AP Physics
AP Physics is equivalent to the first semester of a college or university freshman Physics course. There are two levels: AP Physics 1, which is a pre-calculus-based college physics course, and AP Physics C, which is a calculus-based college physics course for science and engineering majors. AP Physics is one of the most rigorous high school courses available to students, requiring them to master high-level reasoning and problem-solving, and advanced science and mathematics. We us a college textbook and do lab experiments like those done in college.
Advanced Placement Exam
Courses such as this one prepare students to take an AP Exam from the College Board. Passing the exam with a 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) can earn college credit or advanced placement at many colleges throughout the US. Our WHS AP Physics pass rate is about 80%.
College Credit From AP Exams
Students can earn college credit for passing AP Exams, but the amount and type of credit depends on the college. Students should consult their chosen college's web site for more information.
Curriculum Overview
AP Physics focuses mainly on Mechanics, one of the main branches of Physics. Mechanics is devoted to understanding motion - describing and predicting the motion of objects as small as particles and as big as galaxies. This is done using general principles or "big ideas" that describe how objects behave - the laws of motion and gravity, and the laws of conservation of energy and momentum.
