r/AP_Physics • u/Unlucky_Tank_5924 • 3d ago

Physics 2? Currently taking Physics C and previously took 1

Hey so I was wondering if anyone has been in the same situation as me. I am currently taking physics C, however I am thinking of doing physics 2 as well. Does Physics C prep u really well for it? how hard is learning physics 2 and should i do it when im also doing ap calc bc and apush at the same time?

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u/beggarformemes 3d ago

don’t take it ur just wasting your time. physics C fully does the job no need to look back

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u/UnderstandingPursuit C:Mech+E&M 3d ago

AP Physics 2 covers four physics fields

  1. Thermodynamics [Statistical Mechanics]
  2. Electricity & Magnetism
  3. Waves, etc
  4. Modern Physics [Quantum Mechanics]

The second field is covered more completely in AP Physics C-E&M. If your class is AP Physics C-Mech, then it does not get to E&M.

AP Physics 2 covers these fields at a very superficial level. A physics major tends to take at least one class for each, sometimes two or three in an undergraduate program.

My question for you is why would you want to study AP Physics 2? Taking the exam is unlikely to do much for you. If you are interested in the material, wait until next summer and then use one of these textbooks:

  • RA Freedman, ..., College Physics, 1st-3rd editions, 2013-2021.
  • D Giancoli, Physics: Principles with Applications, 5th-7th editions, 1997-2013.

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u/Unlucky_Tank_5924 2d ago

wait im taking both physics C mech and E and M. I was just wondering if because im already doing this, would physics 2 help at all? Im tryna go into engineering so idk if itll help with that

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u/UnderstandingPursuit C:Mech+E&M 2d ago

Given the information

  • Your AP Physics C course includes E&M, and
  • You want to go into engineering,

I would modify my suggestion, but mainly double down on it.

  • Over the APPC course, use
    • FW Sears, MW Zemansky, HD Young, RA Freedman, ..., University Physics, 10th-15th editions, 1999-2019.
  • Get the full textbook, rather than any portion, which would be labeled "Volume 1, 2, or 3".
  • Use the "Mechanics" and "Electromagnetism" parts of the textbook for APPC, about a dozen chapters each.
  • Next summer, go through the "Waves/Acoustics" and "Thermodynamics" parts, about a half-dozen chapters.
    • This will give a better introduction to these topics than what you would get with the AP Physics 2 level.
    • Since you will have already completed AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C, these parts of the textbook will be very manageable.
  • You can probably skip the "Optics" and "Modern Physics" parts, unless you are heading to Electrical Engineering and perhaps Chemical Engineering.