1. AP Physics C
Mechanics Review

2. Kinematics – 18% Chapters 2,3,4
Position vs. displacement
Speed vs. Velocity
Acceleration
Kinematic Equations for constant acceleration
Vectors and Vector Addition
Projectile Motion – x,y motion are independent
Uniform Circular Motion

3. Kinematics – Motion in One and Two Dimensions
Key Ideas and Vocabulary
Motion in the x is independent from motion in the y
Displacement, velocity, acceleration
Graphical Analysis of Motion –
x vs. t - Slope is velocity
v vs. t - Slope is acceleration
- Area is displacement
a vs. t – Can be used to find the change in velocity
Centripetal Acceleration is always towards the center of the circle

4. Kinematics – Motion in One and Two Dimensions
Constant Acceleration
Motion Equations
Centripetal Acceleration 

5. Newton’s Laws of Motion – 20% Chapters 5 & 6
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
Inertia
Fnet = ma
Equal and opposite forces
Force
Weight vs. Mass
Free Body Diagrams
Tension, Weight, Normal Force
Friction – Static and Kinetic, Air Resistance
Centripetal Forces and Circular Motion
Drag forces and terminal speed

6. Newton’s Laws of Motion Second Law Problems
Newton’s Second Law –
Draw free body diagram identifying forces on a single object
Break forces into components
Apply 2nd Law and solve x & y components simultaneously
Inclined Plane –
Rotate axes so that acceleration is in the same direction as the x-axis

7. Newton’s Laws of Motion Circular Motion Problems
Draw free body diagram identifying forces on a single object
Break forces into components
Apply 2nd Law and solve x & y components simultaneously
Remember that the acceleration is centripetal and that it is caused by some force

8. Newton’s Laws of Motion Air Resistance – Drag Force
Identify forces and draw free body diagrams
May involve a differential equation
Example:
Separate variables and solve. Should end up with something that decreases exponentially
Terminal Velocity – Drag force and gravity are equal in magnitude – Acceleration is equal to zero

9. Work, Energy, Power – 14% Chapters 7 & 8
Kinetic Energy
Work – by constant force and variable force
Spring Force
Power
Potential Energy – gravitational, elastic
Mechanical Energy
Conservation of Energy
Work Energy Theorem

10. Work, Energy and Power Key Equations
Work by a Constant Force
Power
Kinetic Energy
Work-Energy Theorem

11. Work, Energy and Power Key Equations

12. Potential Energy Curves
Slope of U curve is –F
Total energy will be given, the difference between total energy and potential energy will be kinetic energy

13. Systems & Linear Momentum – 12% Chapters 9 & 10
Center of Mass
Linear Momentum
Conservation of Momentum
Internal vs. External forces
Collisions – Inelastic, Elastic
Impulse

14. Systems & Linear Momentum Key Equations
Center of Mass
Momentum
Conservation of Momentum
Impulse

15. Systems & Linear Momentum Center of Mass, Internal and External forces
Center of Mass can be calculated by summing the individual pieces of a system or by integrating over the solid shape.
If a force is internal to a system the total momentum of the system does not change
Only external forces will cause acceleration or a change in momentum.
Usually we can expand the system so that all forces are internal.

16. Systems & Linear Momentum Collisions
Inelastic collisions – (objects stick together)
Kinetic energy is lost
Momentum is conserved
Elastic Collisions – (objects bounce off)
Kinetic energy is conserved

17. Systems & Linear Momentum Impulse
Impulse is the change in momentum
Momentum will change when a force is applied to an object for a certain amount of time
Area of Force vs Time curve will be the change in momentum

18. Systems & Linear Momentum Conservation of Momentum
Momentum will always be conserved unless an outside force acts on an object.
Newton’s Second Law could read:
Newton’s Third Law is really a statement of conservation of momentum
Set initial momentum equal to final momentum and solve – make sure to solve the x and y components independently

19. Circular Motion and Rotation – 18% Chapters 11 & 12
Uniform Circular Motion (chap 4 & 6)
Angular position, Ang. velocity, Ang. Acceleration
Kinematics for constant ang. Acceleration
Relationship between linear and angular variables
Rotational Kinetic Energy
Rotational Inertia – Parallel Axis Theorem
Torque
Newton’s Second Law in Angular form

20. Circular Motion and Rotation – 18% Chapters 11 & 12
Rolling bodies
Angular momentum
Conservation of Angular momentum

21. Circular Motion and Rotation Basic Rotational Equations
Circular Love and Angular Kinematics
Angular Velocity & Acceleration

22. Circular Motion and Rotation Linear to Rotation
As a general rule of thumb, to convert between a linear and rotational quantity, multiply by the radius r

23. Circular Motion and Rotation Rolling and Kinetic Energy
A rolling object has both translational and rotational kinetic energy.

24. Circular Motion and Rotation Moment of Inertia
How something rotates will depend on the mass and the distribution of mass
Parallel Axis Theorem – allows us to calculate I for an object away from its center of mass
I for the Center of Mass
m – total mass
H – distance from com to axis of rotation

25. Circular Motion and Rotation Moment of Inertia
For objects made of multiple pieces, find the moment of inertia for each piece individually and then sum the moments to find the total moment of inertia
Axis of rotation m2 m1 L

26. Circular Motion and Rotation Torque
Rotational analog for force – depends on the force applied and the distance from the axis of rotation
If more than one torque is acting on an object then you simply sum the torques to find the net torqu

27. Circular Motion and Rotation Angular Momentum
Angular momentum will always be conserved in the same way that linear momentum is conserved
As you spin, if you decrease the radius (or I) then you should increase speed to keep angular momentum constant

28. Circular Motion and Rotation Newton’s 2nd Law for Rotation

29. Oscillations and Gravity – 18% Chapters 14 & 16
Frequency, Period, Angular Frequency
Simple Harmonic Motion
Period of a Spring
Pendulums
Period
Simple
Physical

30. Oscillations All harmonic motion will can modeled by a sine function
The hallmark of simple harmonic motion is
Knowing the acceleration you can find ω.

31. Oscillations Springs and Simple Pendulums
Ideal Spring
Simple Pendulum

32. Oscillations Physical Pendulum
A physical pendulum is any pendulum that is not a string with a mass at the end. It could be a meter stick or a possum swinging by its tail.

33. Oscillations and Gravity – 18% Chapters 14 & 16
Law of Gravitation
Superposition – find force by adding the force from each individual object
Shell Theorem – mass outside of shell doesn’t matter
Gravitational Potential Energy
Orbital Energy – Kinetic plus Potential
Escape Speed
Kepler’s Laws’
Elliptical Orbits
Equal area in equal time (Cons. of Ang. Momentum)
T2 α R3 - can be found from orbital period and speed

34. Gravity A very serious matter
Universal Law of Gravity
Gravitational Potential Energy
Circular Orbit Speed