AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 1-Month Study Plan

title: "AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 1-Month Study Plan" description: "A 4-week AP Physics C E&M plan with daily topics, daily practice targets, progressive drills from concept to FRQ, and weekly mock exams." date: "2026-01-15" examDate: "May AP Exam" topics:

• Full 5-unit coverage
• Progressive scaffolding
• Weekly mock exams
• FRQ-intensive final week

You have four weeks to build mastery in AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. This plan scaffolds each unit: start with foundational concepts and drills, build to multipart problem solving, and culminate in full FRQs by Week 4.

Daily commitment: 2–3 hours. Weekends are lighter (review + 1 FRQ).

Week 1: Electrostatics & Foundations

| Day | Topics | MCQ count | FRQ | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| | Mon | Coulomb's law, electric field ($E = kq/r^2$), superposition | 20 | None | Algebra & vectors only | | Tue | Continuous distributions: ring, rod, disk ($dE = k \frac{dq}{r^2}$) | 20 | 3 short setups | Know the integral form | | Wed | Electric potential ($V = -\int E \cdot d\ell$), relating $E$ and $V$ | 18 | None | 1D derivative: $E = -dV/dr$ | | Thu | Gauss's law I: statement, choosing Gaussian surface, spherical symmetry | 25 | 1 full (sphere) | This is the unit. Spend time here. | | Fri | Gauss's law II: cylindrical & planar symmetry, inside/outside | 25 | 1 full (cylinder) | Drill symmetry recognition | | Sat | Review Day 1–5 topics, redo 2 hardest FRQs | — | 2 re-worked | Consolidate before Sunday | | Sun | Light review + conceptual Q&A (no new problems) | — | — | Rest & reset |

Week 1 goal: Recognize Gauss's law as the foundation. Every exam includes a Gauss's law FRQ.

Week 2: Conductors, Capacitors, Circuits

| Day | Topics | MCQ count | FRQ | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| | Mon | Conductors in equilibrium, field inside/outside, surface charge | 15 | None | Qualitative properties | | Tue | Capacitance: definition, parallel-plate formula $C = \epsilon_0 A/d$ | 20 | 1 short (energy calc) | Master the three energy forms | | Wed | Series & parallel capacitor combinations, reduction | 25 | 1 short (multi-cap) | Opposite of resistor rules | | Thu | Dielectrics ($\kappa$), modified capacitance $C = \kappa \epsilon_0 A/d$ | 15 | None | Mostly for context | | Fri | Resistivity $R = \rho L/A$, Kirchhoff's junction & loop rules | 20 | 1 multiloop setup | No solution yet, just setup | | Sat | RC Circuits: charging $Q(t) = Q_0(1 - e^{-t/\tau})$, discharging, $\tau = RC$ | 20 | 1 full RC FRQ | This is high-yield | | Sun | Review week, light drill | — | — | |

Week 2 goal: Master RC transient behavior and multiloop Kirchhoff analysis.

Week 3: Magnetism & Induction

| Day | Topics | MCQ count | FRQ | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| | Mon | Lorentz force $\vec F = q\vec v \times \vec B$, right-hand rule, circular motion | 20 | 1 short (radius of path) | Lots of vector cross products | | Tue | Force on current $\vec F = I\vec L \times \vec B$, parallel current attraction | 15 | None | Setup & direction only | | Wed | Biot-Savart law $d\vec B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{4\pi} \frac{d\vec\ell \times \hat r}{r^2}$ setup (not always integration) | 15 | 1 short (setup only) | Conceptual; full integration rarely asked | | Thu | Ampère's law I: $\oint \vec B \cdot d\vec\ell = \mu_0 I_{enc}$, infinite wire, solenoid | 25 | 1 full (solenoid + force) | Major FRQ archetype | | Fri | Ampère's law II: toroid, boundary conditions, $B$ inside vs outside | 20 | 1 full (toroid or thick wire) | Symmetry choice is critical | | Sat | Induction Intro: magnetic flux $\Phi_B = \int \vec B \cdot d\vec A$ | 15 | 1 short (flux calc) | Setting up the integral | | Sun | Review week, light drill, mini mock (25 MCQ) | — | — | |

Week 3 goal: Lock in Ampère's law symmetry and begin Faraday's law setup.

Week 4: Induction, RL Circuits, Full FRQ Practice & Mock Exams

| Day | Topics | MCQ count | FRQ | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| | Mon | Faraday's law: $\varepsilon = -\frac{d\Phi_B}{dt}$, Lenz's law (direction), motional EMF | 25 | 1 full (changing flux) | Negative sign = Lenz. Master it. | | Tue | RL circuits: inductor $\varepsilon = -L \frac{dI}{dt}$, charging $I(t) = I_0(1 - e^{-t/\tau})$ | 20 | 1 RL FRQ (current vs time) | Parallel to RC, but with current not charge | | Wed | Full FRQ practice: 1 Gauss + 1 Ampère + 1 Faraday (90 min total) | — | 3 full | Timed, realistic conditions | | Thu | FRQ review: common scoring rubric items, rework rubric-incomplete FRQs | — | 3 re-worked | Why did you lose points? Cite symmetry, cite Lenz's law, show integral. | | Fri | Full mock exam: 35 MCQ + 3 FRQ in 90 minutes | 35 + 3 FRQ | — | Calculate your score (see last-minute review) | | Sat | Mock review: identify weak units, redo 1 FRQ per weak area | — | 1–3 | Drill specific gaps | | Sun | Final light review + sleep. Skim formula sheet one last time. | — | — | 8 hours sleep before exam. |

Week 4 goal: Drill all FRQ archetypes under time pressure. Build confidence.

Daily workflow (each day)

1. Review (30–45 min): Read the textbook section or watch 1–2 Khan Academy videos. Write 2–3 key equations by hand.
2. Drill MCQ (1 hr): Timed, no calculator except where allowed. Mark and skip tough ones; come back.
3. FRQ (30–45 min): Work fully. Write the integral or derivative expression, not just the answer.
4. Self-check: Compare to topic library → or worked examples. Write down your error (e.g., "forgot Lenz's direction" or "used $k$ instead of $\epsilon_0$").

Common mistakes by unit (watch for these)

| Unit | Trap | Fix | |---|---|---| | Electrostatics | Forget to cite which symmetry was used for Gauss's law | On FRQs, name the surface (spherical, cylindrical, planar) and explain why symmetry applies | | Capacitors | Capacitors in series: treat like resistors | Capacitors in series have same charge, different voltage. Use $\frac{1}{C_{tot}} = \sum \frac{1}{C_i}$ | | Circuits | Capacitor conducts current in steady state | No. In steady state, $dQ/dt = 0$, so $I = 0$ through capacitor (open circuit) | | Magnetism | Right-hand-rule sign errors | Practice 3 Lorentz & 3 Ampère problems daily until it's automatic | | Induction | Forget the negative in $\varepsilon = -\frac{d\Phi_B}{dt}$ | That negative sign is Lenz's law. Always cite Lenz when asked for current direction | | RL circuits | Confuse $\tau = RC$ and $\tau = L/R$ | RC (charge curves), RL (current curves). Write both on your exam reference card. |

Weekly mock exam guidelines

After Week 2, 3, 4, administer a 90-minute mock in exam conditions. Score using the rubric in the last-minute review →.

• ≥70 points = 5
• 58–69 = 4
• 42–57 = 3
• etc.

If you're at 3 or below after Week 3, spend extra time on FRQ setup and Lenz's law direction (these are 30% of the score and often rushed).

Resources

Struggling with a topic? Browse the full topic library →

FRQ patterns & worked examples? See the FRQ practice guide →

Night-of review? Last-minute formula sheet & traps →

Good luck. You've got a month — use every day deliberately. 🎯