<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I was wondering is taking AP Physics before AP Calc is a bad idea?</p>
<p>High School Math Courses-
9th: Geometry
10th: Algebra 2/Trig 1
11th: AP Calc AB
12th: AP Calc BC</p>
<p>I'm currently a freshman taking AP Biology because I took Physics 1 my 8th grade year and I want to take AP Physics 1 my sophmore year.</p>
<p>You do not need calculus before AP Physics 1 as calculus is not used.</p>
<p>It’s just I’ve heard so many people say that you use calculus in AP Physics. </p>
<p>You use calculus in AP Physics C. That’s different from AP Physics 1.</p>
<p>Is AP Physics C, AP Physics 2?</p>
<p>By 2, I mean the second year. Not the second semester.</p>
<p>No. There are 4 exams:</p>
<p>AP Physics 1: Algebra-based. Covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, and power; and mechanical waves and sound. It will also introduce electric circuits.</p>
<p>AP Physics 2: Algebra-based. Covers fluid mechanics; thermodynamics; electricity and magnetism; optics; and atomic and nuclear physics.</p>
<p>AP Physics C: Mechanics: Calculus-based: Covers kinematics (including vectors, vector algebra, components of vectors, coordinate systems, displacement, velocity, and acceleration), Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy, power, systems of particles, linear momentum, circular motion and rotation, oscillations and gravitation.</p>
<p>AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism: Calculus-based: Covers electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, electric circuits, magnetic fields, electromagnetism.</p>
<p>Where I atttend high school there is no AP Physics C. Why is that?</p>
<p>Not all high schools offer all APs</p>
<p>Schools are free to offer whatever classes they choose. Some schools offer no AP classes.</p>
<p>You should take Alg 2 to survive Physics 1 AP. I’m in Pre-calc right now and it still takes me a few days to fully understand kinematic and stuff.</p>