⚙️ap physics c: mechanics review

Acceleration of the COM

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The acceleration of the center of mass (COM) is the rate at which the velocity of the COM changes with time. It represents how quickly an object's overall motion is changing.

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