<p>So Collegeboard's site has check marks next to certain calc related topics of electromagnetism and mechanics that indicated exclusive C material. However, there are also substantial amount of thermodynamics, optics, nuclear physics, etc under each section. Does this mean that these topics are covered in addition to mechanics and electromagnetism in physics C?</p>
<p>That is, is physics C inclusive of physics B?</p>
<p>I ask this because I plan on taking Stanford EPGY's physics C next year, but it seems their course does not teach thermodynamics, nuclear physics, etc.</p>
<p>Wait, nevermind, thermodynamics, etc are not covered and not tested for physics C.</p>
<p>Physics B covers more material; Physics C goes in depth in either mechanics, e&m, or both. you decide which parts of c to take.
also, the calculus in physics c is fairly basic.</p>
<p>quick question. aside from the calculus, is the level of math in physics B the same as in physics C?</p>
<p>C has calculus. </p>
<p>But so B isn't a prerequisite of C right? I want to take EPGY's C and then do uncovered B material as an independent study after APs next year.</p>
<p>B is not a prerequisite for C.
both B and C use mathematics at a similar level (of difficulty), but C uses more sophisticated mathematics (some calculus).</p>
<p>
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quick question. aside from the calculus, is the level of math in physics B the same as in physics C?
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<p>It's pretty much the same. Both ask you to do a lot with fractions and ratios (ie: increase earth's mass by factor of 4, decrease radius by factor of 2...what is the new acceleration due to gravity near the surface?), but neither gets too nasty with really hard computations, especially in the multiple choice section.</p>
<p>However, there are some topics in C where the math is harder. In C you're expected to solve systems of 3 equations with 3 unknowns in situations ranging from Newton's laws to conservation of momentum and collisions. I've never seen anything like that in B. Also, there are some problems in C that get a little further into trig than B does. Even so, it's pretty basic stuff...it never gets trickier than recognizing that if theta is small, tan(theta) is approximately equal to sin(theta)...they might even mention that as a hint in the problem itself.</p>
<p>I havn't experienced any difficult math in B, mostly the basics from trig and algebra is all I have used so far. To understand some of the equations and their formation you would need to know calculus. Alot of the time when we get to one of those equations my teacher just tells me don't worry about were that comes from yet because it takes calculus to understand.</p>