SafekipediaAP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a fun and challenging science course for students who enjoy learning how the world works. It is part of a special group of courses called Advanced Placement, or AP, created by an organization called the College Board. This course focuses on two important forces: electricity and magnetism.
Electricity is the power that lights up our homes and makes our computers and phones work. Magnetism is the invisible force that helps compass needles point north and is used in machines like electric motors and generators. In this course, students learn how electricity and magnetism are connected, thanks to the work of scientists like Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell.
Students use math, especially calculus, to understand these ideas. They study how electric charges interact, how magnetic fields are created, and how changing magnetic fields can create electric currents. This knowledge helps create many modern technologies, from medical tools to space travel.
The course is designed to feel like a college-level class, preparing students for future studies in science and engineering. Some schools combine this course with another one called Physics C: Mechanics for a full year of physics learning. Whether a student wants to be an engineer, a doctor, or just loves solving puzzles about nature, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism offers an exciting look at the forces that keep our world moving.
History
Before 1973, the topics of AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism were part of one big exam. That exam also covered mechanics, optics, fluids, and modern physics. In 1973, this changed. Two new exams were made—one for mechanics and one for electromagnetism.
Before 2006, students could take one or both parts of the Physics C test by paying just once. Now, students must pay twice to take both parts. In February 2024, the College Board said there would be changes for the 2024–25 school year. The multiple choice part will have 40 questions and the free response part will have 4 questions. The time for multiple choice will be 80 minutes and the time for free response will be 100 minutes. This makes these exams as long as those for AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2.
Curriculum
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is an introduction to college-level electricity and magnetism for students studying physics or engineering. It uses calculus to explain ideas and solve problems. This course focuses only on electromagnetism, unlike AP Physics 2, which uses algebra and covers more topics.
Starting in the 2024–25 school year, the units in this course are numbered from 8 to 13, following the units in AP Physics C: Mechanics. The first unit is about electric charges and fields, and the last unit is about electromagnetic induction.
| Topic | Exam Weighting |
|---|---|
| Electric Charges, Fields, and Gauss's Law | 15–25% |
| Electric Potential | 10–20% |
| Conductors and Capacitors | 10–15% |
| Electric Circuits | 15–25% |
| Magnetic Fields and Electromagnetism | 10–20% |
| Electromagnetic Induction | 10–20% |
Exam
The course ends with an optional exam. If students do very well, they might earn credit for a college physics class, depending on the college.
Science Practices Assessed
The exam checks students' science skills in both multiple-choice and free-response sections. The tables show what skills are tested and how much each one counts.
Grade distribution
Here are the score distributions for the Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam from 2015 onward.
| Section | Questions | Time | Exam Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I: Multiple Choice | 40 MCQ | 1 hour 20 minutes | 50% |
| Section II: Free Response | 4 FRQ | 1 hour 40 minutes | 50% |
| Science Practice | Exam Weighting |
|---|---|
| 2. Mathematical Routines | 65–85% |
| 3. Experimental Design and Analysis | 20–35% |
| Science Practice | Exam Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Creating Representations | 20–35% |
| 2. Mathematical Routines | 40–45% |
| 3. Scientific Questioning and Argumentation | 30–35% |
| Score | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 31.4% | 34.6% | 31.9% | 37.4% | 34.6% | 40.4% | 32.6% | 31.5% | 33.6% | 27% |
| 4 | 24.5% | 22.7% | 25.2% | 22.5% | 22.6% | 22.4% | 23.1% | 23.6% | 23.5% | 23% |
| 3 | 12.5% | 13.2% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 13.9% | 11.6% | 13.8% | 14.3% | 13.1% | 17% |
| 2 | 19.7% | 17.9% | 16.9% | 16.3% | 17.8% | 16.2% | 18.0% | 18.1% | 17.9% | 20% |
| 1 | 11.9% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 10.3% | 11.1% | 9.5% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 11.9% | 13% |
| % of Scores 3 or Higher | 68.4% | 70.5% | 71.4% | 73.4% | 71.1% | 74.4% | 69.5% | 69.4% | 70.2% | 67% |
| Mean | 3.44 | 3.51 | 3.49 | 3.60 | 3.52 | 3.68 | 3.45 | 3.44 | 3.49 | 3.31 |
| Standard Deviation | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.39 | 1.39 | 1.40 | 1.38 | 1.42 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.39 |
| Number of Students | 22,789 | 23,347 | 24,249 | 25,074 | 25,342 | 23,655 | 20,471 | 19,978 | 24,179 | - |
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.