AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a college-level course that delves into the principles and applications of electricity and magnetism, using calculus to provide a rigorous understanding of these concepts. The course covers key topics such as electrostatics, including electric forces and potentials; capacitance and dielectrics; electric circuits with Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s rules; magnetic fields and their interactions with currents; and electromagnetism, including Faraday’s law of induction and electromagnetic waves. The AP exam, which includes multiple-choice and free-response sections, evaluates students' grasp of these topics through both conceptual and calculus-based problem-solving. Scoring well can earn college credit or advanced placement, making it a valuable course for students pursuing STEM fields and seeking a strong foundation in advanced physics concepts.
Your final score, ranging from 1-5, is a weighted combination of your scores in each exam section.
| Final AP Physics C Score | College Grade Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 5 | A+ or A |
| 4 | A- or B+ or B |
| 3 | B- or C+ or C |
| 2 | |
| 1 |
| Syllabus | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Unit 8: Electric Charges, Fields, and Gauss’s Law | 15-25% |
| Unit 9: Electric Potential | 10-20% |
| Unit 10: Conductors and Capacitors | 10-15% |
| Unit 11: Electric Circuits | 15-25% |
| Unit 12: Magnetic Fields and Electromagnetism | 10-20% |
| Unit 13: Electromagnetic Induction | 10-20% |
| Question Type | Score Weightage | Number of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple-Choice Questions | 50% of the total score | 40 questions | 1 Hr 20 Minutes |
| Free-Response Questions | 50% of the total score | 4 Questions | 1 Hr 40 Minutes |
There are two categories of free-response questions: two long-answer questions and four short-answer questions. That is, these questions must be answered in paragraph form. In contrast to the computerized multiple-choice portion of the test, the AP Readers, who are college professors and AP teachers, personally grade this section. Every free-response response is examined and scored separately by them.
Taking AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism offers several significant benefits: