How To Pass Ap Physics

Are Ap Physics 1 And 2 Easy Or Hard

Physics 1

AP Physics 1 is considered quite hard, with class alumnae rating it 7.0/10 for overall difficulty .

The pass rate is the lowest of all AP classes, with 42% graduating with a 3 or higher.

AP Physics 1 is quite widely-taken , and 80% would recommend the class, which is lower than other AP classes.

Physics 2

AP Physics 2 is considered quite hard, with class alumnae rating it 6.5/10 for overall difficulty .

The pass rate is about average vs other AP classes, with 65% graduating with a 3 or higher.

AP Physics 2 is a very small class , and 73% would recommend the class, which is lower than other AP classes.

Whilst class alumnae rated both AP Physics 1 and 2 as quite hard, reviews demonstrate they found the courses enjoyable and manageable, especially with a strong grasp of the underlying concepts and consistent preparation for the exams.

You can see how AP Physics 1 and 2 compare to other classes for difficulty in the below chart:

Weve highlighted both AP Physics 1 and 2, and related physics classes only to see the full version of this chart, check out our article ranking ALL the AP classes from easy to hard.

You can read more about both AP Physics C courses Electricity & Magnetism and Mechanics here.

Focus On Your Conceptual Understanding

One teacher even assigns every conceptual question in his textbook for his class to practice. Once you exhaust your textbook, find more conceptual problems online and solve those. Challenge your classmates by thinking up what if questions. Class discussions over conceptual questions usually lead students to have a deeper understanding of the Physics concepts. Knowing the fine details of a concept is what really gives insight into difficult problems. Thanks for the tip from Ross G. and Bill S. at AC Reynolds High.

Help Students Understand What Equations Actually Mean

Practice Proportional Reasoning: Proportional Reasoning is a means by which students analyze the relationship between variables and the scale at which those variables influence one another. This skill helps students save time on the AP test, but more importantly, it helps them with number sense and what equations actually mean. It also helps them recognize why some graphs might have a certain shape before they are linearized.

Here is how I teach students to approach proportional reasoning:

• Write out the equation that relates the two variables in question
• Replace the variables that are not changing with a 1
• Replace the variables that are changing with the factor they are changing by

Letâs look at an example using Universal Gravitation:

In these examples, you can see how proportional reasoning helps students bypass the tedious calculations associated with Universal Gravitation and instead focus on how each variable affects the Force in question.

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Ap Physics 1 & 2 Frq Tips

The second section of this test is the free response section, and youll have AP Physics 2 free response and Physics 1. This one actually encompasses several different types of questions, so its a little more complicated to explain, but youre definitely going to want to pay attention here. You get another 1 ½ hours to complete this section, which is also worth 50% of your test score. In total, youre going to have 5 questions. Of those, 3 will be short answer, 1 will be experimental design, and 1 will be quantitative/qualitative translation.

42. Write in paragraph form

These questions require you to write out your answer in full paragraph form. You want to make sure that you are filling out your answers in complete sentences and breaking each area down into paragraphs to make it easier to read.

43. Use proper vocabulary words

You want to make sure you have the proper vocabulary words throughout this section. You could lose points if youre not careful and mix up some of your words or if you dont use a word properly. Make sure you can explain how each of these words applies to your equations.

44. Use evidence from physical principles and equations

Make sure youre supporting everything you say with evidence. Evidence from physical principles and equations are going to be especially good for getting your point and information across.

45. Always explain

46. Draw diagrams when possible

47. Answer easier questions first

50. Move through the steps logically in your answer

What Is Ap Physics 1 Course Outline & Requirements

According to College Board:

AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations.

Prerequisites for AP Physics 1 are a completed Geometry course, and concurrent Algebra II course. AP Physics 1 includes basic use of trigonometric functions.

There is a lab requirement for AP Physics 1: 25% of instructional time be spent in hands-on laboratory work.

You will develop skills in:

• Using representations and models to solve scientific problems
• Using mathematics
• Planning and implementing data collection strategies
• Performing data analysis and evaluating evidence
• Working with scientific arguments and theories

The exam consists of one 3-hour exam, with 50% of multiple-choice questions and 50% of free-response questions.

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Buy One Or Two Recommended Physics Textbooks

Check out a number of excellent textbooks listed on thiswebsite for AP® Physics 1 and AP® Physics 2. Make sure that the ones you choose cover the fields of physics you need the most help in. Most of the books will cover all of the topics covered on the AP® Physics exam. When you get them, read them carefully and do the problems listed at the end of each chapter to test your ability and competency. This will give you a good taste of what is to come when you actually take the exam.

How To Study For The Ap Physics Exam

Clocking in at 3 hours, the AP Physics 1 Exam is a difficult test that requires a mastery of physics concepts as well as a strong baseline understanding of algebra and trigonometry. It covers the scientific principles outlined in the AP Physics 1 course units, and expects students to use algebra to solve problems related to Newtonian mechanics, energy, and several other topics. With practice, however, even the most difficult topics become manageable, and with the right preparation, the exam can be easily conquered for a great score!

Clocking in at 3 hours, the AP Physics 1 Exam is a difficult test that requires a mastery of physics concepts as well as a strong baseline understanding of algebra and trigonometry. It covers the scientific principles outlined in the AP Physics 1 course units, and expects students to use algebra to solve problems related to Newtonian mechanics, energy, and several other topics.

With practice, however, even the most difficult topics become manageable, and with the right preparation, the exam can be easily conquered for a great score!

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General Suggestions For The Free Response Questions Of Any Ap Physics Exam

Label All Vectors Properly

Weve repeated this in every section because its a simple mistake that many students make and lose valuable points on the AP® Physics exam. Label all of your diagrams, including variables and units. Always place a small arrow above the variables letter if it is a vector quantity and indicate its direction. See some examples below:

\vec=80\dfrac\quad Northeast

\vec=30\dfrac^}\quad at, 60^

\vec=20\dfrac^}\quad at, 45^

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Ap Physics 1 Course And Ap Physics 2 Course

When it comes to any prerequisites for this course, there are no official ones, but students will need to have completed geometry and Algebra II in order to fully grasp the calculations that are required in AP Physics 1.

When it comes to the AP Physics 1 course, it is considered to be the equivalent of a first-semester college physics course that covers both fluid statics and dynamics, thermodynamics with kinetic theory, PV diagrams and probability, physical and geomatic optics, electrostatics, electrical circuits with capacitors, magnetic fields, electromagnetics, as well as quantum, atomic and nuclear physics.

The coursework for AP Physics 2 covers the same topics but is considered to be the equivalent of a second-semester college physics course. Of course, in order to take AP Physics 2, it is a prerequisite to taking the AP Physics 1 course.

In both courses, students cover and learn each topic within the framework of seven Big Ideas along with seven Science Practices.

Engage Students In Doing

âThere is no amount of Youtube dunk compilations that I can watch that will make me be able to dunk a basketball.â

At the end of the day, students can only get so much out of watching a tutorial video or reading a textbook. Students need to be engaged in the learning process in order to effectively learn. I like to tell my students, âthere is no amount of Youtube dunk compilations that I can watch that will make me be able to dunk a basketball.â The tools provided by Pivot Interactives allow students to do things like generate their own graphs and gather their own data.

You can start with simple data and graphs like in the 1-D Kinematics Billiard Race. This activity helps students practice their graphing skills by looking at y-intercepts and slopes and relating them to one-dimensional motion. I love to use Pivot Interactives activities that are difficult to replicate in my own classroom setting, but provide engaging and fun contexts for physics problems. Activities like the Fire Extinguisher Rocket Cart enable students to investigate novel scenarios that apply physics concepts, like impulse, but are familiar to students.

It is critical that students consistently practice the content-specific skills required to learn physics, but they also need an avenue to practice the key science and engineering skills in unique and engaging ways Pivot Interactives provides that in a way that is easy for teachers and valuable for students.

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Ap Physics C: Mechanics Score Distribution Average Score And Passing Rate

In 2019, the exam had the highest pass rate of any of the AP Physics exams. Over 80% of all students taking the test in 2019 received a score of 3 or higher . Of these, more than a third of students who took the exam received the top score of 5 while only 8.2% received the lowest score of 1.

A full course description that can help to guide your studying and understanding of the knowledge required for the exam can be found on the College Board course website.

Wrapping Things Up: The Ultimate List Of Ap Physics 1 & 2 Tips

The AP® Physics exam is notorious amongst the AP® science exams for its tough content and extensive reading list. Still, every year thousands of students take this course and pass the exam, earning valuable experience with complex physics in addition to college credit. If physics is your passion and you hope to study it at the college level, or even if you just really love physics and are looking for another outlet, this course and exam is for you. Dont get bogged down in the details of the exam but enjoy the problems that you solve and study in class. Think about them in terms of their amazing scientific contributions to todays technological advancements. Get lost in the amazing power of physics and you will undoubtedly find success on the AP® Physics exam.

We hope you have found this AP® Physics review guide useful. If you worked hard throughout the year in your class, have built out a good AP® Physics study guide using the advice and resources provided here, and have practiced extensively , you should feel positive and confident that you have what it takes to earn a strong score. Good luck!

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Warning: Always Look For These 6 Criteria

There is a lot of confusion surrounding studying for the AP Physics test, and standardized tests in general. In our opinion, these are the 6 criteria you should always look for in a study guide for the AP Physics test:

One: The guide must be written by writers who have painstakingly researched the topics and concepts needed to succeed on the AP Physics test. The blind cannot hope to lead the blind.

Two: The guide must be written in easy-to-use everyday language so all test takers can access the information.

Three: The guide must be to-the-point, with no fluff to distract the test taker from the truly important information.

Four: The guide must address the test first, the material second. If the material was the only thing that was important, then every test taker that understood the material should get a perfect score. That doesn’t happen because there’s a difference between simply knowing what’s on the test and the way you perform on the test. You want a study guide to close that gap.

Five: The guide must motivate the test taker to actually study for the exam. If the guide is hard to read, the time spent studying will be slow and painful, and the results will be meager.

Six: The guide must be guaranteed. If you don’t pass with flying colors, you get your money back, no questions asked.

About The Ap Physics C: Mechanics Course

The AP Physics C curriculum is divided into two separate courses and exams. AP Physics C: Mechanics is most often taken first, while AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is usually taken afterwards, since a significant amount of its content builds on the material from the Mechanics course.

When considering which AP Physics track you should pursue, be sure to consider your classes in the context of your intended college path. Physics 1 and 2 are suited for students intending to pursue life sciences, pre-medicine, and some applied sciences, as well as other fields not directly related to science. Physics C, however, is especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in the physical sciences or pursue a career in engineering. The AP Physics C: Mechanics class is equivalent to one semester of an introductory, calculus-based college physics course and will put aspiring engineers or physicists on track toward their goals.

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Guide To The Ap Physics 1 Exam

The AP® Physics 1 Exam is a college-level exam administered every year in May upon the completion of an Advanced Placement Physics 1 course taken at your high school. If you score high enough, your AP Physics score could earn you college credit!

Check out our AP Physics 1 Guide for the essential info you need about the exam:

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Indicate All Relevant Equations Steps And Principles

When answering any FRQ, it is important to show all of the equations, interim answers with the correct values and units. Since the answer to an FRQ is in a paragraph format, make sure that you indicate any core principles or key Laws of Physics that you used in order to solve or to explain the problem. We recommend drawing a box around any key interim equations or answers.