Any thoughts on AP Physics C?

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>Come May I'll be taking the US Gov & Politics and Physics C AP exams. I'm going into computer engineering at U of I next year so I couldn't care less what I get on Gov just so long as I get a 5 on both parts of Physics. There's no way I'm taking this bs again my freshman year.</p>

<p>Any thoughts on the exam from past students? Hard? Easy? Best way to prepare? What did you think going in? </p>

<p>My teacher isn't exactly the best and with senioritis creeping in I'm not so sure if I'm ready, even with the insane curve the test is given.</p>

<p>Really any comments/thoughts would be much appreciated.</p>

2

<p>It’s math. Wouldn’t consider the curve insane. Do pick up a review book and go over it. Review your Calculus.</p>

3

<p>Considering the fact that you can get a meager 55% and get a 5 seems to be a fairly generous curve to me…</p>

4

<p>The Physics B exam requires less mathematical sophistication, is wider in scope (covering Nuclear,Atomic,Optics,Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics and also Waves). You techniclly do not need to know calculus for Physics B. However, note that Physics B is not recognized in many colleges.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Physics C is far more mathematically sophisticated with regard to the questions themselves. The equations are mostly the same, but you will be required to learn their derivations (which do involve calculus) if you want to do well and master the concepts. It is narrower in scope, but more mathematically intense. Most colleges recognize Physics C, and there are two parts to it. Mechanics and E&M.</p>

<p>Physics C all depends on your ability to grasp applications of calculus in deriving physics equations. If you can do that well, go for Physics C as it is much shorter syllabus than B. On the other hand, if you prefer to memorize equations and apply them intuitively without knowing how they came, Physics B may be easier.</p>

<p>The level of calculus required is not too easy. You need to know the basic concept of differentiation, antidifferentiation, definite integrals, implicit differentiation, derivatives of trig functions, exponential functions and some logarithmic functions. You will need to know some concepts of closed surface integrals, improper integrals and very rarely integration by parts. But if you are good with Calculus AB the newer concepts will not be too much.</p>