Advanced Physics C: Mechanics homeschool curriculum.
Your student applies calculus to motion, force, energy, momentum, rotation, and mechanics labs.
A personalized lesson from the course
Calculus lets mechanics describe motion, force, work, and momentum at the level where a system is actually changing.
- Lesson
- Derivatives Keep the Motion Honest
- Goal
- Derive a mechanics model with calculus and test whether observed motion supports its simplifying assumptions.
How a lesson works
An 11-minute reading
This example lesson comes from the unit on calculus-based mechanics and model assumptions. It moves from “Motion is a family of derivatives” to “Integrals recover what forces do” and builds to one idea: a calculus model is a chain of meanings: position, velocity, acceleration, force, and energy must remain connected.
Help inside the reading
Our Always-On Mentor stays beside “Derivatives Keep the Motion Honest” the whole way through, answering questions about any highlighted line and, during the Reading Check, clarifying a question without giving the answer away.
A check halfway through
Your child answers “Why do units matter when connecting position, velocity, and acceleration?” before reading on, and the Reading Check at the end asks new questions.
A project your child hands in
Measure a mechanical system, derive a calculus-based model, and test whether the motion supports its simplifying assumptions.
- Task
- Use the mismatch between model and data to identify the next physical effect to include
- Hand in
- Calculus-based mechanics report with derivation, data comparison, and assumption audit
From investigation to evidence
Your student derives a relationship, draws the situation, calculates a result, and checks it against a measurement. Advanced Physics C: Mechanics runs through 22 units and 66 skills, starting with kinematics; force and translational dynamics; and work, energy, and power.
- Supervised mechanics investigations
- Calculus-based derivations and models
- Corrected experimental and quantitative free responses
Units and skills
Advanced Physics C: Mechanics22 units · 66 skills
Kinematics3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Kinematics
- Apply mathematical routines to Kinematics
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Kinematics
Force and translational dynamics3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Force and translational dynamics
- Apply mathematical routines to Force and translational dynamics
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Force and translational dynamics
Work, energy, and power3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Work, energy, and power
- Apply mathematical routines to Work, energy, and power
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Work, energy, and power
Systems of particles and linear momentum3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Systems of particles and linear momentum
- Apply mathematical routines to Systems of particles and linear momentum
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Systems of particles and linear momentum
Rotation3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Rotation
- Apply mathematical routines to Rotation
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Rotation
Oscillations3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Oscillations
- Apply mathematical routines to Oscillations
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Oscillations
Gravitation3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Gravitation
- Apply mathematical routines to Gravitation
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Gravitation
Calculus-based modeling3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Calculus-based modeling
- Apply mathematical routines to Calculus-based modeling
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Calculus-based modeling
Differential and integral representations3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Differential and integral representations
- Apply mathematical routines to Differential and integral representations
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Differential and integral representations
Experimental design3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Experimental design
- Apply mathematical routines to Experimental design
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Experimental design
Data and uncertainty3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Data and uncertainty
- Apply mathematical routines to Data and uncertainty
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Data and uncertainty
Cumulative mechanics investigation3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Cumulative mechanics investigation
- Apply mathematical routines to Cumulative mechanics investigation
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Cumulative mechanics investigation
Safe experimental practice3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Safe experimental practice
- Apply mathematical routines to Safe experimental practice
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Safe experimental practice
Inquiry design and variable control3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Inquiry design and variable control
- Apply mathematical routines to Inquiry design and variable control
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Inquiry design and variable control
Raw data, uncertainty, and error3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Apply mathematical routines to Raw data, uncertainty, and error
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Raw data, uncertainty, and error
Laboratory notebook and scientific communication3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Apply mathematical routines to Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Laboratory notebook and scientific communication
Multiple quantitative representations3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Multiple quantitative representations
- Apply mathematical routines to Multiple quantitative representations
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Multiple quantitative representations
Graph construction and interpretation3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Graph construction and interpretation
- Apply mathematical routines to Graph construction and interpretation
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Graph construction and interpretation
Written mathematical justification3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Written mathematical justification
- Apply mathematical routines to Written mathematical justification
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Written mathematical justification
Advanced Physics C: Mechanics cumulative assessment3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Advanced Physics C: Mechanics cumulative assessment
- Apply mathematical routines to Advanced Physics C: Mechanics cumulative assessment
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Advanced Physics C: Mechanics cumulative assessment
Advanced Physics C: Mechanics exam-mode practice3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Advanced Physics C: Mechanics exam-mode practice
- Apply mathematical routines to Advanced Physics C: Mechanics exam-mode practice
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Advanced Physics C: Mechanics exam-mode practice
Advanced Physics C: Mechanics reflection and transfer3 skills
- Create and connect physical representations of Advanced Physics C: Mechanics reflection and transfer
- Apply mathematical routines to Advanced Physics C: Mechanics reflection and transfer
- Design an investigation or construct a scientific argument about Advanced Physics C: Mechanics reflection and transfer
Questions parents ask
How does Advanced Physics C: Mechanics prepare my student for AP Physics C: Mechanics?
- Advanced Physics C: Mechanics follows the AP Physics C: Mechanics framework unit by unit, as its skill tree shows. Your teen explains and applies the ideas in written responses and projects, so the work shows which skills are secure and which need more practice.
How does a homeschooler register for an AP exam?
- An AP coordinator at an AP-authorized local school arranges registration. Use College Board’s homeschool exam guidance to find a host school. That school sets its deadlines and outside-student policies; its coordinator orders the exam, collects fees, and tells your child where and when to test.
Which course title goes on a homeschool transcript?
- Advanced Physics C: Mechanics, not AP Physics C: Mechanics. The AP designation requires College Board Course Audit authorization of the course, which framework alignment does not give. We generate the transcript with that title, ready for you to sign as homeschool administrator.
How can AP scores earn college credit?
- Colleges award credit under their own AP score policies. College Board reports scores on a 1–5 scale, separately from our coursework grades; check the college’s required score and whether it grants credit, placement, or both.
Who arranges the labs and equipment?
- We provide the lab sequence, instructions, and analysis questions, grade each investigation report as soon as it is submitted, and keep it with the course record. Your family supplies the equipment, a safe workspace, and an adult present for hands-on work.
Advanced Physics C: Mechanics, with the teaching and records handled
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