<p>Hi all, I am a current senior at a high school where both AP Physics B and C are offered. I took AP physics B as a junior but cannot decide wither or not to take Physics C this year. I want to build onto my course rigor but I don't feel that colleges will be as impressed by the fact that I take Physics C after B (since there are a lot of topic that overlap). So how good is the idea to take C after B? Let me know what your thoughts are, thanks much!</p>
<p>It’s a really good idea. Regardless of taking physics B, colleges will still be impressed that you’re taking an AP class.</p>
<p>They overlap, but Physics C goes more in-depth and is more rigorous. I’m assuming you already know some calculus?</p>
<p>Yes, I am taking Calc BC at the same time, but how much do they overlap? I just want to make sure that I will not spend most of the time learning the same thing as in Physics B.</p>
<p>The AP Physics Course Description tells you how much overlap there is between B and C. Keep in mind even if there is overlap, the material in C is going to be more in-depth and involves trig and calculus. Now there are also things in B that aren’t tested in either Mechanics or E&M like thermodynamics, waves, optics, and atomic physics.</p>
<p>What will be your major at college?</p>
<p>Physics or Engineering - Take Physics C
Others - Physics B is good enough. Take other AP classes instead.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, some of your sights were really helpful and my decision to take Physics C is set! And yes, I am going for EE as my college major. Now that I now it is not redundent to take Physics C after having taken B, does this give me an extra edge on terms of course rigor against those who only takes AP Physics C?</p>
<p>it is very redundant* to be taking AP Physics two years in a row. You would be better off taking a more challenging AP class that would help you with your major or minor. You can still take the AP senior year and study on your own. Good luck at BMCC @ericgao !</p>
<p>No, it’s not redundant, especially not if B was your first year of physics. </p>
<p>Calculus based physics is completely different from algebra based physics, and it will mean a lot to colleges that you can do physics with real math. From what I’ve heard, physics B isn’t equivalent to any real college class (too many random topics thrown in, math too simple, too rushed, lacking in depth) while physics C is a real first year college physics course (my book is a college textbook, not an “AP Edition”, and my teacher steals questions from old MIT tests.)</p>
<p>Oh, wait, your question was already answered. This is awkward. D:</p>
<p>Physics B is probably comparable to a strong honors high school physics course, or a less rigorous college physics course for biology majors.</p>
<p>Physics C is intended to be like a calculus-based physics course that physics and engineering majors take. However, not all colleges accept it (especially the E&M part) as a substitution for their own physics courses (some college E&M courses use multivariable calculus and other college sophomore level math that physics C cannot assume).</p>