<p>Hello!</p>
<p>Next year I’m planning to take physics (not AP, just regular physics). Will I be able to take the AP Physics exam with a little bit of self-studying? or is AP Physics a lot more difficult than regular physics? Also, what is the difference between AP physics B and C? Is there an AP physics A?</p>
<p>In my school, regular physics is a lot different from Physics B, and even more different from Physics C. There is no Physics A. In regular physics, all the formulas are given to the students as reference, and they pretty much have to plug in values and answer questions about concepts. There are fewer concepts to learn, so students can spend more time making sure they understand a certain topic. </p>
<p>In Physics B, you learn the following:
Newtonian Mechanics (~35% of the course)
Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics (~15%)
Electricity and Magnetism (~25%)
Waves and Optics (~15%)
The Physics B exam is 3 hours long.</p>
<p>In Physics C, you have two different courses: Physics C: Mechanics, and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
In Physics C: Mechanics, you learn Newtonian Mechanics like you do in Physics B, but in much more depth, a few more topics, and the application of Calculus. This is the same for Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, in which you learn Electricity and Magnetism.
Each Physics C exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes long, one taken right after another.</p>
<p>Is there a Physics B class at your school? My school allows students to take Physics B or regular Physics as their first-year physics course, and everyone just has to take the regular final exam at the end of the year (and for those taking Physics B, they take the AP exam in may). It is required to have taken regular Physics or Physics B to get into Physics C.</p>
<p>I would advise against self-studying for AP Physics (especially C) unless you know a lot about Physics already or you are willing to put in much more work and get help from a teacher. Most people in my Physics B class have no idea what is going on and only maintain good averages because of the curve we get. I’ve heard that most people in Physics C have less of an idea about what is going on.</p>
<p>Here is the course description for both the AP Physics courses:
<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;
(that’s where I got the percentages)</p>
<p>My school only offers Physics… what prep book would you recommend to prepare for the physics B exam?? I think I’ll just buy a prep book first and then decide later whether or not I’m gonna take the exam.</p>
<p>I’m using the Princeton Review book right now. It’s really good, and I’ve heard it was the best book for both Physics B and C. I’ve also heard 5 Steps to a 5 and Barron’s are good.</p>
<p>Yeah. PR is the best prep book for ap physics. But if you are gonna buy Barrons, I forbid you. It has too much unnecessary details and very few questions. </p>
<p>Anyway, jon, if you r gonna self study, get Zumdahl’s textbook. It is the best.</p>
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<p>Since when did Zumdahl switch from Chemistry to Physics?</p>
<p>I meant Halliday’s. Sorry about that.</p>
<p>@mankiw: Do you know the name of the Halliday physics book? I searched on Amazon.com and there’s like 10+ different Halliday physics books…</p>
<p>^I think you may be seeing 10 different editions.</p>