Mechanics 1
Motion, forces, energy and momentum — the first half of AP Physics 1.
Unit 1 · Kinematics
Velocity vs. speed
Run a full lap back to the start
Acceleration
Two cars accelerate; compare v–t graphs
Free fall
Hammer and feather, air on/off
Position–time graphs
Walk to match a given graph
Horizontal launch
Launched ball vs. dropped ball
Launch angle
Find the max-range angle, drag on/off
Relative motion
Rain falling straight and a moving car
Unit 2 · Forces
Newton's 1st law
The tablecloth pull
Newton's 2nd law
Push an empty cart and a full one
Newton's 3rd law
A truck hits a car
Friction
Locked-wheel vs. ABS braking
Inclined plane
Raise the angle until the box slides
Pulleys (Atwood machine)
Two masses over one pulley
Centripetal force
Cut the string mid-spin
Unit 3 · Energy
Work
Rank 4 actions by work done
Potential and kinetic energy
Two-hill roller coaster
Conservation of energy
Bowling-ball pendulum released at your face
Springs
Compress a spring twice as far
Power
Two people climb the same stairs
Braking distance
Brake at 30 mph and at 60 mph
Roller coaster loop
Find the lowest release height that clears the loop
Unit 4 · Momentum
Momentum
Tennis ball vs. bowling ball
Elastic collisions
Newton's cradle
Inelastic collisions
Two carts collide and stick
Impulse
Same crash, with and without an airbag
Rocket propulsion
A rocket in space
2D collisions
Off-center pool shot
Center of mass
The Fosbury flop
Review
Land a spacecraft softly