The 42nd Period  ·  AP Physics 1

AP Physics 1
Algebra-Based

Eight units. One year. The physics that explains how the universe works — from a rolling cart to a spinning galaxy.

📅 Full Year Course📝 AP Exam — May 2026📚 8 Units🔬 Algebra-Based🎓 College Board Aligned

All 8 Units — Choose Your Season

📐Unit 1
10–15% exam

Kinematics

How things move — before asking why.

🕐 ~12–17 periodsEnter →
⚡Unit 2
18–23% exam

Forces and Translational Dynamics

Newton's laws. The reason things move the way they do.

🕐 ~17–23 periodsEnter →
🔋Unit 3
18–23% exam

Work, Energy, and Power

Energy can't be created or destroyed. Only transformed.

🕐 ~17–23 periodsEnter →
🎱Unit 4
10–15% exam

Linear Momentum

Collisions, explosions, and why billiard balls obey the universe.

🕐 ~10–14 periodsEnter →
🌀Unit 5
10–15% exam

Torque and Rotational Dynamics

Everything from Unit 2 — but now things spin.

🕐 ~10–14 periodsEnter →
🔄Unit 6
5–8% exam

Energy and Momentum in Rotating Systems

Angular momentum is conserved. Figure skaters know this.

🕐 ~6–8 periodsEnter →
〰️Unit 7
4–6% exam

Oscillations

Springs, pendulums, and everything that goes back and forth.

🕐 ~5–7 periodsEnter →
🌊Unit 8
6–8% exam

Fluids

Why ships float, planes fly, and blood pressure matters.

🕐 ~6–9 periodsEnter →
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From Your Instructor

Welcome to AP Physics 1

Welcome to AP Physics 1. This is a college-level course, and it's treated that way — the pace is faster, the math carries more weight, and you're accountable for material the day it's assigned, not just the day before a test.

Everything here is built to get you ready for the exam in May: guided lessons, interactive tools, videos, and practice problems, all aligned to the official College Board Course and Exam Description. Use them. Falling behind in an AP course is a lot harder to recover from than in a regular one.

That said, this course rewards students who show up and put in the work — you don't need to already be "a physics person." Ask questions early, keep pace with the unit schedule, and take the practice seriously. That's what gets you to May ready.

Video Tutorials
🎬Course Overview

What this course is, how it's structured, and what to expect.

Watch →
🗺️Site Walkthrough

How to navigate the42ndperiod.com and find everything you need.

Watch →
🎓AP Classroom Guide

How to use AP Central, find daily videos, and check your scores.

Watch →

Course Documents

📋
Course Syllabus

Grading, expectations, and how the year is structured.

📘
AP Physics 1 CED

The full official College Board course and exam description.

🧮
2026 Formula Sheet

Every equation you'll have on exam day. Print it. Annotate it. Know it.

⭐ Print this out

A Note About AI

AI was used to build this site
  • Generate course images
  • Create the AI podcast for each lesson
  • Build the interactive tools and apps
  • Format and layout lesson content consistently
My advice about using AI

I'd be naive to think you won't use AI on your work. I use it — so why wouldn't you? But using AI well means more than copy-pasting an answer. Train it. Ask it to explain things in a way that makes sense to you. Use it to learn, not to skip learning.

Bottom line: I can tell when you used AI without understanding it. If you submit something you can't explain, that's plagiarism — and it'll be treated that way. Use it smart.
The 42nd Period ·  AP Physics 1  ·  Full Year
🎬 Now streaming · Rated AP for Algebra and Physics