AP Physics 1 Practice Test 2027: 5 Full Model Papers + Solutions
Use these five original model papers for whole-exam simulation. Each paper contains 42 MCQs in an 85-minute Section I and 4 FRQs in a 95-minute Section II, matching the May 2027 exam structure. Every question has an answer or full solution.
How many full AP Physics 1 practice tests are included?
Five complete original AP Physics 1 model papers are included. Each paper uses the 2027 structure of 42 MCQs and 4 FRQs with answer keys and worked solutions.
- 5 full model papers.
- 210 model-paper MCQs and 20 model-paper FRQs.
- Current 2027 section counts and timing.
Full model papers and topic practice now have different jobs
Choose a model paper when you want a timed final-exam simulation. Choose the MCQ or FRQ subpages when you want focused practice on one exact syllabus topic.
42 MCQs + 4 FRQs per paper, current timing, weighted unit coverage, answers and full solutions.
Select a paper ↓Focused drillMCQ Practice by Topic42 original multiple-choice questions for each of all 43 official topics with direct explanations.
Open topic MCQs →Focused writingFRQ Practice by TopicFour original FRQs for each of all 43 official topics covering the four current response types.
Open topic FRQs →Choose your final-review paper
All five use the same official section lengths but different questions, contexts and FRQ combinations.
They are blueprint-based forecasts, not leaked or official exam questions. Each 42-question MCQ paper uses a balanced count inside the current College Board unit-weighting ranges: Unit 1 = 5, Unit 2 = 8, Unit 3 = 8, Unit 4 = 5, Unit 5 = 5, Unit 6 = 3, Unit 7 = 3, Unit 8 = 5. The four FRQs use one Mathematical Routines, one Translation Between Representations, one Experimental Design & Analysis, and one Qualitative/Quantitative Translation task.
| Unit | Model-paper MCQs | Share of 42 | Official MCQ range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Kinematics | 5 | 11.9% | 10–15% |
| 2 Force & Translational Dynamics | 8 | 19.0% | 18–23% |
| 3 Work, Energy & Power | 8 | 19.0% | 18–23% |
| 4 Linear Momentum | 5 | 11.9% | 10–15% |
| 5 Torque & Rotational Dynamics | 5 | 11.9% | 10–15% |
| 6 Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems | 3 | 7.1% | 5–8% |
| 7 Oscillations | 3 | 7.1% | 5–8% |
| 8 Fluids | 5 | 11.9% | 10–15% |
AP Physics 1 2027 Model Paper 3
For the most realistic attempt, use the equation/reference sheet allowed for the exam, keep solutions closed, and complete both sections under the current timing.
42 multiple-choice questions
Questions are intentionally mixed across units. Use the Check Answer button only after committing to a choice if you are simulating exam conditions.
A moving object’s speed changes by a factor of 0.5 while mass stays constant. By what factor does its kinetic energy change?
Correct answer: C. K = ½mv², so kinetic energy scales with the square of speed: factor = 0.25.
A frictionless block slides down an incline at 53°. Use sin(53°) ≈ 0.8 and g = 10 m/s². What is its acceleration along the incline?
Correct answer: A. Along the incline, ma = mg sinθ, so a = g sinθ = 8 m/s² down the incline.
A 5 kg cart experiences a constant net horizontal force of 15 N. What is the cart's acceleration?
Correct answer: B. Newton’s second law gives a = F_net/m = 3 m/s².
A fluid sample has mass 0.9 kg and volume 5.0×10⁻⁴ m³. What is its density?
Correct answer: B. Density is ρ = m/V = 1800 kg/m³.
A force of 16 N is applied perpendicular to a wrench 0.26 m from the pivot. What is the torque magnitude?
Correct answer: C. For a perpendicular force, τ = rF = 4.16 N·m.
Two projectiles are fired horizontally from the same cliff at the same instant; one has the larger horizontal speed. Which reaches the ground first?
Correct answer: A. Horizontal and vertical motions share the same time. With identical vertical initial conditions and the same gravitational acceleration, the flight time is independent of horizontal speed.
An ideal spring oscillator is instantaneously at x = −A, where x=0 is equilibrium. In which direction is its acceleration?
Correct answer: D. For SHM, a ∝ −x, so acceleration always points from the displaced position back toward equilibrium.
A cart starts from rest and descends a frictionless track through a vertical height of 2.4 m. Take g = 10 m/s². What is its speed at the bottom?
Correct answer: B. Conservation of mechanical energy gives mgh = ½mv², so v = √(2gh) = 6.93 m/s.
A 6 kg block rests on a horizontal surface with μ_s = 0.40. Take g = 10 m/s². What is the maximum static-friction magnitude?
Correct answer: D. Maximum static friction is f_s,max = μ_s N = μ_s mg = 24 N.
A 1.6 kg cart moving at +7 m/s sticks to a 2.0 kg cart initially at rest. Neglect external impulse. What is their common velocity?
Correct answer: D. Conservation of momentum gives m₁v₁ = (m₁+m₂)v_f, so v_f = +3.11 m/s.
A rotating object has I = 1.8 kg·m² and ω = 6 rad/s. What is its rotational kinetic energy?
Correct answer: D. Rotational kinetic energy is K_rot = ½Iω² = 32.4 J.
A constant +35 N force acts for 0.35 s. What impulse is delivered?
Correct answer: C. Impulse is J = FΔt for a constant force, so J = +12.25 N·s.
A motor transfers 900 J of energy in 8 s. What is its average power?
Correct answer: C. Average power is energy transferred per time: P = ΔE/Δt = 112.5 W.
An object moves along the x-axis from x = -5 m to x = +13 m. What is its displacement?
Correct answer: A. Displacement is final position minus initial position: Δx = x_f − x_i = 18 m.
A rigid object has rotational inertia 2.6 kg·m² and experiences net torque 9 N·m. What is its angular acceleration?
Correct answer: D. Rotational dynamics gives τ_net = Iα, so α = τ_net/I = 3.46 rad/s².
For energy accounting of a book lifted from the floor, which system choice allows gravitational potential energy to be treated as internal energy of the system?
Correct answer: A. Gravitational potential energy is associated with the interaction between Earth and the object, so the useful system contains both.
Water flows steadily from a pipe of cross-sectional area 4.0 cm² at 2.6 m/s into a 2.0 cm² section. What is the speed in the narrower section?
Correct answer: A. For steady incompressible flow, A₁v₁ = A₂v₂. Halving the area doubles the speed.
A point on a rotating disk is 0.36 m from the axis and the disk rotates at 7 rad/s. What is the point's tangential speed?
Correct answer: C. Tangential speed and angular speed are related by v = rω.
A constant horizontal force of 16 N acts in the direction of motion while an object moves 6 m. How much work does the force do?
Correct answer: B. For a force parallel to displacement, W = Fd = 96 J.
A rotating student on a turntable moves two dumbbells outward. With negligible external torque, what happens?
Correct answer: A. With negligible external torque, angular momentum L = Iω is conserved, so I and ω change inversely.
A student pushes horizontally on a rigid wall. Which force forms the third-law pair with the student’s push on the wall?
Correct answer: C. Newton’s-third-law forces are the same interaction on two different objects and have equal magnitude with opposite direction.
In water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³), what is the gauge-pressure increase 1.6 m below the surface? Take g = 10 m/s².
Correct answer: C. Hydrostatic pressure change is ΔP = ρgΔh = 16000 Pa.
For an ideal block attached to an ideal spring, at what position is the magnitude of velocity greatest?
Correct answer: A. At equilibrium the spring potential energy is minimum and kinetic energy is maximum, so speed is greatest there.
An object moves in a circle of fixed radius. Its speed changes by a factor of 0.5 while mass and radius stay constant. By what factor does the required centripetal net force change?
Correct answer: D. Because F_c = mv²/r, the force scales as the square of speed. The factor is (0.5)² = 0.25.
A 5 kg object is lifted vertically by 6 m near Earth’s surface. Take g = 10 m/s². What is the increase in gravitational potential energy?
Correct answer: D. ΔU_g = mgΔy = 300 J.
A 5 kg cart moves at +6 m/s. What is its linear momentum?
Correct answer: B. Linear momentum is p = mv, including the velocity direction, so p = +30 kg·m/s.
For two air-hockey pucks colliding, why can total system momentum be approximately conserved during the short interaction?
Correct answer: A. Internal forces transfer momentum between system parts; negligible external impulse keeps the total momentum nearly constant.
A force-time graph is a triangle with base 0.7 s and peak height 45 N. What is the impulse magnitude?
Correct answer: B. Impulse equals the area under F(t). The triangle area is ½(base)(height) = 15.75 N·s.
A 60 kg rider stands on a scale in an elevator accelerating upward at 2 m/s². Take g = 10 m/s². What does the scale read?
Correct answer: B. For upward acceleration, N − mg = ma, so N = m(g+a) = 720 N.
For an ideal mass-spring oscillator, the mass changes by a factor of 0.25 while k stays constant. By what factor does the period change?
Correct answer: C. Because T = 2π√(m/k), the period follows the square root of m and the inverse square root of k.
A spring with k = 180 N/m is stretched 0.050 m beyond its relaxed length. What is the magnitude of the spring force?
Correct answer: C. Hooke’s law gives |F_s| = k|x| = 9 N.
A horizontal beam is in rotational equilibrium. A downward 18 N force acts 0.25 m left of the pivot. What downward force acting 0.50 m right of the pivot balances it?
Correct answer: B. For rotational equilibrium, clockwise and counterclockwise torques have equal magnitude: F_L r_L = F_R r_R.
Two rotating objects have the same total mass and outer radius. Object A concentrates more mass near the axis than Object B. Which has the greater rotational inertia?
Correct answer: A. Rotational inertia weights each mass element by r², so placing more mass farther from the axis increases I.
Two masses attract gravitationally. Their separation changes by a factor of 0.5 while both masses remain constant. By what factor does the force change?
Correct answer: A. Gravitational force follows F ∝ 1/r², so changing r by factor 0.5 changes F by 1/(0.5)² = 4.
In a horizontal hose with a constricted section, the fluid speed is greater in the narrower region. How does the static pressure there compare with the wider region?
Correct answer: B. For steady ideal flow at equal height, Bernoulli’s relation pairs greater speed with lower static pressure.
A train moves +24 m/s relative to the ground. A passenger walks toward the rear at 3 m/s relative to the train. What is the passenger's velocity relative to the ground?
Correct answer: D. Use signed relative velocities: v_P/G = v_P/T + v_T/G = 21 m/s.
A cart undergoes constant acceleration. Its velocity changes from +9 m/s to +1 m/s in 7 s. What is its displacement during the interval?
Correct answer: C. For constant acceleration, average velocity is (v_i+v_f)/2. Multiplying by time gives Δx = 35 m.
A cart has velocity +7 m/s and acceleration -2.5 m/s² at an instant. What is happening to its speed?
Correct answer: B. Velocity and acceleration have opposite signs, so the acceleration opposes the motion and the speed decreases.
An object displaces 0.0026 m³ of water. Take ρ_water = 1000 kg/m³ and g = 10 m/s². What is the buoyant-force magnitude?
Correct answer: D. Archimedes’ principle gives F_B = ρ_fluid g V_displaced = 26 N.
A spring with k = 260 N/m is compressed 0.10 m. How much elastic potential energy is stored?
Correct answer: A. Spring potential energy is U_s = ½kx² = 1.3 J.
A 5 kg object speeds up from 2 m/s to 5 m/s. What is the net work done on it?
Correct answer: D. The work-energy theorem gives W_net = ΔK = ½m(v_f²−v_i²) = 52.5 J.
A wheel of radius 0.29 m rolls without slipping with angular speed 7 rad/s. What is the center-of-mass speed?
Correct answer: B. For rolling without slipping, v = ωR = 2.03 m/s.
Open quick MCQ answer key for Model Paper 3
Full reasoning remains available under each MCQ. The quick key is for scoring after a timed attempt.
4 free-response questions
One prompt is provided for each current AP Physics 1 FRQ task type. Write all parts before opening the solution.
Projectile from a platform
A ball is launched horizontally at 12 m/s from a 20 m-high platform. Use g = 10 m/s².
- Determine the time of flight.
- Determine the horizontal range.
- Determine the vertical velocity just before impact.
- Determine the magnitude of the final velocity.
Open full solution and scoring checkpoints
- Vertical motion: 20 = ½(10)t², so t = 2.0 s.
- Range = v_x t = 12(2)=24 m.
- v_y = −gt = −20 m/s.
- Speed = √(12²+20²) ≈ 23.3 m/s.
Practice scoring checkpoints only; these are not official College Board point allocations.
Energy bars for a spring launch
A compressed spring launches a cart up a frictionless incline until the cart momentarily stops.
- Draw qualitative energy bars at release, halfway up, and at the turning point.
- State how kinetic, spring, and gravitational potential energies change.
- If spring compression is doubled, predict how total initial spring energy changes.
- Explain why mechanical energy remains constant in the ideal model.
Open full solution and scoring checkpoints
- At release energy is mainly spring; during motion spring energy falls while kinetic and gravitational energy rise; at the top energy is gravitational with K=0 and spring relaxed.
- Energy transfers among U_s, K, and U_g while the total stays fixed.
- U_s = ½kx², so doubling x quadruples initial spring energy.
- With negligible friction and a system including cart, spring, and Earth, no external nonconservative work changes mechanical energy.
Practice scoring checkpoints only; these are not official College Board point allocations.
Determine local g from free fall
Design a safe experiment with a small ball, meterstick, and video or electronic timing to determine g.
- Identify measured variables.
- Describe a graph that linearizes the constant-acceleration model.
- Explain how g is extracted.
- State two uncertainty-reduction steps.
Open full solution and scoring checkpoints
- Measure drop distance y and fall time t for several release heights.
- For release from rest, y = ½gt², so plot y versus t².
- The slope equals g/2, so g = 2×slope.
- Use a broad height range, electronic/video timing, repeated trials, and a consistent release without push.
Practice scoring checkpoints only; these are not official College Board point allocations.
Rotational inertia comparison
A solid disk and thin hoop have the same mass and radius and receive the same constant torque from rest for the same time.
- Compare their rotational inertias.
- Compare angular accelerations.
- Compare final angular speeds.
- Explain which receives the greater rotational kinetic energy from the torque if the angular displacements differ.
Open full solution and scoring checkpoints
- For the same M,R, I_hoop = MR² and I_disk = ½MR², so the hoop has larger I.
- α=τ/I, so the disk has greater angular acceleration.
- Starting from rest for equal time, ω=αt, so the disk reaches greater ω.
- Work by torque is W=τΔθ; the object rotating through the larger angle receives more rotational work and hence greater ΔK_rot.
Practice scoring checkpoints only; these are not official College Board point allocations.
Do not repeat another full paper immediately if one topic caused most of the errors. Move to the focused banks first, repair the weakness, then return to a different model paper for transfer practice.