AP Physics 1 Monthly Review

AP Physics 1 can feel overwhelming — but with the right monthly review structure, you'll stop memorizing formulas and start actually understanding physics. This class is built for high school students working through AP Physics 1 who want to reinforce concepts, sharpen problem-solving skills, and walk into their exam with real confidence. Each session digs into a core unit of the AP curriculum — from kinematics and Newton's Laws to momentum, energy, and circular motion — with a focus on applying ideas to the kinds of problems that show up on the actual test. Whether you're ahead of your class, behind, or just looking for a stronger foundation, this monthly review gives you the structured practice and expert guidance to make it click.

Build the Foundation That AP Physics 1 Demands

AP Physics 1 isn't just a memorization marathon — it's a course that asks you to think like a physicist. This monthly review class is designed to help you do exactly that. Each session targets a specific unit from the AP Physics 1 curriculum, breaking down complex concepts into clear, workable ideas and then immediately putting them to use through problem-solving practice. You'll leave each session not just knowing the material, but knowing how to use it.

Kinematics: Motion From the Ground Up

The course opens with kinematics — the backbone of AP Physics 1. You'll start by nailing the difference between vectors and scalars, a distinction that quietly trips up students throughout the entire course. From there, you'll learn to read and interpret motion graphs, translate those graphs into equations, and apply the kinematic equations to solve for unknown variables in one- and two-dimensional scenarios. Projectile motion gets full treatment here: you'll learn to separate horizontal and vertical components, handle launch angles, and think clearly about how gravity shapes a trajectory. Reference frames and relative motion round out the unit, helping you understand why two observers can describe the same motion in completely different — and both correct — ways.

Forces, Energy, and Momentum: The Core of the AP Exam

Once kinematics is solid, the course moves through the major conceptual pillars of AP Physics 1. Newton's three laws get rigorous treatment — not just as definitions, but as tools. You'll draw free-body diagrams, calculate net force and acceleration, and analyze systems involving static and kinetic friction. From there, the course covers work, energy, and power: you'll define kinetic and potential energy, apply the work-energy theorem, and use conservation of energy to solve problems that would be impossible with kinematics alone. The momentum unit brings in impulse, collisions, and explosions — and you'll learn to distinguish between elastic and inelastic collisions and predict outcomes using conservation of linear momentum.

Circular Motion, Rotation, and Oscillations

The later sessions take on topics that many students find intimidating: circular motion and simple harmonic motion. You'll connect angular and linear quantities, work through centripetal force and acceleration problems, and analyze uniform circular motion in real-world contexts like cars on curves and satellites in orbit. The oscillations section introduces simple harmonic motion — restoring forces, period, and amplitude — giving you the conceptual grounding you need for both the exam and future physics coursework.

Why This Review Works

This isn't a lecture class where you sit and watch someone solve problems. The monthly review format means you're actively working through material, asking questions, and building problem-solving instincts in real time with an expert instructor. Whether your school follows a different sequence or you just want to make sure nothing falls through the cracks, this class meets you where you are and pushes you forward. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive, exam-ready understanding of AP Physics 1 — and the confidence to show it on test day.