AP Physics C: Mechanics - Study Guides, Flashcards, AP-style Practice & Mock Exams

The exam has two 45-minute sections, each worth 50% of your score. You will first complete a 35-question multiple-choice section, followed by a free-response section with 3 questions that require detailed, calculus-based problem-solving and written explanations.

This course requires concurrent enrollment in or completion of a calculus course. You must be proficient in applying differentiation and integration to physical concepts. Key applications include analyzing motion in kinematics and deriving work from variable forces.

We recommend a sequential approach to master the ~24 hours of content. Work through each of the 7 units and their topics, then test your knowledge with AP-style quizzes and unit exams. Finally, simulate the real test environment with our full-length mock exams.

The FRQs typically include an Experimental Design question, a Qualitative/Quantitative Translation question, and a traditional quantitative problem. You will need to apply physics principles, justify claims with evidence, and often use calculus to derive solutions from fundamental laws.

You will develop key science practices essential for physics. This involves designing experiments, analyzing data from tables and graphs, and using mathematical reasoning to solve complex problems. You'll learn to construct arguments using the claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) framework.

Yes, a graphing calculator is permitted and recommended for both the multiple-choice and free-response sections. While it is a useful tool for calculations, success depends more on your conceptual understanding and ability to set up problems using physics principles and calculus.

Yes, you will have access to the official equation sheet for the entire exam. It is crucial to understand the conditions under which each equation applies and the physical meaning of the variables, not just how to perform calculations.

The course focuses on foundational, calculus-based physics across 41 topics. Major areas of study include kinematics, Newton's laws of motion and forces, work, energy, power, systems of particles and linear momentum, circular motion, rotation, and oscillations.

Experimental design is a crucial science practice and a recurring FRQ topic. You must be able to outline a procedure, identify necessary equipment, define controls and variables, and describe how data will be analyzed to test a physical relationship, including potential error analysis.

Consistent, targeted practice is the best way to prepare for this challenging exam. Use our 999 practice questions and 966 flashcards to solidify your understanding of calculus applications in physics. Taking the 3 mock exams under timed conditions builds the stamina and pacing needed for success.