<p>I am strongly considering taking AP Physics C next year and I have not yet taken claculus. Will I be at any dephacit if I take calc AB rather than BC because I understand math, but it takes me some time which is why I refuse to do calc BC. If I take AB should I even bother taking AP Physics C, would it be too hard, or could I handle it?</p>
<p>The calculus in Physics C is extremely basic. Any calculus class will do, even one that is not AP. It's probably even possible to pick up the calculus without taking a class in it.</p>
<p>BC because you need to solve differential equations.</p>
<p>my teacher said the calculus was very basic. any calc will do.</p>
<p>Any more thoughts?</p>
<p>"BC because you need to solve differential equations."</p>
<p>False. Such problems are set up but do not solve.</p>
<p>At my school, you have to be in BC Calc to take Physics C (you can get around it, but they claim it's a requirement).</p>
<p>You don't need anything special for AP Physics C. I'm taking it right now and the Calculus is extremely basic. In fact, I learned the Calculus in Physics before I actually learned it in my Calculus class.</p>
<p>True, the differential equations only involve very easy separation.</p>
<p>I don't agree with anything they've said. I took AP Physics C, and yeah, the calculus involved was fairly basic, IF you don't really want to understand the subject, and just get by doing the problems. </p>
<p>Look, most of Calculus BC and beyond (multi-variable) was INVENTED for Physics, especially the E&M part of Physics C. When you get into equations dealing with electric and magnetic fields, it helps ENORMOUSLY if you understand the mathematics behind it all. Question is, are you willing to learn the calculus while learning the physics? </p>
<p>When I took Physics C, I didn't understand any of the derivations for the equations like Gauss's Law, because it involved triple integrals, and other stuff that Calc BC doesn't even go into. So yeah, you don't really need to know the calculus behind it. My point is, if you have not taken BC Calc yet, I dont know what the point is of taking Physics C. It's just weird. I mean, generally you take both...and usually the calc before the physics. </p>
<p>I'm a sophomore at the University of Florida now, (majoring in chem), and I just took Physics w/ Calc 2 (which is essentially comparable to AP Physics C), and I took it after I took Calc 3 at UF. I can't tell you how much easier it made my life to understand multi-variable calculus, and then approach physics. Seriously, I could finally understand what the hell they were doing. </p>
<p>Now, to end this long post, this is my final point.
Are you good at math? If you are, then screw taking calc BC, and go for the physics. Because if you are good at math, chances are, you'll understand half of what's going on without getting totally sideswept. </p>
<p>If you suck at math, physics C might not be a lot of fun. It'll just be meaningless math, except with pictures of stuff. </p>
<p>Feel free to disagree, people</p>