The AP Physics 1 Course has been designed by the College Board as a course equivalent to the algebra-based college-level physics class. This course is rigorous and promotes student development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Exploration in Newtonian mechanics; work, energy, and power; mechanical waves, sound and introductory simple circuits encompasses the curriculum. The content for the course is based on six big ideas.
THE 6 BIG IDEAS
Big Idea 1- Objects and systems have properties such as mass and charge. Systems may have internal structure.
Big Idea 2 - Fields existing in space can be used to explain interactions.
Big Idea 3 - The interactions of an object with other objects can be described by forces.
Big Idea 4 - Interactions between systems can result in changes of those systems.
Big Idea 5 - Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation laws.
Big Idea 6 - Waves can transfer energy and momentum from location to another without the permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the description of other phenomena.