Does it matter which AP C a student takes ? is it the one that you grasp better or does it depend on whether you want to be a mechanical engineer versus electrical engineer? Do colleges care much ? Which is easier to get a 4 or %5 on ?
Does it matter in terms of what??
At many, if not most, high schools, AP Physics C is run as a year-long course covering both mechanics (Fall) and E&M (Spring). For those schools that offer them separately, mechanics is almost always required before E&M. Similarly in college, calc-based mechanics is usually a prereq for calc-based E&M. As far as major requirements for engineers of any specialty, both will be required almost universally, whether in college or via AP credit.
In terms of the exams, ~55% get a 4 or 5 on the mech exam and 60% achieve that score for E&M. Both numbers are deceptive though as the kids that take these exams are the self-selecting gung-ho STEM kids. Also twice as many take the mech exam vs. E&M (55K vs. 24K)
Thank you @ skieurope. I guess my question sounded confusing as my son’s school teaches honors physics with precalculus now. but many kids take AP physics C as well.
Honors physics (or regular physics with a high grade or AP Physics 1) is an almost universal prereq for AP Physics C, so your son’s school is not unusual.
so you suggest the student take honors physics during school year and at the end can take AP C physics both mechanics and E and M ?
No, I’m suggesting that the student, if they want AP Physics C, follow the HS curriculum, which is generally physics one year and AP Physics C in a succeeding academic year.
That’s what most advisors say but there is a risk of forgetting physics as following year is chemistry on the curriculum…
Kids are resilient that way. Many take bio as a freshman and AP Bio as a senior. Many take chem as a sophomore and AP Chem as a senior. Most pick it up again very quickly and perform well on the exam.