AP®︎ Physics C: Mechanics Unit 3: Notes & Study Guide

Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with a comprehensive review on Unit 3 of AP Physics C: Mechanics – Work, Energy, and Power.

Exam weight: 15%–25%
5 Topics

Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power

How energy transfers and transforms through work, potential energy functions, and conservation laws.

Begin with Topic 3.1: Translational Kinetic Ene...

To review Unit 3, go through each of the 5 topics below.

Everything you actually need to know for your Unit 3 test, pulled directly from the AP® Physics C: Mechanics curriculum.

Topic 3.1
~6 min
Review
Translational Kinetic Energy
Translational Kinetic Energy
  • What Translational Kinetic Energy Is
  • Scalar Nature of Kinetic Energy
  • Frame Dependence of Kinetic Energy
Review
Topic 3.2
~6 min
Review
Work
Work
  • What Work Is
  • Calculating Work
  • Conservative vs Nonconservative Forces
Review
Topic 3.3
~6 min
Review
Potential Energy
Potential Energy
  • What Potential Energy Is
  • The Link Between Force and Potential Energy
  • Reading and Using Potential Energy Graphs
Review
Topic 3.4
~6 min
Review
Conservation of Energy
Conservation of Energy
  • Mechanical Energy
  • Conservation of Mechanical Energy
  • Choosing the System Determines What Changes
Review
Topic 3.5
~6 min
Review
Power
Power
  • What Power Is
  • Average Power
  • Instantaneous Power
Review

Notes

1 credit used · 5/5 remaining