All you need to know about AP Physics

1. All you need to know about AP Physics Advanced Placement (AP) exams are college-level exams on specific subjects taken in high school. These exams are held once a year for a period of two weeks in the month of May every year. There are about 38 test options; These are the different subjects under which one can appear for the exam. In a broad sense these subjects are divided into 7 major subject categories: 1. AP Capstone diploma program 2. Arts 3. English 4. History and social sciences 5. Math and computer science 6. Sciences 7. AP world language and culture AP Physics is one of the subjects covered under the College Board Advanced Placement Program courses. These exams cover different areas of Physics. APs are college-level courses that bring the option of taking an exam that helps you earn college credit or earn Advanced Placement. Sometimes you can earn from both of these, that too when you are in high school. How can you prepare for upcoming AP Exams?: Check here.

2. Types of AP Physics Exams AP Physics 1 It is marketed as a first year physics course. This sets the stage for AP Physics 2. One can take it as an introductory physics course. It doesn't make it any easier. It is simply not content-heavy and has a very strong laboratory and experimental design component. This is an algebra based physics course. Content covered in AP Physics 1 The material covered is based on classical mechanics, how objects move, position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, how to change the speed 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, period, and frequencies. Prerequisites 1. These are designed as first year physics courses that you can take without prior physics experience. 2. It is important for students to have prior knowledge of geometry and should also take Algebra II or a similar course concurrently. AP Physics 2 It is similar in scope and depth to AP Physics 1 and also covers classroom methodology. The complication exists because it is assumed that you are already familiar with AP Physics 1 concepts. This can be counted as the second semester of an algebra-based introductory physics course. Content covered in AP Physics 2 The material it covers is slightly different from the material in AP Physics 1. This includes things like fluids, how fluids move and thermal physics, thermodynamics, a deeper understanding of electricity and magnetism, electrostatics, and how charges interact with each other, more complex circuits, and magnetic and electromagnetic induction. Waves are also included, but instead of electromagnetic waves, the focus is now on optics, modern physics, developments in physics over the last 100 years, nuclear and nuclear physics. Prerequisites 1. Students must have taken an introductory physics course or have AP Physics 1. 2. Students must be taking or concurrently taking pre-calculus or equivalent courses. AP Physics Exam Questions: Check here

3. AP Physics C Mechanics This can be a first physics course or a follow up physics course. It does require calculus, although it is not calculus-heavy. The aim of the course is not to test your calculus, but to use calculus as a tool to help you understand physics more. So calculus is a good bet or one can take calculus at the same time and in the 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 majoring in engineering or physical sciences. Content covered in AP Physics C Mechanics As one might guess it only covers the mechanics that fall under AP Physics 1 as discussed earlier but has significantly more mathematical complexity in depth. Using calculus and talking about how you apply these principles to a variety of situations. It is mathematically more rigorous but that doesn't always mean easier. Prerequisites 1. AP Physics C Mechanics is a version that is more advanced than AP Physics 1 and also uses calculus. 2. Every student needs to have an understanding of calculus. Either by taking Calculus as a subject together or by learning it first. 3. 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 follows the same lines that goes into great depth with calculus and maths related to electricity and magnetism. It is a very technically complex course from a high school perspective, but definitely doable. It is similar to the second semester of a college-level physics course based on calculus. It is beneficial for students majoring in engineering or physical sciences. Content covered in AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism It talks about electrostatics, circuits, magnetism and electromagnetism. When you go through the course really focus on Maxwell equations. One should have a very good understanding of Maxwell equation as it is used throughout the syllabus. The high mathematical complexity brings a lot of two-dimensional and three-dimensional reasoning, which is why one turns to calculus to do such things. Prerequisites 1. AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is an advanced version of AP Physics 2 because it uses calculus. 2. The students should have taken calculus or should have taken it simultaneously. 3. AP Physics C courses are more challenging than AP 1 and AP 2.

4. AP Physics 1 sets the stage for AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C Mechanics provides many skills and techniques that will be valuable to students taking AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. One is not required to take AP Physics 1 and 2 before taking the 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? A common misconception exists regarding the AP Physics C courses being more difficult than the AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 courses. However, the level of difficulty in C courses is higher than that of AP 1 and AP 2 courses. The AP 1 and AP 2 courses cover more topics and delve into deeper 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 AP Physics courses are laboratory courses with a strong experimental design component highlighted in all courses. Which courses are the best choices for college credit? Each course in AP Physics C is accepted by colleges for one credit equivalent of one semester of courses. However AP Physics 1 and 2 are much newer and are organized very differently from traditional physics courses. Which AP Physics course should one take? Before jumping to conclusions, it is recommended to sit down with your guidance counselor and admissions counselor at the college or university you are considering and understand what credit options are available from the colleges you are considering. Ask and use it to help you decide.