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 Third Law FRQ Set
Write a complete response before opening the reasoning guide. The four prompts deliberately use different response modes.
A 1200 kg car pushes a stalled 800 kg car. During the contact the first car exerts 2400 N on the stalled car. State the force exerted by the stalled car on the first car and compare their acceleration magnitudes if these were the only horizontal forces.
Reasoning and scoring guide
The partner force is 2400 N in the opposite direction. Acceleration magnitudes would be 2400/1200 = 2 m/s² and 2400/800 = 3 m/s², demonstrating equal forces but different accelerations.
Two skaters push apart. Draw separate free-body diagrams during the push and identify the Newton’s-third-law interaction pair. Explain why the pair should never be added on one skater’s diagram.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Each skater has the force exerted by the other plus any vertical forces. The horizontal push forces are equal and opposite but act on different skaters, so each belongs on a different free-body diagram.
Design a force-sensor experiment with two carts to test Newton’s third law during a collision. Specify what two sensors measure and what graph comparison would support the law.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Mount force sensors facing each other on the carts and record both forces versus time during collision. Plot F_AonB and −F_BonA on the same axes; agreement within uncertainty supports equal magnitude and opposite direction at each instant.
A heavy truck and a light car collide. A student claims the truck exerts the larger force because the car suffers greater damage. Explain why damage and acceleration do not determine the third-law force comparison.
Reasoning and scoring guide
The interaction forces are equal and opposite. Different masses and structures produce different accelerations, deformations, and damage even under equal interaction-force magnitudes.