I am taking Physics AP. I am not taking AP Calculus. Should I drop Physics and take up Chemistry AP?

Question

I've heard that you need to take Calculus to succeed in AP Physics. I am taking Pre-Calculus Pre-AP right now. Would that work?

Answer 1

if you are great and I mean great at memorizing a LOT of equations then you can make it through physics without calc. but if you have calc and you understand calc. then you can just memorize a few very basic equations and the rest you get using calc. you will be at a great disadvantage on test....you will be slower than the kids that have had calculus.

Answer 2

You have heard right, my friend. You do need Calculus and Physics together, especially if it is AP in high school. In fact, there are plenty of high schools which won't let you take one without the other and colleges require Calculus as a prerequisite to Physics.

If you are taking AP Physics, you must be taking AP Calculus (or have already taken it). I don't know of anybody who succeded in Physics without Calculus. You can try Calculus without Physics too but it will be very hard.

You have to remember that Calculus is the tool for Physics. Newton specifically developed (and proved the fundamental theorem of Calculus) because he hit upon a few problems in Physics which he couldn't solve (such as calculating the escape velocity from Earth). So he set aside Physics and spend 20 years on developing Calculus.

So, how can you do one without the other? They were meant for each other.

The first time I took calculus, which was without physics, I got a C. Then I took them both together and aced them both.

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P.S.
AP Physics is definitely not algebra base. It is specifically Calculus based.

Answer 3

As for dropping, it depends on where you want to go in college. If you want to go math/science/phys route you'd obivously not go into chem as you won't need it in college.

I took Calc AP (got a 5) and then when I took college phys, yes, there were some calc equations, but not to the point where I would have had to KNOW calc. I am now a Math Major and I WISH the phys I took had as much calc as they all said it would 'cause that would have made it easier. Anything is phys can be learned w/o calc, especially at a HS level, AP or not. Oh and in calc, you learn all the equations and what they mean. In phys, you're just *given* the eqs and you memorize and use them.

I think you'll be fine. You're in AP, you're obviously smart, so Calc would be easy for you anyways, therefore, you can survive without it until college.

Answer 4

If its AP Physics C then yeah, drop it yet whilst its AP Physics B dont drop it. have you ever examine the syllabus and talked to the instructor approximately it? while you at the instant are not that stable at math you wouldnt wanna be taking something calculus-based.

Answer 5

Check what your school requires. My bet is, AP physics is probably algebra based, so you should be okay without the calc.

Answer 6

i am a graduate student in chemistry - drop all and pick up a guitar, read some books, go for a hike in the woods


if you really want to pursue physics you ABSOLUTELY need calc. and chemistry - they are all intertwined