AP Physics

Do you need to have taken or be taking AP Calc to take AP Physics one or can you be taking pre-calc at the same time as AP Physics 1?

This is from the college board: Yes. Students should have completed geometry and be taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. AP Physics 1 includes basic use of trigonometric functions, but students can learn those in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

Your school may have its own requirement to follow

My high school requires students to be taking at least precalc at the same time or having completed math 3 which is equivalent to having finished algebra 1, II and geometry.

Completion or concurrent enrollment in Calculus is only for AP Physics C.

I would ask your GC or school advisor. Sounds like it varies from school to school.

At my son’s school the recommended minimum math requirements for Physics are:

  1. You can take regular physics without the completion of Pre-Calc
  2. You can take AP Physics 1 if you have completed Pre-Calc & are currently enrolled in Calc AB or already completed Calc AB
  3. You can take AP Physics 2 if you have completed Calc AB & preferably have taken AP Physics 1 & are enrolled in Calc BC

Thank you guys, I’m currently in Algebra 2 so I could take ap physics next year.