If you need to know it, it’s in this book! Cracking the AP Physics C Exam, 2012 Edition, includes:
A thorough review of mechanics, electricity, and magnetism.
Detailed explanations for sample multiple-choice and free-response questions.
2 full-length practice tests with detailed explanations.
Updated strategies that reflect the AP test scoring change.
Introduction xi
1 VECTORS 1
Introduction 1
Definition 1
Vector Addition (Geometric) 2
Scalar Multiplication 3
Vector Subtraction (Geometric) 3
Standard Basis Vectors 4
Vector Operations Using Components 5
Magnitude of a Vector 6
Direction of a Vector 6
The Dot Product 7
The Cross Product 9
2 KINEMATICS 13
Introduction 13
Position, Distance, and Displacement 13
Speed and Velocity 15
Acceleration 17
Uniformly-Accelerated Motion and the Big Five 20
Kinematics with Graphs 22
Free Fall 28
Projectile Motion 30
Chapter 2 Review Questions 33
Kinematics Summary 36
3 NEWTON'S LAWS 39
Introduction 39
The First Law 40
The Second Law 40
The Third Law 40
Weight 41
The Normal Force 43
Friction 44
Pulleys 46
Inclined Planes 49
Uniform Circular Motion 50
Chapter 3 Review Questions 55
Newton's Laws Summary 61
4 WORK, ENERGY, AND POWER 63
Introduction 63
Work 64
Kinetic Energy 67
The Work-Energy Theorem 68
Potential Energy 69
Conservation of Mechanical Energy 70
Potential Energy Curves 73
Power 77
Chapter 4 Review Questions 79
Work, Energy, and Power Summary 84
5 LINEAR MOMENTUM 85
Introduction 85
Impulse 86
Conservation of Linear Momentum 88
Collisions 89
Center of Mass 93
Chapter 5 Review Questions 99
Linear Momentum Summary 103
6 ROTATIONAL MOTION 105
Introduction 105
Rotational Kinematics 106
The Big Five for Rotational Motion 109
Rotational Dynamics 111
Torque 111
Rotational Inertia 115
Kinetic Energy of Rotation 121
Work and Power 125
Angular Momentum 127
Conservation of Angular Momentum 129
Equilibrium 130
Chapter 6 Review Questions 133
Rotational Motion Summary 138
7 LAWS OF GRAVITATION 141
Kepler's Laws 141
Newton's Law of Gravitation 142
The Gravitational Attraction Due to an Extended Body 144
Gravitational Potential Energy 150
A Proof of Equation (*) 151
Orbits of the Planets 155
Chapter 7 Review Questions 158
Laws of Gravitation Summary 161
8 OSCILLATIONS 163.
Introduction 163
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM): The Spring-Block Oscillator 163
The Kinematics of SHM 169
The Spring-Block Oscillator: Vertical Motion 173
The Sinusoidal Description of SHM 176
Pendula 179
Chapter 8 Review Questions 182
Oscillations Summary 187
9 ELECTRIC FORCES AND FIELDS 189
Electric Charge 189
Coulomb's Law 190
The Electric Field 194
Conductors and Insulators 201
Gauss's Law 202
Chapter 9 Review Questions 211
Electric Forces and Fields Summary 217
10 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE 219
Introduction 219
Electrical Potential Energy 220
The Potential of a Sphere 229
The Potential of a Cylinder 233
Chapter 10 Review Questions 244
Electric Potential and Capacitance Summary 250
11 DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS 251
Introduction 251
Electric Current 252
Electric Circuits 254
Resistance-Capacitance (RC) Circuits 268
Chapter 11 Review Questions 273
Direct Current Circuits Summary 277
12 MAGNETIC FORCES AND FIELDS 279
Introduction 279
The Magnetic Force on a Moving Charge 280
The Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire 283
Magnetic Fields Created by Current-Carrying Wires 287
The Biot-Savart Law 290
Ampere's Law 292
Chapter 12 Review Questions 298
Magnetic Forces and Fields Summary 303
13 ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION 305
.Introduction 305
Motional EMF 306
Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction 308
Inductance 319
Max'well's Equations 324
Chapter 13 Review Questions 326
Electromagnetic Induction Summary 333
14 SOLUTIONS TO THE CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS 335
15 THE PRINCETON REVIEW AP PHYSICS C PRACTICE EXAM 1 421
16 AP PHYSICS C PRACTICE EXAM 1 : ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS 457
17 THE PRINCETON REVIEW AP PHYSICS C PRACTICE EXAM 2 485
18 AP PHYSICS C PRACTICE EXAM 2: ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS 521
About the Authors 549
Index 551