AP Physics Units: Full List, Explained

As an AP Physics student, knowing where to find information and which sources you can trust can be overwhelming. With the excess amount of information available on the internet, sources can often become outdated and students can find themselves studying the wrong content. This article will give you a full overview of the units covered in AP Physics, covering the updated course material for the updated 2025 exams. You will find a full list of topics and key concepts included in each unit to help you stay organized in your studies.

Unit 1: Kinematics

In this unit, you will start by learning about scalar and vector quantities, including how to describe and represent them in different physical scenarios. You will then study the physics of movement, including how to describe the position, velocity, and acceleration of an object through various representations.

Topics included in this unit:

• Scalars and Vectors in One Dimension

• Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration

• Representing Motion

• Reference Frames and Relative Motion

• Vectors and Motion in Two Dimensions

Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics

This unit is all about forces and how they govern the translational motion of objects. First, the unit builds on the models and representations developed in Unit 1 by introducing the concept of systems and center of mass as a way to simplify physical situations, such as the use of free-body diagrams. The unit then goes on to introduce Newton’s laws of motion, including their applications in different scenarios, and explores specific forces such as gravity, friction, and spring forces.

Topics included in this unit:

• Systems and Center of Mass

• Forces and Free-Body Diagrams

• Newton’s Third Law

• Newton’s First Law

• Newton’s Second Law

• Gravitational Force

• Kinetic and Static Friction

• Spring Forces

• Circular Motion

Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power

This unit explores the fundamental concepts of work, energy, and power. You will begin by studying how energy is transferred and how forces cause changes in the energy of a system. The unit introduces the principle of energy conservation and examines systems that have both kinetic and potential energy. You will also learn how to solve problems involving average power and instantaneous power.

Topics included in this unit:

• Translational Kinetic Energy

• Work

• Potential Energy

• Conservation of Energy

• Power

Unit 4: Linear Momentum

This unit covers the concept of linear momentum and how forces influence it over time. You will also understand how to use the impulse-momentum theorem to solve problems involving complex physical systems and interactions. Towards the end of the unit, you will focus on the principle of conservation of momentum and learn how to apply it during various physical interactions, such as collisions and explosions. Finally, you will explore the link between momentum and kinetic energy in elastic and inelastic collisions.

Topics included in this unit:

• Linear Momentum

• Change in Momentum and Impulse

• Conservation of Linear Momentum

• Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics

In this unit, you will explore the complex concepts of torque and rotational dynamics, building upon your understanding of forces and motion from previous units. This unit introduces rotational analogs to linear motion, including rotational inertia, torque, and the various laws of motion applied in rotational contexts. This unit will enable you to model and analyze systems involving rotational motion and allow you to practice calculations for rotating extended bodies rather than simple objects.

Topics included in this unit:

• Rotational Kinematics 

• Connecting Linear and Rotational Motion

• Torque

• Rotational Inertia

• Rotational Equilibrium and Newton’s First Law in Rotational Form

• Newton’s Second Law in Rotational Form

Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems

This unit extends your understanding of energy and momentum to include rotational systems, applying principles of conservation and dynamics to analyze more complex phenomena. This unit emphasizes the relationship between torque and angular momentum, exploring how these quantities influence the energy and stability of rotating systems. These concepts are developed further by applying them to real-world scenarios, such as the behavior of satellites and the physics of rolling.

Topics included in this unit:

• Rotational Kinetic Energy

• Torque and Work

• Angular Momentum and Angular Impulse

• Conservation of Angular Momentum

• Rolling

• Motion of Orbiting Satellites

Unit 7: Oscillations

This unit delves into the dynamics of systems that exhibit simple harmonic motion (SHM). You'll learn how to describe and analyze the motion of oscillating systems using the concepts of energy, momentum, and forces that you've studied in previous units. In particular, you’ll understand how restoring forces affect the periodic motion of objects and how energy is transferred within these systems.

Topics included in this unit:

• Defining Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

• Frequency and Period of SHM

• Representing and Analyzing SHM

• Energy of Simple Harmonic Oscillators

Unit 8: Fluids

In this final unit on fluids, you will apply and integrate the principles you've learned throughout the course to understand both static and dynamic behaviors of fluids. You'll explore fundamental concepts such as the causes of buoyancy, how pressure varies with depth, and the implications of the conservation of mass and energy in flowing fluids.

Topics included in this unit:

• Internal Structure and Density

• Pressure

• Fluids and Newton’s Laws

• Fluids and Conservation Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Units Are in AP Physics?

There are eight units in total in AP Physics 1. These units are organized in a logical order, starting with fundamental concepts, such as scalars and vectors, which are built on and developed throughout the course.

What are the Hardest AP Physics Units?

While the hardest AP Physics 1 unit will vary from student to student, most students and teachers agree that rotational motion, covered in Units 5 and 6, tends to be the most challenging.

What Units are Most Common on the AP Physics Exam?

The AP Physics 1 exam includes 40 multiple-choice questions. Each unit in AP Physics 1 is given a weighting to reflect the percentage of multiple-choice questions that will appear on the exam. These weightings and the corresponding number of questions are summarized in the table below.

The AP Physics 1 exam also includes 4 free-response questions. These are set with a greater focus on Science Practices and may assess content from any of the units.

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References

AP Physics Course and Exam Description