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 onecan appear for the exam. Inabroadsense thesesubjectsare dividedinto7 majorsubjectcategories: APCapstonediplomaprogram Arts English Historyandsocialsciences Mathandcomputerscience Sciences APworldlanguageandculture 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 highschool. HowcanyouprepareforupcomingAPExams?:Checkhere.

2. TypesofAPPhysicsExams APPhysics1 It is marketed as a first year physics course. This sets the stage for AP Physics 2. One can takeit 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 analgebra based physics course. ContentcoveredinAPPhysics1 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'slaw of motion, work,energy,power,gravity, circularmotion, rotation, momentum, collisions, explosions, basic electricity and circuits, mechanical waves, sound, waves, amplitude,period, and frequencies. Prerequisites These are designed as first year physics courses that you can take without prior physicsexperience. It is important for students to have prior knowledge of geometry and should also take AlgebraII or a similar course concurrently. APPhysics2 ItissimilarinscopeanddepthtoAPPhysics1andalsocoversclassroommethodology. 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 physicscourse. ContentcoveredinAPPhysics2 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 inphysics over thelast 100 years,nuclear and nuclearphysics. Prerequisites Studentsmusthave takenan introductoryphysics courseor haveAP Physics1. Studentsmustbetakingorconcurrently takingpre-calculusorequivalentcourses. APPhysicsExamQuestions:Checkhere

3. APPhysicsCMechanics This can be a first physics course or a follow up physics course. It does require calculus, althoughitisnotcalculus-heavy.Theaimofthecourseisnottotestyourcalculus,butto 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 quitecommon to do both subjects together. It is similar to the first semester of a college-level physics course based on calculus.It is beneficialfor students majoring inengineering or physical sciences. ContentcoveredinAPPhysicsCMechanics 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 morerigorous but that doesn't always mean easier. Prerequisites AP Physics C Mechanics is a version that is more advanced than AP Physics 1 and alsouses calculus. Every student needs to have an understanding of calculus. Either by taking Calculus asa subject together or by learningit first. APPhysicsCcourses aremorechallenging thanAP1 andAP2. APPhysicsCMechanicsExamQuestions:Checkhere APPhysicsCElectricityandMagnetism 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 physicalsciences. ContentcoveredinAPPhysicsCElectricityandMagnetism 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, whichis why one turns to calculus to dosuch things. Prerequisites AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is an advanced version of AP Physics 2 becauseit uses calculus. Thestudentsshouldhave takencalculusorshould havetakenit simultaneously. APPhysicsCcourses aremorechallenging thanAP1 andAP2.

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 PhysicsC Mechanics can be taught as first-yearcourses. APPhysicsCElectricity&MagnetismExamQuestions:Checkhere Frequentlyaskedquestions 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 levelof 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. Dowehavelaboratoryusageinallthecourses? The answer is yes, all AP Physics courses are laboratory courses with a strong experimental designcomponent highlighted in all courses. Whichcoursesarethebestchoicesforcollegecredit? 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. WhichAPPhysicscourseshouldonetake? 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 helpyou decide.