Whereas kinematics is the study of objects in motion, dynamics is the study of the causes of motion. In other words, kinematics covers the “what” of motion, while dynamics covers the “how” and “why.” Forces are the lifeblood of dynamics: objects move and change their motion under the influence of different forces. Our main emphasis will be on Newton’s three laws, which succinctly summarize everything you need to know about dynamics.

Dynamics questions on SAT II Physics often call upon your knowledge of kinematics and vectors, but these questions will probably be simpler than the problems you’ve encountered in your physics class. Because you won’t be asked to do any math that would require a calculator, you should focus on mastering the concepts that lie behind the math.