AP Physics 1 Virtual Labs & Experimental Investigations
All eight AP Physics 1 investigations now include hands-on apparatus modes. In Kinematics, drag the cart, gate and ramp and operate the stopwatch yourself. In Friction, build the load with draggable masses and physically pull a force-sensor handle. In Energy, drag the cart and speed gate along the track, release the cart yourself and capture the photogate speed after the crossing. In Momentum, build and launch the carts through two velocity gates. In Torque, move hangers and masses on a pivoted meterstick, release the beam and balance opposing torques. In Rolling, choose the object and incline, arm the photogates and release the object. In Oscillations, attach masses to a spring, displace the hanger by dragging it and release it through a cycle counter. In Fluids, calibrate the force sensor in air, drag the suspended object into an unknown fluid, let the force reading stabilize, and record buoyant-force trials at different displaced volumes. Each lab also provides a separate automatic five-trial mode when a student only needs a quick sample dataset.
How much laboratory work is part of AP Physics 1?
AP Physics 1 expects at least 25% of instructional time to involve hands-on laboratory investigations. This resource provides eight interactive experiment pathways that emphasize variables, measurement, graphs, uncertainty and evidence.
- At least 25% hands-on laboratory time in the AP course.
- 8 interactive experiment pathways on this site.
- Experimental Design and Analysis is one of the four FRQ modes.
What are AP Physics 1 virtual labs?
AP Physics 1 virtual labs are browser experiments in which students manipulate apparatus, make measurements, record accepted trials and analyze their own evidence. Kinematics uses direct drag-and-drop apparatus control and a student-operated stopwatch. Friction uses draggable masses and a student-controlled force-sensor pull. Energy uses a draggable cart and speed gate with a student-released cart and photogate measurement. Momentum uses draggable carts and mass pieces, an adjustable launcher and two velocity gates. Torque uses draggable hangers and masses on a pivoted meterstick with a live balance detector. Rolling uses draggable rolling objects and an adjustable incline with instrument timing. Oscillations uses draggable mass pieces and a student-released mass-spring system with a ten-cycle sensor. Fluids uses a suspended object, draggable immersion depth and a calibrated force sensor to measure apparent weight and buoyant force. All eight labs also offer a clearly labeled automatic dataset mode.
One virtual lab for every AP Physics 1 unit
Hands-on collection is the default in every lab. When a student only needs representative values for graphing or calculation practice, every experiment also offers a clearly labeled automatic dataset mode.
Determine acceleration from ramp motion
Research question: How can position and time measurements determine the acceleration of a cart released from rest on a constant-angle ramp?
Operate the experiment
Do not change the ramp angle between trials if your goal is an x-versus-t² graph for one constant acceleration. Changing it creates a control-variable error that the report will detect. Cart motion is displayed in slow motion so touch/mouse timing is practical; the stopwatch shows simulated physical seconds.
| Trial | Ramp angle (°) | Distance x (m) | Measured time t (s) | t² (s²) | Trial a = 2x/t² (m/s²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No readings recorded. Manipulate the apparatus and perform Trial 1. | |||||
The graph begins with your recorded scatter only. A best-fit line is available only after enough data are recorded and the ramp angle has been held reasonably constant.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Measure the coefficient of kinetic friction
Research question: Is kinetic friction proportional to normal force, and what value of μk is obtained from the slope of a measured Fk-versus-N graph?
Operate the friction experiment
Arm the sensor, then physically pull the handle. Once the block has moved steadily for about 0.6 seconds, the sensor automatically averages the stable force samples and immediately adds that trial to the data sheet. No mid-pull click is required.
| Trial | Total mass (kg) | Normal force N (N) | Kinetic friction Fk (N) | Trial μk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No readings recorded. Build the apparatus and perform Trial 1. | |||||
The graph starts with measured/simulated scatter only. The best-fit line appears only when requested.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Test mechanical-energy conservation
Research question: Does gravitational potential energy transform into translational kinetic energy as a cart descends, and how closely does the measured bottom speed agree with the energy model?
Operate the experiment
The speed gate is an instrument, not an automatic trial generator. You choose the release point, place the gate, arm it and release the cart. When the cart physically crosses the gate, the instrument automatically captures that instant's speed; you then decide whether to keep the run.
| Trial | Vertical drop h (m) | Measured speed v (m/s) | v² (m²/s²) | g estimate v²/(2h) | KE/GPE ratio | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No readings recorded. Position the cart and speed gate and perform Trial 1. | ||||||
The graph begins with the measured v²-versus-h scatter and uncertainty markers. A best-fit line is added only when requested.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Test momentum conservation in a sticking collision
Research question: When a moving cart collides with a stationary cart and the carts stick, how closely does the measured total momentum after the collision match the measured total momentum before it?
Operate the collision
The carts use magnetic couplers and stick after impact. The velocity gates behave like digital instruments: they automatically capture the crossing speeds, but only after you have built and run the collision yourself.
| Trial | m₁ (kg) | Measured u₁ (m/s) | m₂ (kg) | Measured vf (m/s) | pi (kg·m/s) | pf (kg·m/s) | Difference (%) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No collisions recorded. Build the carts and perform Trial 1. | ||||||||
The graph opens as scatter only. The conservation reference and regression are separate optional overlays so neither can be mistaken for the measured data.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Balance a pivoted meterstick and test rotational equilibrium
Research question: When a meterstick is free to rotate about a fixed pivot, do the clockwise and counterclockwise torques match for the arrangements that remain in rotational equilibrium?
Operate the torque experiment
Each hanger has a 0.10 kg base mass. Add 0.05 kg discs and move the hangers along the ruler. Releasing the beam lets the net torque determine the tilt. Only a tested, balanced arrangement can be recorded.
| Trial | Left mass (kg) | Left r (m) | τ left (N·m) | Right mass (kg) | Right r (m) | τ right (N·m) | Mismatch (%) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No balanced trials recorded. Build the meterstick apparatus and perform Trial 1. | ||||||||
Measured torque pairs are plotted first. The theoretical equality reference and regression line are separate optional overlays.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Roll different objects down the same incline and test rotational inertia
Research question: When objects roll without slipping down the same incline, how does the rotational-inertia coefficient β = I/(mR²) affect their translational acceleration?
Operate the rolling experiment
The object must be placed in the cradle before the gates can be armed. The photogates—not the program clock alone—start and stop the measurement as the rolling object crosses their positions.
| Trial | Object | β | Angle (°) | Distance (m) | Measured time (s) | Measured a (m/s²) | Theory a (m/s²) | Difference (%) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No rolling trials recorded. Place an object in the cradle and perform Trial 1. | |||||||||
The measured acceleration points are plotted first. A straight best-fit line is deliberately not offered because the physical relationship with β is nonlinear.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Build a mass-spring oscillator and determine the spring constant
Research question: Can the spring constant be determined experimentally from the slope of a T²-versus-m graph when the student changes the attached mass and measures the oscillation period?
Operate the oscillator
The student chooses the mass and displacement. After the cycle counter is armed, releasing the dragged hanger starts the oscillator. The sensor automatically times ten complete cycles so the student does not have to click at an exact turning point.
| Trial | Total mass m (kg) | Release amplitude (cm) | 10-cycle time (s) | Period T (s) | T² (s²) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No oscillation trials recorded. Attach mass, arm the counter, drag the hanger and release it. | ||||||
The graph starts as measured T²-versus-m scatter only. The best-fit line is added only when the student requests it.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Measure buoyant force and determine the density of an unknown fluid
Research question: Is buoyant force proportional to displaced volume, and can the density of an unknown fluid be determined from the slope of a buoyant-force-versus-volume graph?
Operate the buoyancy experiment
The force sensor measures tension in the suspension. Buoyant force is found from the difference between the calibrated air weight and the stabilized apparent weight. Use several distinct submerged volumes while keeping the same object and fluid.
| Trial | Displaced volume (cm³) | Air weight (N) | Apparent weight (N) | Buoyant force (N) | Trial density (kg/m³) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No buoyancy trials recorded. Calibrate the sensor in air, immerse the object and perform Trial 1. | ||||||
The graph begins with measured buoyant-force points only. Add the best-fit line only after checking the scatter and the spread of displaced volumes.
Discussion
Conclusion
Lab feedback
Write the lab from the evidence
Each completed virtual lab provides a calculated result, a discussion tied to scatter/error, and a conclusion tied to the research question. Use those outputs to practice evidence-based experimental writing.
- State the measured relationship and numerical result.
- Use the graph/slope rather than a single trial whenever possible.
- Describe whether variation is small enough to support the model.
- Identify a plausible measurement limitation.
- Answer the research question directly in the conclusion.