AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

What Students Learn

Using calculus, students investigate charge distributions and electromagnetic fields and analyze conductors and capacitors. They examine current and energy in circuits and induction caused by changing magnetic fields, explaining system behavior through derivation and experimental data.

Course Units

The units and learning focuses below follow the official AP course framework.

Unit 8: Electric charges, fields, and Gauss's law

Unit 9: Electric potential

Unit 10: Conductors and capacitors

Unit 11: Electric circuits

Unit 12: Magnetic fields and electromagnetism

Unit 13: Electromagnetic induction

AP Assessment

The AP exam includes 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes, worth 50%, and four free-response questions in 95 minutes, worth 50%. Written tasks assess mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and connections between qualitative explanations and quantitative reasoning. Students apply physical principles and explain derivations and experimental evidence. Electromagnetism questions emphasize fields and potential alongside circuits and induction.

References (2026–2027): College Board course framework; assessment information