At Shadow Ridge High School, Jacob Payne teaches a variety of physics classes in room 903. This is his second full year of teaching but he has been at Shadow since October of 2023. Payne’s passion for teaching physics continues to grow as he enjoys watching students succeed and excel.
A common question among students is “Who can actually take AP Physics?” While the course is technically available to all grade levels, there are certain requirements students would have to meet before they would become eligible for the class. For AP Physics I, students would have needed to have passed a form of Algebra II. For AP Physics C, students would need to have already taken or taken AP Calculus at the same time as AP Physics C . Most of Payne’s students are second year Physics students when they take AP Physics C. That means that his students were enrolled in either general physics, Honors Physics, or AP Physics I their junior year.
Although the jump from general to Honors Physics isn’t all that different, the jump to AP Physics I is a very significant one. The class covers a bit more topics with a heavier work load and tougher problems. When students reach AP Physics, calculus is also incorporated so that students have the opportunity to make more connections with equations instead of just given the equations. Students get to have a better understanding of why equations are done the way that they are. To Payne, AP Physics C is the most exciting class because of how much more students get to learn.
A lot of the time students worry about math more than the actual topics.
Payne stated, “Forces are tough to grasp fully, and kinematics can be tough for some for some, math topics like vectors, trigonometry, and algebra are tough for students. This is why I emphasize reviewing math topics before learning any physics topics.”
It’s much more beneficial for students to enter the class feeling comfortable with math topics. The less time they spend worrying about math, the more time they can spend on extending their knowledge with the class. Payne is always happy to help students grow academically. When taking physics classes, students are expected to make a lot of errors but it’s all about how they’re able to recover from them. Students’ success depends on the effort they put into the class.
Junior Angel Nunez stated, “There’s a lot of work but the work isn’t very bad. The teacher is goated and I would definitely recommend it to others.”
Payne recommends AP Physics in a couple of ways. If students have already taken a physics class then AP Physics might just be for them even if they found the first class to be difficult. It’s easier for students to make those connections the second time around. He would also recommend the class to students who have really strong math skills. Students are able to take AP Physics I and then AP Physics C after.
Junior Alex Lopez stated, “Mr. Payne is great. I recommend going to AP Physics C, not honors.”
For students, it’s easy to get discouraged because of the work load but it’s all about the mindset they maintain in the class.
AP Physics is challenging but it’s all about how students manage their time in class. Any students who are interested in Mr. Payne’s class should stop by his room for more information.
