AP Physics 1

AP Physics 1 Open House

🎡 AP Physics 1-hour Cram Finale

Cram Finale - Last-minute Q+A

🎡 AP Physics 5-hour Cram Finale

AP Physics 1 Finale Review Trivia

Ever been curious about why a ball travels in a curved path when thrown across a room? Wondered why some objects can slide across a wooden table faster than others? Pondered how the moon doesn't stray away from the Earth's orbit? 

If you said yes on any of these questions, AP Physics 1 is the class for you!

AP Physics 1 is the first of two algebra-based Advanced Placement® physics classes. It used to be merged with content from AP Physics 2 into a yearlong Physics B class, but the College Board separated them into two separate classes.

AP Physics 1 covers the following major topics:

Note that even with these distinctions, there are still overlaps between some groups that aren't explicitly implied below.

Torque, Circular & Rotational Motion, and Gravitation ⭕

Simple Harmonic Motion & Mechanical Waves (i.e. Sound) 🔊

Electricity: Electric Charge/Force & DC Circuits ⚡

Asking yourself questions before taking the course itself will help gauge how much work you need to put into your class on top of extracurriculars. Ask yourself:

How interested are you in physics before taking AP Physics 1?

How much algebra do you know before taking AP Physics 1?

How much physics do you know before taking AP Physics 1?

Besides AP Physics 1, what other APs are you taking this year?

Outside of the AP Physics 1 class, what other supplemental resources can you consult if you ever need assistance?

Physics is about how objects behave or move AND how to use mathematical reasoning to quantitatively express these actions. So, the proper approach to learning Physics 1 involves a combination of both.

"You need to truly understand what the formulas mean and what they are. It's hard to get that sense of intuition in a short time without putting in lots of work, which makes this class so hard."—EPICNESS2500

Memorizing formulas and just plugging numbers when a question mentions a particular quantity is NEVER the proper approach to learning physics. This, unfortunately, becomes the pitfall of a huge chunk of students: they are unable to connect the numbers presented in a problem to the associated concepts, causing them to struggle with the more conceptual questions 😵

In terms of difficulty, Physics 1 won't be 

 challenging if you spend time reviewing your notes before the next class session. It's important to stay on track because unit topics build on previous concepts covered. Being behind even by one or two steps will affect your ability to completely grasp key concepts later on in the course. 

"I struggled throughout that class last year but picked myself up in the second semester. The key is that Physics 1 is all about the concepts. Know them inside and out. The math is just plugging in equations and knowing all the problem types, but the concepts will wreck you if you don't know them well." -

Speaking of which, don't hesitate to ask your teacher questions and use outside resources. Here's some examples:

: From study guides to live stream replays, Fiveable's your go-to if you need an interactive refresher of either a given topic or the overall unit.

Check out Khan Academy whenever you need to review special concepts or do practice problems. The practice is much recommended as it explains why each answer choice is (in)correct.

 Another repository of awesome videos and notes, Flipping Physics does demonstrations on top of lectures—a must-see for visual learners. FP also goes over previous years' Free Response Questions (FRQs), which make up 50% of your exam score!

When browsing, look at sample problems, notes, and real-life analogies. They'll help you understand the content further, especially in such a fast-paced class as AP Physics 1 📝

 In a nutshell: AP Physics 1 is challenging if you don't seek help on your own!

 It'll take more than one time going over the lesson before having a solid grasp over topics covered that day. Use online resources (e.g. Fiveable, Khan Academy, Flipping Physics) to add on to what you know in class. Do a lot of practice problems to familiarize yourself with what'll you'll see on the AP exam!

Sometimes, you have to let the numbers speak for themselves. Here are the score distributions from 2019:

What does this mean for you? Physics 1 is not a walk in the park, but with hard work and dedication (sounds cliched, but it's true), getting a 3 or higher is definitely doable! 

If you find yourself curious now and then with the most mundane processes around us, from tires skidding when braking to lights dimming over time, physics is where you will learn the reasoning behind relevant concepts such as friction, gravity, and electricity. In terms of learning, you'll bring home countless takeaways from the class, especially if you are interested in taking on physics as a career option through either engineering or applied physics 🚀

Your efforts will also be handsomely rewarded at the end of the year. Most colleges across the nation offer credit if you get a score of 3 (4 or 5 for the more competitive colleges), and you can always 

 to see if your dream school does. Keep in mind that some colleges might require you to take their physics courses to ensure that you have a solid foundation in physics. 

Still, being exposed to college-level physics in high school will be advantageous once you get to college because all you need by then is to clear off the cobwebs instead of starting from scratch 🙌

One of our new initiatives here at Fiveable for the 2020-2021 school year is Fiveable Courses!  You can sign up for the AP Physics 1 Fiveable course to get access to a bunch of assistance throughout either the fall or spring semester.  This can be super helpful — whether you are self-studying or looking for extra support to supplement your in-class work.

It's $55, and it'll be worth it for the long run! 🙂 Sign up for Fiveable's 

Physics may seem intimidating at first, but taking the class personally taught me how to reason scientifically. 

Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Remember to consider other factors impacting you at school like community service, internships, clubs, and other activities that may divert your attention from putting your best foot forward in AP Physics 1. Don't overwork yourself!

If you're taking on the class, best of luck and don't forget that 

! Trust us, it'll keep you from losing your sanity. You got this 😉

Is AP Physics 1 Hard? Is AP Physics 1 Worth Taking? 

In AP Physics, the first thing you learn is typically kinematics - that is the physics of motion. Whether 1 dimensional or 2 dimensional, the 

 (Sometimes called SUVAT equations) are key tools in finding displacement, initial or final velocities, and other quantities like acceleration and time. So, what are the kinematic equations and how do you derive them?

When an object moves from A to point B under a constant acceleration, 

Fun Fact: you only need to know just three of these quantities in order to determine the other two! College Board gives the following equations on the equation sheet:

Note that College Board drops the subscript for final position and velocity but feel free to leave them on to avoid misunderstandings.

You should also know the following definition of average velocity. Occasionally you will need this:

(1) List all the variables you know and their values. Remember, you just need at least three! Here’s a few tips if it’s not explicitly stated.

During free fall, the magnitude of the vertical acceleration is g = 9.8m/s²

If the starting and final position is equal, you may set Δd to zero

At the top of a trajectory, the vertical component of the velocity will be zero.

If needed, draw a picture! Pictures can help you label values and get a better perspective as to how things work kinematically

(2) Determine the variable you are solving for

(3) Determine the relevant equation(s) to use.

Oftentimes there is a “missing quantity” that is not given, and you do not need to solve for it. Note that each equation excludes exactly one variable. Picking the equation that does not include this “missing quantity” is the best way to proceed.

Romeo throws a bouquet of flowers up a building. What is the minimum speed he needs to throw the flowers such that it lands in Juliet's balcony, which is at a height of 5 meters above him?

First, we will determine as many known variables as possible. At first, this may seem troubling as there is only one number in the question! We only know that the vertical displacement Δd is 5 meters.

However, because the object travels through the air it experiences a constant acceleration of -9.8 m/s².

Finally, we will use the last piece of information we haven't used yet: we wish to find the minimum speed. In other words, Romeo needs to throw the flowers up in such a way where it reaches the balcony but just barely. This occurs when the balcony is at the top of the trajectory or when the velocity is zero.

The quantity we wish to find is the initial velocity. The only equation that includes only these four variables in equation 3:

: Notice that the equation we chose did not depend on time. Whenever you don't get the value of the time elapsed, this equation is almost always the right way to go.

A traditional physics course would formally derive the kinematic equations with calculus. However, there is a far more intuitive and beautiful way of looking at them with just plain algebra.

First, we will plot velocity vs time on a graph.

This graph represents an object that starts with an initial velocity and steadily increases it as time grows.

The slope of the graph is Δv/Δt which is the definition of acceleration. The y-intercept is the velocity of the object at t=0 or the initial velocity vᵢ. Using y=mx+b, the general form of the line is:

The x-axis is time and the y-axis is velocity so substituting those variables give:

Remarks: this could have also been derived using the definition of acceleration
a = (v-vᵢ)/t and then rearranging to solve for v. However I chose this slightly different way to create the basis for the next section.

Before we move on to this derivation, we will first show that the area under the velocity vs time graph is the displacement. If you are already familiar, you may skip the next subsection.

If you jog at 2 m/s for 4 seconds, it is not hard to see that your displacement will be 8 meters. Graphically, this is represented by the area traveled: 

Kinematic Equations and Derivations

Here is an outline for AP Physics 1, Unit 4: Energy, created in accordance with the 

Check out all the Fiveable guides, slides, and videos for AP Physics 1

In Unit 4, students are introduced to the idea of conservation and work as the agent of change for energy. Students will use old and new models and representations to analyze physical situations. 

These models will now incorporate force or energy as major components. Complete knowledge of these energy models will give students the capability to make predictions and justify claims with evidence about physical situations. 

For an isolated or closed system, conserved quantities are constant. An open system exchanges any conserved quantity with its surroundings.

An exchange can be either a force exerted by objects outside the system or a transfer with objects outside the system. The boundary between a system and its environment is decided by the person considering the situation.

 W = D x F, where D is the distance parallel to F, the force applied. The SI units are Joules for Work, Newtons for Force, and Meters for distance. 

 PE (Gravitational Potential Energy) = mgh, where m is an object’s mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the vertical height of an object. The SI units are Kilograms for M, 9.8 /s/s or 10 m/s/s for G, and Meters for H. 

 PE (Spring Potential Energy) = ½ kx^2, where k is the spring constant and x is the stretch or compression. The SI units are Newtons/Meters for K and Meters for X. 

 KE (Kinetic Energy) = ½ mv^2, where m is an object’s mass, and v is its velocity. The SI units are Kilograms for Mass, and Meters/Second for Velocity. 

 KE (Rotational Kinetic Energy) = ½ Iω^2, where I is the rotational inertia and ω is angular velocity. The SI units are Radians/Second for ω and Kilogram X Meter^2 for I. 

Conservation of Energy, Work-Energy Principle, and Power

 KEi + PEi + Wext = KEf + PEf, where i is initial, f is final, KE is kinetic energy, PE potential energy, and Wext is work external. 

 W = ΔKE, where W is the total work and ΔKE is the change in kinetic energy (KEf - KEi). The SI units are Joules for W and ΔKE. 

 P = W/T, where P is power, W is work, and T is time. The SI units are Watts for Power, Joules for Work, and Seconds for Time.

Be sure to review the past FRQ prompts published by the College Board (

 to look over some important terms and key concepts from this unit. You can do it!  

Unit 4 Review - Energy

Here is an outline for AP Physics 1, Unit 2: Dynamics, created in accordance with the 

Be sure to review the past FRQ prompts published by CollegeBoard (

 to take a look at a couple important terms and key concepts from this unit. You got this! 💪 

 There's more AP Physics 1 review inside of Fiveable. Check out all the guides, slides, and videos!

In this unit, students are introduced to force, which is the interaction of an object with another object. In order to accomplish this, students build upon the information presented in Unit 1, specifically free-body diagrams. Also, students must be able to showcase the same object–force interactions through different graphs, diagrams, and mathematical relationships. Unit 2 further encourages students to form new expressions from basic principles to help them make predictions in unfamiliar contexts. 

In the following image, the rope holding the system together is representative of a force known as 

. Tension between objects remains the same regardless of friction or not. In systems, internal interactions such as these have little changes or none at all which is why it can be regarded as an object.

If you recall from Kinematics, an object's acceleration is equal to 9.8 m/s/s when an object is in free fall.

This law deals with two main concepts in physics: the principle of 

. Newton’s First Law is sometimes known as the Law of Inertia because it explains the concept that objects have the tendency to resist a change in motion. 

AP Physics 1 | Unit 2 Review - Dynamics

Studying for the AP Physics 1 exam? We've pulled together a list of study guides for every unit so you can focus your time on studying and not looking for resources!

If you need more explanations, drop your questions in the 

All of these study guides were created by AP Physics 1 teachers and students who have passed the exam. They include everything you need to know to get a 5 on the exam.

We're publishing more every day, so check back or send us a message with any immediate requests!

Please note! Due to the COVID outbreak, the 2020 exam only covers units 1-7. Find the 2020 exam schedule, learn tips & tricks, and get your frequently asked questions answered on 

Fiveable's Guide to the 2020 Exam Updates.

Unit 1 is your first foray into physics! You'll study kinematics, the study of the motion of matter. In this unit, you're introduced to the fundamental quantities of kinematics and the equations relating them. First, one-dimensional kinematics is covered, but you'll quickly learn that these topics apply to multiple dimensions as well.

1.1 - Position, Velocity, and Acceleration

After kinematics, we move onto dynamics, which is the study of forces and how motion changes over time. We will also be introduced to Newton’s Laws of Motion, which are the bread and butter of mechanics and also a lot of other physical concepts as well.

2.5 - Newton's Third Law and Free-Body Diagrams

2.7 - Applications of Newton's Second Law

🚀 Unit 3: Circular Motion and Gravitation

We then move onto circular motion and gravitation, where an object moves around a central point or object. Gravitation is also an attractive field force, where one object attracts another, but these objects don’t have to be touching, unlike the forces you’ve learned in unit 2.

3.4 - Gravitational Field and Acceleration due to Gravity on Different Planets

3.6 - Centripetal Acceleration and Centripetal Force

3.7 - Free-Body Diagrams for Objects in Uniform Circular Motion

3.8 - Applications of Circular Motion and Gravitation

We then move on to discussing energy, which is the ability for an object to do work. We will talk about kinetic energy, the energy of an object in motion, and potential energy, the energy of an object due to its position.

4.3 - Conservation of Energy, the Work-Energy Principle, and Power

We will also talk about momentum, which can be said as how much motion an object has and is the product of mass and velocity. We’ll discuss how momentum can change due to an outside force and collisions.

5.2 - Representations of Changes in Momentum

In this unit, springs and pendulums are the name of the game as we discuss these two systems and what they have in common. Hint: they go back and forth and back and forth and, well you get the point.

6.1 - Period of Simple Harmonic Oscillators

6.2 - Energy of a Simple Harmonic Oscillator

🎡 Unit 7: Torque and Rotational Motion

After dealing with motion in x-y coordinates, we switch to rotational motion, where position is measured in terms of the angle rotated around a cent

💡 Unit 8: Electric Charges and Electric Force

We’re done with mechanics now! We now move onto the study of electricity, a world of protons and electrons and charges. Newton’s laws still apply here when we talk about attractive and repulsive forces, however.

AP Physics 1 Exam Prep 2020-21

browse by unit

Free Reviews 2020

AP Physics Essentials

Unit 1 - Kinematics

Unit 2 - Dynamics

Unit 3 - Circular Motion

Unit 4 - Energy

Unit 5 - Momentum

Unit 6 - Simple Harmonic Motion

Unit 7 - Torque & Rotational Motion

Unit 8 - Electric Charges & Electric Force

Unit 9 - DC Circuits

Unit 10 - Mechanical Waves & Sound

Free Response Questions (FRQs)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Blogs

creators

Peter Apps

Jenni MacLean

Christian Horner

Jenny Kostka

Ethan Hansen

Oather Strawderman

John Frensley

Peter Cao

Jed Quiaoit

Kanya Shah

Jacob Jeffries

Erin Brzusek

Catherine Liu

Serene Feng

Kelley Commeford

Casey Li

Briana Dokken

AP Physics 1 Exam Prep 2020-21

browse by unit

Free Reviews 2020﻿

AP Physics Essentials﻿

Unit 1 - Kinematics﻿

Unit 2 - Dynamics﻿

Unit 3 - Circular Motion﻿

Unit 4 - Energy﻿

Unit 5 - Momentum﻿

Unit 6 - Simple Harmonic Motion﻿

Unit 7 - Torque & Rotational Motion﻿

Unit 8 - Electric Charges & Electric Force﻿

Unit 9 - DC Circuits﻿

Unit 10 - Mechanical Waves & Sound﻿

Free Response Questions (FRQs)﻿

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)﻿

Blogs﻿

creators

Peter Apps﻿

Jenni MacLean﻿

Christian Horner﻿

Jenny Kostka﻿

Ethan Hansen﻿

Oather Strawderman﻿

John Frensley﻿

Peter Cao﻿

Jed Quiaoit﻿

Kanya Shah﻿

Jacob Jeffries﻿

Erin Brzusek﻿

Catherine Liu﻿

Serene Feng﻿

Kelley Commeford﻿

Casey Li﻿

Briana Dokken﻿