AP Physics C: Mechanics

Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics with calculus-based physics principles.

Basic Concepts

Newton’s Laws of Motion

The Foundation of Mechanics

Newton’s Laws revolutionized our understanding of how objects move and interact.

First Law: Law of Inertia

Objects stay at rest or move at constant velocity unless acted upon by a net force.

Second Law: Law of Acceleration

The net force on an object is equal to its mass times acceleration: \( \vec{F} = m \vec{a} \).

Third Law: Action-Reaction

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Free-Body Diagrams

Drawing all the forces acting on an object helps analyze real-world situations, from sliding boxes to orbiting satellites.

Common Forces

  • Gravity
  • Normal force
  • Tension
  • Friction

Newton’s Laws help us understand why a coffee cup slides across a table or why you feel pushed back in a car that suddenly accelerates.

Examples

  • A skateboarder pushes off the ground and accelerates forward.

  • A rocket launches upward as exhaust gases are expelled downward.

In a Nutshell

Newton's Laws explain how forces cause motion and why motion changes.