This Advanced Placement Physics Course is equivalent to a full-year introductory college-level course, for scientists and engineers, which introduces the main principles of Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism. The rigor and pace of this course is consistent with that of many major colleges and universities, and will prepare students for the two-part Advanced Placement Examination in May on 1) Mechanics and 2) Electricity and Magnetism.
AP® Physics C builds upon prior knowledge of Physics. Students will investigate topics such as Newton’s Laws of motion, energy, linear and angular momentum, gravitation, oscillatory motion, electric and magnetic fields, Gauss’s Law, circuits and Faraday’s Law. The course uses complex mathematical problem solving techniques, including differential and integral calculus, as well as a variety of textbook and multimedia resources, and hands-on and virtual experiments, in order to develop a deeper understanding of physics. Throughout the course, students will engage in collaborative activities such as class discussions, contribute to class data, attend regular “lab meetings”, and document their experimental findings in a laboratory notebook. AP practice quizzes and unit exams will help prepare students for the AP examination. Due to the rigor and pace of the content, this course is designed to challenge extremely motivated students who have a strong interest in Physics.
Students enrolled in Advanced Placement VHS courses are expected to take the AP® exam, and to report their AP exam scores to VHS. By enrolling in an AP VHS class, the student authorizes their school administration to report AP® exam scores to VHS. Exam results will not affect the student's VHS grade or future enrollment in VHS courses.
To provide opportunity through advanced study of physics for students to engage in and develop seven key science practices:
- use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific problems
- identify and use appropriate mathematics
- engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or guide investigations within the context of the AP course
- plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a particular scientific question
- perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence
- analyze, evaluate, and interpret scientific explanations and theories
- connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts and representations, in and across domains
Students will need to access a number of YouTube videos throughout the course.
This course also requires a lab kit that must be purchased for an additional fee of $225. The kit allows students to perform modified versions of several AP® Physics C labs suggested by the College Board. Students will need to care for kit contents responsibly, follow directions carefully and work independently to successfully complete these labs. The lab kit price of $225 is for courses running on a standard VHS schedule. Lab kits shipped internationally may incur additional fees.
This AP course has a required summer assignment. Students are expected to complete their summer assignment before the course begins and submit their work by the end of Week 1. Students who register on or after September 1st will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3. The summer assignment is intended to review crucial content associated with pre-requisite knowledge for the course, where applicable, as well as to allow students to better understand the rigor associated with the content.
Please note: This course requires use of java to access some course content, which will require regular access to a computer with a Windows/Mac operating system running Safari or Internet explorer. This part of the course cannot be completed on a Chromebook or mobile device.