AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

[Electricity and Magnetism] AP Physics C Curriculum

AP Physics C – Electricity and Magnetism 

 

About the Course 

 

Explore concepts such as electrostatics, conductors, capacitors and dielectrics, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism. You’ll do hands-on laboratory work and in-class activities to investigate phenomena and use calculus to solve problems. 

 
Skills You’ll Learn 

 

• Interpreting and describing visual representations of physical situations. 

• Devising a hypothesis and designing an experiment to test it. 

• Creating graphs and diagrams to represent data and physical situations. 

• Analyzing data shown in a graph. 

• Determining the relationship between physical qualities. 

• Solving physics problems using mathematical relationships. 

• Developing and supporting a scientific claim with evidence. 

 

Equivalency and Prerequisites 

 

College Course Equivalent 

A semester-long, introductory calculus-based college course in physics. 

Recommended Prerequisites 

You should have taken calculus or be taking calculus at the same time as this course. 

 

Course Content 

 

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences. 

 

Unit 1: Electrostatics 

You’ll begin your study of the electric force with an exploration of electric charges. 

Unit 2: Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectrics 

You’ll explore how electric charge can move through an object and the factors that affect the way charge moves. 

Unit 3: Electric Circuits 

You’ll build on your knowledge of electrical components to investigate the nature of electric circuits and explore current, resistance, and power. 

Unit 4: Magnetic Fields 

You’ll begin your exploration of magnetism by learning how magnetic fields are generated, how they behave, and how they relate to electricity. 

Unit 5: Electromagnetism 

You’ll build on what you’ve learned about charges, currents, and electric and magnetic fields to explore electromagnetic forces and their properties. 

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