High School / AP

AP Physics (1, 2, C)

Education focused on conceptual understanding and mathematical modeling for both algebra-based (1 and 2) and calculus-based (C: Mechanics & E&M) AP Physics curricula.

Curriculum / Syllabus

  1. Kinematics and Dynamics
  2. Work, Energy, and Power
  3. Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum
  4. Rotation and Circular Motion
  5. Electricity and Magnetism (Physics 2 & C)
  6. Thermodynamics and Optics (Physics 2)

Exam & Course Strategy

AP Physics C exams require calculus-based derivative/integral applications, whereas AP Physics 1 and 2 rely more on conceptual explanations (paragraph-length responses) and algebraic operations.

Study Materials

Official Sources

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Lesson-by-Lesson Curriculum Plan

AP Physics 1: 22-Lesson Curriculum Plan

This program follows the 8 units of the College Board AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description, including Unit 8 (Fluids), which moved into AP Physics 1 with the 2024-25 revision.

Each block of core lessons is followed by FRQ (free-response question) practice, and the program ends with a full exam simulation.

  • Total lessons: 22
  • Lesson duration: 90 minutes

Flow of a standard 90-minute lesson

  • 0–10 minutes Warm-up, quick review of the previous lesson, or a mini-quiz.
  • 10–55 minutes Lecture, analysis, and theoretical review of the new topic.
  • 55–85 minutes Guided problem solving: the student works exam-style questions under my direct supervision and receives instant feedback.
  • 85–90 minutes Summary, homework, and wrap-up.
Part 1: Motion and Forces Lessons 1 - 6

Covers Unit 1 (Kinematics) and Unit 2 (Force and Translational Dynamics).

  1. Lesson 1
    Core 1 / Unit 1 Scalars and vectors, displacement, velocity, and acceleration; motion graphs and the kinematic equations in one dimension.
  2. Lesson 2
    Core 2 / Unit 1 Motion in two dimensions, projectile motion, and reference frames with relative motion.
  3. Lesson 3
    Core 3 / Unit 2 Systems and center of mass, free-body diagrams, Newton's three laws.
  4. Lesson 4
    Core 4 / Unit 2 Gravitational force, friction, spring forces, inclines, and connected objects.
  5. Lesson 5
    Core 5 / Unit 2 Circular motion, centripetal acceleration, and orbits.
  6. Lesson 6
    FRQ Practice 1 Kinematics and dynamics questions: mathematical routines and translation between representations.
Part 2: Energy and Momentum Lessons 7 - 11

Covers Unit 3 (Work, Energy, and Power) and Unit 4 (Linear Momentum).

  1. Lesson 7
    Core 6 / Unit 3 Work, kinetic energy, and the work-energy theorem; potential energy.
  2. Lesson 8
    Core 7 / Unit 3 Conservation of energy, energy bar charts, and power.
  3. Lesson 9
    Core 8 / Unit 4 Linear momentum, impulse, and the impulse-momentum theorem.
  4. Lesson 10
    Core 9 / Unit 4 Conservation of momentum; elastic and inelastic collisions; motion of the center of mass.
  5. Lesson 11
    FRQ Practice 2 Energy and momentum questions, including experimental design and analysis questions.
Part 3: Rotation, Oscillations, and Fluids Lessons 12 - 18

Covers Unit 5 (Torque and Rotational Dynamics), Unit 6 (Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems), Unit 7 (Oscillations), and Unit 8 (Fluids).

  1. Lesson 12
    Core 10 / Unit 5 Rotational kinematics and the link between linear and rotational motion; torque.
  2. Lesson 13
    Core 11 / Unit 5 Rotational inertia, rotational equilibrium, and Newton's second law in rotational form.
  3. Lesson 14
    Core 12 / Unit 6 Rotational kinetic energy, angular momentum and its conservation, rolling motion, and the motion of orbiting satellites.
  4. Lesson 15
    Core 13 / Unit 7 Simple harmonic motion: springs and pendulums, period and frequency, energy in oscillating systems.
  5. Lesson 16
    Core 14 / Unit 8 Density and pressure, buoyancy and Archimedes' principle.
  6. Lesson 17
    Core 15 / Unit 8 Fluid flow: the continuity equation and Bernoulli's equation.
  7. Lesson 18
    FRQ Practice 3 Rotation, oscillation, and fluids questions, including qualitative/quantitative translation questions.
Part 4: Exam Practice and Simulation Lessons 19 - 22

Comprehensive exam practice for both sections of the exam.

  1. Lesson 19
    FRQ Practice 4 Experimental design and analysis: planning a procedure, linearizing data, and drawing conclusions from graphs.
  2. Lesson 20
    Multiple Choice Practice Multiple-choice strategies and conceptual reasoning without calculation.
  3. Lesson 21
    FRQ Practice 5 Full-scope mixed exam simulation (time management and scoring according to AP rubrics).
  4. Lesson 22
    Evaluation Simulation analysis, addressing common mistakes, and course wrap-up.
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