AP Physics 1 Curriculum

Unit 1: Kinematics (Weight: 10%–15%)

- 1D and 2D motion

- Position, velocity, and acceleration vectors

- Graphical representations of motion

- Equations of motion under constant acceleration

- Relative motion and reference frames

Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics (Weight: 18%–23%)

- Systems, system schema

- Free-body diagrams and net force

- Newton’s Laws (1st, 2nd, and 3rd)

- Types of forces: gravitational, normal, frictional, tension, spring

- Applications of Newton’s laws in various contexts

- Uniform circular motion and centripetal force

Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power (Weight: 18%–23%)

- Work done by a constant force

- Kinetic energy and the work-energy theorem

- Potential energy: gravitational and elastic

- Conservation of mechanical energy

- Power and efficiency

Unit 4: Linear Momentum (Weight: 10%–15%)

- Linear momentum and impulse

- Impulse-momentum theorem

- Conservation of momentum

- Elastic and inelastic collisions in 1D and 2D

Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics (Weight: 10%–15%)

- Rotational kinematics

- Torque and angular acceleration

- Moment of inertia and rotational inertia

- Newton’s second law for rotation

- Rotational equilibrium and net torque

Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems (Weight: 5%–8%)

- Rotational kinetic energy

- Work and energy in rotational systems

- Angular momentum and conservation

- Rolling without slipping

Unit 7: Oscillations (Weight: 5%–8%)

 - Simple harmonic motion (SHM)

 - Spring-mass systems and pendulums

 - Energy in SHM

 - Graphs of motion in SHM

Unit 8: Fluids (Weight: 10%–15%)

- Density and pressure

- Buoyant force and Archimedes’ principle

- Continuity equation

- Bernoulli’s equation and fluid dynamics