Physics THEN Chemistry or Chemistry THEN AP Physics?

[justkeepswimming]

We were all set to do Chemistry this next year, using Chang's General Chemistry textbook and labs from the Illustrated Guide for Chemistry.

 

Then I started browsing Derek Owens' site (looking at his Physical Science for dd#2 for 8th grade) and saw the Physics class & love what I see (so did dd)...

 

DD#1 is a STEM kid - will be in 10th grade next year. She'll be doing the first half of Saxon's Advanced Math textbook next year (Saxon works for her brain) - and also taking Environmental Science (following an AP syllabus someone else set up - hopefully taking the AP test at the end of the year).

 

IF she waits a year for Chemistry, it will make it easier to get access to the CC's lab for some experiments (because she will be 16 years old).

 

But, from what I gather, you can take an AP Physics course without having a "regular" Physics course before hand, so would this be a "waste" of a year, really, for a STEM student who will "have the math" she'll need to take AP Physics (her senior year, I think it would have to be?)?

 

If she does Chemistry this year, she would take either AP Chemistry or AP Biology the next year (11th grade) and then AP Physics (12th grade)? If she does Physics this year, she would take Chemistry in 11th and then AP Chem or AP Bio in 12th grade.

 

I think she will love Chemistry. I think she will love Physics. She would take them both next year if she could (not very successfully... lol... but she would try).

[momofkhm]

This chemistry by Chang?

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Raymond-Chang/dp/0073402680/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364991382&sr=1-3&keywords=chang+chemistry

 

This is the book dd is using this semester at the community college. Its the only reason I ask.

 

The normal cycle is biology, chemistry, physics. But you don't need chemistry to understand physics. The way I understand it, it's in that order so the student gets the math needed to understand the math in the science. You need Algebra to be able to make conversions in chemistry. There are those who say you shouldn't take physics until the student is in calculus. You can take both at the same time, but you need one for the other. I can't remember the reasoning, I read it so long ago.

 

And yes, I know lots of people who just take AP physics, not a lower level one first.

 

If she is already doing AP Environmental Science for 10th, why not let that be next year's science, do chemistry in 11th (at the CC?) and then physics in 12th grade? It would still give 4 years of science. And I believe AP physics requires the calculus anyway. That would give 10th for 1st half of Adv Math, 11th for 2nd half. Then calc for 12th concurrent with physics.

 

Just ideas. Free advise. Take or leave as it suits. :coolgleamA:

[AngieW in Texas]

Just so you know, for a STEM major, the only AP physics that is likely to count for credit is AP Physics C (calculus-based). While some students do take AP Physics B as their first physics course, it is very difficult to take AP Physics C as a first physics course.

 

If your dd wants to fit in both AP Chemistry and AP Physics C, then I would have her go ahead and do AP Environmental Science next year as planned, but also add in a regular physics course (not AP). Then she can take college chemistry at the cc in 11th and calculus-based college physics at the cc in 12th. She won't run into issues with the chemistry ap test change that way and she'll be able to get an introductory level of physics in before taking a calculus-based course. Or she can take AP Chemistry in 11th and AP Physics C in 12th.

[at the beach]

I like Angie's suggestion of doing regular physics next year with AP Environmental Science. Dd 10th grade is doing DO Physics this year. It's an excellent course. Also, I think AP Physics B is changing after next year--I think it's going to be split into two courses. That might make it harder to do without a previous course in physics. Another option you could consider is AP Physics B for 10th if your daughter has the math background, which it sounds like she does.

[snowbeltmom]

 

But, from what I gather, you can take an AP Physics course without having a "regular" Physics course before hand, so would this be a "waste" of a year, really, for a STEM student who will "have the math" she'll need to take AP Physics (her senior year, I think it would have to be?)?

 

One option would be to have your dd take both the Environmental Science and AP Physics B next year. My son took AP Physics B as his first physics course (Physics B is algebra based). I think AP Physics B provides a very good foundation for future course work. My son will be studying the AP Physics C level concepts next year and his foundation from AP Physics B will be very useful.