AP Physics 1 Review Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Condensed review of AP Physics 1 curriculum in 30 minutes
• Full playlist available for detailed review
• Additional resources:
  • AP Physics 1 Ultimate Exam Slayer (digital practice exams)
  • AP Physics 1 Ultimate Review Packet (curriculum & practice exam)

Unit 1: Kinematics

• Vectors vs Scalars:
  • Vectors: Magnitude & direction (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration)
  • Scalars: Only magnitude (e.g., distance)
• Motion Equations:
  • Average velocity = displacement/time
  • Uniformly Accelerated Motion (UAM) equations for constant acceleration
• Graph Interpretation:
  • Slope of position vs. time = velocity
  • Slope of velocity vs. time = acceleration
  • Area under velocity vs. time = change in position
  • Area under acceleration vs. time = change in velocity
• Projectile Motion:
  • Y-direction acceleration = 9.81 m/s² (use 10 m/s² for exams)
  • X-direction: constant velocity
• Relative Motion: Depends on observer's frame of reference

Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics

• Center of Mass: Sum of mass * position of each particle / total mass
• Forces:
  • All are vectors, result from interactions
  • Free Body Diagrams (FBDs) only include force vectors
  • Newton's Laws:
    1. Law of Inertia
    2. F = ma (net force = mass * acceleration)
    3. Action-Reaction pairs
• Friction:
  • Force of friction = coefficient * normal force
  • Static vs kinetic friction
• Gravity:
  • Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
  • Gravitational field strength near Earth's surface
• Spring Force (Hooke's Law):
  • F = -kx (spring constant * displacement)

Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power

• Energy Types: Kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential
• Work:
  • Work = force * displacement * cos(angle)
  • Conservative vs nonconservative forces
• Mechanical Energy:
  • Total mechanical energy constant if net work = 0 and no nonconservative work
• Power: Rate of energy transfer or conversion

Unit 4: Linear Momentum

• Momentum: p = mv (vector)
• Impulse: Change in momentum = force * time
• Collisions:
  • Elastic, inelastic, perfectly inelastic
  • Momentum conservation in all collisions*

Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics

• Angular Motion Variables:
  • Angular displacement, velocity, acceleration
  • Radians as standard unit
• Torque:
  • τ = rFsinθ (lever arm * force)
  • Rotational inertia measure of resistance to angular acceleration
• Equilibrium:
  • Static: Translational and rotational equilibrium*

Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems

• Rotational Kinetic Energy: 1/2 Iω²
• Angular Momentum:
  • L = Iω
  • Conservation if net torque = 0

Unit 7: Oscillations

• Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM):
  • Restoring force proportional to displacement
  • Period, amplitude, frequency
• Equations:
  • Position = amplitude * cos(2πft or ωt)*

Unit 8: Fluids

• Density: ρ = m/V
• Pressure: Force/area
• Buoyant Force: Equal to weight of displaced fluid
• Bernoulli’s Equation: Conservation of energy in fluid flow

Conclusion

• For more resources, refer to linked videos and review packets
• Encouragement for AP Physics 1 exam with confidence in students' abilities