Is AP Physics C different or harder than Physics B? Can you take both?

I think my son is taking calculus BC which is more difficult than calculus AB, so I thought Physics C would be harder than B, but in his high school course list it just looks different than B.





If my son just needs physics to opt out of a college science elective, is it better to take B or C? Does each one get you out of one course, but a different course? Do people ever take both Physics B and Physics C?

Is AP Physics C different or harder than Physics B? Can you take both?
Some people take both, but not usually. Physics C is harder since it is calculus-based. But it is different. It's on different subjects that are harder than those in Physics B.


If he is planning to major in an area related to math, the school will make him take their version of physics, because that's just what colleges do. If he's going to major in a non-math based area, then it could get him out of one or maybe even two college science or math electives.


He doesn't need to take B before C.
Reply:Physics C is Calculus based while Physics B is not and the Physics C curriculum covers more than the Physics B curriculum.





Physics B will not enable him to opt out of a full Physics course in college but Physics C may allow him to opt out of a full Physics course in college if he does well enough on the AP Physics C exam. Some colleges won't allow students to opt out of general Physics though even if they do well on the AP exams because they believe a college course in general Physics is much better than an AP class in Physics.





Usually the only AP class that people take both of are Calculus AB and BC because of the different pace of both classes but I suppose he could take both Physics B and C if his school allows it.