<p>Despite the fact that this class is Alg based, does anyone else struggling with it ? My physics teacher also teach 1/2/C so IDK if he is hard on us or what but he only teach the basics while on quiz and tests, I have to know the equations inside out in order to apply to all the weird problems he make me to solve. I was straight A last year with very strong grades in math classes(current a sophmore in Pre-Calc) yet I am scraping to get a 79.5 for a B. My class has only Pre-IB kids yet I can count amount of students with A's using one hand. Does your phys 1 class the same as mine or I am just unlucky ?</p>
<p>Yeah finding the right equations and applying is the hardest part. I took AP Physics B last year and I had the same problems. It’s not so much like a math class as they tell you right? In math, at least you KNOW what to do (even in calc), but in physics, you have way too many things and every problem is different I know how you feel, just have to push through.</p>
<p>Yeah, you have to know the concepts or you’ll fail.</p>
<p>Heh… I quickly learned just memorizing the formulas won’t work for physics.</p>
<p>Yeah I memorized all 80 or so equations for the test… Wouldve been great if I bothered remembering how to use them</p>
<p>All you need to know as far as equations go are:
- F=ma
- Conservation of momentum
- Conservation of energy
- Kinematic super equation (delta X = vt+1/2at^2)
- Work=F dot distance</p>
<p>You can solve 90% of problems if you know how to use these 5 equations really well or you will at least get 75% of the question.</p>
<p>AP Physics 1 is literally a regular physics class with an AP exam. It’s actually less than a regular physics class that is either put into a semester or into a full year. Physics can be tough, at times, but it’s just a bunch of formulas to find velocity, rate of change, speed, momentum, etc. I think you can maintain an A if you study harder!</p>
<p>Yes, you should be able to apply the equations correctly (I took AP Physics C, which is calculus-based, and then a more advanced mechanics course at MIT). Blindly memorizing them will likely lead to failing.</p>
<p>@jimmyboy23 </p>
<p>What are the most important equations for the E&M part of physics? </p>
<p>V=IR is bae for circuits</p>
<p>Kirchhoff’s laws for circuits, Gauss’s law, Faraday’s law, Ampere’s law, and Coulomb’s law are also pretty important.</p>
<p>Ugh. I’m glad I’ve never actually taken physics. </p>
<p>@tacoperson123 </p>
<p>why?</p>
<p>I have the same problem. The only kids in my class who have good grades are the geniuses - I mean the kids who understand anything you throw at them with minimal work. There are about 3 of them. I do okay on homework and quizzes but the way the questions are asked on the AP tests makes my brain freeze up and I don’t even know where to start and just end up guessing. I’ve basically given up.</p>
<p>Same thing in my class. Highest grade on the last test we took (Dynamics)? 66. Average grade? 35. My grade? 35. Obviously she’s going to curve but that says something about the difficulty of the test. Luckily I maintained an 82 in the first quarter but this quarter I might not be so lucky. I understood the first chapter perfectly, got an A on the test, and after that it’s gone in one ear and out the other. </p>
<p>@PMoney1 SAME exact results on my AP physics class’s tests. We would be lucky to have a D as the class average. My highest (raw) grade on any test was a flat 60.
My teacher, however, is very generous, and allows us to get half the points we missed back with test corrections. He also is very lax on grading lab writeups and gives us opportunities to get extra credit on the labs. On the last test and the finals he also curved them. He honestly is such a fun teacher that I really enjoy the class despite being completely destroyed by the tests. I managed to finish the semester with a B. Boy am I so happy. </p>
<p>Honestly I feel so so so dumb in that class!! Ugh. Are any of you staying for next semester? A LOT of the kids in my class have announced already that they will be dropping the class at semester. Seems to me we will probably lose half the class. I think I will stay. Anyway, good luck to all T-T</p>
<p>Difference between AP Physics 1/2 and a normal Physics class is that you must understand the concepts of what’s going on in great detail. I’m taking AP Physics II and my teacher gives us questions from a combination of old B/C tests along with some test material donated by CB and I can honestly say AP Physics 1/2 >>>> AP Physics B/C, a lot more plug and chug for the latter in comparison to 1/2.</p>
<p>Yes, I feel the pain! This last test was on Newton’s Laws and I felt like I understood that pretty well, and I ended up getting a 110 on the test…out of 150 :’) I’ve never been so pleased about a C before, and it’s all I can do to maintain an overall B for the class. My teacher is a very erratic guy, so he’s not that great about reviewing material (class is basically him just doing a problem for us that we copy down – and we can always expect to see some contortion of it on his tests…which are worth about 3 times as many points as anything else in his class)</p>
<p>The biggest issue for me though is that some kids took Honors Physics last year so it’s basically all the same material a second time through with the same teacher…they may not understand it, but they remember it all and so get A’s just from prior experience and going through the motions. So you have half the class maintaining high A’s, and then the fresh portion struggling not to fail every test completely. </p>
<p>There are five girls in my class, and they’ve all attempted dropping out. One guy is leaving once the semester is done, but the situation sucks because the only available semester course that period is gym. </p>
<p>at least you guys are allow to leave. At my school, AP physics 1 is a core class for Pre-IB </p>
<p>I am having problems with the class. I barely passed with with the added 10 points this semester. The problem I have is with understanding the concepts wholly. I know the equations, I know the basic facts to remember, but I suck at applying them. We get problems for homework and the stuff on tests is always different, requiring you to really know the concepts in order to do well. I know I need to do more practice problems for sure but idk what else to do this upcoming semester. </p>
<p>Why is everyone still on Dynamics and Forces when I did that like 2 months ago? </p>
<p>Circular Motion / Gravitation isn’t too bad since it’s supposed to be the hardest of Mechanics. Usually no one gets %100’s on quizzes and many people don’t get A’s on the tests. </p>
<p>Dunno how people did on our last test on Momentum.</p>