Multiple choice
42 questions · 1 hour 25 minutes · 50%
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AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam prep
Use calculus, vector reasoning, fields, potentials, circuits, magnetism, and Maxwell-era models to solve advanced electricity and magnetism problems.
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AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam format
Hybrid digital. Formats can change, so verify the linked official page before exam day.
Official College Board exam page ↗Free response
4 questions · 1 hour 35 minutes · 50%
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism unit roadmap
Each unit is a connected part of the course, not an isolated chapter. The focus says what you must know and the weighting says how much exam time it is worth. Use the weighting to order your review, never as permission to skip a prerequisite.
Electrostatics
Coulomb's law, fields, Gauss's law
- Define the vocabulary you need to explain coulomb's law, fields, gauss's law.
- Draw and label the graph, model, diagram, or evidence that best represents electrostatics.
- Solve one direct electrostatics question, then change one assumption and predict how the answer moves.
- Tie this unit to the course priority: Gauss-law symmetry
Conductors, Capacitors, and Dielectrics
Potential, energy, capacitance
- Define the vocabulary you need to explain potential, energy, capacitance.
- Draw and label the graph, model, diagram, or evidence that best represents conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics.
- Solve one direct conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics question, then change one assumption and predict how the answer moves.
- Tie this unit to the course priority: Potential versus field
Electric Circuits
Steady-state and transient RC behavior
- Define the vocabulary you need to explain steady-state and transient rc behavior.
- Draw and label the graph, model, diagram, or evidence that best represents electric circuits.
- Solve one direct electric circuits question, then change one assumption and predict how the answer moves.
- Tie this unit to the course priority: RC transients
Magnetic Fields
Forces, Biot-Savart, Ampère's law
- Define the vocabulary you need to explain forces, biot-savart, ampère's law.
- Draw and label the graph, model, diagram, or evidence that best represents magnetic fields.
- Solve one direct magnetic fields question, then change one assumption and predict how the answer moves.
- Tie this unit to the course priority: Magnetic force directions
Electromagnetism
Induction, Faraday and Lenz laws
- Define the vocabulary you need to explain induction, faraday and lenz laws.
- Draw and label the graph, model, diagram, or evidence that best represents electromagnetism.
- Solve one direct electromagnetism question, then change one assumption and predict how the answer moves.
- Tie this unit to the course priority: Flux and Lenz-law signs
Use a diagnostic to find the first knowledge gap
This short check is not a score prediction. It identifies which part of the course deserves your next focused session.
- Answer without notes.
- Explain your choice before revealing feedback.
- Record every uncertain answer, including lucky guesses.
Question 1 of 3
Scored skills for the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam
Knowing an idea internally is not enough. Practice producing observable evidence under time pressure.
Use calculus with fields
Apply symmetry and conservation
Translate field, potential, and energy representations
Design and analyze experiments
Highest-value review targets
- Gauss-law symmetry
- Potential versus field
- RC transients
- Magnetic force directions
- Flux and Lenz-law signs
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism formulas and reference relationships
A useful sheet records meaning and conditions, not isolated symbols. Rebuild it from a blank page until every line comes back with its conditions attached.
Gauss's law
\[\oint\vec E\cdot d\vec A=\frac{Q_{\mathrm{enc}}}{\varepsilon_0}\]
What it tells you: Relates electric flux through a closed surface to enclosed charge.
Use it when: A Gaussian surface simplifies field calculation only when symmetry makes $E$ constant or perpendicular/parallel appropriately.
Example: Inside a conductor at electrostatic equilibrium, $E=0$.
Capacitor relationships
\[C=\frac QV,\qquad U=\frac12CV^2=\frac{Q^2}{2C}\]
What it tells you: Connects capacitance, charge, voltage, and stored energy.
Use it when: State whether charge, voltage, or connection to a source remains fixed during a change.
Example: For fixed isolated charge, adding dielectric raises $C$ and lowers $V$.
RC transient
\[q(t)=CV\left(1-e^{-t/RC}\right),\qquad \tau=RC\]
What it tells you: Models exponential charging with circuit time constant $RC$.
Use it when: This ideal form assumes a DC source and initially uncharged capacitor.
Example: At one time constant, charge reaches about $63\%$ of its final value.
Faraday–Lenz law
\[\mathcal E=-\frac{d\Phi_B}{dt},\qquad \Phi_B=\int\vec B\cdot d\vec A\]
What it tells you: Connects changing magnetic flux with induced emf and its opposing direction.
Use it when: Choose loop orientation consistently; the minus sign expresses opposition to flux change.
Example: Faster flux change produces larger emf magnitude.
What the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam hands you, and what you have to recall
| Section or part | What you may use | What that means for your work |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | Four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator | Allowed throughout. Symmetry arguments beat calculation on most items. |
| Free response | Four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator | The work is calculus: line integrals, surface integrals, and separable differential equations. |
| Provided for the whole exam | Equations and constants table | Both sections. Maxwell's equations are on it; choosing the right surface or loop is on you. |
Anything the table does not hand you, you have to remember. The AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism study plan puts these rules on a week-by-week schedule.
Your AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism preparation plan
Repeat this loop weekly: retrieve, diagnose, repair, mix, time, and reflect.
01
AP-style practice
Original questions, immediate explanations, and local progress.
Start →02Full course test
A timed mixed-unit test with a complete answer review.
Test →03Study plan and strategy
Eight weeks, plus the timing, calculator, and task-verb decisions.
Plan →04Unit roadmap
Every unit, its weighting, and what mastery looks like.
Review →05Formula review
Key relationships, their conditions, and what the exam provides.
Recall →Questions about the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam
Can I use a graphing calculator on the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam?
Rules change from section to section. Multiple choice: four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator. Free response: four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator. Provided for the whole exam: equations and constants table. Practise each section under its own rule.
How long is the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam?
Multiple choice: 1 hour 25 minutes, 42 questions. Free response: 1 hour 35 minutes, 4 questions. Multiple choice — About 2 minutes each. If a question needs a full integral, it usually has a symmetry shortcut instead. Free response — About 24 minutes each. Later parts build on earlier symbolic results, so keep your notation consistent.
How many units does AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism cover?
Five: Electrostatics, Conductors, Capacitors, and Dielectrics, Electric Circuits, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism. The roadmap on this page publishes no percentage weighting for them, so order your review by course priority instead, starting with gauss-law symmetry.
Is a formula sheet given on the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam?
Yes. The AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam gives you the equations and constants table. Both sections. Maxwell's equations are on it; choosing the right surface or loop is on you.
Use AI responsibly during AP exam preparation
Attempt first. Ask for a hint or critique. Close the explanation and solve again from memory. Never use outside help on a live or prohibited assessment.
Turn the guide into exam-day skill
Start a focused AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism practice set, check each explanation, and use every miss to choose your next review session.
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Verify AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism information on AP Central ↗