AP Physics 1 Syllabus 2027
The current AP Physics 1 framework contains 8 official units and 43 official topics. The content framework remains the Fall 2024 course framework for 2026–27; the Fall 2026 correction updates the 2027 exam timing and MCQ count, not the 43-topic course map.
How many units and topics are in AP Physics 1 for 2027?
The current AP Physics 1 framework contains 8 units and 43 topics. This syllabus page maps every official topic, unit weighting, science-practice connection and laboratory expectation.
- 8 official units.
- 43 official topics.
- Current 2026–27 framework with May 2027 exam updates.
What is the AP Physics 1 syllabus?
The AP Physics 1 syllabus is the College Board course framework that specifies the required content, learning objectives and science practices for the algebra-based introductory physics course.
All 43 College Board topics
This directory uses the official topic numbering and titles from the current AP Physics 1 Course and Exam Description. All 43 topics now link to complete lessons with definitions, real examples, equations, misconceptions and direct topic practice.
Kinematics
- 1.1 Scalars and Vectors in One Dimension
- 1.2 Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration
- 1.3 Representing Motion
- 1.4 Reference Frames and Relative Motion
- 1.5 Vectors and Motion in Two Dimensions
Force and Translational Dynamics
- 2.1 Systems and Center of Mass
- 2.2 Forces and Free-Body Diagrams
- 2.3 Newton’s Third Law
- 2.4 Newton’s First Law
- 2.5 Newton’s Second Law
- 2.6 Gravitational Force
- 2.7 Kinetic and Static Friction
- 2.8 Spring Forces
- 2.9 Circular Motion
Work, Energy, and Power
- 3.1 Translational Kinetic Energy
- 3.2 Work
- 3.3 Potential Energy
- 3.4 Conservation of Energy
- 3.5 Power
Linear Momentum
- 4.1 Linear Momentum
- 4.2 Change in Momentum and Impulse
- 4.3 Conservation of Linear Momentum
- 4.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Torque and Rotational Dynamics
- 5.1 Rotational Kinematics
- 5.2 Connecting Linear and Rotational Motion
- 5.3 Torque
- 5.4 Rotational Inertia
- 5.5 Rotational Equilibrium and Newton’s First Law in Rotational Form
- 5.6 Newton’s Second Law in Rotational Form
Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems
- 6.1 Rotational Kinetic Energy
- 6.2 Torque and Work
- 6.3 Angular Momentum and Angular Impulse
- 6.4 Conservation of Angular Momentum
- 6.5 Rolling
- 6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites
Oscillations
- 7.1 Defining Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
- 7.2 Frequency and Period of SHM
- 7.3 Representing and Analyzing SHM
- 7.4 Energy of Simple Harmonic Oscillators
Fluids
- 8.1 Internal Structure and Density
- 8.2 Pressure
- 8.3 Fluids and Newton’s Laws
- 8.4 Fluids and Conservation Laws
The eight-unit sequence
The weighting ranges apply to the multiple-choice section. Later units deliberately reuse models, representations and conservation ideas from earlier units.
Kinematics
Scalars/vectors, displacement/velocity/acceleration, motion representations, reference frames and two-dimensional motion.
Force and Translational Dynamics
Systems and center of mass, free-body diagrams, Newton’s laws, gravity, friction, springs and circular motion.
Work, Energy, and Power
Translational kinetic energy, work, potential energy, conservation of energy and power.
Linear Momentum
Linear momentum, impulse, conservation of momentum, and elastic/inelastic collisions.
Torque and Rotational Dynamics
Rotational kinematics, linear/rotational connections, torque, rotational inertia, equilibrium and rotational Newton’s laws.
Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems
Rotational kinetic energy, torque and work, angular momentum/impulse, conservation, rolling and orbiting satellites.
Oscillations
Defining SHM, frequency/period, representation/analysis and energy of simple harmonic oscillators.
Fluids
Internal structure and density, pressure, fluids with Newton’s laws and fluids with conservation laws.
Course requirements every AP Physics 1 student should know
| Requirement | Current College Board expectation | What it means in real study |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite mathematics | Geometry completed; Algebra II or equivalent taken concurrently. Basic trigonometry is used. | You should be comfortable rearranging equations and using right-triangle sine/cosine before heavy two-dimensional motion work. |
| Hands-on laboratory requirement | 25% of instructional time must be hands-on laboratory work, with inquiry-based investigations emphasized. | For example, students may record a cart’s position over time, graph the data, infer velocity/acceleration and justify what the evidence shows. |
| Course level | Algebra-based introductory college-level physics. | The course expects conceptual models, graphs, experiments and explanations—not only equation substitution. |
| 2027 exam update | 42 MCQs in 85 minutes and 4 FRQs in 95 minutes. | The four FRQs remain Mathematical Routines, Translation Between Representations, Experimental Design and Analysis, and Qualitative/Quantitative Translation. |
What you are expected to do with the content
These practices are applied across learning objectives; AP questions combine content with a skill rather than testing facts in isolation.
Create & interpret representations
Draw diagrams, tables and graphs; define systems; and translate physical situations among visual, mathematical and verbal forms.
Use mathematical routines
Derive symbolic expressions, calculate with units, compare scenarios and reason from functional dependence.
Question, design & argue
Create experimental procedures, apply physical laws/models to claims, and justify conclusions with data or physical principles.
Mathematics you actually need
Algebra and proportional reasoning
Rearranging equations, solving systems, recognizing square/inverse-square relationships and predicting how one variable changes when another changes.
Real example: if the same net force acts on twice the mass, Newton’s second law predicts half the acceleration.
Geometry, trig and vectors
Components, right triangles, angles, areas and signed one-dimensional quantities are recurring tools.
Real example: a kicked ball’s launch velocity is resolved into horizontal and vertical components using sine and cosine.
Graphs instead of calculus
You use slope as rate of change and area as accumulated change. The course is algebra-based, but graph reasoning plays the role that derivatives and integrals often play later.
Real example: the slope of a car’s velocity-time graph gives acceleration, while signed area under the graph gives displacement.
Experimental data
Best-fit lines, linearization ideas, uncertainty reasoning and identifying what slope/intercept mean physically.
Real example: a spring experiment can use a graph of force versus extension so the best-fit slope determines the spring constant.
This page now lists 43 of 43 official topics across 8 of 8 units. No legacy topics such as waves/electricity have been inserted into AP Physics 1, and the current Unit 8 Fluids content is included.