Information about the AP Physics B course

Note:  Content below has been extracted from the Course Description booklet available at apcentral.collegeboard.com.

The college board strongly recommends that Physics B be taught as a second-year physics course"A first-year physics course aimed at developing a thorough understanding of important physical principles and that permits students to explore concepts in the laboratory provides a richer experience in the process of science and better prepares them for the more analytical approaches taken in AP courses."  http:\\apcentral.collegeboard.com

If AP Physics B is a first year course, 450 minutes per week is the recommended time allotment, vs. 250 minutes per week as a second year course.   In other words... if you take this as a first year course, expect to spend more time learning the material!

"AP labs should build on and extend the lab experiences of the first-year course."  In other words, there will not be time to repeat lab experiences from the first year course in AP Physics.  AP Physics labs will be more challenging.

The Physics B course includes topics in both classical and modern physics.  A knowledge of algebra and basic trigonometry is required for the course; the basic ideas of calculus may be introduced in connection with physical concepts, such as acceleration and work.

The AP Physics B Exam


The AP Physics B Exam will be given on May 14, 2007 at 12:00 P.MAll students enrolled in AP Physics B are expected to take the exam.

Calculators are NOT permitted on the multiple choice sections of the Physics B exam.  Tables of commonly used physics equations are provided for the free response section ONLY, NOT for the multiple choice section.  Students are expected to memorize common formulas.

Previous years free response questions are available on www.collegeboard.com.
Made 25 July 2006
by Lori Andersen.
Document made with Nvu