Hello there,
I really want to take AP physics next year as a junior. I have no prior knowledge of Physics and I will just jump into it. Everyone at my school says you WILL fail if you take that class. The smartest students in the school have taken it and dropped the class. I just find the course interesting and I’m VERY good at trigonometry and alright at algebra. What are your thoughts? Should I take it?
Take honors physics first, then take AP as a senior. Honors should be just as interesting.
Plenty of sophs do it at my kids school for AP physics 1, the kids were math tested in the first week and invited to AP because there was no honors.
Look AP physics is not hard to catch onto. I took it without any previous physics knowledge. One requirement you should work on is to become very strong at algebraic manipulation.
AP Physics 1 isn’t hard as long as you have a strong grasp of algebra concepts. Most of it is manipulating equations.
There are different AP Physics classes. Which one are you talking about? AP Physics 1 is intended to be a first course for students without calculus. AP physics C is much harder and you should at least be concurrently taking calculus. Most people would benefit from taking a physics honors class prior to Physics C. Unfortunately with the introduction of AP Physics 1 and 2, many high schools no longer offer this.
One thing you can do is study ahead using online material over the summer and see how hard it is. Worst case is you’ll be over prepared for AP physics C and it will be too easy for you. Best case is you find out you don’t like physics @ all and don’t take the class haha.
AP physics 1 needs no prior knowledge, but physics C is different.