AP Physics 1 FRQ Practice by Topic 2027
Choose a topic to practice four original free-response prompts: Mathematical Routines, Translation Between Representations, Experimental Design & Analysis, and Qualitative/Quantitative Translation.
How much AP Physics 1 FRQ practice is available?
There are 4 original free-response questions for each of the 43 official AP Physics 1 topics, giving 172 topic FRQs across the four current AP response modes.
- 43 topic banks.
- 4 FRQs per topic.
- 172 topic FRQs total.
Choose the exact AP Physics 1 topic
All 43 official topics are available. Each MCQ bank contains 42 original questions and each FRQ bank contains four prompts aligned to the four current free-response task types.
Gravitational Force FRQ Set
Write a complete response before opening the reasoning guide. The four prompts deliberately use different response modes.
Two masses m and 3m are separated by distance r and exert gravitational force F. Determine the new force if the second mass becomes 6m and the separation becomes 2r.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Mass factor = 2 for the second mass; distance factor contributes 1/4. New force = 2·(1/4)F = F/2.
Sketch or describe how gravitational-force magnitude changes with center-to-center separation r. Then explain which transformed graph would be linear for fixed masses.
Reasoning and scoring guide
F_g decreases as 1/r². Plotting F_g versus 1/r² gives a straight line through the origin with slope Gm_1m_2.
Propose a data-analysis plan for testing an inverse-square gravitational model using measured force values at several separations, assuming sufficiently sensitive apparatus.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Measure center-to-center r and force repeatedly, compute 1/r², and plot F versus 1/r². A linear relation and near-zero intercept support the inverse-square dependence; include uncertainties.
An astronaut in orbit says “there is no gravity here because I feel weightless.” Explain the observation using gravitational force and free fall.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Gravity remains substantial and provides the inward acceleration of the orbit. The astronaut and spacecraft fall together, so there is little supporting normal force; apparent weightlessness does not imply zero gravity.