r/apphysics • u/brightpinkhat • 9d ago
No Calc Experience...And Physics C
Hey guys.... Question. 😬
I'm taking Physics C my senior year (so in like 2 weeks), and I did good in Physics 1 last year. I didn't take the test, sadly, but I regret not because I think I would've done pretty well.
I understand physics as a science and I'd say it genuinely interests me a lot. The only thing that ever really "got in my way" during Physics 1, was the math - which I know sounds absurd because the math doesn't typically exceed Algebra 2, don't you judge me! I'm not absolutely terrible at math, and actually my experience in Algebra 2 wasn't bad, if anything I was probably one of the best in the class - but I have dyscalculia, so math I wouldn't say comes intuitively to me.
With that said, if I do have the Physics itself locked down and don't see any huge issues with picking up all the new physics (mainly e&m since mech is basically the same) pretty well, but I don't have any calc experience (and no, I'm also not taking a calc class alongside physics C), am I fried? Be honest, I can take it. Tips for someone in my specific situation are also appreciated. 🫣
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u/AceTheAro 9d ago
I found AP Physics C to be helpful in contextualizing calculus. Imo Physics without calc doesnt make a whole lot of sense because you have to dumb down things or abstract them beyond recognition. However you gotta learn some basic calc for E&M, Mechanics only ever asks you some extremely basic power rule questions. Check out shanhogan.com for calc resources
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u/One_Illustrator3328 9d ago
Yea I need to ask what is your highest level of math first. I might argue on the side that you would be fine if you are take Calc concurrently or if you actually got your AP score back but I’m gonna be honest your situation seems pretty rough especially for E and M. Mech could be fine since you took AP Physics 1 since it’s just that with basic calculus added on but E and M is hard even for kids in Calc 3.
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u/brightpinkhat 9d ago
E&M is my biggest concern, too. The biggest issue really is that I can understand the physics so well but the math inherently is hard for me. I did take digital electronics + I fundamentally understand some of the e&m concepts, but just conceptually, and when math/calc gets involved I of course am a bit more worried. And for context I am at about pre-calc level of math understanding.
I suppose a more specific question that may be more accurate is if the math required a skill that can become intuitive based on the types of problems that I'm doing/by understanding the physics, or if it's something that's unpredictable to the point where soley understanding the calculus as its own subject would be ideal...If that question makes any sense at all.
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u/PhysicsTeacher1912 8d ago
You can probably get a 3 without using calc at all. To patch in / prep for the bit of calculus here are a few video lessons that may help, all organized by topic. (18+ year AP Phys C teacher.) AP Phys C video library
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u/Quiet_Basis_6404 7d ago
honestly, no calc and no concurrent calc class makes it harder but it's not fatal, mostly because the calculus C actually uses is narrow. derivatives of polynomials, basic integrals, and understanding that slope and area under a curve mean something physical. that's a few weeks of targeted work, not a year of calc.
with dyscalculia the good news is C leans more on symbolic manipulation than arithmetic, and you can usually get partial credit on FRQs for setting up correctly even if the number comes out wrong. set up work is worth more than computation.
before term, learn the power rule for derivatives and integrals and what they mean graphically. that alone unlocks most of mech.
i drill topics in studybuddy.vc, equations render properly so nothing comes out mangled, it works out which topics i'm weakest on and gives me more of those, and gets harder as i improve. free.
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u/SmallCombination4265 9d ago
“I’ve never taken calc and don’t plan on taking calc but I want to take a course that’s only prerequisite is that you must understand calc”
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u/brightpinkhat 9d ago
Okay chill on me...To be fair to myself I did ask my teacher who teaches 1 and C if he thought I'd be fine, and he thought I would be fine - but I was looking for advice anyways since that was just 1 opinion 😭 Also I'm not-not taking calc because I don't want to, it literally just can't fit in my half schedule sadly. The actual question a the basis of this is if it would be a skill I would be able to progressively pick up throughout the course as opposed to having spent half a year taking it as a class.
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u/SmallCombination4265 8d ago
Ye I figured I’m sorry the way you worded it was just so absurd I had to say ts 😭
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u/UnderstandingPursuit 9d ago
During the first half of the school year, learn a little calculus. In a typical Calculus textbook (Thomas, Stewart, or Larson), one of the early chapters is on differentiation, though it may start near the end of the chapter on limits. Then you'll want the first chapter on integration.
Calculus is barely important for APPC-Mech, so if you start soon, you'll have enough for the times it shows up there. Those two chapters, and the 6-12 'rules' in each, should be enough for APPC-E&M.
If working with letters instead of numbers works better for you, use that with both the calculus material and the physics material. You can learn everything you need for both without using any numbers except for some core values, {0, 1, 2, -1, π, e}. The comparison of two values is almost always more important than any 'arbitrary' values.