Advanced Placement (AP) exams are college-level exams on specific subjects taken in high school. These exams take place once a year over a two-week period in the month of May every year. There are about 38 test options; these are different subjects under which one can take the exam.
These subjects in a broader sense are divided into 7 major subject categories:
- AP Capstone diploma program
- Arts
- English
- History and social sciences
- Math and computer science
- Sciences
- AP world language and culture
AP Physics is one of the subjects under the College Board Advanced Placement Program courses. These exams cover different areas of physics. The APs are courses of the college level that bring in an option of taking an exam that helps you in earning college credits or to earn advanced placements. At times you might also end up earning both of these, that too while you are still in high school.
How can you prepare for upcoming AP Exams?: Check here.
Types of AP Physics Exams
AP Physics 1
It is marketed as a first-year Physics course. It sets the stage for AP Physics 2. One can take it as an introductory Physics course. That does not make it easy. It is not just content-heavy and has a very strong lab and experimental design component. It is an algebra-based physics course.
Content covered in AP Physics 1
The content it covers is based on classical mechanics, how objects move, position, displacements, velocity, acceleration, how to change the motion of an object, dynamics, Newton’s law of motion, work, energy, power, gravity, circular motion, rotation, momentum, collisions, explosions, basic electricity and circuits, mechanical waves, sound, waves, amplitude, periods, and frequencies.
Prerequisites
- They are designed to be a first-year physics course that you can take without prior physics experience.
- It is vital for the students to have prior knowledge of geometry and they should simultaneously take up Algebra II or any similar course.
AP Physics 2
It is similar in scope and depth to AP Physics 1 as well as covers the methodology of the class. The complexity exists because it is assumed that you are already familiar with the AP Physics 1 concepts. It can be counted as the second semester of the algebra-based introductory physics course.
Content covered in AP Physics 2
The content it covers is a little different from the content of AP Physics 1. It covers things like fluids, how fluids move and thermal physics, thermodynamics, a deep understanding of electricity and magnetism, electrostatics, and how charges interact with each other also covers more complicated circuits and magnetics and electromagnetics induction, waves but instead of electromagnetic waves, the focus is now on optics, modern physics, development in physics in last 100 years, nuclear and atomic physics.
Prerequisites
- Students should have taken an introductory physics course or should have AP Physics 1.
- Students should have taken or been concurrently taking pre-calculus or an equivalent course.
AP Physics Exam Questions: Check here
AP Physics C Mechanics
It can be a first Physics course or a follow-up Physics course. It does require calculus although it is not calculus-heavy. The intent of the course is not to test your calculus but rather to use calculus as a tool to help you further understand physics. Hence calculus is a good prerequisite or one can take calculus at the same time and same year. It is quite common to do both subjects together. It is similar to the first semester of a college-level physics course based on calculus. It is beneficial for students specializing in engineering or one of the physical sciences.
Content covered in AP Physics C Mechanics
As one might guess it covers mechanics only covering all that is under AP Physics 1 as discussed earlier but in considerably more mathematical complexity in depth. Using calculus and talking about how you apply these principles to a wide variety of situations. It is more mathematically rigorous but does not always mean easier.
Prerequisites
- AP Physics C Mechanics is the version that is much more advanced than AP Physics 1 and it also uses calculus.
- It is important for each student to have an understanding of calculus. Either by taking up calculus as a subject concurrently or by learning it earlier.
- AP Physics C courses are more challenging than AP 1 and AP 2.
AP Physics C Mechanics Exam Questions: Check here
AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism
It goes along the same lines going into considerable depth with calculus and math dealing in electricity and magnetism. It is a complex course from a very technical point of a high school standpoint but certainly doable. It is similar to the second semester of a college-level physics course based on calculus. It is beneficial for students specializing in engineering or one of the physical sciences.
Content covered in AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism
It talks about electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, and electromagnetism. One is really focusing on the Maxwell equations as you go through the course. One needs to have a pretty good understanding of the Maxwell equation as it is used throughout the course. Higher mathematical complexity brings in a lot of two-dimensional and three-dimensional reasoning, which is why one takes calculus to do things like this.
Prerequisites
- AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism is the advanced version of AP Physics 2 as it uses calculus.
- Students should have taken or been concurrently taking calculus.
- AP Physics C courses are more challenging than AP 1 and AP 2.
AP Physics 1 sets the stage for AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C Mechanics provides many skills and techniques that will be valuable for students taking AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. One does not require to take AP Physics 1 and 2 before taking AP Physics C courses. However, both AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C Mechanics can be taught as first-year courses.
AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism Exam Questions: Check here
Frequently asked questions
Are AP Physics C Courses harder than the AP Physics 1 and 2 courses?
There is a common misconception that exists in regards to AP Physics C Courses being harder than AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 courses. However, the level of difficulty in the C courses is more than in the AP 1 and AP 2 courses. The AP 1 and AP 2 courses cover more topics and cover deep conceptual understanding that can also be challenging in many different ways.
Do we have laboratory usage in all the courses?
The answer is yes all the AP Physics courses are lab courses with a strong experimental design component being highlighted in all the courses.
Which courses are the best choices for college credit?
Each of the AP Physics C courses is accepted by the colleges for credit equivalent to a semester course. AP Physics 1 and 2 however are very new and are organized very differently from the traditional physics courses.
Which AP Physics course should one take?
Before jumping to conclusions it is recommended to sit and talk to your guidance counselor and admissions counselor at the college or university you are considering to understand what credit options are available, ask the colleges you are considering, and use that to help you make a decision.
