AP Physics 1
AP Physics 1 is a challenging first year, college-level physics course covering a wide range of physics topics. “Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.”
The course is designed around six big ideas: objects and systems, fields and interactions; forces; conservation laws; and energy and momentum. The course emphasizes conceptual understanding, problem solving and lab work. The content and skill objectives for AP Physics are published by the College Board.
The main goal of a the AP Physics 1 is “to help students develop a deep understanding of the foundational principles that shape classical mechanics. By confronting complex physical situations or scenarios, the course is designed to enable students to develop the ability to reason about physical phenomena using important science practices, such as explaining relationships, applying and justifying the use of mathematical routines, designing experiments, analyzing data, and making connections across multiple topics within the course.”
To foster this deeper level of learning, the AP Physics 1 course defines concepts, science practices, and understandings required by representative colleges and universities for granting college credit and placement. Students will practice reasoning skills used by physicists by discussing and debating, with peers, the physical phenomena investigated in class, as well as by designing and conducting inquiry-based laboratory investigations to solve problems through first-hand observations, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
AP Physics 2
AP Physics 2 is the second year of a two year Physics sequence. AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: fluids; thermodynamics; electrical force, field, and potential; electric circuits; magnetism and electromagnetic induction; geometric and physical optics; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics.
The main goal of a the AP Physics 2 is: to help students develop a deep understanding of the foundational principles that shape classical mechanics and modern physics. By confronting complex physical situations or scenarios, the course is designed to enable students to develop the ability to reason about physical phenomena using important science practices, such as explaining relationships, applying and justifying the use of mathematical routines, designing experiments, analyzing data, and making connections across multiple topics within the course.
To foster this deeper level of learning, the AP Physics 2 course defines concepts, skills, and understandings required by representative colleges and universities for granting college credit and placement. Students will practice reasoning skills used by physicists by discussing and debating, with peers, the physical phenomena investigated in class, as well as by designing and conducting inquiry-based laboratory investigations to solve problems through first-hand observations, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.