What is AP Physics?
What is AP physics?
Are you interested in taking AP Physics? You might have noticed that the AP program offers more than one physics course.
So what’s the difference between the different AP Physics classes—AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, and AP Physics C
I will introduce you to them and help you decide which one to take.
What AP Physics Classes Are Offered?
The AP Program used to offer three physics classes: AP Physics B, AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
However, the AP program recently replaced AP Physics B, a one-year course, with two one-year courses: AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2.
These are both algebra-based physics courses, which means they don’t require a math background beyond Algebra II.
The AP program still offers AP Physics C which is broken into two courses and exams: Physics C: Mechanics and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
Many schools teach these as the same class, or just teach one topic. Both of these courses are calculus-based.
This means that there are now four AP Physics exams:AP Physics 1AP Physics 2AP Physics C: Electricity and MagnetismAP Physics C: MechanicsThe fact that there are now four AP Physics exam can be confusing.
So do you take Physics 1, Physics 2, and Physics C in order? What’s new about Physics 1 and Physics 2? I will introduce you to all of the courses and help you decide which class is right for you.
AP Physics 1
AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory, college-level physics course.
It explores Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion), work, energy, power, mechanical waves and sound, and circuits – in other words, fundamental physics concepts.
AP Physics 1 was designed to be a first-year physics course which you can take without prior physics experience.
This is the main difference from the old AP Physics B course, which was designed to be a second-year physics class.
The AP program recommends that students have at least taken geometry and are concurrently taking Algebra II while taking this course.
If you’re not that far along in math yet, consider taking a different science class until you’re caught up, as math is very important in physics.
AP Physics 2
AP Physics 2 is also an algebra-based, college-level physics course.
However, it delves into some more advanced topics than Physics 1.Physics 2 explores fluid statics and dynamics, thermodynamics with kinetic theory, PV diagrams and probability, electrostatics, electrical circuits with capacitors, magnetic fields, electromagnetism, physical and geometric optics, and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics.
AP Physics 2 was designed to be a second-year physics course.
This means it could come after AP Physics 1 or any first-year physics course.
Much of its content is similar to the old AP Physics B course.
You can read the full descriptions of AP Physics 1 and Physics 2 at the Advanced Placement website.
AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
Both AP Physics C courses are calculus-based, meaning you should have already taken calculus or concurrently be taking calculus while you take either AP Physics C course.
This is the main factor that makes Physics C more challenging than Physics 1 and Physics 2.
But what’s the difference between AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism?
Mechanics covers kinematics, Newton’s laws, work, energy, power, linear momentum, circular motion and rotation, oscillations and gravitation.
As you can see, these are many of the same concepts explored in Physics 1.
However, this course goes into more depth than Physics 1 and uses calculus, making it much more challenging.
Electricity and Magnetism covers electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism.
Notice there is some overlap with the Physics 2 curriculum, though again, Physics C will be more difficult since it incorporates.
The two topics are sometimes taught as the same course even though there are two different exams, with each topic being taught over one semester.
When taught as a single class, Mechanics is usually taught first, and Electricity and Magnetism comes second.
If schools only teach one topic, it tends to be Mechanics, since it builds on material most commonly taught in beginning physics classes (Newton’s laws, work, energy, power, etc).
Each topic is supposed to be equivalent to one semester of college calculus-based physics.
Because of this, AP Physics C is highly recommended to be at least a second-year physics course.
You can read a full description of Physics C at the AP website.