AP Physics 1 · Key concepts
The AP Physics 1 cheat sheet: every concept the exam keeps coming back to.
Kinematics & dynamics · Energy & momentum · Reasoning across representations — what the rubric is really testing.
days until your Physics 1 exam
Wed, May 6 · Afternoon session
Mechanics
Kinematics & dynamics
Free-body diagrams
Draw one for every force question — even when it 'feels conceptual.'
Newton's 2nd law (F=ma)
Net force, not individual forces, drives acceleration.
Forces on inclines
Decompose gravity into parallel and perpendicular components.
Reading motion graphs
Slope of x-t = velocity. Slope of v-t = acceleration. Area = displacement.
Conservation
Energy & momentum
Conservation of energy
KE + PE total stays constant when no work is done by friction.
Conservation of momentum
p = mv. Use it in collisions whether elastic or inelastic.
Work-energy theorem
W = ΔKE. Net work changes kinetic energy by exactly that much.
Energy vs. momentum (when to use which)
Momentum if collisions/forces. Energy if heights/springs.
Reasoning
Across representations
Translate equation ↔ graph ↔ words
Paragraph FRQ wants the same physics in 3 languages.
Justify with physics, not just answer
'F = ma so a = F/m' beats 'I plugged in.'
Slope and area meaning
Always say what the slope or area physically represents.
Experimental design
Variable, constants, measurement, expected graph — fixed template.
Exam at a glance · 3 hours
40 MCQs · 80 min
Sketch a quick diagram, don't solve blindly.
Math FRQ · 25 min
Setup before algebra.
Translation FRQ · 25 min
Equation ↔ graph ↔ words.
Design FRQ · 25 min
Variables + measurements + result.
What AP Physics 1 readers actually reward
Three FRQ habits that turn correct physics into rubric points.
Rubric move
Make reasoning visible
FRQ scoring is generous when the steps are shown — even if the final answer is wrong. Hidden algebra forfeits partial credit.
Weak
v = 4.5 m/s
Scoring-ready
Using conservation of energy: mgh = ½mv² → v = √(2gh) = √(2 × 9.8 × 1.0) = 4.4 m/s
Rubric move
Tie math back to the physics
Don't end on a number. Add one sentence translating the math back into the physical situation.
Weak
a = -2.3 m/s².
Scoring-ready
The block decelerates at 2.3 m/s² because friction acts opposite to its motion — it'll stop in about 2 seconds.
Rubric move
Free-body diagram first
Sketch a free-body before any force calculation. The diagram itself often earns a rubric point.
Weak
Net force = mg − T
Scoring-ready
[FBD: arrow up labeled T, arrow down labeled mg]. Net force in the y-direction = T − mg.
Want to see exactly which FRQ row you're losing points on?
Spot the concept
These are the concepts behind a real Physics 1 stem.
Three mini MCQs from the exam's most common skill areas. Tap to reveal the answer.
What is the ball's speed just before it hits the ground?
- A2.0 m/s
- B4.4 m/s
- C6.3 m/s
- D9.8 m/s
Which pair correctly describes a Newton's third-law action-reaction pair?
- AThe gravitational force on the book and the normal force from the table on the book
- BThe gravitational force on the book and the gravitational force the book exerts on Earth
- CThe weight of the book and the weight of the table
- DThe normal force on the book and its weight
In which situation is momentum conserved but kinetic energy is NOT?
- ATwo billiard balls collide elastically on a frictionless table.
- BA ball rolls down a frictionless ramp.
- CTwo lumps of clay collide and stick together.
- DA spring launches a cart along a frictionless track.
Will you score the 5?
Write one timed FRQ. See exactly where rubric points would slip — while there's still time to fix it.
Quick questions
Dynamics (Unit 2), energy (Unit 3), and rotation (Unit 5) carry the most. Kinematics (Unit 1) is foundational but rarely tested in isolation. Drill dynamics first.
The paragraph FRQ wants you to translate equations into words. Always: state the principle, apply it to the scenario, and tie back to the physical observation.
Both — but conceptual MCQs and paragraph FRQs make up roughly half the exam. Students who only drill calculations underperform on the qualitative sections.
40 MCQs. 4 FRQs. The 5 lives in the visible reasoning.
Or if you want a schedule.