AP Physics 1 study guide: review all 8 units for 2027
This study guide takes you through every AP Physics 1 unit: what it covers, how much of the exam it is worth, the key idea examiners test and the trap that costs most students points. Then it gives you a review plan for the months before the May 2027 exam.
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The exam you are reviewing for
The AP Physics 1 exam is on Wednesday 5 May 2027, in the afternoon session. It has 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes, then 4 free-response questions in 95 minutes. Each section is worth 50% of your score. A calculator is allowed throughout, and you get the equation sheet.
The free-response section always has one question of each type: mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation. Our AP Physics 1 free-response guide explains each one with the 2025 results.
How much each unit is worth
| Unit | Share of the multiple-choice section |
|---|---|
| Unit 1: Kinematics | 10 to 15% |
| Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics | 18 to 23% |
| Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power | 18 to 23% |
| Unit 4: Linear Momentum | 10 to 15% |
| Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics | 10 to 15% |
| Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems | 5 to 8% |
| Unit 7: Oscillations | 5 to 8% |
| Unit 8: Fluids | 10 to 15% |
These weightings, from College Board's AP Central, apply to the multiple-choice section. Forces and energy together are more than a third of it, so they deserve the most review time. The free-response questions can come from any unit.
Unit by unit review
Unit 1: Kinematics (10 to 15% of the exam)
Position, velocity and acceleration in one and two dimensions; motion graphs; projectiles.
- Key idea: Reading motion graphs: the slope of x–t is velocity, the slope of v–t is acceleration, and the area under v–t is displacement.
- Common trap: Mixing up velocity and acceleration at the top of a throw: velocity is zero, acceleration is still g downwards.
- Practise: Unit 1 practice problems and our kinematics guide.
Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics (18 to 23% of the exam)
Systems and centre of mass, free-body diagrams, Newton's three laws, friction, springs, circular motion and gravitation.
- Key idea: Draw a free-body diagram for every dynamics question, then write ΣF = ma along each axis.
- Common trap: Treating the normal force as always equal to mg: on a slope or in a lift it is not.
- Practise: Unit 2 practice problems and our force and translational dynamics guide.
Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power (18 to 23% of the exam)
Kinetic and potential energy, work done by forces, conservation of energy and power.
- Key idea: Choose the system first. Whether a force does work on the system or changes its internal energy depends on what is inside it.
- Common trap: Forgetting that friction removes mechanical energy from the system.
- Practise: Unit 3 practice problems and our work, energy, and power guide.
Unit 4: Linear Momentum (10 to 15% of the exam)
Momentum, impulse, conservation of momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions.
- Key idea: Momentum is conserved in every collision if the system is isolated; kinetic energy is conserved only in elastic ones.
- Common trap: Ignoring direction: momentum is a vector, so a ball that bounces back has a negative final momentum.
- Practise: Unit 4 practice problems and our linear momentum guide.
Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics (10 to 15% of the exam)
Rotational kinematics, torque, rotational inertia, rotational equilibrium and Newton's second law for rotation.
- Key idea: Torque = rF sin θ about a chosen pivot. For equilibrium, net force and net torque are both zero.
- Common trap: Using the wrong distance: r is measured from the pivot to where the force acts.
- Practise: Unit 5 practice problems and our torque and rotational dynamics guide.
Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems (5 to 8% of the exam)
Rotational kinetic energy, angular momentum and its conservation, rolling.
- Key idea: A rolling object shares its kinetic energy between translation and rotation, so it is slower at the bottom of a ramp than a sliding one.
- Common trap: Forgetting that angular momentum is conserved only when the net external torque is zero.
- Practise: Unit 6 practice problems and our energy and momentum of rotating systems guide.
Unit 7: Oscillations (5 to 8% of the exam)
Simple harmonic motion, springs and pendulums, energy in oscillating systems.
- Key idea: The period of a mass on a spring depends on m and k, not on the amplitude. A pendulum's period depends on its length and g, not its mass.
- Common trap: Saying the period of a pendulum changes with mass.
- Practise: Unit 7 practice problems and our oscillations guide.
Unit 8: Fluids (10 to 15% of the exam)
Density, pressure, buoyancy (Archimedes' principle), fluid flow and Bernoulli's equation.
- Key idea: The buoyant force equals the weight of fluid displaced. In a narrowing pipe, the speed goes up and the pressure goes down.
- Common trap: Using the object's density instead of the fluid's when finding the buoyant force.
- Practise: Unit 8 practice problems and our fluids guide.
The ideas that connect the units
AP Physics 1 rewards students who see the course as a few big ideas, not eight separate topics:
- Systems. Choosing what is in the system decides which forces are external, whether energy is conserved and whether momentum is conserved.
- Conservation laws. Energy, momentum and angular momentum are conserved under conditions you must be able to state. Many hard questions are easy once you pick the right conservation law.
- Linear and rotational versions. Force and torque, mass and rotational inertia, momentum and angular momentum follow the same patterns. Learn them side by side.
- Graphs. Slopes and areas carry meaning in every unit, from motion graphs to force-stretch graphs for springs.
A review plan for the 2027 exam
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now to January | Review each unit as you finish it in class: the unit's practice problems, then one free-response question of any type. |
| February | Revisit Units 1 to 4 with mixed practice. These are the foundation for everything after. |
| March | Full timed multiple-choice sections: 42 questions in 85 minutes. Log every wrong answer by unit. |
| April | Two full practice exams under 2027 timing, marked strictly. Put each score into the score calculator to see the gap to your target. |
| The last week | Light review of your error log and the equation sheet. Sleep matters more than one more paper. |
Resources: AP Physics 1 practice by unit, multiple-choice practice, the full practice exam, official past free-response questions and the AP Physics 1 score calculator.
How to review well
- Test yourself before you reread. Try a question first; reread your notes only for what you got wrong.
- Explain in words. Many points ask you to justify a claim with a physics principle. Practise writing one clear sentence that names the principle and applies it.
- Use the equation sheet as you practise, so you know where everything is. It is provided in the exam; what it does not tell you is when each equation applies.
- Mix the units once you have reviewed them. The exam does not tell you which unit a question is from.
Practice questions
Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A ball is thrown horizontally at 8 m/s from a cliff 20 m high. Using g = 9.8 m/s2, how far from the base of the cliff does it land?
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Q2. A 3 kg block on a frictionless surface is pulled by a 12 N horizontal force. What is its acceleration?
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Q3. A 1 kg ball moving at 4 m/s hits a wall and rebounds at 3 m/s. What is the magnitude of the impulse on the ball?
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Common mistakes
- Spending equal time on every unit: forces and energy are worth far more than oscillations.
- Rereading notes instead of answering questions.
- Learning equations without knowing when they apply.
- Leaving free-response practice until April.
Frequently asked questions
How many units are in AP Physics 1?
Eight, from Unit 1 Kinematics to Unit 8 Fluids. Fluids moved into AP Physics 1 from AP Physics 2 in 2024-25.
Which AP Physics 1 units are worth the most?
Unit 2, Force and Translational Dynamics, and Unit 3, Work, Energy, and Power, are each 18 to 23% of the multiple-choice section.
How long should I spend reviewing for AP Physics 1?
Steady review from January, with full timed practice from March, works for most students. Starting earlier matters more than studying longer each week.
Is the equation sheet given in the exam?
Yes, on paper and in the Bluebook app. Practise with it so you know where each equation is.
Key takeaways
- Eight units; forces and energy are the biggest share.
- Exam on 5 May 2027: 42 multiple-choice questions, then 4 free-response questions.
- Review by testing yourself, and explain answers in words.
Sources: College Board, AP Central AP Physics 1 course page (unit weightings) and 2027 exam schedule. Checked 21 October 2026.