<p>So I took AP Calc AB and AP Chem this year and I’ll probably get a 4 and 3, respectively. I’ve been recommended to take AP Physics B (due to my grade in Chem & Calc) but I want to take Physics C since my dad is an electrical engineer and may be able to help me out. </p>
<p>So here’s the question: how much hard IS AP Physics C than Physics B? I’ll also be taking Calc BC next yr.</p>
<p>I’ll put it this way. Physics C is much much harder than Calc AB and Chemistry, so if the best you could do was a 4 and 3, that doesn’t bode well for you.</p>
<p>Blech… I signed up for physics C E+M and I can’t even tell you what inductance is. I got 800 on SAT 2 physics, but if I want any hope, I’d better get studying…</p>
<p>Would trying to take AP Physics B be too much of a stretch? I know that most people in my school take Physics B without taking a regular H.S. Physics class … although I have no idea how well they do on the AP exam.</p>
<p>Even though your dad is an electrical engineer, E&M has little to do with what most electrical engineers do. I doubt he remembers intimately stuff outside of circuits. According to wikipedia, 1/3 people get a 5, so I think it’s worth a shot to do Physics C E/M.</p>
<p>You definitely need a very firm grasp of integral calculus and vectors to take Physics C. It’s much more rigorous than most high school classes–at least my class is, but our teacher is the coach of the US Physics team, so it may be a skewed impression.</p>
<p>If you don’t get a 5 on Calc, you won’t do well in Physics C. Take B instead, if you do well on that then take C the next year (if you’re still in high school)</p>
<p>Don’t take C unless you’ve taken B or a physics course of similar or equivalent course difficulty.</p>
<p>Meh, I’m doing fine in C, and I’ve never taken B (and only Honors Physics beforehand).</p>
<p>My question is if you’re in Course C, how difficult would it be to take B cold with some supplementary preparation?</p>
<p>If you’re taking Physics C, it wouldn’t be too hard to study for Physics B, which has a few additional topics. Be sure to tell your school to arrange late testing for one of them, because they’re given at the same time.</p>
<p>Physics C is called that because thats the grade you get in it…ha!</p>
<p>to galoisien:</p>
<p>the only topics not covered in physics C that are in physics B are: thermal physics, fluid mechanics, atomic & nuclear physics, waves, and optics. I’m assuming you’ve at least already studied waves and optics in your honors physics class, so that’s just a matter of review. Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and atomic & nuclear physics are all short easy topics that can be self-studied easily. Maybe 1 hour to read each topic? and some time to do some problems. fluid is 6% of the exam, thermal 9%, and atomic & nuclear 10%. Mechanics and E&M (which you should kick ass in since they are not as in-depth in physics B) are 35% and 25% respectively on the exam. I’m sure that even if you didn’t bother learning those extra topics, you could still get a 5 on the exam, since you only need ~65% on the exam for a 5. Good luck! I’m doing the same.</p>