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.
Newton’s Second Law FRQ Set
Write a complete response before opening the reasoning guide. The four prompts deliberately use different response modes.
A 6 kg block on a horizontal floor is pulled right by 50 N while friction is 14 N left. Determine the net force and acceleration. If the same forces act on a 12 kg block, find the new acceleration.
Reasoning and scoring guide
For 6 kg, F_net = 36 N right and a = 6 m/s². For 12 kg under the same net force, a = 3 m/s².
A free-body diagram shows a block with balanced vertical forces, 24 N right and 8 N left. Translate the diagram into a component equation and an acceleration statement for a 4 kg block.
Reasoning and scoring guide
ΣF_x = 24 − 8 = 16 N = ma, so a_x = 4 m/s² right. ΣF_y = 0, so a_y = 0.
Design an experiment to test the proportionality between acceleration and net force for a constant-mass cart. Identify the graph and what its slope should represent.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Keep cart mass fixed, vary applied net force, measure acceleration, and plot a versus F_net. A straight line through the origin supports a ∝ F_net; slope should be 1/m.
A car is moving east while braking. Use Newton’s second law to explain why the car can have eastward velocity and westward acceleration at the same time.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Braking forces create a westward net force, so acceleration is westward. Velocity describes current motion and need not point with acceleration; opposite directions mean the speed decreases.