AP Physics 1 study guide
AP Physics 1 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based is a College Board course and exam equivalent to a first-semester introductory college physics course taken without calculus. It is designed for students who have completed a geometry course and are concurrently enrolled in Algebra II or an equivalent course. The AP Physics 1 study guide has 8 sections and about 2,464 words.
01Kinematics
Kinematics describes motion without asking what causes it. A candidate must be fluent in the distinction between scalars (distance, speed) and vectors (displacement, velocity, acceleration), and must be able to move between position, velocity, and acceleration graphs.
317 words, about 2 min02Force and Translational Dynamics
Newton's laws anchor this domain. The first law defines inertia; the second, ΣF = ma, is a vector equation applied per axis; the third says forces come in equal-and-opposite pairs acting on different bodies.
332 words, about 2 min03Work, Energy, and Power
Work is W = Fd cosθ, the component of force along displacement times displacement. The work-energy theorem says net work equals change in kinetic energy.
310 words, about 2 min04Linear Momentum
Momentum p = mv is a vector. Impulse J = FΔt equals change in momentum, so a longer collision time reduces average force for the same Δp.
305 words, about 2 min05Torque and Rotational Dynamics
Torque τ = rF sinθ measures a force's tendency to rotate an object about an axis; it depends on the lever arm and the angle between r and F. Static equilibrium requires both ΣF = 0 and Στ = 0.
321 words, about 2 min06Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems
Rotational kinetic energy is ½Iω², and rolling objects combine translational and rotational energy: K = ½mv² + ½Iω², with v = ωr for rolling without slipping. Angular momentum L = Iω is conserved when net external torque is zero, which explains why a spinning skater speeds up when pulling arms in (I decreases, ω increases).
306 words, about 2 min07Oscillations
Simple harmonic motion (SHM) occurs when restoring force is proportional to displacement: F = -kx. The period of a mass-spring system is T = 2π√(m/k); a simple pendulum has T = 2π√(L/g).
274 words, about 1 min08Fluids
Fluids exert pressure P = F/A; in a static fluid, pressure increases with depth: P = P₀ + ρgh. Buoyancy follows Archimedes' principle: the buoyant force equals the weight of displaced fluid, F b = ρ fluid·V displaced·g.
299 words, about 1 min