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{{primary sources|date=December 2018}} |
{{primary sources|date=December 2018}} |
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{{Advanced Placement sidebar}} |
{{Advanced Placement sidebar}} |
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In the United States, '''Advanced Placement (AP) Physics''' collectively refers to the [[College Board]] [[Advanced Placement Program]] courses and exams covering various areas of [[physics]]. These are intended to be equivalent to university courses that use best practices of physics teaching pedagogy. |
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Each AP Physics course has an |
There are four '''Advanced Placement''' ('''AP''') '''Physics''' courses administered by the [[College Board]] as part of its [[Advanced Placement]] program: the [[algebra]]-based [[AP Physics 1|Physics 1]] and [[AP Physics 2|Physics 2]] and the [[calculus]]-based [[AP Physics C: Mechanics|Physics C: Mechanics]] and [[AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism|Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism]]. All are intended to be at the [[college]] level. Each AP Physics course has an exam for which high-performing students may receive credit toward their college coursework.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement | title = Credit & Placement | work = AP Students | publisher = The [[College Board]] | year = 2017 | access-date = January 30, 2017}}</ref> |
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==History== |
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==AP Physics A (conceptual)(never materialized)== |
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AP courses were first administered by the College Board in the 1955–1956 school year, with AP Physics being one of the ten courses. As college and university physics courses use different levels of mathematics, in 1969, the single AP Physics course was split into [[AP Physics B]] and AP Physics C. AP Physics B served as an algebra-based course for life science and medical students, whereas AP Physics C served as a calculus-based course for physical science and engineering students. AP Physics A, which would have served as a concept-based course with little to no mathematics, was also planned, but it was never materialized, as credit would not offered for a college-level physics course without mathematics.<ref name="Physics2009" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Perlmutter|first=Carolyn|date=October 9, 2014|title=AP Physics curriculum changes provide more time for conceptual understanding|url=https://phsponyexpress.org/2014/10/09/ap-physics-curriculum-changes-provide-more-time-for-conceptual-understanding/|url-status=live|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=J.J. Pearce High School Pony Express|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531222150/https://phsponyexpress.org/2014/10/09/ap-physics-curriculum-changes-provide-more-time-for-conceptual-understanding/ |archive-date=2016-05-31 }}</ref> |
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AP Physics B and AP Physics C both covered five major content areas: mechanics, fluids and thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. After just four years of being administered, in 1973, AP Physics C was further split into [[AP Physics C: Mechanics|mechanics]]- and [[AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism|electricity and magnetism]]-based courses, leaving out the other content areas entirely. In 2014, AP Physics B was discontinued after a study by the [[National Research Council (United States)|National Research Council]] concluded that the course covered very important topics in physics in a shallow depth, with an emphasis on computation over conceptual understanding.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fullerton|first=Dan|title=What is the Difference Between AP Physics B and AP Physics 1 and 2?|url=https://www.educator.com/studyguide/physics/what-is-the-difference-between-ap-physics-b-and-ap-physics-1-and-2/|access-date=May 11, 2024|website=Educator}}</ref> To solve this problem, AP Physics B was subsequently split into [[AP Physics 1]] and [[AP Physics 2]], which are meant to be taken back-to-back in the span of two years instead of just one in order to give students enough time to understand the concepts at an appropriate depth. AP Physics 1 covered mechanics (including rotational mechanics, which were not covered in AP Physics B), some electricity, and waves, whereas AP Physics 2 covered the other content areas. The units covering electricity and waves were later removed from AP Physics 1 in 2021. |
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==AP Physics B (algebra based)(discontinued)== |
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Before 2006, students who took the AP Physics C exam paid only once and were given the choice of taking either one or two parts of the exam. Since then, the exam was split into two, with the mechanics exam administered right before the electricity and magnetism exam. After AP Physics B was discontinued in 2014, the calculator policy for all AP Physics exams was also changed so that calculators are now permitted on both the multiple-choice and free-response sections, as they were previously permitted on only the latter. |
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In February 2024, the College Board made revisions to the four AP Physics courses and exams that will take effect in the 2024–2025 school year. For the courses, the unit covering fluids will be moved from AP Physics 2 to AP Physics 1, and more in-depth content will be added to AP Physics 2 to compensate, although no major content changes will occur in the AP Physics C courses. For all four exams, the same format will be used, with 80 minutes for 40 multiple-choice questions and 100 minutes for 4 free-response questions (mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation), totaling 180 minutes (3 hours).<ref>{{cite web | url = https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics/revisions-2024-25 | title = AP Physics Revisions for 2024-25 | publisher = College Board | date = February 2024 | access-date = May 11, 2024 }}</ref> Previously, the AP Physics C exams were the shortest AP exams with 90 minutes each, which is why they can be taken back-to-back in the same window, but with the revisions now doubling the duration of those exams, taking them in the same window is no longer possible. |
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⚫ | [[AP Physics 1]] and [[AP Physics 2]] were introduced |
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AP Physics 1 covers the same Newtonian mechanics as AP Physics B plus rotational mechanics. The course used to cover introductory electricity (Coulomb's Law and simple DC circuits), as well as mechanical waves and sound. These units were removed during the 2020 - 2021 school year.<ref name=CourseAndExam/> |
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⚫ | [[AP Physics 1]] and [[AP Physics 2]] were introduced in 2015, replacing [[#AP Physics B|AP Physics B]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://advancesinap.collegeboard.org/math-and-science/physics | title = AP Physics 1 and 2, 2014–15 | work = AP: Advances in AP | publisher = The College Board | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141018200254/http://advancesinap.collegeboard.org/math-and-science/physics | archive-date = October 18, 2014 }}</ref> The courses were designed to emphasize critical thinking and reasoning as well as learning through inquiry.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/2262.html | title = AP Physics 1 Course Home Page | work = AP Central | publisher = The College Board | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015040347/http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/2262.html | archive-date = October 15, 2014}}</ref> They are algebra-based and do not require any calculus knowledge.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based – AP Students {{!}} College Board |url=https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics-1-algebra-based |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=apstudents.collegeboard.org}}</ref> |
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AP Physics 2 covers the remaining subjects from AP Physics B: thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, optics, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics.<ref name=CourseAndExam/> |
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==AP Physics |
=== AP Physics 1 === |
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From 1969 to 1972, the AP Physics C course covered all of physics, including fluids, optics, and modern physics as well as mechanics and electricity and magnetism.<ref>Private collection of AP Physics exams 1956-1973. https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0aaklyARPE3ips_Vw5DyoXwwQ#AP_Physics_1956-1973 </ref> The College Board split AP Physics C into two different 90 minute tests in 1973, each equivalent to a semester-length [[calculus]]-based [[college]] course for [[Major (academic)|majors]] in [[Outline of physical science|physical science]] or [[engineering]]:<ref name=PhysCMechoverview/><ref name=PhysCe&mOverview /> Until 2006, both exams were available for a single fee; in 2006, this was changed to the exams having separate fees. |
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AP Physics 1 covers [[Newtonian mechanics]], including:<ref name=":0" /> |
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* [[AP Physics C: Mechanics]] studies [[Classical mechanics|Newtonian mechanics]], with units on kinematics; Newton's laws of motion; work, energy, and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation; and oscillations and gravitation.<ref name=PhysCMechoverview>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-course-overviews/ap-physics-c-mechanics-course-overview.pdf | format = PDF | title = AP® PHYSICS C: MECHANICS | publisher = [[College Board]] | date = December 2016 | access-date = January 30, 2017}}</ref> |
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* [[AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism]] studies [[electricity]] and [[magnetism]], covering electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism.<ref name=PhysCe&mOverview>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-course-overviews/ap-physics-c-mechanics-course-overview.pdf | format = PDF | title = AP® PHYSICS C: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM | publisher = [[College Board]] | date = December 2016 | access-date = January 30, 2017}}</ref> |
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* Unit 1: Kinematics |
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* Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics |
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* Unit 3: Work, Energy and Power |
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* Unit 4: Linear Momentum |
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* Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics |
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* Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems |
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* Unit 7: Oscillations |
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* Unit 8: Fluids |
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Until 2020, the course also covered topics in electricity (including Coulomb's Law and resistive DC circuits), mechanical waves, and sound. These units were removed because they are included in AP Physics 2.<ref name=":0" /> |
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== |
=== AP Physics 2 === |
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*[[Glossary of physics]] |
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AP Physics 2 covers the following topics:<ref>{{Cite web |title=AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based – AP Students {{!}} College Board |url=https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics-2-algebra-based |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=apstudents.collegeboard.org}}</ref> |
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* Unit 9: Thermodynamics |
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* Unit 10: Electric Force, Field, and Potential |
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* Unit 11: Electric Circuits |
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* Unit 12: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction |
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* Unit 13: Geometric Optics |
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* Unit 14: Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics |
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* Unit 15: Modern Physics |
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==AP Physics C== |
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From 1969 to 1972, AP Physics C was a single course with a single exam that covered all standard introductory university physics topics, including mechanics, fluids, electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics.<ref>Private collection of AP Physics exams 1956-1973. https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0aaklyARPE3ips_Vw5DyoXwwQ#AP_Physics_1956-1973</ref> In 1973, the College Board split the course into AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. The exam was also split into two separate 90-minute tests, each equivalent to a semester-length calculus-based college course.<ref name="PhysCMechoverview">{{citation |title=AP® PHYSICS C: MECHANICS |date=December 2016 |url=http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-course-overviews/ap-physics-c-mechanics-course-overview.pdf |access-date=January 30, 2017 |publisher=[[College Board]]}}</ref><ref name="PhysCe&mOverview">{{citation |title=AP® PHYSICS C: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM |date=December 2016 |url=http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-course-overviews/ap-physics-c-mechanics-course-overview.pdf |access-date=January 30, 2017 |publisher=[[College Board]]}}</ref> Until 2006, both exams could be taken for a single fee; since then, a separate fee is charged for each exam. |
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=== AP Physics C: Mechanics === |
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{{Main|AP Physics C: Mechanics}} |
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AP Physics C: Mechanics covers [[Newtonian mechanics]], including:<ref name="PhysCMechoverview" /> |
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* Unit 1: Kinematics |
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* Unit 2: Newton’s Laws of Motion |
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* Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power |
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* Unit 4: Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum |
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* Unit 5: Rotation |
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* Unit 6: Oscillations |
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* Unit 7: Gravitation |
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=== AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism === |
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{{Main|AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism}} |
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AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism covers [[electricity]] and [[magnetism]], including:<ref name="PhysCe&mOverview" /> |
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* Unit 1: Electrostatics |
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* Unit 2: Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectrics |
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* Unit 3: Electric Circuits |
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* Unit 4: Magnetic Fields |
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* Unit 5: Electromagnetism |
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==AP Physics B== |
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{{Main|AP Physics B}} |
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⚫ | Until 1969, only a single AP Physics course existed. In 1969, it was split into AP Physics B and AP Physics C, each having its own exam.<ref>Private AP Physics Exams collection 1956-1973(https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0aaklyARPE3ips_Vw5DyoXwwQ#AP_Physics_1956-1973)</ref> AP Physics B was equivalent to an introductory algebra-based college course in physics.<ref name="CB09">{{cite web |title=AP Physics B |url= http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_physb.html?physicsb| year=2011 |work=AP Central |publisher= [[College Board]]|access-date=July 24, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110702141730/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_physb.html?physicsb| archive-date= 2 July 2011 | url-status= dead}}</ref> The course did not use calculus.<ref name="Physics2009">{{citation |title=Physics Course Description |date=May 2009 |url=http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/physics/ap-cd-physics-0708.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601132803/http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/physics/ap-cd-physics-0708.pdf |url-status=dead |publisher=The [[College Board]] |archive-date=2010-06-01}}</ref> |
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AP Physics B was divided into five different sections:<ref name="Physics2009" /> |
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* [[Newton's laws of motion|Newtonian mechanics]] |
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* [[Fluid mechanics]] and [[Thermodynamics|thermal physics]] |
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* [[Electricity]] and [[magnetism]] |
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* [[Wave]]s and [[optics]] |
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* [[Atomic physics|Atomic]] and [[nuclear physics]] |
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==AP Physics A== |
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Designed concurrently with AP Physics B and AP Physics C, AP Physics A was supposed to be a conceptual version of AP Physics B, employing little to no mathematics. AP Physics A never proceeded past the development stage, as colleges would not offer credit for the course. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 23:31, 21 May 2024
There are four Advanced Placement (AP) Physics courses administered by the College Board as part of its Advanced Placement program: the algebra-based Physics 1 and Physics 2 and the calculus-based Physics C: Mechanics and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. All are intended to be at the college level. Each AP Physics course has an exam for which high-performing students may receive credit toward their college coursework.[1]
History
AP courses were first administered by the College Board in the 1955–1956 school year, with AP Physics being one of the ten courses. As college and university physics courses use different levels of mathematics, in 1969, the single AP Physics course was split into AP Physics B and AP Physics C. AP Physics B served as an algebra-based course for life science and medical students, whereas AP Physics C served as a calculus-based course for physical science and engineering students. AP Physics A, which would have served as a concept-based course with little to no mathematics, was also planned, but it was never materialized, as credit would not offered for a college-level physics course without mathematics.[2][3]
AP Physics B and AP Physics C both covered five major content areas: mechanics, fluids and thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. After just four years of being administered, in 1973, AP Physics C was further split into mechanics- and electricity and magnetism-based courses, leaving out the other content areas entirely. In 2014, AP Physics B was discontinued after a study by the National Research Council concluded that the course covered very important topics in physics in a shallow depth, with an emphasis on computation over conceptual understanding.[4] To solve this problem, AP Physics B was subsequently split into AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, which are meant to be taken back-to-back in the span of two years instead of just one in order to give students enough time to understand the concepts at an appropriate depth. AP Physics 1 covered mechanics (including rotational mechanics, which were not covered in AP Physics B), some electricity, and waves, whereas AP Physics 2 covered the other content areas. The units covering electricity and waves were later removed from AP Physics 1 in 2021.
Before 2006, students who took the AP Physics C exam paid only once and were given the choice of taking either one or two parts of the exam. Since then, the exam was split into two, with the mechanics exam administered right before the electricity and magnetism exam. After AP Physics B was discontinued in 2014, the calculator policy for all AP Physics exams was also changed so that calculators are now permitted on both the multiple-choice and free-response sections, as they were previously permitted on only the latter.
In February 2024, the College Board made revisions to the four AP Physics courses and exams that will take effect in the 2024–2025 school year. For the courses, the unit covering fluids will be moved from AP Physics 2 to AP Physics 1, and more in-depth content will be added to AP Physics 2 to compensate, although no major content changes will occur in the AP Physics C courses. For all four exams, the same format will be used, with 80 minutes for 40 multiple-choice questions and 100 minutes for 4 free-response questions (mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation), totaling 180 minutes (3 hours).[5] Previously, the AP Physics C exams were the shortest AP exams with 90 minutes each, which is why they can be taken back-to-back in the same window, but with the revisions now doubling the duration of those exams, taking them in the same window is no longer possible.
AP Physics 1 and 2
AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 were introduced in 2015, replacing AP Physics B.[6] The courses were designed to emphasize critical thinking and reasoning as well as learning through inquiry.[7] They are algebra-based and do not require any calculus knowledge.[8]
AP Physics 1
AP Physics 1 covers Newtonian mechanics, including:[8]
- Unit 1: Kinematics
- Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics
- Unit 3: Work, Energy and Power
- Unit 4: Linear Momentum
- Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics
- Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems
- Unit 7: Oscillations
- Unit 8: Fluids
Until 2020, the course also covered topics in electricity (including Coulomb's Law and resistive DC circuits), mechanical waves, and sound. These units were removed because they are included in AP Physics 2.[8]
AP Physics 2
AP Physics 2 covers the following topics:[9]
- Unit 9: Thermodynamics
- Unit 10: Electric Force, Field, and Potential
- Unit 11: Electric Circuits
- Unit 12: Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction
- Unit 13: Geometric Optics
- Unit 14: Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics
- Unit 15: Modern Physics
AP Physics C
From 1969 to 1972, AP Physics C was a single course with a single exam that covered all standard introductory university physics topics, including mechanics, fluids, electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics.[10] In 1973, the College Board split the course into AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. The exam was also split into two separate 90-minute tests, each equivalent to a semester-length calculus-based college course.[11][12] Until 2006, both exams could be taken for a single fee; since then, a separate fee is charged for each exam.
The two Physics C courses can be combined to create a year-long Physics C course that prepares students for both exams.
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics C: Mechanics covers Newtonian mechanics, including:[11]
- Unit 1: Kinematics
- Unit 2: Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power
- Unit 4: Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum
- Unit 5: Rotation
- Unit 6: Oscillations
- Unit 7: Gravitation
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism covers electricity and magnetism, including:[12]
- Unit 1: Electrostatics
- Unit 2: Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectrics
- Unit 3: Electric Circuits
- Unit 4: Magnetic Fields
- Unit 5: Electromagnetism
AP Physics B
Until 1969, only a single AP Physics course existed. In 1969, it was split into AP Physics B and AP Physics C, each having its own exam.[13] AP Physics B was equivalent to an introductory algebra-based college course in physics.[14] The course did not use calculus.[2]
AP Physics B was divided into five different sections:[2]
- Newtonian mechanics
- Fluid mechanics and thermal physics
- Electricity and magnetism
- Waves and optics
- Atomic and nuclear physics
In 2014, AP Physics B was replaced by AP Physics 1 and 2.
AP Physics A
Designed concurrently with AP Physics B and AP Physics C, AP Physics A was supposed to be a conceptual version of AP Physics B, employing little to no mathematics. AP Physics A never proceeded past the development stage, as colleges would not offer credit for the course.
References
- ^ "Credit & Placement". AP Students. The College Board. 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
- ^ a b c Physics Course Description (PDF), The College Board, May 2009, archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-01
- ^ Perlmutter, Carolyn (October 9, 2014). "AP Physics curriculum changes provide more time for conceptual understanding". J.J. Pearce High School Pony Express. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ Fullerton, Dan. "What is the Difference Between AP Physics B and AP Physics 1 and 2?". Educator. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "AP Physics Revisions for 2024-25". College Board. February 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "AP Physics 1 and 2, 2014–15". AP: Advances in AP. The College Board. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014.
- ^ "AP Physics 1 Course Home Page". AP Central. The College Board. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014.
- ^ a b c "AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based – AP Students | College Board". apstudents.collegeboard.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
- ^ "AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based – AP Students | College Board". apstudents.collegeboard.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
- ^ Private collection of AP Physics exams 1956-1973. https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0aaklyARPE3ips_Vw5DyoXwwQ#AP_Physics_1956-1973
- ^ a b AP® PHYSICS C: MECHANICS (PDF), College Board, December 2016, retrieved January 30, 2017
- ^ a b AP® PHYSICS C: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (PDF), College Board, December 2016, retrieved January 30, 2017
- ^ Private AP Physics Exams collection 1956-1973(https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0aaklyARPE3ips_Vw5DyoXwwQ#AP_Physics_1956-1973)
- ^ "AP Physics B". AP Central. College Board. 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2011.