<p>I am currently in Geometry honors as a sophomore and next year I am taking Algebra 2 Honors. At my school it is required that you take physics in order to graduate. It's offered at honor and AP levels. I really want to take the AP level but I am unsure as to whether or not I will be prepared mathematically for it if I will be taking Algebra 2 with it concurrently as opposed to Pre calc or calculus. What are your thoughts?</p>
<p>As long as you’ve passed algebra 1 and know the sin, cos, and tan functions, you’ll be good in AP Physics 1 (you’ll be able to understand 100% of the material). However, don’t do AP Physics C unless you’re enrolled in precalculus or above (there’s a lot of calculus ideas/concepts and the algebra gets pretty hard). I got a 5 on the AP C exam my junior year and I was in precalculus concurrently. </p>
<p>Have you already taken biology or chemistry? It is easier to take chemistry concurrently with algebra 2, but if you really want to go with physics, it probably won’t be that hard, as long as, like nickchan1 mentioned, you study a little trigonometry. </p>
<p>I really wish my school offered AP Physics C. I took college prep physics last year, and the highest level course my school offers in AP Physics 1, so I just went with that (currently a senior, took chemistry concurrently with algebra 2 sophomore year). </p>
<p>According to my AP Physics teacher, you should be in Pre-Calc or above.
Even though it is Algebra based, he’s already started teaching us calc concepts.</p>
<p>I second @BurgerMan1 with that. Took AP Physics B last year and although I probably could’ve survived without a bit of Pre-Calc, taking Pre-Calc along with Physics helped big time. I even went to my math teacher a few times for help because she was a better resources than my physics teacher. Not having taken Algebra 2 will make it more difficult, but if you’re an aspiring student you’ll find ways to pass and excel. </p>
<p>For AP Physics 1 and 2, you have what you need. For AP Physics C you require some background in Calc.</p>
<p>SOH-CAH-TOA is the hardest math thing you’ll do for AP physics 1</p>
<p>Son took ap physics while in precalc and the teacher had a math packet for students not yet in calc. Can you ask the teacher if they have something similar and see how it looks? If you are the kind of student who likes math concepts and doesn’t mind spending some time on khan academy (free math program) or even coursera to shore up you skills , you will probably be ok. It will take extra work on your part though.</p>