AP® Physics 1
For Educators
Teachers can use the complete Plus course curriculum for flexible instruction.
Course Summary
Explore motion, gravity, mechanics, and electricity in this introductory physics course. Through interactive media, labs, inquiry projects, and assignments, students investigate classical mechanics. Study physics fundamentals through problem-solving and quantitative reasoning, and explore Newton’s Laws, conservation, harmonic and relational motion, and other topics.
This course prepares students for the AP® Physics 1 exam.
Curriculum
This is a two-semester course. Each semester requires a commitment of approximately 70 or more hours of coursework. While students may enroll in both semesters within the same term, UC Scout does not recommend this due to the intensive workload, especially during shorter terms like summer.
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 and 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
- Uniform Circular Motion
- Universal Gravitation
- Orbits of Planets and Satellites
Unit 6: Simple Harmonic Motion
- Simple Harmonic Motion
- Mass on a Spring
- Pendulums and Other Oscillators
Unit 7: Rotational Motion
- Torque
- Rotational Statics
- Rotational Kinematics
- Rotational Dynamics
- Rotational Inertia
- Rotational Energy
Unit 8: Fluid Statics and Dynamics
- Hydrostatic Pressure
- Buoyancy
- Fluid Flow Continuity
- Bernoulli's Equation