Unit 4 Overview: Energy

1 min read•june 8, 2020

Peter Apps

AP Physics 1 🎡

257 resources

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Unit 4 introduces the concept of energy as an alternative method of solving some of the problems encountered in Units 1-3. The skills learned in this unit will become essential tools in dealing with some of the more advanced concepts in the later units. These topics will account for up to a quarter (~16-24%) of the AP exam questions and will take approximately 19-22 45 minute class periods to cover. This is a foundational unit to the course, and it’s vital you can understand and apply the concepts.

Applicable Big Ideas

Big Idea #3: Force Interactions - How does pushing something give it energy?

Big Idea #4: Change - How is energy exchanged and transformed within or between systems? How does the choice of system influence how energy is stored or how work is done?

Big Idea #5: Conservation - How is energy transferred between objects or systems? How does the law of conservation of energy govern the interactions between objects and systems?