saxon physics is more "mathy" (From Cathy Duffy?)

[Laura K (NC)]

Look at Saxon before you buy it. I thought it looked extremely dry and difficult.

I bought a copy used at a deep discount and found it completely overwhelming.
If I had my druthers I'd hire a tutor to teach from the Giancoli book.

There is a review of Physics textbooks here.

[Brenda in MA]

Originally Posted by langfam

Which curriculum do you use for high school Physics?

My son is using Giancoli this year, and it is a terrific text, but challenging. He used Apologia last year for Chemistry and didn't like it, so I looked for something different for Physics.

Brenda

[cb in socal]

In fact, after her lab last night, she looked a few things up in the apologica physics book that her professor didn't explain clearly. Glad it was around.
blessings,
cb

[MelodyInTx]

My twins are doing Aplogia Physics and Advanced Math they are not sweating it. Neither is saying that it is hard.
My husband is teaching the Physics and he comments regularly how easy he thinks it is. They are averaging a module per week.

I have read multiple times that Apologia Physics is challenging, sooooo I am hoping they are chugging along so nicely because they had been well prepared by Saxon math.