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Rio Linda High School

Rio Linda High School

AP Science

Rio Linda High School AP Science Class Description and Expectations

Rio Linda High School AP Science Class Description and Expectations

The table below provides an idea of how much time and work is needed to prepare for an Advanced Placement course. 

These entries are meant to be an approximation of time, outside of class work, and assignments.  
 

Class Name

Course Prerequisite

Time Commitment (out of School)

Brief Course Description

AP Physics 1  

Pass Geometry with “C” or above or teacher recommendation, good reading skills.

 

At least two hours per week after school,  attendance of 2 hour session on Saturdays is desirable

 

Equivalent to a first year college Physics course. It covers Mechanics, Oscillations and waves, Electrostatics and Circuits. It is a “must” course for students planning carrier in engineering, science, and medicine.    

AP Physics 2      

Pass AP Physics 1, pass Geometry with “C” or above or teacher recommendation, good reading skills     

 

At least two hours per week after school,  attendance of 2 hour session on Saturdays is desirable            

 

Equivalent to a first year college Physics course. It covers Mechanics of Fluids, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, and Modern Physics. It is a “must” course for students planning carrier in engineering, and science

AP Physics C      

Pass AP physics 1 and 2, pass Calculus (or have it concurrently).

  At least two hours per week after school,  attendance of 2 hour session on Saturdays is desirable

 

Equivalent of a college calculus based Physics course for engineers and scientists. It covers Mechanics (1st semester), and Electromagnetism (second semester). This course is highly desirable for students planning carrier in engineering, and science.

AP Chemistry    

Pass regular Chemistry with “C” or above, or teacher recommendation, pass Algebra 2 (or take it concurrently).

  At least two hours per week after school,  attendance of 2 hour session on Saturdays is desirable

 

Equivalent of first year college course of General Chemistry for chemists and engineers. It covers main topics of inorganic and introduction to physical Chemistry. This course is a “must” for students planning carrier in science (including bio sciences), engineering, and medicine (including pharmaceutics).

AP Biology

Prerequisite: Completion of Biology and Chemistry with a grade of C or better is recommended

Summer assignment to review basic biology.  Students are also expected to attend 1 hour of tutoring per week.

Equivalent to a first year biology course.  The topics covered move from a micro scale (biochemistry, cells, and genetics) to a macro scale (evolution, ecology, anatomy). Students will be exposed to labs, scientific inquiry, critical thinking, discussion and more.