AP Physics is generally regarded as one of their more challenging offerings; with four courses available, most students only take one or two, and knowing which to take and the differences between them can be tricky. Additionally, College Board announced changes to the exams and curriculum for the 2024-25 school year. We thought that this would be a good time to give an overview of these courses, and what they require.
We’ve discussed AP tests before, but in this article we’re going to dive into the physics courses more deeply. We’re going to explain what each one is and the differences between them (along with the new updates). We’re also going to look at which you should consider taking, and how valuable they might be for your college plans. Let’s get started!
What’s the Difference Between the AP Physics Courses?
AP Physics comes in four varieties:
- AP Physics 1
- AP Physics 2
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
The naming convention for the courses is often an initial point of confusion. After all, counting 1, 2, C is generally considered bad form. Here, however, the C stands for Calculus; as calculus is required to fully grasp the content in these courses. Here’s a quick rundown of the differences between the courses, then we’ll go into more detail:
| Course | Pre-Requisites | Covers |
| AP Physics 1 | Completed Geometry and currently taking Algebra II | Kinematics, Forces and Translational Dynamics, Work, Energy, and Power, Linear Momentum, Torque and Rotational Dynamics, Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems, Oscillations, and Fluids |
| AP Physics 2 | Completed AP Physics 1 (or equivalent), and currently taking Precalculus | Thermodynamics, Electric Force, Field, and Potential, Electric Circuits, Magnetism and Electromagnetism, Geometric Optics, Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics, and Modern Physics |
| Mechanics | Have taken or be concurrently taking Calculus | Kinematics, Forces and Translational Dynamics, Work, Energy, and Power, Linear Momentum, Torque and Rotational Dynamics, Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems, and Oscillations |
| Electricity and Magnetism | Have taken AP Physics 1 or AP Physics C mechanics, and have taken calculus | Electric Charges, Fields, and Gauss’s Law, Electric Potential, Conductors and Capacitors, Electric Circuits, Magnetic Fields and Electromagnetism, and Electromagnetic Induction |
All of the AP Physics courses also have a lab component, meaning that in addition to theoretical work, you will complete hands-on experiments as part of these courses. While these experiments will not be done as part of the exam, they will help you understand and demonstrate the principles you are learning.
Now we’ll go over each course in a little more detail.
AP Physics 1
This is the equivalent of an introductory physics class in college, and covers all of the basic principles of physics. Significant math is required, but this is true of all physics courses. This is the class taken by the most students who take AP Physics, as it has the fewest prerequisites, and is offered by the most schools.
AP Physics 2
This is meant to be the equivalent of a second semester of introductory college physics. This course builds upon and expands the material from AP Physics 1, and requires a greater degree of mathematical knowledge. Fewer students take this course, as those who want to do multiple years of physics usually go on to the Physics C coursework. This is not to say that Physics 2 is useless, but it is not seen as being as advanced or challenging as either of the Physics C courses.
AP Physics C: Mechanics
In many ways, AP Physics C covers the same material as AP Physics 1. If you look at the topics covered in the chart above, you can see they are nearly identical (AP Physics 1 now covers fluids, which was a change this year, but they are otherwise the same). AP Physics C is calculus based however, and covers these topics at a higher level; the college course is Calculus-Based physics, which is more likely what most students will take in college.
If you have the mathematical preparation, and a choice between Physics 1 and Physics C, we recommend the latter, especially if you are interested in pursuing STEM fields in college. While the material is very similar, Physics C provides a better base for advanced courses, and demonstrates better your interest in these advanced academic topics.
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
This course is more specialized than the others, and focuses more narrowly on a single field within physics. It is also a more advanced course, requiring some knowledge of physics as a prerequisite. This course is generally taken during senior year for that reason, as the final science course students take in high school.
This course is slightly more popular than mechanics, as most students take Physics 1, and then if they take another physics course, move onto E&M. This is because of the similarity in topics of Physics 1 and Mechanics. E&M is a difficult course, but well worth it for students who plan on entering a STEM field. It, and its exam, are regularly regarded as among the hardest APs.
Preparing for AP Physics Exams
Of course, part of the appeal of AP classes is the AP exam, the test which can award college credit to high scoring students, and which serves as a culmination of everything you learned and mastered in the course. The first step for preparing for these xams is doing well in the courses themselves; everything you see on the test will mirror what you have learned in the course.
You need to master the content of these courses both conceptually and practically. This means you not only need to know which formula to use in a given situation, but why it is the one to use, and some level of how it works. This higher level of understanding will let you answer questions more smoothly, and adjust to new variables in them.
Physics builds upon itself in many ways, with some concepts you learned previously appearing again in later questions or sections. Thus, if you don’t understand something early in a course, go back and review it until you do, or you will find the same issues tripping you up repeatedly.
Finally, it’s better to study a little over a longer duration than cramming all at once, especially for a field like physics. While many of the areas build upon and complement each other, others do not. You should review periodically throughout the year to keep your knowledge and understanding fresh. That way, when it comes time to sit for the actual AP test, you will have far less work to do.
When it comes time to prepare for the tests themselves, we recommend using College Board’s study materials. They are a monopoly, but since they’re the ones who make the test, they know best what’s on it, and the kinds of questions you will be asked. When reviewing, spend the most time on the concepts which you understand the least, and build from there.
Final Thoughts
AP Physics offers students a chance to take advanced topics, and begin building the foundation they will need for higher level explorations in STEM. We hope this article has given you a solid introduction to how these courses work, and which students will benefit the most from taking them. Of course, if your school doesn’t offer any AP Physics courses, then you won’t be penalized for giving them a pass, but we do recommend checking them out if they are available.
Picking the right courses to take in high school can be difficult, as students are often unsure which will best support them, or what colleges want to see in their high school coursework. If you want advice on this, or on any other aspect of navigating high school, our Candidacy Building service can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can assist you. We’ve worked with hundreds of students on achieving their educational dreams, and are always happy to hear from you.
