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AP Physics 1 is a college-level course offered by the College Board to high school students who are interested in studying the fundamentals of physics. It was opted by 162,000 students in 2023 as it is one of the preferred AP courses.
According to surveyed data of class alumni, the pass rate for the AP Physics 1 exam was 45% in 2023 and the difficulty rating for the AP Physics 1 exam was 7.7 out of 10. The course delves into topics like kinematics, dynamics, circular motion, waves, and basic electrical circuits.
Course Contents
The course framework included in the course and exam description (CED) clearly details the course requirements necessary for student success. The framework also encourages instruction that prepares students to make connections across domains through a broader way of thinking about the physical world.
The AP Physics 1 course framework is organized into eight commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.
| Unit | Details | Exam Weighting (Multiple-Choice Section) |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Kinematics | You’ll be introduced to the study of motion | 10%–15% |
| Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics | You’ll revisit the concepts you worked with in Unit 1 to explore force, which is the interaction of an object with another object | 18%–23% |
| Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power | You’ll learn the definitions of and relationships between work, energy, and power | 18%–23% |
| Unit 4: Linear Momentum | You’ll explore the relationship between force, time, and momentum and learn to use the law of conservation of momentum to analyze physical situations | 10%–15% |
| Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics | You’ll use the tools, techniques, and models you’ve learned in previous units to analyze bodies that rotate, and what causes those rotations | 10%–15% |
| Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems | You’ll explore the energy and momentum of an object rotating around an axis and you’ll connect those concepts to their linear analogs | 5%–8% |
| Unit 7: Oscillations | You’ll use all the tools, techniques, and models you’ve learned in previous units to analyze a new kind of motion: simple harmonic motion | 5%–8% |
| Unit 8: Fluids | You’ll explore the behavior and motion of materials that can change shape and analyze how that behavior interacts with other objects | 10%–15% |
AP Physics 1 Resources
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Mar 10, 2025
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