AP sciences and calculus · 40 cards · sources listed below

AP Physics 1 flashcards: equations and concepts

This starter set focuses on the equations and concepts that stay the same from year to year across AP Physics 1: motion, forces, energy, momentum, rotation, oscillations and fluids. It is an independent study aid, not affiliated with the College Board. Always check the current course and exam description for the exam format, since details change.

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Free AP Physics 1 flashcards: 40-card starter set

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Units 1-2: Kinematics and Forces (14)

Write the three constant-acceleration kinematic equations.

v = v0 + at; x = x0 + v0 t + (1/2) a t^2; v^2 = v0^2 + 2a(x - x0).

What do the slope and area of a velocity-time graph represent?

Slope is acceleration. Area under the graph is displacement (signed).

What does the slope of a position-time graph tell you?

The velocity. A curve's slope at a point is the instantaneous velocity.

Describe projectile motion in the x and y directions.

Horizontal: constant velocity (no acceleration, ignoring air). Vertical: constant acceleration g downward, about 9.8 m/s^2 near Earth. The two are independent.

What is the acceleration of a projectile at the top of its path?

Still g downward. Only the vertical velocity is zero at that instant.

Scalar vs vector: distance, displacement, speed, velocity

Distance and speed are scalars. Displacement and velocity are vectors with direction.

State Newton's second law.

The net force on an object equals mass times acceleration (sum of F = ma), and acceleration points in the direction of the net force.

Why do Newton's third law force pairs not cancel?

They act on different objects. Only forces acting on the same object can be added to find its net force.

Weight vs mass

Mass is the amount of matter (kg). Weight is the gravitational force, F = mg.

Friction formulas

Kinetic: f = mu_k N. Static: f is at most mu_s N, and it takes whatever value is needed up to that limit.

What is the normal force on a block on an incline?

N = mg cos(theta) when there are no other vertical components of force. It is not always equal to mg.

State Hooke's law.

The spring force magnitude is F = kx, directed to restore the spring toward its natural length.

Centripetal acceleration for circular motion

a_c = v^2/r, directed toward the center. 'Centripetal force' is the name for the net inward force, not an extra force.

Law of universal gravitation

F = G m1 m2 / r^2, attractive, acting along the line between the centers of the masses.

Units 3-4: Work, Energy, Power and Momentum (9)

Define work done by a constant force.

W = F d cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force and the displacement.

Work-energy theorem

Net work on an object equals its change in kinetic energy: W_net = delta K.

Kinetic energy formula

K = (1/2) m v^2.

Formulas for gravitational and spring potential energy

Near Earth: delta U_g = mg(delta h). Spring: U_s = (1/2) k x^2.

When is mechanical energy conserved?

When no nonconservative forces such as friction or air resistance do net work on the system. Otherwise, mechanical energy changes by the work they do.

Power: definition and force form

P = W/t (rate of energy transfer, in watts). For a force along the direction of motion, P = F v.

Define momentum and impulse.

Momentum p = mv. Impulse J = F delta t = delta p (impulse-momentum theorem).

How do you find impulse from a force-time graph?

It is the area under the graph.

Elastic vs inelastic collisions

Momentum is conserved in both when external forces are negligible. Kinetic energy is conserved only in elastic collisions. In a perfectly inelastic collision, objects stick together.

Units 5-6: Rotation (8)

Torque formula

Torque = r F sin(theta), where theta is the angle between the lever arm vector and the force.

Conditions for static equilibrium

Net force is zero and net torque about any point is zero.

Newton's second law for rotation

Net torque = I alpha (rotational inertia times angular acceleration).

Rotational inertia of point masses

I = sum of m r^2. It depends on how far the mass is from the axis, not just on total mass.

Connect linear and angular quantities for a point on a rotating object.

v = omega r (tangential speed) and a_t = alpha r.

Rotational kinetic energy

K = (1/2) I omega^2.

Angular momentum and its conservation

L = I omega. It is conserved when net external torque is zero, so a spinner who pulls arms in (smaller I) spins faster.

Condition for rolling without slipping

The center of mass speed equals omega R. The point of contact is momentarily at rest.

Units 7-8: Oscillations and Fluids (9)

Period and frequency relationship

f = 1/T, with T in seconds and f in hertz.

Period of a mass on a spring and of a simple pendulum

Spring: T = 2 pi sqrt(m/k). Pendulum (small angles): T = 2 pi sqrt(L/g). Neither depends on amplitude.

Where in simple harmonic motion are speed and acceleration greatest?

Speed is greatest at equilibrium; acceleration magnitude is greatest at maximum displacement (turning points).

Total energy of a spring-mass oscillator

E = (1/2) k A^2, constant without friction and exchanged between kinetic and elastic potential.

Define density.

Density = mass/volume (kg/m^3).

Pressure in a static fluid

P = P0 + rho g h. Pressure increases with depth.

Buoyant force (Archimedes' principle)

F_b = rho_fluid V_displaced g, equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.

Continuity equation for an ideal fluid

A1 v1 = A2 v2: speed increases where the pipe narrows.

Bernoulli's equation

P + (1/2) rho v^2 + rho g y = constant along a streamline, an energy-conservation statement for ideal fluid flow.

What this set covers

Course units covered

All 8 units as listed by the College Board: Kinematics; Force and Translational Dynamics; Work, Energy, and Power; Linear Momentum; Torque and Rotational Dynamics; Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems; Oscillations; Fluids.

Best used for

Learning what each equation means, when it applies, and the conceptual statements behind it.

Not covered

Lab design, graph analysis and multi-step problem solving. Those need practice problems, not cards.

How to study this set

Physics cards should test when an equation applies, not just what it looks like. Pair them with problems every session.

1
Day 1
Go through one unit. For each equation, say what each symbol means and the situation it applies to, before flipping.
2
Days 2-7
After each card review, solve two quick problems using those equations and draw a free-body diagram for any force problem.
3
Week 2
Mix units and write a one-sentence conceptual claim for each (for example, why the speed at the bottom does not depend on mass).
4
Final week
Practise qualitative reasoning cards (what happens to X if Y doubles) because many questions ask for proportional reasoning.

Spaced repetition schedules each card to come back just before you would forget it, so reviews get shorter as your recall gets stronger. Cards you miss come back sooner.

Common mistakes to avoid

Treating centripetal force as a new force

Draw only real forces (gravity, tension, normal, friction), then say which combination provides the net inward force.

Cancelling third-law pairs

Action-reaction pairs act on different objects, so they never appear together in one free-body diagram.

Using energy conservation when friction acts

Include the work done by friction, or use the work-energy theorem for the system.

Mixing up the angle in work and torque

Use the angle between the force and displacement (work) or between the lever arm and the force (torque), and check signs.

Make your own from your notes

A starter set is a head start, not your whole course. Your class notes, slides and textbook are what your teacher actually tests, so turn them into cards too.

Make "what changes if" cards: front doubles one variable, back gives the proportional effect on the result.
Put a quick sketch description on the front (block on incline, rotating disk) and the correct free-body diagram forces on the back.
Avoid bare number cards; write the equation with symbols and units instead.
Turn each lab you did into one card on the relationship it showed and how you graphed it.

Generate cards from a topic or notes Turn a PDF into flashcards

AP Physics 1 flashcards: questions

Does AP Physics 1 include fluids?

Yes. The College Board course page currently lists eight units, and Unit 8 is Fluids. Always check the latest course and exam description in case it changes.

Will I be given the equations on the exam?

The College Board provides an equation sheet. Check the current exam information for details. Even so, you need to know when and why to use each equation.

What is the difference between Physics 1 and Physics 2?

Both are algebra-based. Physics 1 covers mechanics topics such as motion, forces, energy and rotation, while Physics 2 covers other topics such as thermodynamics, electricity and optics.

How should I study for the conceptual questions?

Write claim-evidence-reasoning statements and test cards that ask for proportional changes. Work from graphs and free-body diagrams rather than only formulas.

Is this an official College Board resource?

No, it is an independent study aid that follows the published unit names.

Sources and review

These cards are an independent study aid, not official exam content, and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam body or publisher. They were written by hand and checked against the sources below on 2026-10-17. Always confirm details with your course materials and the current official documents.

College Board: AP Physics 1 course page — Checked the eight unit names, including Unit 8: Fluids.
College Board Students: AP Physics 1 — Student-facing page; confirmed the eight unit titles and that Unit 8 covers fluids. Individual equation cards were written from standard course content.
OpenStax: College Physics for AP Courses 2e — Open textbook used as a general reference for the standard equations (cards written from course knowledge).

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