<p>Hello, I am an incoming junior and am taking AP Physics B as my science class this year. I was wondering about the difference b/w physics and biology/chemistry. What makes it harder/more challenging? I did well in both bio and chem but i’ve heard physics is a different animal. I know there is a lot more math involved but don’t know much about the subject itself.</p>
<p>Also, I was curious if most of physics is done in labs. In bio my class didn’t do many labs but in chem we did one basically everyday. Is there an extensive use of the bunsen burner in physics labs?</p>
<p>Physics B is mostly math and application, and a lot less theory. On the other hand, it’s very broad and there’s a lot that you have to learn in the subject, even if it’s not very deep. Bio requires no application of the knowledge, but you just have to know everything.</p>
<p>If you did well in Bio and Chemistry you should do fine in Physics. Granted I haven’t taken an AP chem or physics class, I still have taken the regular classes and understand them as a whole. Bio is probably the easiest science AP but if you did well on it that shows you have good memorization and comprehension skills. Chemistry is less math intensive than physics but it is a good entry into the application of math to science. If you found it easy to calculate volumes of gas and apply equations of chemical properties and such then you should be fine in physics.</p>
<p>I’ve taken Physics B and since I’m a math guy, it really came easily to me. For the most part, it describes the macroscopic world, so you should have no problem in doing that type of math. However, when you get to topics such as light and electricity, you really should use your imagination, as you really won’t understand it based on your usual observations.</p>
<p>Yeah, the latter parts can get quite theoretical, but if you’re good at grasping concepts they should be alright.
Much less memorization than bio and chem (so I found it easier), a lot of math, a lot of thinking.</p>
<p>Physics is definitely a whole different subject. You have to understand the concepts of physics, that is the key. The math is only a secondary part. There are people who just get physics and those who don’t. I have to say that I am in-between. I enjoyed chemistry a lot more than physics, but then again I didn’t exactly try as hard in my physics class last year since it was just honors physics when I had a bunch of other classes that were AP. If you can understand the concepts behind it, you will be fine. Of course you will need to be able to do math, but that is not as important. Physics is a whole different subject than the sciences that you are used to (as was chemistry and biology different). I will just say good luck! I am taking AP physics after honors last year and I am not looking forward to it all that much.</p>