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2024 AP Physics C: E&M Exam Guide

5 min readaugust 18, 2023

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A Q

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Your Guide to the 2024 AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP Physics C: E&M exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day. Unlock Cram Mode for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions. FYI, something cool is coming your way Fall 2023! 👀

Format of the 2024 AP Physics C: E&M Exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

  • Section 1: Multiple Choice (50% of score)

    • 35 questions to complete in 45 minutes

  • Section 2: Free Response (50% of score)

    • 3 questions to complete in 45 minutes

When is the 2024 AP Physics C E&M Exam and How Do I Take It?


How Should I Prepare for the Exam?

  • First, download the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses! 

  • We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.

  • Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via Cram Mode. Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

🤝 Get support from your peers. 

There are thousands of students all over the world who are preparing for their AP exams just like you! Join Rooms 🤝 to chat, ask questions, and meet other students who are also studying for the spring exams. You can even build study groups and review material together! 


AP Physics C E&M 2024 Study Plan

⚡️ Unit 1:

Electricity is everywhere! But what actually is electricity? In this unit, you’ll cover the basics of charge, and introduce the concepts of electrostatic force and electric potential difference. If you've taken AP 1 (or another physics course before) some of these concepts may be familiar, but this is the foundation for the entire course, so make sure to get it down!

📖Read these Fiveable study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos from College Board:

🔋 Unit 2: Conductors, ,

In this unit, you’ll cover how charge can move through an object. This includes covering conductors, which transfer charge, , which store charge, and , which are insulators that become polarized in an electric field.

📖Read these Fiveable study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos from College Board:

🔌 Unit 3:

Unit 3 is all about connecting electrical devices together. We'll look at different types of circuits, how to calculate the flow of electricity through a circuit, and do some analysis of the current, power, and potential difference in various locations in a circuit.

📖Read these Fiveable study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos from College Board:

✍️Practice using the progress check on AP Classroom!

🧲 Unit 4:

In previous units, we looked at how the electric field allows charged objects to interact without contact. In Unit 4, we'll take a look at , how they are created, and how they interact with electric fields. We'll cover how impact motion and interact with other .

📖Read these study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos:

⚛️ Unit 5:

In this final unit, you’re going to take a look at how can be used to create magnets. We'll look at several applications including motors, rail guns, and transformers. You’ll also take a brief look at , four equations that set the basis for all of the E&M concepts we've covered in the course.

📖Read these study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos:

More Resources:

📖Read these study guides:

Key Terms to Review (12)

Capacitors

: Devices used to store electrical energy in an electric field between two conducting plates, separated by an insulating material called a dielectric.

Current-Carrying Wires

: Current-carrying wires are conductive materials through which electric current flows. They are used in various electrical devices and circuits to transmit and distribute electricity.

Dielectrics

: Insulating materials placed between conducting plates of capacitors that increase their capacitance by reducing the strength of the electric field between them.

Electric Circuits

: Electric circuits are paths along which electric currents can flow. They consist of interconnected components such as resistors, capacitors, and batteries that work together to perform specific functions.

Electromagnetism

: Electromagnetism is the branch of physics that deals with the interaction between electrically charged particles and magnetic fields. It encompasses both electricity and magnetism as a unified force.

Electrostatics

: Electrostatics is the study of stationary electric charges and the forces between them. It focuses on understanding how charged objects interact with each other in the absence of motion.

Inductance

: Inductance is the property of an electrical circuit that opposes changes in current flow. It is caused by the presence of an inductor (a coil of wire) in the circuit.

Magnetic Fields

: Magnetic fields are regions in space where magnetic forces can be detected. They are created by moving electric charges and exert a force on other moving charges or magnetic materials.

Maxwell's Equations

: Maxwell's Equations are a set of four fundamental equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields interact with each other and with charges/currents. They form the foundation for understanding electromagnetic phenomena.

Point Charges

: Point charges are electric charges that are concentrated at a single point in space. They have no physical size or shape, and their behavior is described by Coulomb's Law.

Power in a Circuit

: Power in a circuit refers to the rate at which electrical energy is transferred or consumed. It is calculated by multiplying the voltage across a component by the current flowing through it.

Steady State Circuits

: Steady state circuits are electrical circuits where all voltages and currents have reached constant values with time. In these circuits, there are no transients or changes occurring over time.

2024 AP Physics C: E&M Exam Guide

5 min readaugust 18, 2023

A Q

A Q

A Q

A Q

Your Guide to the 2024 AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP Physics C: E&M exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day. Unlock Cram Mode for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions. FYI, something cool is coming your way Fall 2023! 👀

Format of the 2024 AP Physics C: E&M Exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

  • Section 1: Multiple Choice (50% of score)

    • 35 questions to complete in 45 minutes

  • Section 2: Free Response (50% of score)

    • 3 questions to complete in 45 minutes

When is the 2024 AP Physics C E&M Exam and How Do I Take It?


How Should I Prepare for the Exam?

  • First, download the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses! 

  • We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.

  • Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via Cram Mode. Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

🤝 Get support from your peers. 

There are thousands of students all over the world who are preparing for their AP exams just like you! Join Rooms 🤝 to chat, ask questions, and meet other students who are also studying for the spring exams. You can even build study groups and review material together! 


AP Physics C E&M 2024 Study Plan

⚡️ Unit 1:

Electricity is everywhere! But what actually is electricity? In this unit, you’ll cover the basics of charge, and introduce the concepts of electrostatic force and electric potential difference. If you've taken AP 1 (or another physics course before) some of these concepts may be familiar, but this is the foundation for the entire course, so make sure to get it down!

📖Read these Fiveable study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos from College Board:

🔋 Unit 2: Conductors, ,

In this unit, you’ll cover how charge can move through an object. This includes covering conductors, which transfer charge, , which store charge, and , which are insulators that become polarized in an electric field.

📖Read these Fiveable study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos from College Board:

🔌 Unit 3:

Unit 3 is all about connecting electrical devices together. We'll look at different types of circuits, how to calculate the flow of electricity through a circuit, and do some analysis of the current, power, and potential difference in various locations in a circuit.

📖Read these Fiveable study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos from College Board:

✍️Practice using the progress check on AP Classroom!

🧲 Unit 4:

In previous units, we looked at how the electric field allows charged objects to interact without contact. In Unit 4, we'll take a look at , how they are created, and how they interact with electric fields. We'll cover how impact motion and interact with other .

📖Read these study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos:

⚛️ Unit 5:

In this final unit, you’re going to take a look at how can be used to create magnets. We'll look at several applications including motors, rail guns, and transformers. You’ll also take a brief look at , four equations that set the basis for all of the E&M concepts we've covered in the course.

📖Read these study guides:

🎥 Watch these videos:

More Resources:

📖Read these study guides:

Key Terms to Review (12)

Capacitors

: Devices used to store electrical energy in an electric field between two conducting plates, separated by an insulating material called a dielectric.

Current-Carrying Wires

: Current-carrying wires are conductive materials through which electric current flows. They are used in various electrical devices and circuits to transmit and distribute electricity.

Dielectrics

: Insulating materials placed between conducting plates of capacitors that increase their capacitance by reducing the strength of the electric field between them.

Electric Circuits

: Electric circuits are paths along which electric currents can flow. They consist of interconnected components such as resistors, capacitors, and batteries that work together to perform specific functions.

Electromagnetism

: Electromagnetism is the branch of physics that deals with the interaction between electrically charged particles and magnetic fields. It encompasses both electricity and magnetism as a unified force.

Electrostatics

: Electrostatics is the study of stationary electric charges and the forces between them. It focuses on understanding how charged objects interact with each other in the absence of motion.

Inductance

: Inductance is the property of an electrical circuit that opposes changes in current flow. It is caused by the presence of an inductor (a coil of wire) in the circuit.

Magnetic Fields

: Magnetic fields are regions in space where magnetic forces can be detected. They are created by moving electric charges and exert a force on other moving charges or magnetic materials.

Maxwell's Equations

: Maxwell's Equations are a set of four fundamental equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields interact with each other and with charges/currents. They form the foundation for understanding electromagnetic phenomena.

Point Charges

: Point charges are electric charges that are concentrated at a single point in space. They have no physical size or shape, and their behavior is described by Coulomb's Law.

Power in a Circuit

: Power in a circuit refers to the rate at which electrical energy is transferred or consumed. It is calculated by multiplying the voltage across a component by the current flowing through it.

Steady State Circuits

: Steady state circuits are electrical circuits where all voltages and currents have reached constant values with time. In these circuits, there are no transients or changes occurring over time.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.