AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.

Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

The course content is organized into seven commonly taught units, which have been arranged in the following suggested, logical sequence:

1. Kinematics
   1. Position, Velocity, and Acceleration
   2. Representations of Motion
2. Dynamics
   1. Systems
   2. The Gravitational Field
   3. Contact Forces
   4. Newton's First Law
   5. Newton's Third Law and Free-Body Diagrams
   6. Newton's Second Law
   7. Applications of Newton's Second Law
3. Circular Motion and Gravitation
   1. Vector Systems
   2. Fundamental Forces
   3. Gravitational and Electric Forces
   4. Gravitational Field/Acceleration Due to Gravity on Different Planets
   5. Inertial vs.Gravitational Mass
   6. Centripetal Acceleration and Centripetal Force
   7. Free-Body Diagrams for Objects in Uniform Circular Motion
   8. Applications of Circular Motion and Gravitation
4. Energy
   1. Open and Closed Systems: Energy
   2. Work and Mechanical Energy
   3. Conservation of Energy, the WorkEnergy Principle, and Power
5. Momentum
   1. Momentum and Impulse
   2. Representations of Changes in Momentum
   3. Open and Closed Systems: Momentum
   4. Conservation of Linear Momentum
6. Simple Harmonic Motion
   1. Period of Simple Harmonic Oscillators
   2. Energy of a Simple Harmonic Oscillator
7. Torque and Rotational Motion
   1. Rotational Kinematics
   2. Torque and Angular Acceleration
   3. Angular Momentum and Torque
   4. Conservation of Angular Momentum

The exam is 3 hours long and includes 50 multiple choice questions and 5 free-response questions. The 5 free-response questions may appear in any order. A four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator is allowed on both sections of the exam.

Format of Assessment

Section I: Multiple-choice | 50 Questions | 90 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score

■ 45 single-select multiple-choice questions (discrete or in sets).
■ 5 multiple-select multiple-choice items (all discrete).

Section II: Free-response | 5 Questions | 90 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score

■ Question 1: Experimental Design (12 points).
■ Question 2: Qualitative/Quantitative Translation (12 points).
■ Question 3: Paragraph Argument Short Answer (7 points).
■ Questions 4 and 5: Short Answer (7 points each).