AP Physics

AP Physics Guide

The Ultimate AP Physics Guide (2026 Exam Prep)

Master the College Board curriculum with free study guides, formula sheets, and FRQ practice for AP Physics 1, 2, and C.

Current for 2026: Fully aligned with the May 2026 exam format, including Fluids in AP 1 and the standard 4-question FRQ structure.

Download 2026 Formula Sheets »

AP Physics 1

Master mechanics, energy, waves, and fluids. Algebra-based.

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🚀 Unit 1: Kinematics

⚠️ Hardest Concept: Remembering that horizontal and vertical motion are independent.

💥 Unit 2: Dynamics

⚠️ Hardest Concept: Solving multi-body systems (tension) without getting signs mixed up.

🪐 Unit 3: Circular & Gravity

⚠️ Hardest Concept: Understanding that “Centrifugal Force” doesn’t exist in inertial frames.

Unit 4: Work & Energy

⚠️ Hardest Concept: Open vs. Closed systems (Work vs. Conservation).

🎱 Unit 5: Momentum

⚠️ Hardest Concept: When Kinetic Energy is lost (inelastic) vs. when Momentum is conserved (always).

〰️ Unit 6: SHM

⚠️ Hardest Concept: Interpreting restoring force graphs and phase shifts.

🔄 Unit 7: Rotation

⚠️ Hardest Concept: Conservation of Angular Momentum in collisions (e.g., bullet hitting a rod).

💧 Unit 8: Fluids

⚠️ Hardest Concept: Applying Bernoulli’s Principle when both height and speed change simultaneously.

AP Physics 2

Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics.

🚧 Course Coming Soon

🔥 Unit 9: Thermo

Heat, Temperature, and Kinetic Theory.

Unit 10: Electric Force

Electrostatics and Electric Fields.

🔋 Unit 11: DC Circuits

Complex circuits and capacitors.

🧲 Unit 12: Magnetism

Fields, Forces, and Induction.

🌈 Unit 13: Optics

Light, Mirrors, and Lenses.

🌊 Unit 14: Waves

Physical Optics and Interference.

⚛️ Unit 15: Modern

Quantum and Nuclear Physics.

AP Physics C

Calculus-based Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism.

🚧 Course Coming Soon

⚙️ Mechanics (C)

Advanced kinematics, Newton’s Laws, Work/Energy, Momentum, Rotation, and Oscillations.

⚠️ Key Skill: Setting up differential equations for drag force and oscillations.

🧲 E & M (C)

Electrostatics, Gauss’s Law, Circuits, Magnetic Fields, and Maxwell’s Equations.

⚠️ Key Skill: Performing surface and line integrals for fields.

Essential AP Physics Study Tools (2026 Edition)

Don’t go into the exam without these. Download our custom formula sheets and calculator guides.