<p>Here is how the college board describes the content division between physics 1 and physics 2. They even admit that it’s pretty lightweight. But it is strange that the more difficult physics C is a one year course and the easier physics 1 and 2 is a two year course. And I wonder how many students will take only Physics 1 and miss out on large areas of physics? A lot of students don’t have room in their schedules for two physics classes, and our school seems to be planning to replace their honors physics class (not the one in the integrated program) with Physics 1. </p>
<p>AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based is the equivalent of a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics, but it is designed to be taught over a full academic year to enable AP students to develop deep understanding of the content and to focus on applying their knowledge through inquiry labs. The full year also allows time for inclusion of physics content specified by state standards. The course covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, and power; and mechanical waves and sound. It also introduces electric circuits.</p>
<p>AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based is the equivalent of a second-semester college course in algebra-based physics, but it is designed to be taught over a full academic year to enable AP students to develop deep understanding of the content and to focus on applying their knowledge through inquiry labs. The full year also allows time for inclusion of physics content specified by your state standards. The course covers fluid mechanics; thermodynamics; electricity and magnetism; optics; and atomic and nuclear physics</p>