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AP Physics 1 Workshop Curriculum

AP Physics 1 Curriculum

A structured AP Physics 1 plan aligned with the official unit sequence, with conceptual problem solving, graph interpretation, and AP-style practice.

Official 8-Unit Structure MCQ + FRQ Practice Conceptual Problem Solving Mock Test + Review

AP Exam Format

  • Multiple Choice: 40 questions in 80 minutes
  • Free Response: 4 questions in 100 minutes
  • Section Weighting: each section is worth 50%

Official Unit Allocation

The units are organized according to AP Physics 1 exam emphasis.

UnitOfficial AP Physics 1 UnitExam WeightTeaching Hours
Unit 1Kinematics10 to 15%4.5 hours
Unit 2Force and Translational Dynamics18 to 23%7 hours
Unit 3Work, Energy, and Power18 to 23%7 hours
Unit 4Linear Momentum10 to 15%4 hours
Unit 5Torque and Rotational Dynamics10 to 15%4.5 hours
Unit 6Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems5 to 8%2.5 hours
Unit 7Oscillations5 to 8%2 hours
Unit 8Fluids10 to 15%4.5 hours
Final BlockMock test, discussion, and full reviewCumulative4 hours
Total40 hours

Detailed Hour-Wise Plan

Unit 1
Kinematics

Hours 1–4.5: Kinematics

Hour 1: Course Introduction + Scalars and Vectors in One Dimension

Official topic: 1.1 Scalars and Vectors in One Dimension

  • AP Physics 1 structure
  • Units, significant figures, and dimensional thinking
  • Scalar vs vector quantities
  • Displacement vs distance

Hour 2: Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration

Official topic: 1.2 Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration

  • Average vs instantaneous velocity
  • Acceleration, signs, and direction
  • One-dimensional motion reasoning

Hour 3: Representing Motion

Official topic: 1.3 Representing Motion

  • Position-time graphs
  • Velocity-time graphs
  • Acceleration-time graphs
  • Slope and area reasoning

Hour 4: Relative Motion + 2D Motion Introduction

Official topics: 1.4 Reference Frames and Relative Motion; 1.5 Vectors and Motion in Two Dimensions

  • Reference frames and relative velocity
  • Vector components
  • Basic two-dimensional motion
Hour 4.5: Kinematics AP PracticeShort AP-style MCQ/FRQ set, graph interpretation, and common kinematics mistakes.
Unit 2
Dynamics

Hours 5–11.5: Force and Translational Dynamics

Hour 5: Systems and Center of Mass

Official topic: 2.1 Systems and Center of Mass

  • System choice
  • External vs internal forces
  • Center-of-mass idea

Hour 6: Forces and Free-Body Diagrams

Official topic: 2.2 Forces and Free-Body Diagrams

  • Normal force, weight, tension, applied force, friction, and spring force
  • Free-body diagram rules

Hour 7: Newton’s Third Law + Interaction Pairs

Official topic: 2.3 Newton’s Third Law

  • Action-reaction pairs
  • System boundaries
  • Force pairs vs balanced forces

Hour 8: Newton’s First Law + Equilibrium Thinking

Official topic: 2.4 Newton’s First Law

  • Inertia
  • Equilibrium
  • Constant velocity
  • Zero net force reasoning

Hour 9: Newton’s Second Law

Official topic: 2.5 Newton’s Second Law

  • Net force and acceleration
  • Multi-force problems
  • Symbolic and numerical solving

Hour 10: Gravitational Force + Friction

Official topics: 2.6 Gravitational Force; 2.7 Kinetic and Static Friction

  • Weight vs gravitational force
  • Universal gravitation basics
  • Static and kinetic friction
  • Inclined planes

Hour 11: Spring Forces + Circular Motion

Official topics: 2.8 Spring Forces; 2.9 Circular Motion

  • Hooke’s law and restoring force
  • Centripetal acceleration
  • Circular force reasoning
Hour 11.5: Dynamics AP PracticeMixed FBD problems, circular motion MCQs, and short FRQ discussion.
Unit 3
Energy

Hours 12–18.5: Work, Energy, and Power

Hour 12: Translational Kinetic Energy

Official topic: 3.1 Translational Kinetic Energy

  • Kinetic energy
  • Energy as a scalar
  • Relationship between speed and kinetic energy

Hour 13: Work

Official topic: 3.2 Work

  • Work by constant force
  • Angle dependence
  • Positive, negative, and zero work
  • Work from graphs

Hour 14: Work-Energy Theorem

  • Net work and change in kinetic energy
  • AP-style symbolic reasoning

Hour 15: Potential Energy

Official topic: 3.3 Potential Energy

  • Gravitational potential energy
  • Elastic potential energy
  • Conservative forces

Hour 16: Conservation of Energy

Official topic: 3.4 Conservation of Energy

  • Energy bar charts
  • System choice
  • Energy transfer
  • Friction and nonconservative work

Hour 17: Power

Official topic: 3.5 Power

  • Power as rate of energy transfer
  • Efficiency
  • Real-world interpretation

Hour 18: Energy FRQ Practice

  • Energy conservation
  • Graph interpretation
  • Experimental-design style energy question
Hour 18.5: Unit 3 CheckpointTimed MCQ set plus correction discussion.
Unit 4
Momentum

Hours 19–22.5: Linear Momentum

Hour 19: Linear Momentum

Official topic: 4.1 Linear Momentum

  • Momentum as a vector
  • System momentum
  • Mass and velocity dependence

Hour 20: Change in Momentum and Impulse

Official topic: 4.2 Change in Momentum and Impulse

  • Impulse-momentum theorem
  • Force-time graphs
  • Area-under-curve reasoning

Hour 21: Conservation of Linear Momentum

Official topic: 4.3 Conservation of Linear Momentum

  • Closed systems
  • Internal and external forces
  • Explosion and recoil problems

Hour 22: Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Official topic: 4.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

  • Momentum conservation
  • Kinetic energy comparison
  • Collision classification
Hour 22.5: Momentum AP PracticeShort collision FRQ and conceptual MCQs.
Unit 5
Rotation

Hours 23–27.5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics

Hour 23: Rotational Kinematics

Official topic: 5.1 Rotational Kinematics

  • Angular displacement
  • Angular velocity
  • Angular acceleration
  • Rotational motion graphs

Hour 24: Connecting Linear and Rotational Motion

Official topic: 5.2 Connecting Linear and Rotational Motion

  • Linear and angular displacement relationships
  • Linear and angular speed relationships
  • Tangential vs centripetal acceleration

Hour 25: Torque

Official topic: 5.3 Torque

  • Lever arm
  • Direction of torque
  • Net torque
  • Rotational cause-effect reasoning

Hour 26: Rotational Inertia

Official topic: 5.4 Rotational Inertia

  • Moment of inertia concept
  • Mass distribution
  • Qualitative comparisons

Hour 27: Rotational Equilibrium and Newton’s Laws in Rotational Form

Official topics: 5.5 Rotational Equilibrium and Newton’s First Law in Rotational Form; 5.6 Newton’s Second Law in Rotational Form

  • Static equilibrium
  • Net torque reasoning
  • Angular acceleration reasoning
  • AP-style rotational FRQs
Hour 27.5: Unit 5 PracticeTorque and rotation MCQ/FRQ checkpoint.
Unit 6
Rotating Systems

Hours 28–30: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems

Hour 28: Rotational Kinetic Energy + Torque and Work

Official topics: 6.1 Rotational Kinetic Energy; 6.2 Torque and Work

  • Rotational kinetic energy
  • Work done by torque
  • Energy in rotating systems

Hour 29: Angular Momentum and Angular Impulse

Official topic: 6.3 Angular Momentum and Angular Impulse

  • Angular momentum
  • Angular impulse
  • Torque-time graph reasoning

Hour 30: Conservation of Angular Momentum + Rolling + Satellites

Official topics: 6.4 Conservation of Angular Momentum; 6.5 Rolling; 6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites

  • Skater and spinning examples
  • Rolling energy
  • Orbiting satellite energy and force ideas
Unit 7
Oscillations

Hours 31–32.5: Oscillations

Hour 31: Defining SHM + Frequency and Period

Official topics: 7.1 Defining Simple Harmonic Motion; 7.2 Frequency and Period of SHM

  • Restoring force
  • Equilibrium position
  • Amplitude, period, and frequency
  • Spring and pendulum basics

Hour 32: Representing and Analyzing SHM + Energy

Official topics: 7.3 Representing and Analyzing SHM; 7.4 Energy of Simple Harmonic Oscillators

  • Position, velocity, and acceleration graphs
  • Energy transformation in SHM
Hour 32.5: Oscillation PracticeGraph-heavy MCQs and one short conceptual FRQ.
Unit 8
Fluids

Hours 33–36: Fluids

Hour 33: Internal Structure and Density

Official topic: 8.1 Internal Structure and Density

  • Density
  • Fluid particle model
  • Mass-volume reasoning

Hour 34: Pressure

Official topic: 8.2 Pressure

  • Pressure definition
  • Depth dependence
  • Gauge vs absolute pressure if needed
  • Pascal-style reasoning

Hour 35: Fluids and Newton’s Laws

Official topic: 8.3 Fluids and Newton’s Laws

  • Buoyancy
  • Archimedes’ principle
  • Floating and sinking
  • Force balance in fluids

Hour 36: Fluids and Conservation Laws

Official topic: 8.4 Fluids and Conservation Laws

  • Continuity
  • Flow rate
  • Bernoulli-style conceptual reasoning
  • AP-style fluids practice
Final
Block

Hours 37–40: Final Mock Test, Discussion, and Review

Hour 37: Timed Cumulative AP-Style Test

  • Mixed MCQ and selected FRQ questions covering all 8 units
  • Priority areas: graphs, FBDs, energy, momentum, rotation, fluids, and experimental design

Hour 38: Test Discussion and Error Analysis

  • Conceptual errors
  • Equation-selection errors
  • Graph-reading errors
  • System-choice errors
  • Unit/sign errors

Hour 39: Whole-Course Concept Review

  • High-yield AP Physics 1 map
  • Kinematics → force → energy → momentum → rotation → oscillation → fluids

Hour 40: Final Strategy and Rapid Review

  • Formula sheet navigation
  • FRQ writing strategy
  • Graph interpretation
  • Experimental-design approach
  • Common traps and final Q&A

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