General
- Do you know any tutors?
- Are there retests?
- Is there any extra credit?
- Where can I find extra practice?
- What is the password for the protected files?
AP Physics
- Is AP Physics 1 more difficult than Physics 11?
- Why should I consider taking AP Physics over Physics 11/12?
- Will my mark be lower if I take AP Physics?
- Can I take Physics 12 instead of AP Physics C if I find AP Physics 1 too difficult?
- Can I take AP physics 1 in grade 11 (after Science 10)?
- I am completing Science 10 in grade 9. Should I take AP Physics 1 in grade 10 or grade 11?
- Does Eric Hamber offer AP Physics 2?
- Do I need Calculus 12 for AP Physics C?
- I took Physics 11. Can I still take AP Physics C?
- Is AP Physics C one course or two?
- Will universities see that I have taken AP Physics instead of regular physics?
- Do I need to write the AP exams?
- What university credit can I get for taking the AP Physics exams?
- Do the AP exams cost money?
- I am not enrolled in AP Physics but I would like to take the AP exam. Is that possible?
General
1. Do you know any tutors?
I have a list of past AP Physics students who are open to tutoring. Some are based in Vancouver and are can tutor in-person while others are only available online. Rates and availability will be provided by the tutors upon request. Email me for more information.
2. Are there retests?
While there are no retests in the traditional sense, every course does offer a cumulative final exam where you have a chance to demonstrate your improved understanding.
3. Is there any extra credit?
No, but there are other physics and engineering opportunities available if you visit the following page. While you will not get any extra credit for it, the experience gained will likely be more valuable than any small increase in your grade.
4. Where can I find extra practice?
There are many resources available on this website for practice:
• Worksheets
• Provincial exam packages
• AP review packages (even if you not in AP Physics)
• Ranking Tasks
• Textbook Chapter Reviews
If you do all of that and it still is not enough, you may need to look at how you are studying. Doing more problems is not always better. In physics, it is very important to gain a conceptual understanding of the topics rather than memorizing by repetition. Before rushing off to do every textbook problem, slow down and look carefully at a few examples. Make sure you can explain why each law or equation can be applied to solve the problem (more than just “it’s on the formula sheet”).
5. What is the password for the protected files?
The password-protected files are only available to Eric Hamber students and staff. If you attend Eric Hamber, contact me for the password.
AP Physics
1. Is AP Physics 1 more difficult than Physics 11?
AP Physics 1 is a challenging course. You will learn to think critically in order to solve challenging problems in both laboratory and classroom settings. In AP Physics 1, you will learn about twice as much content as you would in Physics 11 (all of Physics 11, most of Physics 12 and a bit more).
You will be held to a high standard. While my expectations for you are high, in my experience, students who come prepared for the challenge succeed and meet if not exceed these expectations. While that may sound intimidating, you and your classmates will all be in the same boat. As your teacher, I will do my best to guide you all safely to your destination.
2. Why should I consider taking AP Physics over Physics 11/12?
In AP Physics, you will learn how to think. You will be equipped with skills which will help you thrive in any field which requires analytical skills. Though AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C, you will develop a strong conceptual understanding in various fields of physics and discover how to use mathematics with increasing sophistication as a tool to help understand the world quantitively.
Students who succeed in the AP Physics 1 may register for AP Physics C in the following year. There are only about a dozen schools in Canada that offer both AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. Furthermore, Eric Hamber is one of only two public schools in Canada to offer both exams. Each year there are only about 150 students who write both of the AP Physics C exams. By taking AP Physics C, you have the opportunity to distinguish yourself from other university applicants.
3. Will my mark be lower if I take AP Physics?
While it is undeniable the AP Physics is more difficult than Physics 11/12, students who are up to the challenge should receive a mark no lower than what they would have received if they were to take regular Physics 11/12. Grade distributions from previous years can be found here.
4. Can I take Physics 12 instead of AP Physics C if I find AP Physics 1 too difficult?
Yes, however you may not find Physics 12 too stimulating as AP Physics 1 covers most of the topics in Physics 12.
5. Can I take AP physics 1 in grade 11 (after Science 10)?
Yes, AP Physics 1 is an introductory physics course intended to be taken as your first course in physics. Unlike other AP courses such as AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1 can be taken immediately after Science 10.
6. I am completing Science 10 in grade 9. Should I take AP Physics 1 in grade 10 or grade 11?
There are a few things to consider when making this decision. First, you should ensure you will have the necessary math pre-requisites and co-requisites. Pre-calculus 11 is a co-requisite for AP Physics 1. That means you should be enrolled in Pre-calculus 11 before or at the same time as you take AP Physics 1. Calculus 12 is a co-requisite for AP Physics C. That means you should be enrolled in Calculus 12 before or at the same time as you take AP Physics C. If you don’t plan on taking Calculus 12 until grade 12, you may wish to wait until grade 11 to take AP Physics 1.
7. Does Eric Hamber offer AP Physics 2?
No, there is no plan to offer AP Physics 2 at Hamber.
8. Do I need Calculus 12 for AP Physics C?
Yes, you should take Calculus 12 either before or at the same time as AP Physics C. While we will spend the few classes going over the basics of calculus that will get you through the first few weeks, you will gain a better understanding of the calculus concepts in your actual calculus course.
9. I took Physics 11. Can I still take AP Physics C?
Students enrolling in AP Physics C must have taken either AP Physics 1 or Physics 12. If you would like to take AP Physics C, you will have to take Physics 12 first (e.g. summer school). Note that AP Physics C is run in semester 1 so you will not be able to take Physics 12 and AP Physics C in the same year.
10. Is AP Physics C one course or two?
AP Physics C is two courses: 1) AP Physics C: Mechanics and 2) AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. At Hamber, the two courses are taken taken together as one. Students who successfully complete AP Physics C will receive 4 credits for AP Physics C: Mechanics and 4 credits for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. Students who successfully complete AP Physics C will receive 4 credits for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism on their BC secondary school transcript.
11. Will universities see that I have taken AP Physics instead of regular physics?
Yes, all AP courses show up on your official BC transcript as their respective AP courses rather than their regular counterparts. When evaluating students for admission, universities will look at your course choices to see if you have made an effort to challenge yourself. It is also very common for academic reference checks to include a question asking if the student has taken the most challenging courses the school has to offer.
12. Do I need to write the AP exams?
No, the AP exams are optional and will have no impact on your course grade. Students who score well on AP exams can receive credit for university-level courses. If available at the time of admission, you may also have universities factor your AP grade into your admission average.
13. What university credit can I get for taking the AP Physics exams?
This will depend on the university and program (UBC, SFU, U of T, Waterloo). AP Physics 1 and 2 are algebra-based courses so you may receive credit for a first-year algebra-based physics course. AP Physics C is calculus-based so you may receive credit for first-year calculus-based physics courses. Some universities will only give credit for AP Physics 1 if it is paired with AP Physics 2 (which is not offered at Hamber). Engineering programs tend not permit students to take AP credit for non-elective subjects.
14. Do the AP exams cost money?
Yes, but the cost of the exams if written at Hamber is significantly less than if you were to write them elsewhere (usually at least $100 cheaper). University courses range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. While the AP exams may seem expensive, if you score well on the exams and choose to take the university credit for them, the cost of the exams will be more than made up.
15. I am not enrolled in AP Physics but I would like to take the AP exam. Is that possible?
AP exam spots at Hamber are reserved for Eric Hamber students who are enrolled in the respective AP courses. If you are not enrolled in an AP course at Hamber but would still like to write the exam (e.g. self-studying), the VSB offers AP exams but space is limited.