AP PHYSICS 1 STUDY GUIDE

2019-2020

Abstract
For the modified 2020 AP exam, includes detailed physics diagrams and breakdown of key equations
along with important notes on physics topics covered in the exam (Excludes Circuits and
Electrostatics). A comprehensive review of must-know AP physics.

Anish Kalappa (NHS Student)

[email protected]
AP Physics Test Review
Unit 1
Prefi xes

Tera (T) Giga (G) Mega Kilo (K) Hecto Deka Base Deci (d) Centi (c)
1012 109 (M) 103 (H) (D) 100 10-1 10-2
106 102 101
Milli Micro (μ) Nano (n) Pico (p)
(m) 10-6 10-9 10-12
10-3

Unit 2
The Frame of Reference- Any measurement of position, distance, or speed must be made to a frame of
reference.

Displacement and Velocity

∆ x=x f −x i

∆ x=Displacement ( m )
x f =Final Positon ( m )

x i=Inital Position (m)

Average Speed

d
savg =
∆t

savg =Average Speed ( ms )

d= Distance ( m )
∆ t=Elapsed Time (s )
Average Velocity

∆x
v avg=
∆t

v avg= Average Velocity ( ms )

∆ x=Displacement ( m )
∆ t=Elapsed Time (s )
Velocity- Time Graphs

 To determine the distance traveled, find the area between the line and the horizontal axis.
 To determine the acceleration, find the slope of the line.
 To determine the direction, look whether the line is above or below the horizontal axis.
 Complimentary angles with the same resultant velocity travel the same horizontal distance.

Accelerati on

 Turning, Speeding Up, or Slowing Down

 If the acceleration matches the velocity, then the object is speeding up.
 If the acceleration goes against the velocity, then the object slows down.
 An unbalanced force is necessary to make an object accelerate.
 When there is no acceleration, velocity remains constant.

∆v
a=
∆t

a= Acceleration
( ms )
2

∆ v=Change∈Velocity ( ms )
∆ t=Elapsed Time (s )

Forces

F g=mg

F f =μ F N

F f =Force of Friction ( N )

F N =Normal Force ( N )
F g=Force Due ¿Gravity (N )

m=Mass(kg)
m
g=Gravitational Acceleration (9.8 )
s2
μ= Kinetic Coefficent
Types of Forces (Strongest to Weakest)

1. Strong Nuclear Force- Within the atomic nucleus, holds protons and neutrons together.
2. Electromagnetic Force- Made between charged objects that attract or repel.
3. Weak Nuclear Force- Within the atomic nucleus, responsible for radioactive decay.
4. Gravitational Force- Responsible for the attraction of multiple masses.

Unit 3
Vectors- Quantities that have both magnitude and direction (Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration).

Scalars- Quantities that have magnitude only (Distance, Speed, Time, and Mass).

Two- Dimensional Moti on

Projectile Motion- Horizontal velocity (x) is constant, the vertical velocity (y) is accelerated by gravity
(Free Fall), and both components of velocity are independent of each other.

Free Fall- The object falls unimpeded, gravity is the only force that acts on the object the whole time it
rises and falls, and acceleration is always constant and towards the center of the Earth

 The same amount of time is spent going up as it is going down on a level surface.
 There is zero velocity at the top (Peak) of the launch, but there is still gravitational acceleration.

X Component

∆ x=v x t

∆ x=Displacement ( m )

v x =Velocity ( ms )
t=Time ( s )
Y Component

1
∆ y =v y t+ g t 2
2
∆ y =Displacement ( m )

v y =Initial Velocity ( ms )
m
g=Gravity
( )
s2

t=Time (s)
Accelerati on Equati ons

v f 2=v i2+2 a ∆ x
1
∆ x=v i t + a t 2
2
v f =v i +at

v f =Final Velocity( ms )
m
v =Initial Velocity ( )
i
s

∆ x=Displacement ( m )

m
a= Acceleration
( )
s2

t=Time (s)
Atwood Machines
1:

(m1−m2 ) g
a=
(m ¿ ¿ 1+m 2) ¿

2:

m2 g−F f
a=
(m1+ m2 )

3:

m2 g−( μ m1 g cos θ+m 1 g sin θ)

a=
( m1 +m 2 )

m
a= Acceleration of System
( )
s2

m1=Mass 1 ( kg )

m 2=Mass 2 ( kg )

m
g= Acceleration of Gravity (9.8 )
s2
F f =Force of Friction ( N )

μ=Coefficent of Friction
θ=Angle of Incline (° )

Unit 4
Work

 Positive Work is done by a force acting parallel and in the same direction of an object’s
displacement.
 Negative Work is done by a force acting parallel and in the opposite direction of an object’s
displacement.
 No Work is done by a force acting perpendicular to an object’s displacement.
 The area under a force vs. displacement graph is work.

W =Fd cos θ
W =∆ KE
KE−W f =PE

W =Work ( N ∙ m∨J )
F=Force ( N )
d= Displacement ( m )
θ=Angle Between Force∧Displacement (° )
∆ KE =Total Kinetic Energy ( J )
W f =Work due ¿ Friction ( J )

PE=Potential Energy (J )
Kineti c Energy

1
KE= m v 2
2
KE=Kinetic Energy ( J )
m=Mass ( kg )

m
(
g=Gravity 9.8
s2 )
Potenti al Energy

PE=mgh
PE=Potential Energy ( J )
m=Mass ( kg )
g=Gravity 9.8
( ms ) 2

h=Height(m)
Conservati on of Energy

 Energy cannot be created or destroyed; they can only be transferred.

 Mechanical Energy- Sum of a system’s kinetic and potential energy.
 Internal Energy- Heat energy that causes an increase in the temperature of the system.

PE 1 + KE 1=PE 2+ KE2

Power

W
P=
∆t
P=Fv
P=Power (W )
W =Work ( J )
∆ t=Elapsed Time ( s )
F=Force ( N )

v=Velocity ( ms )
Springs

F=−kx
1
u s= k x 2
2
W =∆ KE +∆ PE + ∆u s

F=Force ( N )

k =Spring Constant ( Nm )
x=Displacement ¿ Equillibrium ( m )
u s=Spring Potential ( J )

W =Work ( J )
KE=Kinetic Energy ( J )
PE=Potential Energy ( J )

Unit 5
Momentum

 How hard it is to stop or turn a moving object.

 A vector with the same direction as the velocity.
 In a system, each object has its center of mass and the entire system has an overall center of
mass, which has its velocity.

p=mv
∆ p=p f −p i

m
p=Momentum kg ∙ ( s )
m=Mass ( kg )

v=Velocity ( ms )
m
∆ p=Change∈Momentum kg ∙ ( s )
m
(
pf =Final Momentum kg ∙
s )
m
pi=Initial Momentum(kg ∙ )
s
Impulse

 Change in momentum by an external force.

 The area under a curve on a force vs. time graph.
 If in the same direction of an object’s motion, it will increase the momentum of the object.
 If in the opposite direction of an object’s motion, it will decrease the momentum of the object.

∆ p=F ∆ t
 m
∆ p=Impulse kg ∙ ( s )
F= Average Force ( N )
∆ t=Elapsed Time (s )
Law of Conservati on of Momentum

 The total momentum of objects interacting with each other remains constant regardless of the
internal forces between them (Newtons 3 rd Law dictates that objects create an equal but
opposite force between each other that cancel out).

m 1 v i 1+ m2 v i 2=m 1 v f 1 +m 2 v f 2

Collisions

 Momentum is conserved during a collision.

 Newtons Third Law- A force exerted on an object generates an equal and opposite reaction.
 Elastic- Kinetic energy remains constant before and after the collision, there are two separate
velocities and objects.
o To find the resulting velocity of an elastic collision, set the kinetic energy before and
after the collision equal and use systems of equations alongside conservation of
momentum.
 Inelastic- Kinetic energy is lost during the collision and deformation occurs.
 Perfectly Inelastic- After the collision, there is only one velocity (The observed objects stick
together) and kinetic energy is lost.

m1 v i 1+ m2 v i 2=v f ( m1+ m2)

m=Mass ( kg )

vi =Initial Velocity ( ms )
m
v f =Final Velocity( )
s
Two- Dimensional Collisions

 Use the conservation of momentum for velocities in the x-direction and solve.
 Use the conservation of momentum for velocities in the y-direction and solve.
 Use the Pythagorean Theorem and find the resultant velocity.
 Use inverse trigonometry to find the angle measure of the resultant velocity.

Systems

Open System- Energy exits or enters the observed system.

Closed System- Energy remains constant within the observed system.

Unit 6
Centripetal Accelerati on

 Is caused by a net force, which is the result of other types of forces, that is perpendicular to the
velocity of an object spinning in a uniform circular pattern (Constant radius and velocity).
 The net force points towards the center of the curved path.

v2
a c=
r
m
a c =Centripetal Accelera tion( 2 )
s
m
v=Tangent Velocity ( )
s
r =Radius ( m )

Velocity

2 πrn
v=
t
2 πr
v=
T

v=Velocity ( ms )
r =Radius ( m )
n=Number of Revolutions
t=Elapsed Time ( s )
T =Period ( s )
Gravitati onal Force

 Do not use the height above a planet’s surface to determine the gravitational force of an
orbiting object (Satellite), which travels in a uniform circular motion.
 The speed necessary to maintain a uniform circular orbit is based on the mass of the planet (Not
Satellite) and the radius of the orbit.
 If the speed is too fast or slow for an orbit, it will move at a different radius, but it will require an
energy conversion that changes the speed of the satellite which may lead to a new elliptical
orbit, an escape from orbit, or a crash into the planet.
 Both objects feel a gravitational force acting on each other.

G m1 m2
F g=
r2
Fg
a=
m2

F g=Gravitational Force ( N )

m
a=Planetary Acceleration( )
s2

−11 N m2
G=6.67× 10
k g2
m 1=Mass 1(kg)

m 2=Mass 2(kg)

r =Radius ( m )

1: F f =F g

F N =F c

2: F g=F c
F f =Force of Friction( N )

F g=Gravitational Force (N )

F N =Normal Force (N )

F c =Centripetal Force ( N )

1: F c =F f

2: F T =F C + F g

3: F T =F C −F g

F c =Centripetal Force(N )

F f =Force of Friction( N )

F g=Gravitational Force (N )

F T =Force of Tension ( N )

F g=F c

F T 1=F T 2

F g=F T 2

F c =FT 1

F g=Gravitational Force ( N )

F c =Centripetal Force ( N )

F T 1=Force of Tension 1 ( N )
F T 2=Force of Tension 2 ( N )

Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Moti on

1. Planets orbit each other in ellipses.

2. Planets sweep out equal areas in equal amounts of time.
3. The square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the axis of the
orbit.

T2 T2
=
d3 d3
If A1= A 2 , thent 1=t 2

T =Orbital Period ( s )
d= Axis of Orbit ( m )

A=Surface Area of the Sector ( m2 )

t=Time (s)

Unit 7
Simple Harmonic Moti on

 It requires a net force in the opposite direction of displacement that is directly proportional to
the displacement (Increases when the magnitude of the displacement from equilibrium
increases).

A: PE = 0% KE = 100% PE = Potential Energy (J)

B: PE = 100% KE = 0% KE = Kinetic Energy (J)

C: PE = 100% KE = 0%
Period

Period- The time it takes for a full oscillation to occur and for the object to return to its normal position.

 Frequency (Number of oscillations per second) is the inverse of the Period.

 Amplitude- Maximum magnitude of displacement of the spring or pendulum.

m
T s=2 π
√ k

l
T p=2 π
√ g
1
f=
T
x= A cos (2 πft )
T =Period ( s )
A=Amplitude( m)
f =Frequency
t=Time (s)
x=Position( m)
m=Mass ( kg )
k =Spring Constant ( N ∙ m )
l=Length ( m )
m
g=Gravity(9.8 )
s2
Conservati on of Energy

0: All Potential Energy

A: All Kinetic Energy

2A: All Potential Energy

Unit 8
Angular Displacement- The angle through which an object has rotated

Rotati onal Kinemati cs

1
∆ θ=ω i t + α t 2
2
ω f =ωi +αt

ω f 2=ωi2 +2 α ∆ θ

∆ θ= Angular Displacement ( rad )

ω f =Final Angular Velocity( rads )

rad
ω =Inital Angular Velocity (
i
s )

α = Angular Acceleration
( rads )
2

t=Time ( s )

1:

∆θ
ω=
t
2:

∆ θ=θ f −θi

3:

∆ω
α=
∆t

ω= Angular Velocity ( rads )

∆ θ= Angular Displacement ( rad )
θ f =Final Angle ( rad )

θi=Inital Angle ( rad )

∆ t=Elapsed Time ( s )

∆ ω=Total Angular Velocity ( rads )

Rotati onal and Linear Kinemati cs

x=r ∆ θ
v=rω
a=rα
x=Displacement ( m )
r =Radius ( m )
∆ θ= Angular Displacement ( rad )

v=Velocity ( ms )
ω= Angular Velocity ( rads )
m
a= Acceleration
( )
s2

α = Angular Acceleration
( rads )
2

Newton’s Second Law

τ net
α=
I

I =m r 2

α = Angular Acceleration
( rads )
2

τ net=Net Torque ( N ∙ m)

I =Inertia ( kg ∙m 2 )
m=Mass ( kg )
r =Radius (m)

Rotati onal Kineti c Energy

 Translational Kinetic Energy- Energy of an object in a linear path.

 The harder it is for an object to rotate (More Inertia), the more slowly it will move (Less
Translational Kinetic Energy).
 To make an object rotate, enough friction is needed to apply torque, any amount of friction less
than the required amount will cause it to slip (More Translational Kinetic Energy, Less Rotational
Kinetic Energy).

1
KE R = I ω 2
2
PE=KE R + KE

KE=Translational Kinetic Energy ( J )

KE R =Rotational Kinetic Energy ( J )

PE=Potential Energy ( J )

I =Inertia ( kg ∙m 2 )
rad
ω= Angular Velocity ( )
s

Angular Momentum and Impulse

 Angular Momentum- A vector that is conserved separately from linear momentum.

 When no net external torques are acting on the system, its angular momentum does not
change.
L=Iω
L=mvr
∆ L=τ ∆ t
∆ Li=∆ Lf

kg ∙ m2
L= Angular Momentum
s ( )
I =Inertia ( kg ∙m 2 )

ω= Angular Velocity ( rads )

m=Mass of Point Object ( kg )

v=Velocity of Point Object ( ms )

r =Distance of Closest Approach ( m )

kg ∙ m2
∆ L=Angular Impulse
s ( )
τ =Torque ( N ∙m )
∆ t=Elapsed Time ( s )

kg ∙ m2
∆ Li=Total Initial Angular Momentum( ) s
2
kg ∙ m
∆ L =Total Final Angular Momentum (
s )
f

Torque

 Torque- The ability of a force to rotate an object clockwise or counter-clockwise around a fixed
point (Fulcrum).
 Line of Action- Drawn through the fulcrum and perpendicular to the force with the radius being
measured to the base of the force (A force produces no torque when it lies parallel to the line of
action).
 The force of gravity is measured from the center of an object.
 When an object balances (Does not Turn), torques are equal on both sides.

τ =Fr
τ =Fr sin θ
τ =Torque ( N ∙m )
F= Applied Force ( N )
r =Radius ( m )
θ=Angle of Incidence (° )