AP®︎ Physics C: Mechanics Unit 2: Notes & Study Guide
Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with a comprehensive review on Unit 2 of AP Physics C: Mechanics – Force and Translational Dynamics.
Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics
How forces cause acceleration through Newton’s laws, including gravity, friction, springs, resistive forces, and circular motion.
Begin with Topic 2.1: Systems and Center of Mas...To review Unit 2, go through each of the 10 topics below.
Everything you actually need to know for your Unit 2 test, pulled directly from the AP® Physics C: Mechanics curriculum.
Systems and Center of Mass
Systems and Center of Mass
- What a System Is in Mechanics
- What the Center of Mass Is
- Calculating the Center of Mass
Forces and Free-Body Diagrams
Forces and Free-Body Diagrams
- What a Force Is
- What a Free-Body Diagram Shows
- How to Construct a Free-Body Diagram
Newton’s Third Law
Newton’s Third Law
- Newton’s Third Law
- Representing Third-Law Pairs in Free-Body Diagrams
- Internal vs External Forces and the Center of Mass
Newton’s First Law
Newton’s First Law
- Newton’s First Law and Constant Velocity
- Net Force and Translational Equilibrium
- Balanced vs Unbalanced Forces in Multiple Dimensions
Newton’s Second Law
Newton’s Second Law
- Newton’s Second Law
- Net Force and Unbalanced Forces
- When and How Velocity Changes
Gravitational Force
Gravitational Force
- Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
- Gravitational Field and Weight
- Apparent Weight and Noninertial Frames
Kinetic and Static Friction
Kinetic and Static Friction
- What Friction Is
- The Two Types of Friction
- Setting Up Friction Problems
Spring Forces
Spring Forces
- What the Spring Force Is
- Spring Forces and Newton’s Second Law
- Equivalent Spring Constant
Resistive Forces
Resistive Forces
- What a Resistive Force Is
- The Differential Equation for Motion with Linear Drag
- Velocity, Acceleration, and Position Functions
Circular Motion
Circular Motion
- What Makes Motion Circular
- Forces That Cause Circular Motion
- Period and Frequency in Uniform Circular Motion
Notes
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