AP Physics C ✏ In a Nutshell

1. Background

A summary of Background: Vectors and Scalars, Graphical Vector Manipulation, Polar and Cartesian Coordinates, Algebraic Vector Operations in Cartesian Coordinates, Dot Product, Cross Product, Unit Analysis, Problem-Solving Techniques

2. Kinematics

A summary of Kinematics: Instantaneous and Average Quantities, Uniformly Accelerated Motion (UAM), Graphs of Motion, Free-Fall Problems, Two-Dimensional Motion, Projectile Motion, Relative Motion, Uniform Circular Motion (UCM)

3. Newton’s Laws

A summary of Newton’s Laws: Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia), Newton’s Second Law, Newton’s Third Law, Mass vs. Weight, Types of Forces, General Approach to Solving Newton’s Law Problems, Common Applications

4. Work, Energy, and Power

A summary of Work, Energy, and Power: Work, Cases of Work, Graphical Interpretation of Work, Work–Kinetic Energy Theorem, Conservative and Nonconservative Forces, Gravitational Potential Energy, Spring Force and Elastic Potential Energy, Conservation of Mechanical Energy, Nonconservative Forces and Modified Energy Conservation, Power

5. Linear Momentum and Center of Mass

A summary of Linear Momentum and Center of Mass: Momentum and Impulse, Conservation of Momentum, Types of Collisions, Center of Mass (CM), Applications and Problem Solving with Center of Mass, Momentum in Multi-Particle Systems

6. Rotation I: Kinematics, Force, Work, and Energy

A summary of Rotation I Kinematics, Force, Work, and Energy: Rotational Kinematics, Torque and Rotational Dynamics, Work and Energy in Rotation, Rolling Without Slipping, Key Applications

7. Rotation II: Inertia, Equilibrium, and Combined Rotation/Translation

A summary of Rotation II Inertia, Equilibrium, and Combined Rotation/Translation: Relationship Between Torque and Angular Momentum, Conservation of Angular Momentum, Rolling Without Slipping, Force Required for Rolling Without Slipping, Static Equilibrium for Extended Objects, Solving Static Equilibrium Problems

8. Simple Harmonic Motion

A summary of Simple Harmonic Motion: Definition of Simple Harmonic Motion, Mathematical Description of Mass-Spring SHM, Restoring Forces and SHM Conditions, Energy in SHM, Frequency Period and Angular Frequency, Examples of SHM, Energy Conservation Applications in SHM, Connection to Uniform Circular Motion (UCM)

9. Universal Gravitation

A summary of Universal Gravitation: Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, Gravitation Due to Spherically Symmetric Mass Distributions, Problem Solving Gravity Inside Spheres, Relating g to G, Gravitational Fields, Kepler’s Third Law, Gravitational Potential Energy, Problem Solving Gravitational Potential Energy, Gravitational Potential Energy for Systems of Masses, Solving Problems Involving Universal Gravitation

10. Electrostatics

A summary of Electrostatics: Coulomb’s Law, Principle of Superposition for Forces and Fields, Electric Fields and Field Lines, Electrostatic Induction, Electric Potential and Voltage, Relationship Between Potential and Electric Field, Calculating Potential and Field from Continuous Charge Distributions, Symmetry and Simplification in Field Calculations, Problem-Solving Techniques

11. Gauss’s Law

A summary of Gauss’s Law: The Concept of Flux, Gauss’s Law, Solving Gauss’s Law Problems, Examples of Gauss’s Law Applications, Applications to Conductors, Variation Examples with Conductors, Calculating Potential by Integration, Problem-Solving Techniques for Gauss’s Law

12. Capacitors

A summary of Capacitors: Qualitative Introduction to Capacitors, Capacitance, Calculating Capacitance Based on Geometry, Understanding the Dependence of Capacitance, Combinations of Capacitors in Series, Combinations of Capacitors in Parallel, Calculating Equivalent Capacitance of Complex Arrays, Energy Stored in Capacitors, Capacitors with Dielectrics, Important Notes on Dielectrics, Example Capacitance of a Parallel Plate Capacitor with a Dielectric, Effect of Dielectrics in Disconnected Capacitors, Effect of Dielectrics in Connected Capacitors

13. Analysis of Circuits Containing Batteries, Resistors and Capacitors

A summary of Analysis of Circuits Containing Batteries, Resistors and Capacitors: Current and Conventional Current, Current Density and Drift Velocity, Resistance and Resistivity, Calculating Resistance from Geometry, Resistors in Parallel, Resistors in Series, Complex Resistor Networks, Single-Battery Circuit Analysis, Voltmeters and Ammeters, Kirchhoff’s Laws for Multi-Battery Circuits, Applying Kirchhoff’s Laws Key Steps, Power Dissipation in Circuits, Internal Resistance of Batteries, RC Circuits Discharging Capacitors, RC Circuits Charging Capacitors, Time Constant (τ)

14. Magnetic Fields

A summary of Magnetic Fields: What Is a Magnetic Field, Sources of Magnetic Fields, Force on a Moving Charge in a Magnetic Field, Net Force with Both Electric and Magnetic Fields, Magnetic Field Lines, Motion of Charged Particles in Constant Magnetic Fields, Force on a Current-Carrying Wire, Forces on Closed Wire Loops, Mass Spectrometer Applications, Magnetic Field Due to a Moving Point Charge, Biot-Savart Law Magnetic Field from Current-Carrying Wire, Calculating Magnetic Fields with Biot-Savart Law, Example Magnetic Field of an Infinite Straight Wire, Force Between Parallel Current-Carrying Wires, Force on a Semicircular Wire in a Magnetic Field, Ampere’s Law, Using Ampere’s Law Key Steps, Example Magnetic Field Outside and Inside a Wire, Magnetic Field from Non-Uniform Current Density, Magnetic Field Inside a Solenoid, Magnetic Field Inside a Toroid, General Strategy for Applying Ampere’s Law

15. Electromagnetism

16. Inductors

A summary of Inductors: Qualitative Understanding of Self-Inductance, Quantitative Definition of Self-Inductance, Energy Stored in an Inductor, Circuit Problems with Inductors Key Observations, RL Circuits (Resistor and Inductor Circuits), Current Growth in an RL Circuit, Current Decay in an RL Circuit, Voltage Across an Inductor in RL Circuits, Time Constants and Behavior, Curve Sketching for RL Circuits, LC Circuits (Inductor and Capacitor Circuits), Mathematical Analysis of LC Circuits, Energy Conservation in LC Circuits, Comparison to Mass-Spring Systems