AP Physics C: Mechanics

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.

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Course content

Intended to be equivalent to an introductory college course in mechanics for physics or engineering majors,[1] the course modules are:[1]

  • Kinematics
  • Newton's laws of motion
  • Work, energy and power
  • Systems of particles and linear momentum
  • Circular motion and rotation
  • Oscillations and gravitation.

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.

AP test

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]

Registration

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.

Format

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]

Grade distribution

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

See also

References
  1. AP® PHYSICS C: MECHANICS (PDF), College Board, December 2016, retrieved January 30, 2017
  2. "Credit & Placement". AP Students. The College Board. 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  3. "AP Physics C: Mechanics – Calculator and Table Policies". AP Students. College Board. 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  4. "AP Physics C: Mechanics Course and Exam Description, Effective Fall 2020" (PDF). AP Central.
  5. "AP Physics C: Mechanics – AP Coronavirus Updates | College Board". apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  6. Packer, Trevor. "2012 AP Exam Score Distributions". Total Registration. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  7. AP Physics C – Mechanics, Student Score Distributions – Global Distributions – May 2013 (PDF), The College Board, 2013, retrieved January 30, 2017
  8. Packer, Trevor. "2014 AP Exam Score Distributions". Total Registration.
  9. Packer, Trevor. "2015 AP Exam Score Distributions". Total Registration. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  10. Total Registration. "2016 AP Exam Score Distributions". www.totalregistration.net. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  11. Total Registration. "2017 AP Exam Score Distributions". www.totalregistration.net. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  12. Total Registration. "2018 AP Exam Score Distributions". www.TotalRegistration.net. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  13. Total Registration (June 13, 2019). "2019 AP Exam Score Distributions". www.totalregistration.net. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  14. "STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS" (PDF). Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  15. "STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS" (PDF). Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  16. "Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  17. Total Registration (2023-06-15). "2023 AP Exam Score Distributions". www.totalregistration.net. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
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