<p>So I'm a senior in high school and I'm about to take the AP Physics B exam in a couple weeks. I think I'll be able to get a 5 on the exam as our teacher has given us past AP exams throughout the year and I've done very well on them so far. My question is, however, if I will still have to take Physics I for engineers in college. I'm planning on majoring in either engineering physics or electrical engineering. I'm also taking the AP Calculus BC exam (hope to get a 5 on that as well) and I got a 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam last year. Is the calculus you see in Physics for engineering courses considerably more difficult when considering its application in science? I'd really like to place out of as many large intro classes as I can, and I would be willing to study some Physics C material over the summer. Is it possible to do this, or is just discouraged? I know the Physics B exam doesn't involve calculus, but do you think I'd be able to use my calculus background and conceptual physics knowledge to compensate for this? I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I've looked over the material covered for the Physics I course, and I've already done all of it. I know I'm probably best off contacting my academic adviser about this. If anyone has experience with such a situation, though, I would appreciate if you could share it.</p>
<p>An engineering or physics major will not get subject credit for AP physics B. Engineering and physics majors have to take a calculus-based introductory physics course sequence.</p>
<p>Ask the individual schools on whether they give you credit or not. Some schools give you CREDIT, but do not waive you from taking the class, some waive the requirement, but some do not even give you credit. </p>
<p>I am in Physics C right now. It really has been a self study class since the teacher never lectured. Perhaps you can manage. It’s only if you really grasp the calculus concepts. It’s unfortunate that some kids out there only know methods and equations of calculus but can’t apply it to anything.</p>
<p>As others have mentioned all college physics for engineers and science majors using calculus. Physics B use algebra. C is more likely to get you waived from first year college physics.</p>
<p>To be honest I’m not sure why physics b even exists. My hs only taught B; would have been much happier with c.</p>
<p>I probably should have led with this, but I can’t find an edit button on the original post. I know Physics B doesn’t traditionally grant credit for Physics for Engineering classes, but I was wondering if I could place out of these classes anyways because I already know the calculus (my HS doesn’t offer Physics C either).</p>
<p>No. Knowing calculus based physics and calculus + non-calc physics are not the same thing.</p>
<p>Probably best to think of physics B as a better high school physics course. (High school physics is often recommended background for those who want to take physics in college.)</p>
<p>At an accepted students program at UMass-Amherst last month, at an engineering session the presenter asked students to raise their hands if they were in AP Physics. Many many hands went up. Then he asked them to keep them up if the student was in AP Physics C. Most hands went down. He then stated that “AP Physics B will do you no good in engineering!!!”</p>
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<p>That is a bit extreme. It will definitely help out by exposing the student to things like Newton’s laws and the general problem solving method common to physics and its derived subjects. It certainly won’t introduce the calculus or the full breadth or depth of the course, but it will do more than “no good”.</p>
<p>few schools will give you credit for AP Physics B but knowing the basic concepts will give you a heads start!</p>
<p>If your high school offers honors physics, but the only AP option is Physics B, don’t bother.</p>
<p>B is basically ramped up high school physics, algebra based.</p>
<p>Some HS do “physics first” where 9th graders take physics, 10th take chem, and 11th take bio. If that’s the case and you’re not going to major in chem/physics/engineering, then by all means take AP Physics B. Otherwise, take C.</p>
<p>According to the College Board, AP Bio.Chem, or physics are meant to supplement your HS course, not replace it.</p>