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AP Physics 1 · Flashcards & study tools

AP Physics 1 flashcards, minus the noise.

123 flashcards mapped to the College Board course framework, 60 original practice questions, and 4 FRQ drills with self-scored rubrics — in a calm app with no ads, no games, and no streaks to protect.

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8 unitsFull CED coverage
123 cardsAudited deck
60 practice questionsOriginal writing
4 FRQ drillsSelf-scored rubrics
What’s inside

Everything for the May exam, in one place

Four ways to study, all aligned to the same course framework.

Flashcards

A 123-card deck covering all 8 units, audited against the CED with core and supporting concepts marked so you study what's tested and skip what isn't. Your Still Learning / Know ratings schedule each card with SM-2 spaced repetition.

Vocabulary Check

A definition-first pass over the deck: see the definition, recall the term. Built for the recognition-to-recall ramp the exam rewards.

Practice questions

60 original multiple-choice questions written against the CED — never recycled exam content. Every distractor targets a real misconception, and explanations address the trap.

FRQ drills

Four free-response drills — mathematical routines, translation between representations, and experimental design and analysis, timed like the exam, with Rycal-written rubrics you score yourself against — plus links to officially released FRQs on AP Central.

Unit by unit

Covered unit by unit

Every unit of the AP Physics 1 framework, each with its own flashcard deck, vocabulary check, and practice questions.

Sample flashcards

A few of the actual cards

Real cards from the AP Physics 1 deck — term on the front, definition on the back.

Force
A vector quantity describing an interaction between two objects or systems. A force exerted on an object always comes from another object or system — an object cannot exert a force on itself.
Unit 2 · Force and Translational Dynamics
Torque
The rotational effect of a force: τ = r·F·sinθ, where θ is the angle between the position vector and the force. Only the force component perpendicular to the position vector contributes to the torque.
Unit 5 · Torque and Rotational Dynamics
Work
Energy transferred into or out of a system by a force acting over a distance. Work is a scalar that can be positive, negative, or zero; only the component of the force parallel to the displacement changes the system's energy.
Unit 3 · Work, Energy, and Power
Impulse
The product of the average net external force and the time it acts: J = F_avg·Δt, a vector pointing in the direction of the force. Impulse equals the area under a force–time graph.
Unit 4 · Linear Momentum
Static friction
Friction that prevents slipping between surfaces not moving relative to each other. It takes whatever value is needed to prevent sliding, up to a maximum of F_f,s,max = μ_s·F_n; μ_s is typically greater than μ_k for a given pair of surfaces.
Unit 2 · Force and Translational Dynamics
Kinematic equations (constant acceleration)
For motion with constant acceleration: v_x = v_x0 + a_x·t; x = x_0 + v_x0·t + ½·a_x·t²; v_x² = v_x0² + 2·a_x·(x − x_0). They apply in any direction as appropriate.
Unit 1 · Kinematics
Conservation of energy
Energy is conserved in all interactions. A system's total energy stays constant when no work is done on it and no nonconservative forces act within it; otherwise the change in energy equals the energy transferred into or out of the system.
Unit 3 · Work, Energy, and Power
Newton's second law
The acceleration of a system's center of mass is proportional to the net external force exerted on the system and points in the same direction as that net force (a_cm = F_net/m). Only a nonzero net external force changes the center-of-mass velocity.
Unit 2 · Force and Translational Dynamics
Questions

Before you ask

Is Rycal free?

Yes. Everything described on this page is free — no ads, no paywalls, no premium tier. You can study as a guest without an account; a free account saves your progress and syncs it across devices.

Is this official College Board material?

No. Rycal is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the College Board. Our questions and drills are original writing, aligned to the College Board course framework — we never rehost exam content. The FRQ section links out to officially released FRQs on AP Central.

How does the scheduling work?

Rycal uses SM-2 spaced repetition: after each flashcard you rate it Still Learning or Know, and your ratings decide when that card comes back. Add your exam date to the Test Planner and pacing compresses unit by unit as the test approaches — nothing is ever scheduled past test day.

Do I need an account to start?

No. Guests get the study tools. A free account adds sync across devices, the review queue, and the mastery map that shows which units are fragile and which are stable.

Which FRQ types are covered?

Four free-response drills — mathematical routines, translation between representations, and experimental design and analysis, each with a Rycal-written rubric you score yourself against, plus links to officially released FRQs on AP Central. Rycal never grades your writing.

Calm studying starts here.

Open the AP Physics 1 course in the AP Course Hub and start with the flashcards. Your first review queue builds itself.

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