AP Physics 1

About the Course

Learn about the foundational principles of physics as you explore Newtonian mechanics; work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and introductory, simple circuits. You’ll do hands-on laboratory work to investigate phenomena.

Skills You’ll Learn

• Interpreting and describing representations and models.
• Using mathematics to solve science problems.
• Formulating a scientific question or hypothesis.
• Designing an experiment to answer a scientific question or to test a hypothesis.
• Analyzing data and evaluating evidence.
• Working with scientific explanations and theories.
• Making connections.

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College Course Equivalent

A first-semester introductory college course in algebra-based physics.

Recommended Prerequisites

You should have completed a geometry course and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course.

Course Content

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Unit 1: Kinematics

You’ll be introduced to the study of motion.

Unit 2: Dynamics

You’ll revisit the concepts you worked with in Unit 1 to explore force, which is the interaction of an object with another object.

Unit 3: Circular Motion and Gravitation

You’ll build on your understanding of motion and force as you study more complex models of motion, such as the circular path of a satellite orbiting a planet.

Unit 4: Energy

You’ll learn the definitions of and relationships between energy, work, and power.

Unit 5: Momentum

You’ll explore the relationship between force, time, and momentum and learn to use the law of conservation of momentum to analyze physical situations.

Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion

You’ll use the tools, techniques, and models you’ve learned in previous units to analyze a new type of motion: simple harmonic motion.

Unit 7: Torque and Rotational Motion

You’ll explore the motion of an object rotating around an axis and you’ll study torque, the measure of a force that can cause rotational motion.