Take AP Physics C & 2? Senior Year Help

[Josh0768]

Would it be a good idea to take both AP Physics C and AP Physics 2 in my senior year of high school (next year for me)? Does anyone have any experience with this and if so what was it like? Would I be biting off more than I can chew or should I go for it?

 

[jtbell]

I think people need more information before they can say whether it makes sense at all to do this.

Does your AP Physics C course cover just mechanics, or just E&M, or both?

Have you already taken AP Physics 1?

Have you taken calculus already, or will you take it next year?

What are you thinking of majoring in, in college?

 

[Josh0768]

I think people need more information before they can say whether it makes sense at all to do this.

Does your AP Physics C course cover just mechanics, or just E&M, or both?

Have you already taken AP Physics 1?

Have you taken calculus already, or will you take it next year?

What are you thinking of majoring in, in college?

You’re right, my bad. My schools Physics C does cover both mechanics and E&M, I am currently taking AP Physics 1 and get pretty good grades, I will be taking AP Calc next year (that and any physics classes would be my only APs), and for my major Id settle for anything sciencey but I’ve always thought astrophysics seems pretty cool.

 

[jtbell]

It seems to me like AP Physics 2 is basically the same material as the second half of AP Physics C (E&M). The biggest difference is that 2 uses only algebra and some trig, whereas C uses calculus. C is intended to be equivalent to a first-year calculus-based intro physics course in college. So if you're feeling comfortable with 1 right now, I think you should just take C. The first half will basically re-hash what you're doing in 1, but with some calculus. The second half will be new.

Check with whoever is going to teach C next year, to make sure that it's OK to take it in parallel with Calculus.

 

[gleem]

This is a good discussion of your situation.

https://blog.prepscholar.com/whats-the-difference-between-ap-physics-1-2-and-c

 

[paralleltransport]

Take either AP Physics C or 2. They most likely cover similar material (hence lots of overlap), except AP Physics goes more in depth and uses calculus, with 2 goes in breadth. If you haven't taken and will not enroll in AP Calc, AP Physics C is out of the question (because it requires co or pre-requisite calc.)