Frequently Asked Questions
| What is AP Physics? |
The study of physics is concerned with understanding "the way the world works." By organizing our knowledge into a few fundamental concepts and equations, we can better understand the universe we live in.
Advanced Placement Physics is the name given to two curricula developed by the College Board, each designed to be taken at the high school level, and representing approximately the content of an introductory physics course in college. Both courses--AP Physics B and AP Physics C--culminate in a comprehensive exam offered in May each year. Some colleges and universities offer credit to students who score sufficiently high on an AP exam. The expressions "AP" and "Advanced Placement Program" are registered trademarks of The College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this site. Copyrighted materials from The College Board are not available via this website. |
| What's the difference between AP Physics B and AP Physics C? |
The AP Physics B course is a broad-based introduction to the study of physics, with an emphasis on conceptual understanding, algebra-based, and trigonometry-based quantitative analysis. It's the course of choice for non-engineering or physics science students.
The AP Physics C course is more suitable for students who plan on studying engineering or the physical sciences. Calculus is used throughout the course, and although the work tends to be more challenging, there is less breadth to the course. |
| Where can I find previously delivered problems from this site? |
A large number of problems, organized by subject area, is available in the AP Physics B and AP Physics C sections of the website. The subscription-based "Problem-A-Day" is a great way of doing a little studying every day. You can sign up here to get a new problem delivered to you, once a day, in your email. |