Exciting Updates to Algebra Based AP Physics Courses and Exam Structure in 2024-2025

I’m thrilled to announce some significant changes to the AP Physics 1 and 2 courses and exam formats, designed to enhance your learning experience and better prepare you for the exam. Here’s what’s new:

AP Physics 1 Course Changes

🔹 8 Units: The course now features 8 units, up from 7.

🔹 Fluids Added: Fluids, previously Unit 1 of AP Physics 2, is now Unit 8 of AP Physics 1.

🔹 Rotational and Translational Motion: We’re adding connections between rotational and translational motion.

🔹 New Objectives: New specific learning objectives referencing power are included.

🔹 Simple Harmonic Motion: Adding equations of motion for objects in simple harmonic motion.

🔹 Flexible Science Practices: Specific science practices are no longer tied to specific learning objectives, allowing any learning objective to be tested with any science practice. This change enables a wider range of questions to be written to the new framework.

AP Physics 2 Course Changes

• Fluids Moved to AP Physics 1: Fluids will no longer be part of AP Physics 2 and will now be Unit 8 in AP Physics 1.
• Expanded Coverage of Waves: A full treatment of waves (mechanical waves, standing waves, sound waves, and the Doppler effect) is now included, previously covered in AP Physics 1.
• New Unit Structure for Optics:Geometric Optics (Unit 13)Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics (Unit 14)
• Renumbered Units: AP Physics 2 units now begin at 9, following the 8 units of AP Physics 1.
• Enhanced Circuits Coverage: More comprehensive treatment of circuits.
• New Topics Added: Including blackbody radiation (connecting thermodynamics and modern physics) and Compton scattering.
• Flexible Science Practices: Any learning objective can now be tested with any science practice, enabling a broader range of questions in the new framework.

Exam Updates for AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2

🔹 40 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs): The number of MCQs is reduced from 50 to 40.

🔹 No More Multiselect Questions: Multiselect questions have been removed.

🔹 Reduced Time for MCQs: Section I time is decreased from 90 to 80 minutes.

🔹 4 Free-Response Questions (FRQs): The number of FRQs is reduced from 5 to 4, with all being new question types:

• Mathematical routines
• Translation between representations
• Experimental design and analysis
• Qualitative/quantitative translation

🔹 Increased Time for FRQs: Section II time is increased from 90 to 100 minutes.

Stay tuned for more details, and get ready to dive into the enhanced AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 experience!