<p>Today we had AP test registration at our school. I want to take Physics C(Mech and E/M) but my school doesnt offer it. So, my question is, since I'm self studying (i'm in physics b now), there is a possible chance that I might not get the score I want; Will the first course that you take in physics at say a the top 20 schools on U.S News be a calculus based physics course or an algebra based physics? I've looked up the AP credit guidelines at each university and some of them do give credit to physics B. So should I sign up to take the B test also b/c I don't want to be stuck in an algebra based course my first year in college.</p>
<p>one last question:why do schools like say stanford, northwestern, and penn give out credit for physics B? I mean, I thought schools of such caliber would require their students to complete a calc based physics?</p>
<p>B covers a lot more topics than C and I think would probably satisfy a physics course for non-majors/non-engineers. C just goes into depth on a fewer, but more "important" topics and uses calculus for those.</p>
<p>The physics B would only count as a general elective credit for non-majors, i.e., physics for poets. </p>
<p>Top liberal arts schools usually have both algebra-based and calculus-based freshman physics, so you can take whichever one you want. Physics B will be good preparation for physics C or a calculus-based freshman physics course (tougher, naturally), however, so you're in no bad shape for taking it. One thing to keep in mind is that you start using calculus very soon in the calculus-based course; it'll be assumed that you've already done calculus I, II/AP calculus BC, although you won't really have to understand what's going on mathematically to be able to apply the concept, so you only need a superficial understanding of calculus.</p>
<p>No, usually not so much. If you're not ready for calc-based physics (i.e., not at the level of high-school based physics) then they'll probably enroll you in an intensive remedial, non-credit course at the same time. But they won't expect necessarily to know everything in physics B.</p>
<p>An honors physics course though (some schools offer honors calc-based physics for already advanced students) probably would expect physics B at a minimum - most people in my honors physics did physics C.</p>
<p>All three of the intro physics sequences here (one each for engineers, biologists, and physicists) assume a knowledge of calculus. No credit for Physics B.</p>
<p>I don't know about any top 20 ranked school. But here, the 40thish ranked UIUC doesn't take anything lower than a 5 on Physics C. So I would naturally assume that most top schools would do the same.</p>
<p>what do you mean, "take"? You mean waive the course? A lot of places make you take their physics regardless of AP score. All a 4 or 5 on AP physics buys you here is the honors physics course prereq and a couple units of elective credit.</p>
<p>I mean that they don't let you get credit for 1st-year caluclus based physics, namely mechanics and E & M with anything lower than a 5 on Physics C.</p>
<p>your best bet is to go on-line and research the schools you're thinking of. Either on the admissions page, the registrar's page, or the department's page, it will have info on what APs they take.</p>