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.
Scalars & Vectors in One Dimension FRQ Set
Write a complete response before opening the reasoning guide. The four prompts deliberately use different response modes.
A cart undergoes three successive one-dimensional displacements: +6 m, −11 m, and +4 m. Determine the vector sum, its magnitude, and its direction. Then explain why adding the three magnitudes would answer a different question.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Signed addition gives Δx = +6 − 11 + 4 = −1 m, so the resultant magnitude is 1 m toward −x. Adding magnitudes gives 21 m of path contribution, not the vector resultant.
A diagram shows three velocity arrows along one line: one 4 cm arrow toward +x, one 2 cm arrow toward −x, and one 3 cm arrow toward +x. The scale is 2 m/s per centimeter. Translate the diagram into signed components and determine the resultant.
Reasoning and scoring guide
The components are +8, −4, and +6 m/s. Their vector sum is +10 m/s. Arrow direction maps to sign and arrow length maps to magnitude.
Design a simple hallway investigation that distinguishes total distance traveled from displacement for a walking student. Specify the measurements, a coordinate convention, and two routes that can have equal displacement but different distances.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Mark an origin and +x direction, record initial/final positions and path length. Use two paths with the same endpoints but different reversals. Equal Δx with different total path length demonstrates vector versus scalar behavior.
A student says “a negative velocity means the object is slowing down.” Refute the claim using one numerical example and a coordinate-system explanation.
Reasoning and scoring guide
For example, v = −4 m/s and a = −2 m/s² gives increasing speed because velocity and acceleration point the same way. Negative labels direction relative to the chosen axis, not whether speed is decreasing.