@Dorfdude8 This course in terms of the actual level of the material is by far the hardest course. That fact is made up for by the curve that is given for the exam. The equations themselves are not that hard (its just memorization) but the derivations are usually beyond the scope of the course. When I took the course (AP mech and E&M both 1 semester in a year long sequence) It just so happened that me and 2 other people there where taking/had finished calc 3 and differential equations. Both of these classes are necessary if you want to actually understand the derivations of the equations or the proofs that go with them but they are not necessary for the course so just BC will be fine (assuming you understand integrals at at least a 4 level). As for the prep book my teacher had little pink books with practice questions in them which were on par with the exam this year so if you can find what those are I suggest those (myself and one other diff eq person got double 5s and we both were scoring in the 70% range in the books so they are at least semi-accurate predictors)
@imbep49 You should study them both at the same time. As mentioned previously in this thread electricity is a lot like gravity and this is not the only similarity. Many of the equations have analogues in other sections of the course that just involve changing the variables but leaving the format the same (kinetic energy = 1/2mv^2, 1/2Iw^2, energy stored in a capacitor = 1/2CV^2, energy stored in a spring = 1/2kx^2 etc). You should also try and learn a little differential equations. It is not at all required for the course but it is very helpful for understanding where equations come from and if memorization isn’t really your thing this can be very helpful. Another thing I heard from my teacher was that some other teacher gives his students all of the previous free response questions at the beginning of the year as a year long homework assignment and he supposedly has most of his students (80% if I remember correctly) get 5s so that might be a viable strategy.
Okay thanks guys for the advice, I hope I will be able to make enough time during the school year and successfully self study this course.
Is anyone using Mooney’s AP Advantage? Everyone’s says it’s the best for Physics C, but the latest edition is from 2004, which seems a little bit outdated…
@imbep49 I was wondering the same thing. I know that AP Calc hasn’t really changed so old FRQs from the 1980s are still fine, so I’m thinking a 12 year old book would be fine for Physics C. I think the general consensus is that Princeton’s book is the best, and they recently released the 2016 version although it’s probably not any different from the 2015, 2014, or even the 2013 version.
@GreenBackpack Totally agree. Hands down, PR is the best resource out there for the exam. In addition, the exam and the curriculum has remained the same for more than 10 years, so any edition of PR will suffice. As a matter of fact, I have the 2013 version and it is still applicable today.
As a small note, keep in mind that you are allowed to use your calculator for the entire test (both MC and FR). The reason why I’m saying this is because this is a recent change to the exam. In the past, you could only use your calculator for the free response. Therefore, the older versions of the book will have the old policy, so you can ignore the explanation should you come across it.
I found four PDF files with practice tests. Two for mechanics, one for E&M, and one for both. Answers are included in the links.
Mechanics 2008: https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/4PtKFFJLLSZAnr9WsCtfvOUmbBgVo8Xr6ydqnrzHfo1e8OU2.pdf
Mechanics 2014: http://mralsterscience.■■■■■■■■■■/uploads/3/8/0/0/3800138/ap_physicsc_m_practice_exam_2014.pdf
1998 Mech and E&M (starts on p.117):
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/255117_1998_PhysicsBC_RE.pdf
Does any of you guys’s teachers make you take 90 minute tests? My teacher makes his Physics C period first period because he makes us come early in the morning before school so we have time to finish the test, its kind of lame.
This class SUCKS
@NotTop8Percent yes, my tests are 90 minutes long. I like it that way because I think it’s helpful that it’s indicative of the real AP exam length-wise. My AP bio tests are 3 hours long…
Anybody know how hard it’d be to go into AP Physics C: E/M without much Mechanics knowledge (or actually…without remembering much Mechanics)? I self-studied Mechanics last year and got a 5 on the exam, but I forgot quite a bit of it. I’m signed up for E/M for this spring, though… What do I need to review to be ready for E/M?
Thanks!
What point is everyone else in the curriculum, because my class just started work and energy.
Hey guys, this is my first post on college confidential. I primarily made this account to join this discussion as it may potentially help me in preparation for the upcoming physics C mech exam, being able to exchange information with everyone here and do practice problems with others here hoping to take the exam. I hope to get along well with everyone. So I might as well do a brief introduction. I’m Victor Meetz (just a nickname), currently an aspiring senior in high school with a very particular interest in the sciences. In my junior year, I took AP Physics 1 and AP Chemistry and finished both classes with a 96% average (AP science classes aren’t so easy at my school, those were the highest grades in those classes). This year I have completed two marking periods of AP Biology and AP Physics 2, having maintained a 98% in both thus far. I am particularly adept at understanding physics concepts qualitatively and quantitatively so I wanted to take the physics c mech exam. However, a class for physics C isn’t offered at my school (it would only have 2-3 people) and thus I have decided to self-study for the exam over the past month. I currently am taking AP. Calculus BC and particularly think calculus is rather easy so I finished reviewing the needed calculus (differentiation, integration, limits, differential equations for Physics C Mech) concepts a week after beginning my study efforts and just last week I finished reviewing all of the physics knowledge needed with calculus applications for the mech exam. I have taken two practice exams having gotten good scores on both (far into the 5 range) and have done the FRQs available on ap central from the past 5 years (2010-2015) all while timing myself (got 35+ points every time). So I think I’m going to do pretty well on the exam itself but yknow everyone you meet knows something you don’t so I’m hoping to gain new knowledge and insight from this discussion in the future as it grows.
I must say, however, when I was practicing past free response sections while timing myself, I found myself under quite a rush with the time allotted. Having to do three free response questions, each 5 parts, within only 45 minutes really puts you on the spot to act fast and in a panicked manner. I believe this is a faulty design on college boards part, three long free response questions within 45 minutes (15 minutes for each five part question) leaves barely any time to think through the questions yet alone write down your responses with enough supporting work to earn credit. This doesn’t affect me as much because I can think quickly and keep cool under pressure but I can only imagine how it would devastate the typical test takers. Personally I think a more appropriate time for the free response section would be 60 minutes ( 20 minutes per question) or to cut down some of the free response questions to have less parts. Just my opinion. By the way I am quite confused on which sections of the physics c mechanics exam we get to use a calculator on and which sections we get an equation sheet on. Can anyone clarify this for me?
I figured out the answer to the question in my post above: according to the collegeboard’s online resources, you are allowed a calculator on both the free response and multiple choice sections. Also, you are given an equation sheet to reference during both sections. Is there a rule against consecutively posting a certain # of times on collegeconfidential? I’ve been wanting to post in this discussion information I find useful in preparation for the exam, but nobody else has been posting in the thread and I fear my consecutive posts will be considered as violating some rule on collegeconfidential
I don’t know whether someone has already asked but what is the criteria to score a 5 on this exam for both section one and section two. Really hoping to get a 5 in May. Thanks.
I meant the Mechanics exam.
@Hakimthebest I am unsure about individual sections, but on average, you need at least 55% of Mechanics correct to earn a 5. Please keep in mind that both sections are weighted 50% each,
Thanks
Just curious how far is everyone else in the curriculum. I’m on Rotational Inertia in PR. I want to finish by April 15.