AP Physics C Review

Mechanics
CHSN Review Project

This is a review guide designed as preparatory information for the AP1 Physics C
Mechanics Exam on May 11, 2009. It may still, however, be useful for other purposes
as well. Use at your own risk. I hope you find this resource helpful. Enjoy!
This review guide was written by Dara Adib based on inspiration from Shelun Tsai’s
review packet.
This is a development version of the text that should be considered a work-in-
progress.
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1
 “Why do we love ideal worlds? . . . I’ve been doing this for 38 years and school is an
ideal world.” — Steven Henning

Contents
Kinematic Equations 3

Free Body Diagrams 3

Projectile Motion 4

Circular Motion 4

Friction 5

Momentum-Impulse 5

Center of Mass 5

Energy 5

Rotational Motion 7

Simple Harmonic Motion 8

Gravity 9

Graphic Credits

• Figure 1 on page 3 is based off a public domain graphic by Concordia College and vectorized
by Stannered: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Incline.svg.
• Figure 2 on page 3 is based off a public domain graphic by Mpfiz: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/File:AtwoodMachine.svg.
• Figure 5 on page 7 is a public domain graphic by Rsfontenot: http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/File:Reference_line.PNG.
• Figure 6 on page 7 was drawn by Enoch Lau and vectorized by Stannered: http://en.
wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Angularvelocity.svg. It is licensed under the Creative Com-
mons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/
2.5/.
• Figure 7 on page 8 is based off a public domain graphic by Mazemaster: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/File:Simple_Harmonic_Motion_Orbit.gif.
• Figure 8 on page 9 is a public domain graphic by Chetvorno: http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/File:Simple_gravity_pendulum.svg.

2
 Figure 1: Normal Force

Kinematic Equations

1
∆x = at2 + v0 t
2 Figure 2: Atwood’s Machine

∆v = at

(v)2 − (v0 )2 = 2a(∆x)

Figure 3: Draw a banked curve diagram

v0 + v
∆x = ×t
2
Pulled Weights

Free Body Diagrams F−f

a=
Σm
N Normal Force
f Frictional Force
T = ma
T Tension
mg Weight Elevator

F = ma Normal force acts upward, weight acts down-

ward.

In a particular direction: • Accelerating upward: N = |ma| + |mg|

• Constant velocity: N = |mg|
ΣF = (Σm)a
• Accelerating downward: N = |mg| − |ma|

Atwood’s Machine2
Banked Curve

|(m2 − m1 )|g Friction can act up the ramp (minimum velocity

a=
m1 + m2 when friction is maximum) or down the ramp
(maximum velocity when friction is maximum).
p
2 Pulley and string are assumed to be massless. videal = rg tan θ

3
 Range
s
rg(tan θ − µ) θ represents the smaller angle from the x-axis to
vmin =
µ tan θ + 1 the direction of the projectile’s initial motion.
Starting from a height of x = 0:
s
rg(tan θ + µ) (v0 )2 sin 2θ
vmax = xmax =
1 − µ tan θ g

Projectile Motion Circular Motion

Position Centripetal (radial)

Centripetal acceleration and force is directed to-

∆x = vx t
wards the center. It refers to a change in direc-
tion.
1
∆y = − gt2 + (vy )0 t v2
2 ac =
r
Velocity
mv2
θ represents the smaller angle from the x-axis to Fc = mac =
r
the direction of the projectile’s initial motion.

Tangential
(vx )0 = v0 cos θ
Tangential acceleration is tangent to the object’s
motion. It refers to a change in speed.
(vy )0 = v0 sin θ
d|v|
at =
dt
∆vx = 0
Combined
∆vy = −gt
q
atotal = (ac )2 + (at )2
Height

θ represents the smaller angle from the x-axis to Vertical loop

the direction of the projectile’s initial motion.
In a vertical loop, the centripetal acceleration is
Starting from a height of x = 0: caused by a normal force and gravity (weight).

(v0 sin θ)2

ymax =
2g

4
Top Elastic

Kinetic energy is conserved.

F = ma
v2
N + mg = m × m1 v1 + m2 v2 = m1 v10 + m2 v20
r
mv2
N = − mg
r
−(v20 − v10 ) = v2 − v1
Bottom
Inelastic

F = ma Kinetic energy is not conserved.

v2
N − mg = m ×
r
mv 2 m1 v1 + m2 v2 = (m1 + m2 )v0
N = + mg
r

Center of Mass
Friction
Z Z
Σmr 1 1
Friction converts mechanical energy into heat. rcm = = rdm = xλdx
Static friction (at rest) is generally greater than Σm Σm Σm
kinematic friction (in motion).
dm M
λ= =
fmax = µN dx L

Z Z
Momentum-Impulse Σm = dm = λdx

p = mv
(Σm)vCM = Σmv = Σp

dp
F=
dt Fnet = (Σm)aCM

Z
I= Fdt = F∆t = ∆p = m∆v Energy

Work
Collisions
Z
Total momentum is always conserved when there W= Fdx = ∆K
are no external forces (F = dp
dt = 0).

5
Power

W Fx
Pavg = =
t t

dW
Pinstant = = Fv
dt

Kinetic Energy

1 Linear Angular
K = mv2
2 dx ∆x dθ ∆θ
v= dt = ∆t ω= dt = ∆t

Potential Energy dv ∆v dω ∆ω
a= dt = ∆t α= dt = ∆t

∆x = 12 at2 + v0 t ∆θ = 12 αt2 + ω0 t
dU
F=− ∆v = at ∆ω = αt
dx
(v)2 − (v0 )2 = 2a(∆x) (ω)2 − (ω0 )2 = 2α(∆ω)
Z xf
∆U = − FC dx = −WC v0 + v ω0 + ω
xi
∆x = ×t ∆θ = ×t
2 2
F = ma τ = Iα
Z Z
UHooke
1
= − FHooke dx = − −kxdx = kx2 Rx Rθ
2 W = x0 Fdx Wrot = θ0 τdθ

W = 12 mv2 − 12 m(v0 )2 Wrot = 21 mω2 − 12 m(ω0 )2

Ug = mgh P = Fv Prot = τω
equilibrium point F = − du
dx = 0 (extrema) p = mv L = Iω
stable equilibrium U is a minimum dp dL
F= dt τ= dt
unstable equilibrium U is a maximum
Figure 4: Rotational Motion
Total

E = K+U

Ei + WNC = Ef

WNC represents non-conservative work that con-

verts mechanical energy into other forms of en-
ergy. For example, friction converts mechanical
energy into heat.

6
 Torque

τ = r × F = rF sin θ

τ = Iα

Moment of Inertia
Z
2
I = Σmr = r2 dm
Figure 5: Arc Length

I = Icm + Mh2

(h represents the distance from the center)

Values

1 2
rod (center) 12 ml
Figure 6: Angular Velocity 1 2
rod (end) 3 ml

Rotational Motion hollow hoop/cylinder mr2

1 2
solid disk/cylinder
2 mr
The same equations for linear motion can be mod- hollow sphere 2 mr2
3
ified for use with rotational motion (Figure 4 on 2
the previous page). solid sphere 5 mr2

Angular Motion Atwood’s Machine

s |(m2 − m1 )|g
θ= a=
r m1 + m2 + 12 M

v
ω= Angular Momentum
r

at
α= L = Iω
r

L = r × p = rp sin θ = rmv sin θ

p
at = r α2 + ω4

dL
ac = ω2 r τ=
dt
1 1 Total angular momentum is always conserved
Krolling = Iω2 + mv2
2 2 when there are no external torques (τ = dL
dt = 0).

7
 ω = 2πf
r  v 2
0
A= (x0 )2 +
ω
 
−v0
φ = arctan
ωx0

1
E = kA2
2

Figure 7: Simple Harmonic Motion Spring

Simple Harmonic Motion Fs = −kx

r
m
Simple harmonic motion is the projection of uni- Ts = 2π
form circular notion on to a diameter. Likewise, k
uniform circular motion is the combination of r
simple harmonic motions along the x-axis and k
ωs =
y-axis that differ by a phase of 90◦ . m
amplitude (A) maximum magnitude of displace-
ment from equilibrium Pendulum
cycle one complete vibration Simple
period (T ) time for one cycle
s
frequency (f) cycles per time L
T = 2π
angular frequency (ω) radians per time g

r
x = Acos(ωt + φ) g
ω=
L

v = −ωA sin(ωt + φ) Compound

A cable with a moment of inertia swings back

and forth. d represents the distance from the
a = −ω2 A cos(ωt + φ) = −ω2 x
pendulum’s pivot to its center of mass.
s
2π 1 I
T= = T = 2π
ω f mgd

r
mgd
1 ω ω=
f= = I
T 2π

8
 frictionless pivot Energy

amplitude θ −Gm1 m2
U=
massless rod R

−GMm
E=
2r

bob's
trajectory massive bob 2πR
equilibrium v=
position T

Figure 8: Simple Pendulum r

2GM
vescape =
re
Torsional
For orbits around the earth, re represents the ra-
A horizontal mass with a moment of inertia is dius of the earth.
suspended from a cable and swings back and
forth.
r
I
T = 2π
k

k
ω=
I

Gravity

−Gm1 m2
F=
R2

Nm2
G ≈ 6.67 × 10−11
kg2

Kepler’s Laws

1. All orbits are elliptical.

2. Law of Equal Areas.
4π 2
3. T 2 = GM R3 = Ks R3 , where Ks is a uniform
constant for all satellites/planets orbiting
a specific body