Anonymous
Post 07/21/2023 15:04     Subject: AP Physics options
Poolesville- not semester each. It’s full year each for 1 and 2. So double period if taken same year. To date, they haven’t offered only 1 alone but it may be offered soon.

In either case they don’t have to take AP Physics at all and can take Honors Physics instead.

C, both Mech and E&M, are also offered. I think these are also one year each but not 100% sure.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2023 14:56     Subject: AP Physics options
Do students at Poolesville have to take the full double period of AP 1 and 2 or can they just opt into AP1. Both AP 1 and 2 in one year is a lot of physics and some students may want to just do AP Physics 1. I assume they cover AP Physics 1 in the first semester and AP Physics 2 in the second semester?
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2023 13:15     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For science it’s recommended that the sequence is physics, chemistry, biology because it builds on concepts from one to another. Physics 1 is just mechanics, while Physics 2 covers a lot more (thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, modern). The issue is it does require Algebra 2, and not many students have room two years of physics. For a student that took Algebra 2 in 8th, it can work taking AP Physics 1 in 9th, AP Physics 2 in 10th, AP Chemistry in 11th, and AP Biology in 12th. If he really loves physics he could also take both AP Physics C in 11th or 12th after taking either of the AP Calculus. This is useful if he goes into a STEM field and he wants to get college credit for the physics class. You don’t get credit for Physics 1 and 2.

For physics it really helps if the student is accelerated in math, no way around it.


There is a school of thought that is popular that suggests Physics first, then Chem and last Bio. That is called a Physics First approach. But there is an equally strong contingent that believes the traditional approach (Bio first, then Chem, then Physics) works better. Mixed results either way so it is not obvious which is optimal. Physics does rely more heavily on abstract reasoning than the other sciences and many kids do better with that when they are a bit older. Physics and math, even conceptual physics, are closely linked


I agree with the Physics first school. Ideally the student would accelerate in math to complete Calculus, then take college level Physics in parallel with multivariable, differential equations and linear algebra. Taking chemistry after thermodynamics, electromagnetism and atomic and molecular physics would be much more meaningful, taking Biology after general chemistry and possibly organic chemistry would also be much more beneficial. Needless to say, there’s a vanishing small number of students that could pull this off, so you’d have to make a compromise, which would depend on student interest, strengths and weaknesses.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2023 12:12     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote: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?


AP Physics 1 covers the first semester of college physics for non Physics/Engineering majors while AP Physics 2 covers the second semester. AP Physics 2 scores are generally better for a couple of reasons. Kids have already developed strong physics familiarity and reasoning skills through AP Physics 1 and kids who are not good at Physics or don’t like it tend to drop Physics after AP 1. So you have a stronger cohort of students for AP 2
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2023 11:57     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote:For science it’s recommended that the sequence is physics, chemistry, biology because it builds on concepts from one to another. Physics 1 is just mechanics, while Physics 2 covers a lot more (thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, modern). The issue is it does require Algebra 2, and not many students have room two years of physics. For a student that took Algebra 2 in 8th, it can work taking AP Physics 1 in 9th, AP Physics 2 in 10th, AP Chemistry in 11th, and AP Biology in 12th. If he really loves physics he could also take both AP Physics C in 11th or 12th after taking either of the AP Calculus. This is useful if he goes into a STEM field and he wants to get college credit for the physics class. You don’t get credit for Physics 1 and 2.

For physics it really helps if the student is accelerated in math, no way around it.


There is a school of thought that is popular that suggests Physics first, then Chem and last Bio. That is called a Physics First approach. But there is an equally strong contingent that believes the traditional approach (Bio first, then Chem, then Physics) works better. Mixed results either way so it is not obvious which is optimal. Physics does rely more heavily on abstract reasoning than the other sciences and many kids do better with that when they are a bit older. Physics and math, even conceptual physics, are closely linked
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2023 11:02     Subject: AP Physics options
For science it’s recommended that the sequence is physics, chemistry, biology because it builds on concepts from one to another. Physics 1 is just mechanics, while Physics 2 covers a lot more (thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, modern). The issue is it does require Algebra 2, and not many students have room two years of physics. For a student that took Algebra 2 in 8th, it can work taking AP Physics 1 in 9th, AP Physics 2 in 10th, AP Chemistry in 11th, and AP Biology in 12th. If he really loves physics he could also take both AP Physics C in 11th or 12th after taking either of the AP Calculus. This is useful if he goes into a STEM field and he wants to get college credit for the physics class. You don’t get credit for Physics 1 and 2.

For physics it really helps if the student is accelerated in math, no way around it.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 21:33     Subject: AP Physics options
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
Post 07/19/2023 21:20     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote:How do people have time for all this AP Physics 1, 2, and C:Mech and C:E&M?


My DD may have time for AP Physics 1 and 2 as a double period (if she wants to do that much physics) ...but certainly no time for Physics C.
I'm thinking kids in the SMCS magnets have time for C given they have 8 classes per day instead of 7.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 21:15     Subject: AP Physics options
How do people have time for all this AP Physics 1, 2, and C:Mech and C:E&M?
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 21:14     Subject: AP Physics options
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1032560.page
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 21:11     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote:Poolesville has AP Physics 1 and 2 as a double period - the students can take both AP tests (1 and 2).

AP Physics C is also offered at Poolesville. They offer E&M and Mechanics, I believe. On the MCPS site, it says a prereq for AP Physics C is the take Physics A/B first. Not sure what exactly this is referring to? Do they mean Phyics 1A/1B or do they mean Physics 1 and Physics 2?


That is pretty cool to offer AP Physics 1 and 2 as a double period. I have not heard of that before. Although it is a lot of physics to digest - too much for many kids I imagine. Some kids especially non-STEM kids are happy to take AP Physics 1 and call it a day.

Not sure what MCPS means by Physics 1A/1B
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 21:08     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote:Poolesville has AP Physics 1 and 2 as a double period - the students can take both AP tests (1 and 2).

AP Physics C is also offered at Poolesville. They offer E&M and Mechanics, I believe. On the MCPS site, it says a prereq for AP Physics C is the take Physics A/B first. Not sure what exactly this is referring to? Do they mean Phyics 1A/1B or do they mean Physics 1 and Physics 2?


Physics A/B is the 2-semester 1-year HS Physics course (either basic or Honors)
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 20:15     Subject: AP Physics options
Poolesville has AP Physics 1 and 2 as a double period - the students can take both AP tests (1 and 2).

AP Physics C is also offered at Poolesville. They offer E&M and Mechanics, I believe. On the MCPS site, it says a prereq for AP Physics C is the take Physics A/B first. Not sure what exactly this is referring to? Do they mean Phyics 1A/1B or do they mean Physics 1 and Physics 2?
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 18:16     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How is AP Physics 1/2 different from Honors Physics?


Much harder and more in-depth.
No comparison really


Honors Physics covers more topics at zero depth
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2023 16:55     Subject: AP Physics options
Anonymous wrote:How is AP Physics 1/2 different from Honors Physics?


Much harder and more in-depth.
No comparison really