AP®︎ Physics C: Mechanics Unit 7: Notes & Study Guide

Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with a comprehensive review on Unit 7 of AP Physics C: Mechanics – Oscillations.

Exam weight: 5%–10%
5 Topics

Unit 7: Oscillations

How restoring forces produce simple harmonic motion in springs, pendulums, and other oscillating systems.

Begin with Topic 7.1: Defining Simple Harmonic...

To review Unit 7, go through each of the 5 topics below.

Everything you actually need to know for your Unit 7 test, pulled directly from the AP® Physics C: Mechanics curriculum.

Topic 7.1
~6 min
Review
Defining Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
Defining Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
  • What Simple Harmonic Motion Is
  • The Three Core Pieces of SHM
  • How Newton’s Second Law Defines SHM
Review
Topic 7.2
~6 min
Review
Frequency and Period of SHM
Frequency and Period of SHM
  • Period, Frequency, and Angular Frequency in SHM
  • Period of a Mass–Spring Oscillator
  • Period of a Simple Pendulum (Small Angles)
Review
Topic 7.3
~6 min
Review
Representing and Analyzing SHM
Representing and Analyzing SHM
  • What Simple Harmonic Motion Is
  • Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration in SHM
  • Phase and Graphical Representations
Review
Topic 7.4
~5 min
Review
Energy of Simple Harmonic Oscillators
Energy of Simple Harmonic Oscillators
  • Mechanical Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Conservation of Energy in SHM
  • Energy at Key Positions in the Cycle
Review
Topic 7.5
~5 min
Review
Simple and Physical Pendulums
Simple and Physical Pendulums
  • What a Physical Pendulum Is
  • Small-Angle Approximation and Why It Leads to SHM
  • Types of Pendulums
Review

Notes

1 credit used · 5/5 remaining