I am a sophomore in an advanced pre-calculus class where we started the Calculus AB curriculum 2nd semester. My teacher mentioned that science AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, more basic course, I should look into going straight into Physics C junior year, when I’ll be taking Calc BC. Can anyone who has taken both/gone this route give me details on the differences and/or what the experience has been like? I was previously planning on doing 1 junior year and C senior year, but if I took C next year I would definitely also self-study the Physics 1 curriculum over the summer. Thanks!!
Do people at your school usually skip Physics 1? If they do, you’ll probably be fine–your teachers will introduce you to the material. If not, you may have a bit of a problem. Is your Physics C course both Mechanics and E&M, or just Mechanics?
There have been a few people who have done it, but I feel like the main reason is that usually people are in precal when they take physics in junior year. Also, I was seeing online that a lot of the material overlaps, so is the only different that C teaches the concept based on calculus rather than algebra?
If you were taking AP calculus this year, and then I’d say yes go for the AP physics BC next year. But as you are not, you are likely toHurt your GPA by biting off more than you Will actually be prepared to do well in. So do AP Physics one next year and then if you want to AP Physics BC your senior year.
@tonystarkofwinterfell Also, the course is both.
@menloparkmom I definitely see that perspective, but I feel like if the main difficulty is that it is calc-based, not the actual content I could handle it. I could be wrong though. Most people that take Physics C are taking Calc BC concurrently, whether as juniors or seniors.
You can definitely do it, just make sure you learn some basic physics over the summer!
I do not recommend. Physics C isn’t hard because of Calculus. It’s hard because it’s an in depth look at Physics. Take Physics 1. And take C senior year is my recommendation.
Current Physics C student
I skipped Physics 1 and am currently taking Physics C as a junior (Im supposed to be studying for my Gauss’s Law test rn but w/e). Physics C is still an introductory physics course, meaning you still go through everything in Physics 1 however looking at it with calculus involved. I went into Physics C knowing absolutely nothing about physics, and am still maintaining an A- right now. I took Calc BC as a sophomore so I understood these concepts very well, but there are also seniors in my class who are currently enrolled in Calculus who are doing perfectly fine. However I must say that this is the hardest course that I have taken conceptually.
What’s your advice about taking AP Physics 1 without taking regular or honors Physics, considering said student will take pre cal in Sophmore year.
AP Physics 1 is quite introductory; no prior physics knowledge needed.
AP Physics teacher in his school seems to think he’ll have gaps in his knowledge if he decided to study physics in college.