<p>So I'm a sophomore right now and of course, its that time again, to choose classes for next year. The AP Physics B teacher in my school is supposedly/apparently really bad [many of my friends have him and even the smartest of them say that they end up teaching themselves every chapter in the end. </p>
<p>I'm wondering if its possible to skip right into Physics C. I'm going right into Calc BC from Pre-Cal. Is it really necessary to have B before Physics C or no? Like, are topics in B that are further covered in C gone over again, or does the curriculum assume that you already know that material and it just begins delving into the details right off?</p>
<p>BTW: I'm not planning to go into any engineering or physics-related major. I just want to take physics because I think its helpful, and honors, IMO, would be too easy for me. </p>
<p>We're required to take Physics B before Physics C at my school, as well as Calc concurrently with Phys C. This requirement may only be no one takes Calc before senior year, since there is a girl in my class who's a junior taking it now. However, conceptual physics is a required freshman course now, so AP Physics C was not her first course. I would definitely discourage taking AP Physics C as your first physics course.</p>
<p>At my kids' school, you have to take Physics B & the next year you can take Physics C. Also, at their school, folks routinely go from pre-calc into AP Calc AB or AP Calc BC. My son is in AB but many of his friends are in BC (depends on how hard you want to work etc.)</p>
<p>I took the components of AP Physics C (mechanics and e/m). I didn't have any physics prior to taking it, but had single and multivariable calculus. I think that if you are prepared mathematically, you should have no problems with AP Physics C. You start from the basics (no prior physics knowledge required), but cover things in more depth. Also, you don't cover as many topics as B. C is a good idea because most schools give credit for it (whereas they might not with B).</p>
<p>I had no prior Physics to Physics C, and I am taking it right now concurrently with Calc BC (going into Calc BC from Precalc). It's by far the hardest course I've taken in 4 years.</p>
<p>Actually, my son says the hardest classes he's ever taken, harder than all his APs are his Mandarin classes. He hasn't mentioned any particular difficulty with Physics C, but it's probably much easier if you've already had Physics B. The calc & physics teachers at his school work together so there's overlap in coverage too.</p>
<p>Physics C was absolutely painful for me (I took it because I wanted to take all the APs at my school, even though I totally despise math and science). The main reason why is that Physics is very intuitive - most people at my school didn't even bother studying for the AP Exam because you can't really study for it. You either get it or you don't. There are so many equations you can use, you must use them in the right combination...etc. </p>
<p>So if you're taking it for fun, just be aware of this.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm skipping to BC because I'm doing pretty well in Precal, so my teacher thinks I'll do well in BC. Only one other sophomore going to be junior was recommended for it in my school.</p>
<p>The thing is, Physics C has so much more calculus in it than B has. So is it harder to do it concurrently? [Meaning to take my first year of Calculus, albeit Calc BC, at the same time as Physics C.]</p>
<p>And to respond to ebonytear: I'm not really taking it for fun [I mean, taking AP Physics C for fun? Whatta oxymoron lol]. Its more like, I know that colleges would like to see you take all 3 core sciences, and I believe that honors is too hard and the Physics B teacher here at the moment is terrible.</p>
<p>There is no need to take AP Physics B for AP Physic C... I'm taking AP Physics C as a junior right now and I've never taken AP Physics B... all you need is some basic understanding of Calculus for Physics C.</p>
<p>nobody takes B man, most skools dont even offer it... only person i know who took it did so in middle skool (i really dont know how)</p>
<p>and most physics C classes do EM at the same time cuz theyre hella easy</p>
<p>yea, u need basic calculus for C, but one time the book hw had to use differentials and only me and sb else figured it out... the teacher didnt even know... she did some other crazy thing that was most likely wrong</p>
<p>our class is physics CM cuz the teacher suck so much we learn it ourselves and in class we pretty much just hang out, take tests, and do labs the whole year</p>
<p>The AP Physics B at our kids' HS is awesome. They use the same book as USoCal & cover it in its entirety & do 60+ lab experiments. I think it gives them a VERY solid foundation & the kids which graduate from our HS think so too & do very well in college.</p>
<p>our school lets you take whatever physics you want, and i went straight to physics C without taking B at all
from what i can see, the only people in my class who AREN'T getting thoroughly worked are the ones who took physics B last year in their junior year. physics C requires a lot more manipulation of constants in every problem until you can get the right answer. the calculus needed is very basic (integrals, derivatives, thats about it).
i would suggest, unless your physics teacher is good (ours treats it like a college class, reads from the book, makes us do practice sets for credit, etc.) dont take C before B. You're gonna be in for a world of hurt...</p>
<p>Our school doesn't offer Physics B. I am in Physics C right now (with no prior physics b/c we only have bio and chem). It's definitely the hardest class I've ever taken, but it's possible. The difference between B and C is that C is calculus based. I did Calc AB last year and that really helped (nothing in BC really overlaps besides vectors/parametrics). My classmate (only 2 daring souls in Physics C) is doing AB this year and he basically had to learn the shortcuts in Physics before he learned them in Calc. </p>
<p>Basically, it's possibly, but very hard. Just know what you're getting into. And good luck!</p>
<p>I think if you take Cal BC and Physics C at the same time, you will be in trouble though....
Cal BC is not as easy as everyone thinks, so as Physics C. Cal BC is totally different from Pre-Cal, which is like sleeping-classes. You have to self-study a lot and you will encounter a lot of problem....</p>
<p>At my school, there are currently about 5 or 6 kids taking BC right after precal and i think most of them have A's in the class. However, those of them who are taking physics are taking Physics B.</p>
<p>So the consensus is to just take B while taking Calc BC then?</p>
<p>At my kids' school, everyone took Physics B before Physics C. I'm pretty sure it was a prerequisite. Most of them are now taking Calc AB or BC as seniors with whichever physics or other science they've chosen (C if they already had B, otherwise B or some other AP physics like AP chem or AP bio). Each school sounds like it's different, especially those who don't even offer Physics B. At my kids' schools, the same teacher teaches B & C, so he knows exactly what is covered in each class.</p>
<p>Most students at my school take Physics B and Precalculus; Calculus (either AB or BC) is required for those who take Physics C. Since most seniors have senioritis from day 1 of senior year many refuse to take Physics C.</p>