Advanced Placement (AP) Physics C: Mechanics (also known as AP Mechanics) is an introductory physics course administered by the College Board as part of its Advanced Placement program. It is intended to proxy a one-semester calculus-based university course in mechanics. The content of Physics C: Mechanics overlaps with that of AP Physics 1, but Physics 1 is algebra-based, while Physics C is calculus-based. Physics C: Mechanics may be combined with its electricity and magnetism counterpart to form a year-long course that prepares for both exams.
Intended to be equivalent to an introductory college course in mechanics for physics or engineering majors,[1] the course modules are:[1]
Methods of calculus are used wherever appropriate in formulating physical principles and in applying them to physical problems. Therefore, students should have completed or be concurrently enrolled in a Calculus I class.[1]
This course is often compared to AP Physics 1: Algebra Based for its similar course material involving kinematics, work, motion, forces, rotation, and oscillations. However, AP Physics 1: Algebra Based lacks concepts found in Calculus I, like derivatives or integrals.
This course may be combined with AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism to make a unified Physics C course that prepares for both exams.
The course culminates in an optional exam for which high-performing students may receive some credit towards their college coursework, depending on the institution.[2]
The AP examination for AP Physics C: Mechanics is separate from the AP examination for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. Before 2006, test-takers paid only once and were given the choice of taking either one or two parts of the Physics C test.
The exam is typically administered on a Monday afternoon in May. The exam is configured in two categories: a 35-question multiple choice section and a 3-question free response section.[1] Test takers are allowed to use an approved calculator during the entire exam.[3] The test is weighted such that each section is worth fifty percent (50%) of the final score.[1] Additionally, tables of equations, information, and constants are provided for all portions of the exam as of 2015. This and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism are the shortest AP exams, with total testing time of 90 minutes.[1]
The topics covered by the exam are as follows:[4]
| Topic | Percent |
|---|---|
| Kinematics | 14–20% |
| Newton's Laws of Motion | 17–23% |
| Work, Energy, and Power | 14–17% |
| Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum | 14–17% |
| Rotation | 14–20% |
| Oscillations | 6–14% |
| Gravitation | 6–14% |
As a result of the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, the AP examination in 2020 was taken online. The topics of oscillations and gravitation were removed from the test.[5]
The grade distributions since 2010 were:
| Score | 2010 | 2011 | 2012[6] | 2013[7] | 2014[8] | 2015[9] | 2016[10] | 2017[11] | 2018[12] | 2019[13] | 2020[14] | 2021[15] | 2022[16] | 2023[17] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 26.9% | 26.5% | 31.3% | 28.5% | 30.8% | 27.5% | 30.2% | 34.7% | 28.6% | 35.9% | 41.6% | 23.5% | 26.4% | 23.0% |
| 4 | 25.2% | 24.3% | 26.5% | 26.0% | 26.1% | 28.6% | 27.4% | 27.8% | 27.6% | 27.2% | 26.4% | 28.6% | 25.7% | 28.0% |
| 3 | 20.7% | 22.2% | 18.9% | 20.2% | 19.0% | 20.7% | 18.5% | 16.1% | 20.5% | 18.0% | 16.3% | 21.3% | 21.3% | 22.0% |
| 2 | 14.7% | 14.2% | 12.9% | 14.2% | 13.3% | 12.3% | 13.9% | 13% | 13.1% | 10.4% | 9.2% | 14.9% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| 1 | 12.5% | 12.8% | 10.4% | 11.2% | 10.8% | 10.9% | 10% | 8.4% | 10.2% | 8.4% | 6.5% | 11.6% | 11.0% | 12.0% |
| % of scores 3 or higher | 72.8% | 73.0% | 76.7% | 74.7% | 75.9% | 76.8% | 76.1% | 78.6% | 76.7% | 81.1% | 84.3% | 73.5% | 73.4% | 73.0% |
| Mean | 3.39 | 3.38 | 3.55 | 3.47 | 3.53 | 3.50 | 3.54 | 3.67 | 3.51 | 3.72 | 3.87 | 3.38 | 3.41 | 3.35 |
| Standard deviation | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1.32 | 1.33 | 1.33 | 1.30 | 1.32 | 1.30 | 1.30 | 1.28 | 1.23 | 1.30 | 1.32 | 1.31 |