AP® Physics C

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  two Advanced Placement® Examinations in May on 1) Mechanics and 2) Electricity and Magnetism. Additional details on this course from College Board can be found here: AP Physics C Mechanics and AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism.

In this course, students will explore the four big ideas:

1. Change: Interactions produce changes in motion

2. Forces characterize interactions between objects or systems

3. Fields predict and describe interactions

4. Conservation laws constrain interactions

AP Physics C is a calculus-based course that builds upon prior knowledge of physics; this requires completion of a comprehensive, lab-based full year physics course as well as completion or concurrent enrollment in AP Calculus. In the Mechanics portion of the course, students will investigate topics such as kinematics, Newton’s Laws of motion, work, energy and power, systems of particles and linear momentum, circular motion and rotation, and oscillations and gravitation. In the Electricity and Magnetism portion of the course, students will explore the topics of electrostatics, conductors, capacitors and dielectrics, electric circuits, magnetic fields and electromagnetism. In both parts of the course, students will use complex mathematical problem solving techniques, including differential and integral calculus.

This course incorporates a variety of textbook and multimedia resources and has a comprehensive lab program that meets College Board requirements. Students will perform hands-on lab work using materials from their lab kit, conduct virtual experiments, share experimental data to analyze large data sets and participate in lab-based discussions with their peers. Students will also engage in collaborative activities, including discussions, that develop scientific literacy and connect physics principles to real-world applications and current events, in order to develop a deeper understanding of physics. 

Students will be expected to enroll in My AP Classroom through their VHS Learning AP course and will be guided to complete review work in My AP Classroom throughout the year. My AP Classroom resources include AP Daily Videos and unit-based Personal Progress Checks, which include AP-style multiple choice and free response questions.  

Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement courses with a passing grade are expected to take the AP Exam. Students register for AP exams through their local school or testing site as “Exam Only” students.  AP exam scores will be reported to VHS Learning through My AP Classroom; exam results will not affect the student's VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.

This AP course has a required summer assignment. The summer assignment is a review of prerequisite content and critical concepts students must be comfortable with before beginning the course. 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 1 will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3.

In this AP-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 10 hours per week on their course work.