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.
Systems & Center of Mass FRQ Set
Write a complete response before opening the reasoning guide. The four prompts deliberately use different response modes.
Two carts are fixed temporarily at x = 0 m and x = 6 m. Their masses are 2 kg and 4 kg. Determine the system center of mass. Then predict qualitatively how x_cm shifts if the 2 kg cart is replaced by a 6 kg cart at the same location.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Initially x_cm = (2·0 + 4·6)/(2+4) = 4 m. Increasing the mass at x = 0 shifts the center of mass toward x = 0 because that location receives more weight in the mass-weighted average.
A diagram shows a light cart and a heavy cart connected by a compressed spring on a frictionless track. Translate the diagram into a system-boundary description for (i) both carts together and (ii) the light cart only. Identify which spring forces are internal or external in each choice.
Reasoning and scoring guide
For both carts together, the cart–cart spring interaction is internal. For the light cart alone, the spring force exerted by the other cart/spring system is external. The physical interaction is unchanged; only its classification changes with the boundary.
Design an experiment to locate the center of mass of an irregular rigid object using balancing rather than a direct mass-distribution calculation. Describe repeated measurements and a criterion for the center-of-mass location.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Balance the object on a narrow support along one line and mark the line of support; repeat after rotating the object. The intersection of balancing lines locates the center of mass in the plane. Repeated trials estimate uncertainty.
A firework shell moving through the air explodes into many fragments. Neglect air resistance during the brief explosion. Explain why the fragments can accelerate violently relative to one another while the center-of-mass motion remains governed by gravity.
Reasoning and scoring guide
Explosion forces are internal to the complete fragment system and cancel in the system force sum. Gravity is the dominant external force, so the center-of-mass acceleration remains approximately g downward even though individual fragment accelerations differ.