AP Physics C: Mechanics Unit Tests
Pick a unit to drill it head-on. Each unit has 4 different test variations so you can keep retaking until you master it.
Unit 1: Kinematics
Calculus-based 1D & 2D motion, projectiles, and variable acceleration.
12 questions · ~18 min
Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics
Newton's laws with calculus, friction, drag, inclines, circular motion, and gravitational force.
12 questions · ~18 min
Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power
Work integrals, kinetic & potential energy, conservation, and power.
12 questions · ~18 min
Unit 4: Linear Momentum
Impulse, momentum, collisions, and center of mass.
12 questions · ~18 min
Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics
Rotational kinematics, torque, rotational inertia and the parallel-axis theorem, and Newton’s second law for rotation.
12 questions · ~18 min
Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems
Rotational kinetic energy, rolling, angular momentum and angular impulse, and orbits.
12 questions · ~18 min
Unit 7: Oscillations
Simple harmonic motion of springs and pendulums, its differential equation, and energy in SHM.
12 questions · ~18 min
How unit tests work
- Focused on a single AP unit, between a single-topic quiz and the full diagnostic.
- 4 variations per unit — pick a fresh variation any time you retake.
- Roughly 90 seconds per question — the same pacing as the AP exam.
- You'll get a unit-level score, recommended topics to review, and a question-by-question explanation.
About the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam
AP Physics C: Mechanics is a calculus-based college physics course intended for students pursuing engineering and the physical sciences. It covers kinematics, Newton's laws and dynamics, work, energy and power, systems of particles and linear momentum, rotational motion, oscillations, and gravitation, treating each topic with the rigor of differential and integral calculus. Unlike the algebra-based Physics 1 and 2 courses, here calculus is woven throughout: students differentiate position to find velocity and acceleration, integrate force or acceleration over time or distance, and use calculus to derive moments of inertia, work from variable forces, and equations of motion for oscillating and orbiting systems. This makes concurrent or prior calculus coursework essentially a prerequisite. The 2024-25 redesign expanded the exam to 40 four-option multiple-choice questions over 80 minutes and four free-response questions over 100 minutes, retiring the older 35-question, 45-minute format. Students often find the mathematics demanding not because the calculus is advanced but because they must set up integrals and derivatives from physical situations, choosing appropriate limits and variables. Conceptual depth matters too: the exam rewards understanding why principles like conservation of energy and angular momentum hold and how to apply them to nonstandard configurations. Strong preparation pairs fluency in calculus with deep mechanics intuition, careful free-body and force analysis, and disciplined practice on released free-response questions, where partial credit follows specific derivation steps. Treating the calculus as a tool for expressing physical reasoning, rather than as a separate hurdle, is the key to performing well across both sections of this exam.
Exam structure
Two sections, each worth 50%: Section I is 40 multiple-choice questions (four options) in 80 minutes; Section II is 4 free-response questions in 100 minutes. A calculator is permitted on both sections, and a formula/equations sheet is provided.
Scoring
Section I (50%) and Section II (50%) combine into a composite that is converted to the reported AP score of 1 to 5.
Common mistakes
- Struggling to set up the correct integrals and derivatives from a physical scenario, including choosing proper variables and limits
- Weak free-body diagrams and force analysis that derail otherwise correct calculus
- Confusing rotational quantities (torque, moment of inertia, angular momentum) with their translational analogs
- Misapplying conservation of energy or momentum to nonstandard systems instead of analyzing forces and constraints carefully
- Skipping intermediate derivation steps on free-response questions, forfeiting the partial credit awarded for them