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AP Physics C: Mechanics
A first semester of calculus-based college physics: kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum, rotation and oscillations, with derivatives and integrals.
Unit names: AP Physics C: Mechanics course page and Course at a Glance (College Board, revised course effective 2024-25), unit list, read October 16, 2026.
Unit 1 Kinematics
10–15% of multiple choice- Translating Between Motion Graphs
- The Constant-Acceleration Equations
- Free Fall
- Adding Vectors by Components
- Relative Velocity
- Launched at an Angle
- Velocity as a Derivative
- Acceleration as a Derivative
- Velocity and Position from Acceleration
- Deriving the Constant-Acceleration Equations
- Acceleration That Depends on Position
- Position, Velocity and Acceleration Vectors
- Projectiles with Calculus
- Relative Motion and Galilean Frames
- Tangential and Centripetal Acceleration
Covers official topics 1.1–1.5.
8 mixed questions, with the steps after eachUnit 2 Force and Translational Dynamics
20–25% of multiple choice- Systems and Center of Mass
- Center of Mass by Integration
- Free-Body Diagrams
- Newton's Third Law Pairs
- Equilibrium and the First Law
- Newton's Second Law Along an Axis
- Forces at Angles
- Inclined Planes
- Newton's Law of Gravitation
- Gravitational Field Strength
- Gravity of a Spherical Body
- Static Friction
- Kinetic Friction
- Friction on Ramps
- Connected Objects and Tension
- Pulleys and the Atwood Machine
- Constraints in Pulley Systems
- Spring Forces and Hooke's Law
- Motion Under a Time-Varying Force
- Linear Drag and Terminal Velocity
- Quadratic Drag
- Forces in Circular Motion
- Vertical Circles
- Banked Curves With and Without Friction
Covers official topics 2.1–2.10, including resistive forces (2.9) in mech.linear-drag and mech.quadratic-drag.
8 mixed questions, with the steps after eachUnit 3 Work, Energy, and Power
15–25% of multiple choice- Work by a Variable Force
- Work Along a Path
- The Work-Energy Theorem from Newton's Second Law
- Conservative Forces
- Potential Energy from Force
- Force from Potential Energy
- Potential Energy Diagrams
- Conservation of Mechanical Energy
- Energy Bar Charts
- Friction and Thermal Energy
- Gravitational Potential Energy Far from Earth
- Gravitational Potential Energy and Escape Speed
- Instantaneous Power
Covers official topics 3.1–3.5.
8 mixed questions, with the steps after eachUnit 4 Linear Momentum
10–20% of multiple choice- Linear Momentum
- Impulse as an Integral
- Conservation of Momentum
- Sticking Collisions
- Solving Elastic Collisions
- Collisions in Two Dimensions
- Explosions and Recoil
- Newton's Second Law for a System
- Motion of the Center of Mass
- The Rocket Equation
Covers official topics 4.1–4.4. The rocket equation goes beyond the AP course.
8 mixed questions, with the steps after eachUnit 5 Torque and Rotational Dynamics
10–15% of multiple choice- Angular Velocity and Acceleration with Calculus
- Linking Linear and Rotational Motion
- Torque
- Torque as a Cross Product
- Moment of Inertia by Integration
- The Parallel-Axis Theorem
- Rotational Equilibrium
- Static Equilibrium Problems
- Newton's Second Law for Rotation
- Pulleys with Mass
Covers official topics 5.1–5.6.
8 mixed questions, with the steps after eachUnit 6 Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems
10–15% of multiple choice- Rotational Kinetic Energy and Work by Torque
- Work and Power in Rotation
- Angular Momentum and Angular Impulse
- Angular Momentum of a Particle
- Conservation of Angular Momentum
- Collisions with Rotation
- Rolling Without Slipping
- Rolling Dynamics
- From Skidding to Rolling
- Satellites in Orbit
- Orbital Energy
- Kepler's Second Law from Angular Momentum
- Kepler's Third Law from Newton
- Speed on an Elliptical Orbit
- Gyroscopes and Precession
Covers official topics 6.1–6.6. Gyroscopic precession goes beyond the AP course.
8 mixed questions, with the steps after eachUnit 7 Oscillations
10–15% of multiple choice- Simple Harmonic Motion
- The Equation of Simple Harmonic Motion
- Amplitude and Phase from Starting Conditions
- Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
- Springs Hanging Vertically
- Period of a Pendulum
- Simple and Physical Pendulums
- Damped Oscillations
- Driven Oscillations and Resonance
Covers official topics 7.1–7.5. Damped and driven oscillations go beyond the AP course.
8 mixed questions, with the steps after each