SafekipediaAP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is an exciting and challenging science course for students who love to explore 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 amazing forces that shape our universe: electricity and magnetism.
Electricity is the power that lights up our homes, powers our computers, and makes our phones work. Magnetism is the invisible force that keeps compass needles pointing north and helps us build powerful machines like electric motors and generators. In this course, students learn how these two forces are actually connected, thanks to the brilliant discoveries of scientists like Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell.
Students who take AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism use math, especially calculus, to understand these ideas deeply. They study how electric charges interact, how magnetic fields are created, and how changing magnetic fields can create electric currents. This knowledge is the foundation for many modern technologies, from medical imaging to space travel.
The course is designed to feel like a college-level class, preparing students for advanced studies in science and engineering. Some schools even combine this course with another one called Physics C: Mechanics to create a full year of intensive physics learning. Whether a student dreams of becoming an engineer, a doctor, or simply loves solving puzzles about how nature works, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism offers a thrilling journey into the hidden forces that keep our world spinning.
History
Before 1973, the topics of AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism were part of a single exam that also covered mechanics, optics, fluids, and modern physics. In 1973, this changed, and two new exams were created—one for Newtonian mechanics and one for electromagnetism.
Before 2006, students could take either one or both parts of the Physics C test by paying only once. Now, students must pay twice to take both parts. In February 2024, the College Board announced changes for the 2024–25 school year. The multiple choice section will now have 40 questions and the free response section will have 4 questions. The time for multiple choice was increased to 80 minutes and the time for free response to 100 minutes, making these exams as long as those for AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2.
Curriculum
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is like an introduction to college-level electricity and magnetism for students who are 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.