<p>I have to plan my class schedule for next year, my senior year. I’m leaning to towards Physics C, but I’m not sure. I already have a challenging class schedule, work, and a lot of other things going on. I’m also not planning to be a science major. </p>
<p>However, I do enjoy physics. Last year, I took regular physics and did very well. It seems like Physics B might be a repeat of some of that material. I also took Calc BC last year, and I got a 5 on the AP test. What do you think?</p>
<p>Physics C</p>
<p>Physics B skipped over how equations were derived and it assumes no calculus so “We got it by magic”. For me, this made me very upset and I ended up getting a 3.</p>
<p>For Physics C I got two 5’s and you can learn all you need to know without the “magic”. Some say it’s hard, but I think you just have to read the book thoroughly.</p>
<p>Definitely Physics C. Since you have already gotten a 5 on BC, you will be in great shape to handle the math. I also took Physics C the year after I took BC, and I found that not only did my math background help me understand the physics, many physics topics also gave me a new conceptual understanding of math. Physics C is a lot more in depth than physics B, the latter is really just a survey course with minimal math. For me, we covered most if not all of those topics in intro (I had a really phenomenal teacher), so I wanted to go into more depth.</p>
<p>Physics C also has less topics than Physics B, since waves, optics, nuclear, etc are left out. That makes it easier to study for because C aims for depth whereas B aims for breadth. You have the calc background so just take Physics C.</p>
<p>Physics C is not as hard as some people make it sound. As long as you have some basic Calculus knowledge, which obviously you do since you got a 5 on the BC Calculus, you will do fine in Physics C. Also if by the end of the year you feel like you are not ready for the AP Physics C Mechanics/Electricity and Magnetism, you could take the Physics B Test and pass it easily since you took Physics C.</p>
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<p>No. Physics B covers many, many topics not covered by Physics C (Fluids, Optics, Waves, Thermodynamics, Nuclear Physics). While Mechanics and E&M make up about 50% of the Physics B test, it wouldn’t be easy to pass with knowledge from just Physics C class. You would need to study the remaining topics in B to have a decent shot at passing.</p>