Taking Ap physics C this coming year

[mapletree7]

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@WiseGuy

For Physics C Mech, that’s pretty much all there is to it. For E&M, it’s a little more complex. While there is still basic differentiation and integration, there’s the addition of integrating over closed loops and surfaces (these are really multivariable calculus topics, but the AP doesn’t expect you to know multi obviously, so it’s more of understanding them qualitatively, rather than quantitatively, so it’s not difficult with a background in AP Calc).

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<p>It’s a bit more than basic integration. You will need to know integration by trigonometric substitution, a topic that is only covered on Calculus BC. Integrals that require trigonmetric (or hyperbolic, makes it easier) substitutions arise when calculating the potential due to a line of charge, for example. </p>

<p>As for the preliminaries from multivariable/vector calculus, you will need to know partial derivatives, though that’s usually taught in physics class.
In all cases where a line/surface integral is involved, you will be able to simplify the integral by recognizing that the integrand is constant over the loop/surface, thus trivializing it. The point being you will need to perform calculations, but they’re very simple in all cases. (However, a full knowledge of vector calculus will always help).</p>

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@Twiggy22

So I got bored and looked at physics C equations … And I think I just scared myself to death there was TONS! Of weird letters nd symbols … And now I feel ■■■■■■■■ for signing up for a class that from the looks of it is physics and Greek

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<p>Trust me, once you’ve taken the course you’ll appreciate how limited the exam is in its coverage of topics. The exam covers maybe 55% of the course, and omits nearly all of the finer details - in other words, you’ll be fine. It was much the same with AP Chemistry, I’ll see whether the same is true of AP Biology next year :)</p>