AP Physics 1

Are you fascinated by motion, gravity, mechanics, or electricity? Learn all about these topics and more in AP Physics 1. AP Physics 1 is an introductory physics course. It covers many of the same topics as a standard or honors physics course with the added benefit of AP credit after passing the AP exam. Through interactive media, labs, inquiry projects and assignments, this course investigates Newtonian mechanics, gravitation, harmonic motion, wave motion, electrostatics and circuitry. Heavy emphasis is placed on problem solving and quantitative reasoning. RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Algebra 2 and concurrently taking Precalculus.

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SEMESTER 1

Unit 1: Kinematics

  • Motion in One Dimension
  • Motion in Two Dimensions

Unit 2: Dynamics, Newton's Laws

  • Newton's 1st, 2nd and 3rd Laws
  • Applications of Newton's Laws

Unit 3: Work, Energy and Conservation of Energy

  • Work and work energy theorem
  • Conservative forces and potential energy
  • Conservation of Energy & Power

Unit 4: Center of Mass Impulse and Momentum

  • Center of mass & impulse and momentum
  • Conservation of Linear Momentum, collisions

Unit 5: UCM and Gravitation

  • UCM
  • Universal Gravitation & Orbits of Planets and Satellites

SEMESTER 2

Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion

  • Simple Harmonic Motion & mass on a spring & Pendulums and other oscillators

Unit 7: Rotational Motion

  • Torque and Rotational Statics & Rotational Kinematics and Dynamics & Rotational Inertia

Unit 8: Electrostatics

  • Electric Charge and Coulomb’s law
  • Electric Fields
  • Electric Potential

Unit 9: DC Circuits with Resistors

  • Current Resistance Power
  • DC circuits with batteries and resistors & Capacitors in Circuits

Unit 10: Mechanical Waves and Sound

  • Wave basics & Properties of Traveling Waves & Properties of Standing Waves
  • Sound Waves and the Doppler Shift