AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Browse readings and complete checks by topic.

• Scalars and Vectors in One DimensionReading · Motion and vectors

  Distinguish distance from displacement and draw one-dimensional vectors on a scale.

• Displacement, Velocity, and AccelerationReading · Motion and vectors

  Connect position, elapsed time, velocity, and acceleration without confusing their signs.

• Representing MotionReading · Motion and vectors

  Translate among motion diagrams, equations, graph slopes, and signed graph areas.

• Reference Frames and Relative MotionReading · Motion and vectors

  Compare measurements made by observers moving at different constant velocities.

• Vectors and Motion in Two DimensionsReading · Motion and vectors

  Resolve motion into components and use one shared time for a projectile.

• Systems and Center of MassReading · Forces and interactions

  Choose the system boundary and locate a mass-weighted center of mass.

• Forces and Free-Body DiagramsReading · Forces and interactions

  Draw the actual interactions on one object and write component equations.

• Newton’s Third LawReading · Forces and interactions

  Keep Newton’s third-law partners on separate objects and identify internal forces.

• Newton’s First LawReading · Forces and interactions

  Recognize force balance in both stationary and constant-velocity systems.

• Newton’s Second LawReading · Forces and interactions

  Connect the external force sum to center-of-mass acceleration.

• Kinetic and Static FrictionReading · Forces and interactions

  Choose static or kinetic friction from the motion at the contacting surfaces.

• Spring ForcesReading · Forces and interactions

  Measure spring deformation from relaxed length and distinguish spring force from net force.

• Gravitational ForceReading · Circular motion and gravitation

  Connect inverse-square gravity, local field strength, real weight, and apparent weight.

• Circular MotionReading · Circular motion and gravitation

  Distinguish radial from tangential acceleration and derive a circular-orbit period relation.

• Motion of Orbiting SatellitesReading · Rotation and rolling

  Bring gravity, energy, and angular momentum together to analyze satellite motion.

• Translational Kinetic EnergyReading · Energy, work, and power

  Compare translational kinetic energy while keeping mass, speed, and reference frame clear.

• WorkReading · Energy, work, and power

  Calculate work from force direction and signed force-displacement area.

• Potential EnergyReading · Energy, work, and power

  Choose an energy reference and describe spring and gravitational configuration energy.

• Conservation of EnergyReading · Energy, work, and power

  Build an energy account that includes external work and thermal energy when needed.

• PowerReading · Energy, work, and power

  Interpret power as an energy-transfer rate and distinguish constant-force from constant-power motion.

• Rotational Kinetic EnergyReading · Rotation and rolling

  Build rotational kinetic energy from the motions of the system’s parts.

• Torque and WorkReading · Rotation and rolling

  Use torque-angle area to connect rotational work and energy transfer.

• Linear MomentumReading · Momentum and collisions

  Draw object and system momentum vectors in a stated reference frame.

• Change in Momentum and ImpulseReading · Momentum and collisions

  Connect force-time area and momentum-time slope to impulse.

• Conservation of Linear MomentumReading · Momentum and collisions

  Choose a system and test when negligible external impulse supports momentum conservation.

• Elastic and Inelastic CollisionsReading · Momentum and collisions

  Compare kinetic-energy evidence to distinguish elastic and inelastic collisions.

• Angular Momentum and Angular ImpulseReading · Rotation and rolling

  Connect torque-time area and angular momentum change to angular impulse.

• Conservation of Angular MomentumReading · Rotation and rolling

  Track external angular impulse when a rotating system changes its shape.

• Rotational KinematicsReading · Rotation and rolling

  Represent angular position, velocity, and acceleration with equations and graphs.

• Connecting Linear and Rotational MotionReading · Rotation and rolling

  Connect angular motion with arc length, tangential speed, and acceleration.

• TorqueReading · Rotation and rolling

  Draw application points and lever arms to predict torque.

• Rotational InertiaReading · Rotation and rolling

  Compare mass distributions and calculate rotational inertia about specified axes.

• Rotational Equilibrium and Newton’s First Law in Rotational FormReading · Rotation and rolling

  Check force and torque balance separately for rotational equilibrium.

• Newton’s Second Law in Rotational FormReading · Rotation and rolling

  Connect net torque and rotational inertia to angular acceleration.

• RollingReading · Rotation and rolling

  Use contact-point motion to distinguish rolling without slipping from sliding.

• Simple Harmonic Motion: The Force That Brings You BackReading · Oscillations

  Identify equilibrium and test the restoring-force condition for simple harmonic motion.

• Period and Frequency: What Sets the Pace?Reading · Oscillations

  Compare periods and frequencies and plan measurements for spring and small-angle pendulum models.

• Reading SHM: Position, Velocity, and AccelerationReading · Oscillations

  Connect position, velocity, and acceleration graphs with slopes, signs, and turning points.

• Oscillator Energy: Where Did the Speed Go?Reading · Oscillations

  Track oscillator kinetic and potential energy, including the vertical spring-gravity system.

• Experiment, Explain, and Show Your WorkReading · Oscillations

  Use the reusable reasoning toolkit to design a pendulum investigation and connect data, representations, and justified conclusions.

• Fluids and Density: What Is Inside MattersReading · Fluids

  Describe fluid particle models and infer density from a meaningful mass-volume graph.

• Pressure: More Than a Downward PushReading · Fluids

  Distinguish pressure from force and keep gauge and absolute pressure references clear.

• Buoyancy and Newton’s Laws: Floating Is a Force BalanceReading · Fluids

  Build force balances for buoyancy, floating, and the initial acceleration of submerged objects.

• Fluid Conservation: Follow the Water and the EnergyReading · Fluids

  Connect volume flow, continuity, Bernoulli, and a measurable horizontal-jet model.

• Sketch a falling ball with dragCheck understanding · Motion and vectors

  Create consistent velocity and acceleration graphs and explain why constant acceleration fails.

  This is qualitative variable-acceleration reasoning; numerical variable-acceleration calculations are outside this task.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Choose a graph for projectile rangeCheck understanding · Motion and vectors

  Derive the height dependence for a horizontal launch and identify a useful linearized graph.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Build a force model on a rough inclineCheck understanding · Forces and interactions

  Choose axes, draw real forces, and write both component equations without assuming constant speed.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Test a spring-force graphCheck understanding · Forces and interactions

  Infer stiffness with units and propose a measurement that could reveal departure from the linear model.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Explain the near-surface gravity approximationCheck understanding · Circular motion and gravitation

  Sketch the field against center distance and state the spatial limit of an approximately constant field.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Derive and graph an orbit relationCheck understanding · Circular motion and gravitation

  Eliminate speed to obtain the period-radius relation and identify the slope with units.

  The derivation assumes a gravity-only circular orbit around one central body.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Read work from a force graphCheck understanding · Energy, work, and power

  Decompose the specified graph into areas and explain the total energy transfer.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Explain an energy ledgerCheck understanding · Energy, work, and power

  Account for kinetic, potential, and thermal changes and interpret the sign of external work.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Test center-of-mass motion across a collisionCheck understanding · Momentum and collisions

  Construct a mass-weighted position representation from synchronized cart data and explain why an unweighted average misleads.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Judge collision evidence with uncertaintyCheck understanding · Momentum and collisions

  Compare before-and-after kinetic-energy intervals and propose a useful measurement improvement.

  Agreement within the stated intervals supports consistency with an elastic model; it does not prove exact elasticity.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Judge an angular-momentum conservation claimCheck understanding · Rotation and rolling

  Compare possible angular-momentum intervals and propose a coast-down control for bearing drag.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Diagnose rolling and slippingCheck understanding · Rotation and rolling

  Identify contact slip, predict friction’s translational and rotational effects, and state the extra information needed to compare total energies.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Turn measured oscillator positions into graphsCheck understanding · Oscillations

  Plot numerical data, estimate amplitude and period, relate velocity and acceleration, and compare the model with measurement uncertainty.

  A short record can support consistency with SHM without proving unique or future behavior.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Design a pendulum investigationCheck understanding · Oscillations

  Specify measurements, controls, repeats, and a linearized graph; estimate g from supplied data and discuss a systematic error.

  The task asks for an investigation plan and supplied-data analysis; completing it does not verify hands-on laboratory participation.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Explain buoyancy and accelerationCheck understanding · Fluids

  Compare equal-volume submerged blocks, derive accelerations, and connect initial motion with their later floating fractions.

  The initial model neglects drag and boundary contact; the later floating states are at rest.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →
• Compare a fluid-jet graph with its ideal modelCheck understanding · Fluids

  Find the expected range-squared slope and distinguish fractional changes in range from changes in range squared.

  A mismatch needs uncertainty and possible-loss evidence before a specific cause is assigned.

  Separate worked reasoning and criteria →