<p>Is it possible to only take Mechanics or do you have to take both? My counselor is pushing me take AP Physics, and Mechanics sound much more interesting. Thank you.</p>
<p>At my school, they’re combined in one year-long course. But I think mechanics comes first, so if your school does separate courses for the two, then you could probably just do AP Physics C Mechanics. :)</p>
<p>I wish, I’ll ask my counselor tomorrow, she wasn’t in today.</p>
<p>My school just spends an entire year on Mechanics. We won’t offer E&M until like 15 people want to take it, which is hard to do considering Mechanics is a prerequisite and hardly any juniors take it.</p>
<p>When it’s time to take the tests you can choose to take one or both. However you probably won’t have such a choice when it comes to what your school offers (some combine mechanics and e&m into 1 class and some have mechanics as a year long class - this depends on the school).</p>
<p>My school only offers Mechanics, and it’s supposedly THE most difficult class on campus. I don’t really see how Mech and E&M can be combined into one year-long class without killing everyone who’s taking it…</p>
<p>Actually, I think E&M is more interesting than Mechanics, though it’s harder (so I would recommend doing both). It’s very possible to take only Mechanics, though the course would last only 1 semester.</p>
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<p>They’re supposed to be combined into one year-long course. I don’t even know how one might spend an entire year studying Mechanics unless your teacher taught you thermodynamics or nuclear physics or something like that as a supplement.</p>
<p>Odd. At my school it’s AP Physics B: Mechanics and AP Physics C: E&M.</p>
<p>My HS had AP Physics C - Mechanics as a year-round course (more in-depth though) – we didn’t really have an E/M course although a few students self-studied that.</p>
<p>We have Mechanics and E&M as a year-round course; Mechanics for 1st Semester and E&M for 2nd semester. Most people that take Physics C took Physics B junior year though, so we have previous experience in both of these subjects. Just not as in depth, perhaps.</p>
<p>If you have a background in physics (i.e. you have taken a physics class before) I recommend taking both. If you’ve never taken a physics class before, mechanics for a year (or half of a year) is probably your best choice.</p>
<p>I can’t picture anyone understanding e&m without prior physics knowledge–even if you took physics it’s a tough subject.</p>
<p>That being said, at my school we have 2 options: physics c mechanics (half year) and both (full year). It all depends on what’s offered at your school.</p>