AP® Physics C - Mechanics & AP® Physics C - Electricity and Magnetism

Girls-Only & ​All-Gender Course; Prerequisite - Completion of Calculus; Full-year course
COURSE DESCRIPTION
AP® Physics C is a calculus-based, college-level physics course. The course, which is especially designed for students planning to enter college programs such as engineering or physical sciences, covers both AP® Physics C courses: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism. In the first semester, students explore the principles of Newtonian mechanics, work, energy, power, systems of particles, linear momentum, circular motion, rotation, oscillations, and gravitation. The second semester treats the principles of electrostatics, conductors, circuits, fields, and electromagnetism. Students master topics that build understanding of the primary College Board curriculum, focusing on the ability to reason qualitatively and quantitatively, including the use of differential and integral calculus. Students develop a methodical approach to problem solving and an inquiry-based approach to learning. This course is intended to prepare students for the AP® Physics C Mechanics and E&M Exams in May.
WHAT STUDENTS SAY

“After a while, I really started to enjoy it. It’s noticing the way things work beneath your own nose. Seeing things from a different perspective is really great. You can see there are multiple ways of doing things, and instead of just picking one, you can take a little bit from each way. I think it’s definitely helped me and I’m really glad I got to do it.”

“I think my goal of connecting what I study in this course to real-world has been going well so far. I make stop motions for art class and understanding concepts about motion helps me make objects move more realistic-looking! Studying about derivatives for physics helps me understand my calculus class a lot faster. I also build/program simple machines occasionally and I’ll incorporate new things I learn about mechanics into those projects. I also discovered that the deeper I get into science, the more of the universe I realize that I don't understand, but that's good because it's super exciting!” ​

WHAT STUDENTS DO
Learning is an active process at One Schoolhouse. Students design, create and apply. And, they engage with classmates and connect with their teachers through discussions, video conferences, and projects. Specifically, in this class students will:
  • Set goals that drive their learning. Students reflect regularly on their growth, and meet on video chat with their online teacher to review progress towards their goals.
  • Have choice in how they learn new content and practice new skills. Students are given agency to determine the best ways for them to learn.
  • Apply what they are learning to the real world. Learning is meaningful and connects to concepts outside the classroom.
  • Practice constructive engagement in a diverse and changing world. Students interact with classmates from across the country and around the world.
  • Gain academic maturity. Online learning takes greater discipline and independence than a traditional face-to-face classroom. Teachers support students to build this skill.
MEET A TEACHER FOR THIS COURSE
SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES
Examples of signature activities and projects for this course are:
  • Unit 1: explore the concepts of displacement, velocity, and acceleration by moving in several different ways such as slow walk, slow to spring, skip, and tip toe.
  • Unit 2: study the effects of total mass and the difference in mass of a pulley system using an Atwood machine
  • Unit 3: observe impulse and momentum in action using a crash test dummy simulation
  • Course-wide: reflect on what modes of learning work best for you to develop yourself into an efficient, life-long learner.​
COURSE APPROVAL
​This course is approved by the College Board and the NCAA. 

One Schoolhouse is fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through December 1, 2025; we are an approved online publisher for the University of California. ​
 Leslie Chamberlain
Science Teacher
BS University of North Texas 
PhD University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill