<p>So I took AP Calc AB and AP Chem this year and I'll probably get a 4 and 3, respectively. I've been recommended to take AP Physics B (due to my grade in Chem & Calc) but I want to take Physics C since my dad is an electrical engineer and may be able to help me out. </p>
<p>So here's the question: how much hard IS AP Physics C than Physics B? I'll also be taking Calc BC next yr.</p>
<p>I'll put it this way. Physics C is much much harder than Calc AB and Chemistry, so if the best you could do was a 4 and 3, that doesn't bode well for you.</p>
<p>Blech... I signed up for physics C E+M and I can't even tell you what inductance is. I got 800 on SAT 2 physics, but if I want any hope, I'd better get studying...</p>
<p>Would trying to take AP Physics B be too much of a stretch? I know that most people in my school take Physics B without taking a regular H.S. Physics class ... although I have no idea how well they do on the AP exam.</p>
<p>Even though your dad is an electrical engineer, E&M has little to do with what most electrical engineers do. I doubt he remembers intimately stuff outside of circuits. According to wikipedia, 1/3 people get a 5, so I think it's worth a shot to do Physics C E/M.</p>
<p>You definitely need a very firm grasp of integral calculus and vectors to take Physics C. It's much more rigorous than most high school classes--at least my class is, but our teacher is the coach of the US Physics team, so it may be a skewed impression.</p>
<p>If you don't get a 5 on Calc, you won't do well in Physics C. Take B instead, if you do well on that then take C the next year (if you're still in high school)</p>
<p>Don't take C unless you've taken B or a physics course of similar or equivalent course difficulty.</p>
<p>Meh, I'm doing fine in C, and I've never taken B (and only Honors Physics beforehand).</p>
<p>My question is if you're in Course C, how difficult would it be to take B cold with some supplementary preparation?</p>
<p>If you're taking Physics C, it wouldn't be too hard to study for Physics B, which has a few additional topics. Be sure to tell your school to arrange late testing for one of them, because they're given at the same time.</p>
<p>Physics C is called that because thats the grade you get in it...ha!</p>
<p>to galoisien:</p>
<p>the only topics not covered in physics C that are in physics B are: thermal physics, fluid mechanics, atomic & nuclear physics, waves, and optics. I'm assuming you've at least already studied waves and optics in your honors physics class, so that's just a matter of review. Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and atomic & nuclear physics are all short easy topics that can be self-studied easily. Maybe 1 hour to read each topic? and some time to do some problems. fluid is 6% of the exam, thermal 9%, and atomic & nuclear 10%. Mechanics and E&M (which you should kick ass in since they are not as in-depth in physics B) are 35% and 25% respectively on the exam. I'm sure that even if you didn't bother learning those extra topics, you could still get a 5 on the exam, since you only need ~65% on the exam for a 5. Good luck! I'm doing the same.</p>