AP Physics C- Electricity & Magnetism

What Is on the AP Physics C - Electricity and Magnetism

The AP Physics C test asks questions where the ideas of Change, Force Interactions, Fields, and Conservation are a common theme as these are considered the "Big Ideas" for the course. All concepts examined relate to these core ideas, and students should be very comfortable with these overarching concepts. The test is made up of 35 multiple-choice questions and 3 free-response questions. Test-takers have a testing time limit of 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the test.

Electrostatics

Test-takers need to show an understanding of what kinds of forces objects that possess an electrical charge push onto other objects, as this unit of the AP Physics C focuses on this. Test-takers are also challenged on their knowledge of the fields that electrically charged objects produce. Additionally, this unit covers the concept of the conservation of energy of point charges and how energy moves within a system. Calculations such as Gauss's Law, are examined in this unit.

Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectric

Students can expect to be asked to describe how an excess charge on both insulated conductors and spheres will move across the rest of the conductor and sphere respectively in this unit of the AP Physics EM. Test-takers need to demonstrate an understanding of how electrical energy is stored and transferred. The properties of both conductors and insulators when inside an electric field are covered in this unit.

Electric Circuits

When sitting for the AP Physics Electricity and Magnetism, test-takers need to understand how the physical characteristics of conductors impact the rate of flow of electrical charge. Students need to be familiar with the various devices that can change stored electrical energy into usable energy. Test-takers need to show how total energy remains constant when in a circuit that has resistors, capacitors, and an energy source.

Magnetic Fields

Test-takers are required to showcase knowledge of how particles that possess a charge interact with a magnetic field. How magnetic fields affect a conducting wire that possesses a current is another concept that test-takers are challenged with. Students need to understand how magnetic fields are created via current-carrying conductors. Additionally, students need to be able to use and apply the mathematical concepts that relate to charges, such as Biot-Savart Law and Ampere's Law.

Electromagnetism

This unit of the AP Physics C test challenges students with the various laws that affect electromagnetism, and how changes within electric and magnetic fields can cause current within conductors and can also create other electric and magnetic fields. Students need to understand how the conservation of energy relates to closed circuits.