Mastering AP Physics 1: A Simple Problems Based Approach to Learning AP Physics (2019 Edition)

According to the 2018 statistics published by the College Board, the pass rate on the AP Physics 1 exam is the lowest of any AP exam. Only 40.6% of the students pass the exam and only 5.7% of the students get a 5. A lot of students who don’t pass the exam are often A students who understand physics, but the plug-n-chug type of problems they see in class do not prepare them for the AP Physics 1 free response questions.

For the last eight years, the majority of students I tutored for the AP Physics test obtained a score between 3 and 5. My secret is simple: I do rapid content review but more importantly, I walk students through the process of answering free response questions. The free response questions are unique; most AP physics courses and books will not properly prepare you for them.

This book will teach you the patterns of the AP test by providing guided solutions to prior AP Physics 1 exams. Although short answers from the College Board are available online, they lack explanations and many students do not find them helpful. Additionally, this book also includes six original free response questions and a section devoted to rapid review of the testable material. Topics such as projectile motion, harmonics, inclined planes, etc., are often covered in one page with color-coded diagrams. Note we cannot republish the AP Exam questions, but you can download them directly from the pdf link that’s provided.

Problems are broken down into sections allowing you to identify which segments are relevant for you and which you may skip. Each solution includes: the conceptual understanding of the problem; a review of the relevant physics principles; help with identifying the correct equation; a review of the algebra; and a section which coaches you on how to frame your answer to maximize partial credit. This book is intended to be a supplement to your AP Physics 1 course and textbook; it is too condensed to prepare you for the exam by itself. If you are familiar with AP Physics, however, and need to master the AP exam as fast as possible, this book is your best option.

This book includes:

Step-by-step answers to the 2015-2018 official AP free response questions, plus two selected problems from prior exams.

Six additional free response questions which precisely mimic the AP exam’s style.

Rapid review guides of tested topics including: kinematics, projectile motion, free body diagrams, forces, inclined planes, Atwood’s machine, vector algebra, conservation of energy, simple harmonic motion, rotational motion, moment of inertia, the essentials of waves, harmonics, electric circuits, and others.

Easy to comprehend language - the entire book was written with student feedback.

Formatting which allows you to view it on a Kindle or cell phone.