View source for AP Physics C: Mechanics

{{Short description|Advanced Placement science course}}
{{Primary sources|date=March 2025}}
{{Advanced Placement}}

'''Advanced Placement''' ('''AP''') '''Physics C: Mechanics''' (also known as '''AP Mechanics''') is an introductory [[physics]] course administered by the American [[College Board]] as part of its [[Advanced Placement]] program. It is intended to serve as a proxy for a one-semester [[calculus]]-based university course in [[mechanics]]. Physics C: Mechanics may be combined with its [[AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism|electricity and magnetism counterpart]] to form a year-long course that prepares for both exams.
==History==
Before 1973, the topics of AP Physics C: Mechanics were covered in a singular AP Physics C exam, which included mechanics, electricity, magnetism, optics, fluids, and modern physics. In 1973, this exam was discontinued, and two new exams were created, which each covered Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism. 

Before 2006, test-takers paid only once and were given the choice of taking either one or two parts of the Physics C test. This was changed so that now test-takers have to pay twice to take both parts of the AP Physics C test.

As a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|2019–20 coronavirus pandemic]], the AP examination in 2020 was taken online. The topics of oscillations and gravitation were removed from the test.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AP Physics C: Mechanics – AP Coronavirus Updates {{!}} College Board|url=https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/educators/taking-the-exam/physics-c-mechanics|website=apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref>

Before the 2024–25 school year, the multiple choice and free response section were each allotted 45 minutes, with 35 questions for the former and 3 questions for the latter. This made AP Physics C: Mechanics, along with Electricity and Magnetism, the shortest exams offered by College Board. Unlike other exams, the AP Physics C exams also had 5 options that test-takers could choose from, rather than the typical 4. This was changed in an announcement made by College Board in the February 2024 regarding changes to their AP Physics courses for the 2024–25 school year onward, which explained that the multiple choice sections would have 40 questions and the free response sections would have 4 questions. To compensate, College Board allotted 80 minutes for the multiple-choice section and 100 minutes for the free-response section for both exams, making them as long as the ones for AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2.

==Curriculum==
Intended to be equivalent to an introductory [[college]] course in mechanics for physics or engineering majors,<ref name=PhysCMechoverview>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-course-overviews/ap-physics-c-mechanics-course-overview.pdf | title = AP® PHYSICS C: MECHANICS | publisher = [[College Board]] | date = December 2016 | access-date = January 30, 2017}}</ref> the course modules are:<ref name=PhysCMechoverview/>
{| class="wikitable"
!align="center"|Topic
!align="center"|Exam Weighting
|-align="center"
|[[Kinematics]]
|10–15%
|-align="center"
|[[Force]] and [[Translation (physics)|Translational Dynamics]]
|20–25%
|-align="center"
|[[Work (physics)|Work]], [[Energy]], and [[Power (physics)|Power]]
|15–25%
|-align="center"
|[[Momentum|Linear Momentum]]
|10–20%
|-align="center"
|[[Torque]] and [[Rotational dynamics|Rotational Dynamics]]
|10–15%
|-align="center"
|[[Rotational energy|Energy]] and [[Angular momentum|Momentum of Rotating Systems]]
|10–15%
|-align="center"
|[[Oscillations]]
|10–15%
|}

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.<ref name=PhysCMechoverview/>

This course is often compared to [[AP Physics 1|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. Another key difference is that AP Physics 1 covers fluids, which is not covered in the AP Physics C: Mechanics curriculum.

This course may be combined with [[AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism]] to make a unified Physics C course that prepares for both exams.

==Exam==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Section
!Questions
!Time
!Exam Weighting
|-
|Section I: Multiple Choice
|40 MCQ
|1 hour 20 minutes
|50%
|-
|Section II: Free Response
|4 FRQ
|1 hour 40 minutes
|50%
|}
The course culminates in an optional exam for which high-performing students may receive some credit towards their college coursework, depending on the institution.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement | title = Credit & Placement | work = AP Students | publisher = The [[College Board]] | year = 2017 | access-date = January 30, 2017}}</ref>
===Science Practices Assessed===
Multiple Choice and Free Response Sections of the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam are also assessed on scientific practices. Below are tables representing the practices assessed and their weighting for both parts of the exam

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Section 1: Multiple Choice
! Science Practice
! Exam Weighting
|-
|2. Mathematical Routines
|65-85%
|-
|3. Experimental Design and Analysis
|20-35%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Section 2: Free Response
! Science Practice
! Exam Weighting
|-
|1. Creating Representations
|20-35%
|-
|2. Mathematical Routines
|40-45%
|-
|3. Scientific Questioning and Argumentation
|30-35%
|}
===Grade distribution===
The grade distributions since 2010 were:
{|class="wikitable"
!Score
!2010<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2010_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2011<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/AP-Student-Score-Distributions-2011_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2012<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/student_score_distributions_2012_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2013<ref>{{citation | url = http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/apcentral/ap13_physics_C_M_ScoringDist.pdf | title = AP Physics C – Mechanics, Student Score Distributions – Global Distributions – May 2013 | year = 2013 | publisher = The [[College Board]] | access-date = January 30, 2017}}</ref>
!2014<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/STUDENT-SCORE-DISTRIBUTIONS-2014_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2015<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2015_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2016<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2016_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2017<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2017_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2018<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2018_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2019<ref>"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2019_1.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2024.</ref>
!2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2020/Student-Score-Distributions-2020.pdf|access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
!2021<ref>{{Cite web|title=STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2021/2021-ap-student-score-distributions.pdf|access-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
!2022<ref>"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf Student Score Distributions]" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2023.</ref>
!2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS AP Exams - May 2023 |url=https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf}}</ref>
!2024<ref>"[https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions 2024 AP Score Distributions]". Retrieved July 8, 2024.</ref>
|-
!|5
|26.9%
|26.5%
|32.4%
|28.5%
|32.4%
|30.1%
|32.3%
|36.4%
|30.2%
|37.7%
|41.6%
|23.5%
|26.4%
|26.4%
|23%
|-
!|4
|25.2%
|24.3%
|26.4%
|26.0%
|25.6%
|27.9%
|27.0%
|27.1%
|27.3%
|26.7%
|26.4%
|28.6%
|25.7%
|26.3%
|29%
|-
!|3
|20.7%
|22.2%
|18.6%
|20.2%
|18.7%
|20.0%
|18.1%
|15.8%
|19.7%
|17.4%
|16.3%
|21.3%
|21.3%
|20.7%
|23%
|-
!|2
|14.7%
|14.2%
|12.6%
|14.2%
|12.7%
|11.6%
|13.1%
|12.5%
|12.7%
|10.0%
|9.2%
|14.9%
|15.6%
|14.0%
|14%
|-
!|1
|12.5%
|12.8%
|10.1%
|11.2%
|10.6%
|10.5%
|9.5%
|8.1%
|10.0%
|8.2%
|6.5%
|11.6%
|11.0%
|12.5%
|11%
|-
!|% of scores 3 or higher
|72.9%
|73.0%
|77.4%
|74.7%
|76.7%
|77.9%
|77.4%
|79.4%
|77.2%
|81.8%
|84.3%
|73.5%
|73.4%
|73.5%
|75%
|-
!|Mean
|3.39
|3.38
|3.58
|3.47
|3.56
|3.55
|3.60
|3.71
|3.55
|3.76
|3.87
|3.38
|3.41
|3.40
|3.39
|-
!|Standard deviation
|1.35
|1.35
|1.32
|1.33
|1.34
|1.31
|1.31
|1.29
|1.31
|1.28
|1.23
|1.30
|1.32
|1.34
|1.28
|-
|}

== See also ==
*[[Physics]]
*[[Glossary of physics]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap-physics-c-course-description.pdf?course=ap-physics-c-mechanics College Board Course Description: Physics C]

{{Glossaries of science and engineering}}

[[Category:Advanced Placement]]
[[Category:Physics education]]
[[Category:Standardized tests]]