AP Physics 1 vs. Honors Physics
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Anonymous
Hi Physics Teachers - Any thoughts on AP Physics I vs Honors for a student who really loves physics theory and concepts, but can easily do, but doesn't love the math? |
Anonymous
According to DC, the credits/course waivers that one gets from AP Physics C usually are a superset of what one can get from AP Physics 1. Meaning, for a student who is capable of taking AP Physics C exam and scoring well, AP Physics 1 exam is not necessaryl. (So DC and friends decided to take only the AP Physics C exams.) Is there any University where this is not the case? |
Anonymous
There are two issues here. One is what to take as the 'basic' Physics class (required for all students). The other is the AP Physics credit. On the latter issue, I'd agree, if you can pass (do well on) the AP Physics C class, then the AP Physics 1 AP test doesn't add much. But these courses are taken sequentially. Most people who want to take AP Physics C will want to take AP Physics 1 (whether you take the exam is a matter of choice). But many kids who never take Physics C will also want to take Physics 1. |
Anonymous
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Is AP Physics C also a double period class...or is each one a single period class?
Thoughts on AP Physics 1 vs AP Physics 1 and 2? What is covered in 2? Is the AP exam for 2 just as hard as for 1 in terms of % scoring 4s and 5s? Only so much space for classes. Thoughts on AP Physics 1 junior yr (AP Calc junior yr as well) followed by AP Physics C senior yr -vs- AP Physics 1 and 2 as a double period junior yr and no C? If you recommed the path with C instead of 2, which C? |
Anonymous
Physics teacher here. Whether or not AP Physics C is offered as a double period or not is school dependent. I believe most schools start with Mechanics in the first semester and then Electricity and Magnetism in the second semester. Both AP Physics C and AP Physics 1 are intended as first time physics courses, so you don't have to take one before the other. My high school recommends taking AP Physics C concurrently with AP Calculus (either AB or BC) because of heavy overlap in the first quarter kinematics unit. AP Physics C is stronger preparation if your DC is interested in Engineering. AP Physics C is also more likely to earn college credit for non-STEM majors. I'm actually not sure if any high school is actually offering AP Physics 2 (if yours is, please share!) My recommendation is to take AP Physics C junior year concurrently with AP Calculus and take a different science like APES in senior year. |
Anonymous
I don't think any school offers Physics C as a first/only physics class, and offers both Mech and E&M, in only one period. That would be the most intense AP course by far. |
Anonymous
| AP Physics 1 is a difficult course. If your child is used to getting As without much work, and is not up for a more challenging class, stick with honors. Very few students got As all 4 quarters, and the As were 89.5 this past year in my kid's class. You have to be able to conceptualize the derivation of formulas and answer very tricky multiple choice questions. My kid's teacher gave AP test questions from Day 1 to help with performance on AP test. It was brutal for the students. |
Anonymous
Getting a 5 on the AP physics 1 test is a big achievement. Only 8% of students get it. 50% end up with a 1 or a 2. It is a much more challenging class than Honors Physics in MCPS. There is very little direct mathematical calculation but you still need to be confident in math because there is a lot of emphasis on algebraic manipulations, graphical relationships, and derivation of equations. Check out some of the AP MCQ and FRQs to get an idea. You should be able to google them. |
Anonymous
I could be wrong but I don’t believe that AP Physics C is intended as a first year physics class. Although it can be done. Many students have taken Honors Physics or AP Physics 1 before AP Physics C. AP Physics C E&M is much more challenging than AP Physics C Mechanics and the Calculus used in E&M is more complex as well |
Anonymous
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To the Physics teacher above:
Poolesville HS offers AP Physics 1&2 as a double period. They also offer AP Physics C Mech as one year course and also E&M as another full year course. The MCPS site says for C, the prereq is Physics A/B but not exactly sure what this means. I assume it means any prior physics like Honors or AP 1. Not sure if Poolesville enforces this prereq bc many students take Calc junior year and it is interested that you suggest one of the C's concurrent with Calc....but DC wouldn't have taken any prior physics by then so not sure if allowed w/o the prereq. Informative slides, not sure what year but info seems current. https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/publicinfo/ap-physics.pdf |
Anonymous
| My rising freshman is enrolled in honors physics 1 next year. After reading this thread, I'm wondering if he should hold off. He will be taking Algebra 2 concurrently. Is it better to take honors physics in Sophomore or Junior year? |
Anonymous
Most schools have freshmen take Bio, sophomores take Chem, and juniors take Physics. |
Anonymous
What happened to Earth science? |
Anonymous
"Course Sequencing and Content Pacing Varies from school to school. Dependent on student demand" Ha! IMO, the hifhly intersested physics a student should take is: * Physics major or similar (Chemistry, Engineering, Math, Applied Math): Honors Physics, AP C Mech, optional AP C E&M Or AP Phys 1, AP Phys 2, AP C Mech + E&M in one period. Both of these give you about 1.5 years of each main branch of physics. * Other science major, that doesn't need advanced physics inncollege: AP Phys 1, AP Phys 2 But it's hard. There's a lot of material to cover. |
Anonymous
MCPS got rid of Earth Science. Instead they split up the content and stuffed it into Bio, Chem and Physics |