Mikayla
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AP Physics C: Mechanics- A Student’s Guide

Hi there! If you landed on this page, chances are your gearing up to take AP Physics C: Mechanics this year. As someone who tackled this extremely challenging course my senior year, I have a lot to share. Now, I don’t say this to boast, but I scored a 5 on six of my seven AP exams throughout high school. AP Physics C: Mechanics was the exception, and I learned some valuable lessons along the way. This exam isn’t like AP LANG, or AP CSA; it required a different approach and mindset that I wish I understood sooner. My goal with this post is to  share what I learned- the good, the bad, and the ‘I wish I did that differently’- so that you can set yourself up for success both in the classroom and  the exam!

 

Why take AP Physics C: Mechanics?

You might be thinking ‘Why on earth am I taking this class?’ Trust me, I’ve been there. However, despite its challenges, I have no regrets in taking this class. It grew my problem-solving and critical thinking skills and gave me real insight into how I best learn in a STEM environment.

Now, scoring well on the AP test can also be helpful in college, as many give course or unit credit, saving you time and money in the future. Even if you don’t get the score you want, taking this course shows colleges you can challenge yourself. Also, your future major in college might require you to take physics courses for your degree, especially if you’re planning on majoring in engineering, computer science, or other sciences. You’ll be ahead of all of your peers if you already have experience with the content and how to study.

 

In – Class Tips:

Pay Attention to Lessons / Lectures

So much time can be saved in the future if you spend class time learning, rather than being on your phone or ignoring your teacher. Your teacher is teaching this course for a reason! They are experts on the subject, so listen!

Be an Active Participant

When the teacher asks a question, if you know an answer, raise your hand and participate. This will do two things: First, it will show your teacher you’re paying attention and committed to learning the content in class. Second, participating will help you learn. Physics full of equations and concepts, but even a ‘cheat sheet’ wouldn’t help, as you wouldn’t know when to apply it. A major part of your teachers role is to help lead you through understanding WHEN and WHERE to apply the concepts you are learning. At the beginning of the year, it might seem straightforward, but I promise, it becomes much more convoluted as the year progresses.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions

There are multiple ways to ask questions: during class, one-on-one, or online. In class, you may learn a concept and immediately have clarifying or curious questions in that moment. If that’s the case, ask them! If the time is not appropriate, jot the question down for later. Other times, you’ll need time to process the material before questions arise; that’s okay too! Sometimes, a quick internet search can help you quickly get the answer you need, or show you where you may still have gaps in your learning that you can clarify with your teacher.

Work With Your Peers

Your classmates are in the same boat as you. Working with others is a great way to help understand what you are learning, and you all can help each other out.

Notetaking Is Your Friend

Even if you think you’ll store it all in your head, TAKE NOTES! They serve as great material to reference back to later on. (Check out my AP/Regular Physics notes here). Then, when you are reviewing a concept, rewrite and revise your notes to deepen your understanding and to help connect it to other topics.

 

Homework / Assignment tips:

Don’t Procrastinate

I know it’s easier said then done, but I promise, assignments will pile up. For example, AP Physics WebAssign homework took me far longer to do than regular physics assignments. The best thing I did for myself was utilizing the class time my teacher gave me to work on homework. Taking advantage on in class work time is also a great idea because if any questions come up, you have your teacher and your classmates to lean on right there.

Determine What Concepts You Know, and Which Ones You Don’t

As much as you might convince yourself that the one concept you don’t really understand won’t be on the test, it will. Do yourself a favor: after each lesson, dedicate some time to the concepts you are struggling with. I know it might be hard and there are so many other things you could be doing than, say, understanding rotational dynamics, but you’re learning, and mastering the concepts that are difficult is crucial.

 

General Studying for AP Physics C: Mechanics :

Practice, Practice, Practice!!

No question about a certain concept in the Free Response Questions (FRQ) section will look the same. Therefore, do as many practice questions as you can. The more you do, the more patterns you will begin to see and you will build connections between concepts.

Study a little every day

Cramming for physics is virtually an impossible task. You need to give your brain time to process and apply the concepts you are learning. The beginning of the year may start with familiar material, so use that time to build a SOLID foundation of understanding . That way, as the year progresses,  you can focus on understand even more complex topics.

 

What I wish I would have done differently :

  • Start Early – I wish I would have started much earlier to build a solid foundation of understanding. That way, I would have been able to make connections between new, challenging concepts more effectively to develop a deeper understanding, rather than contently feeling like I was playing catch-up.
  • I wish I had worked on my test taking- I’ve historically been a slower test taker. I like to read questions fully and double check my work. This strategy, however, does not blend well with the rapid pace of AP Physics. Given the time constraints- each multiple choice question must be done in under 1.28 minutes, and each FRQ  in 15 minutes- I wish I’d practiced timed questions in my studying.  Had I been more comfortable with the pace of this exam, I truly believe I would have done, and felt, much better on this exam. Interestingly, you only need to get about 34% correct of the overall composite score to score a 3, but managing your time efficiently can make a world of difference.

 

Ap Physics C: Mechanics- Resources I would utilize:

 

I hope my advice and own mistakes will empower you tackle this course like no other. AP Physics C: Mechanics is one of the hardest AP’s out there, so props to you for taking on the challenge, and trying to do what you can to succeed! Also, remember that it’s just a class; neither your score on the test nor your grade in the class will define your entire educational journey.

 

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!