AP Physics 1 MCQ Practice by Topic 2027
Choose a topic to open its full 42-question bank. The topic links from lesson pages land directly on the matching bank, so a student reviewing Topic 1.3 is not sent to a short generic diagnostic.
How much AP Physics 1 MCQ practice is available?
There are 42 original multiple-choice questions for each of the 43 official AP Physics 1 topics, giving 1,806 topic MCQs with answers, explanations and lesson routing.
- 43 topic banks.
- 42 MCQs per topic.
- 1,806 topic MCQs 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.
Motion of Orbiting Satellites Practice
All questions are original. Check each answer for immediate feedback and explanation, then use the lesson link inside the explanation when a concept needs repair.
A spacecraft is at distance r from a central mass M. Which expression is the minimum ideal speed for escape to infinity with zero final speed?
Correct answer: B. Setting total mechanical energy to zero gives ½mv²−GMm/r=0, so v_esc=√(2GM/r).
At radius r from a planet of mass M, how does ideal escape speed compare with circular-orbit speed at the same radius?
Correct answer: C. v_circ=√(GM/r) and v_esc=√(2GM/r)=√2 v_circ.
A satellite moves from periapsis toward apoapsis in an ideal elliptical orbit. Which change is correct?
Correct answer: B. As r increases, U_g becomes less negative while speed and kinetic energy decrease; total mechanical energy remains constant.
A high satellite moves more slowly than a low circular-orbit satellite around Earth. Which Topic 6.6 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Orbital speed vs radius: For circular orbit around fixed central mass, farther orbits have lower speed.
Which statement best defines Orbital speed vs radius in Topic 6.6?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: For circular orbit around fixed central mass, farther orbits have lower speed.
A second situation is observed: Planet orbital speeds generally decrease with distance from the Sun. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Orbital speed vs radius is the matching concept because For circular orbit around fixed central mass, farther orbits have lower speed.
Geostationary satellites orbit farther out than many low-Earth satellites and have a 24 h period. Which Topic 6.6 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Orbital period: Farther circular orbits take longer to complete.
Which statement best defines Orbital period in Topic 6.6?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: Farther circular orbits take longer to complete.
A second situation is observed: Kepler III relates T² to r³ for the same central mass. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Orbital period is the matching concept because Farther circular orbits take longer to complete.
A comet moves fastest near periapsis and slowest near apoapsis. Which Topic 6.6 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Elliptical orbits: In an elliptical orbit, orbital radius and speed change while total mechanical energy and angular momentum remain constant for the isolated two-body model.
Which statement best defines Elliptical orbits in Topic 6.6?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: In an elliptical orbit, orbital radius and speed change while total mechanical energy and angular momentum remain constant for the isolated two-body model.
A second situation is observed: A satellite in an elliptical transfer orbit trades kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy as its radius changes. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Elliptical orbits is the matching concept because In an elliptical orbit, orbital radius and speed change while total mechanical energy and angular momentum remain constant for the isolated two-body model.
A spacecraft launched exactly at escape speed has zero total mechanical energy in the ideal two-body model. Which Topic 6.6 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Escape and bound energy: With gravitational potential energy defined as zero at infinity, a bound orbit has negative total mechanical energy; escape corresponds to reaching infinity with nonnegative total energy.
Which statement best defines Escape and bound energy in Topic 6.6?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: With gravitational potential energy defined as zero at infinity, a bound orbit has negative total mechanical energy; escape corresponds to reaching infinity with nonnegative total energy.
A second situation is observed: Increasing launch speed beyond the local escape speed produces an unbound trajectory. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Escape and bound energy is the matching concept because With gravitational potential energy defined as zero at infinity, a bound orbit has negative total mechanical energy; escape corresponds to reaching infinity with nonnegative total energy.
Which relationship best represents this Topic 6.6 idea: Circular orbit where gravity supplies centripetal force?
Correct answer: B. Use GMm/r² = mv²/r. Circular orbit where gravity supplies centripetal force.
In Topic 6.6, which variable-and-unit description belongs with GMm/r² = mv²/r?
Correct answer: C. For GMm/r² = mv²/r: G; M,m: kg; r: m; v: m/s
For Topic 6.6, consider this real application: Cancel m to find v=√(GM/r). Which relationship supports that result?
Correct answer: A. The relevant relationship is GMm/r² = mv²/r.
Which relationship best represents this Topic 6.6 idea: Circular-orbit form of Kepler’s third law?
Correct answer: B. Use T² = 4π²r³/(GM). Circular-orbit form of Kepler’s third law.
In Topic 6.6, which variable-and-unit description belongs with T² = 4π²r³/(GM)?
Correct answer: C. For T² = 4π²r³/(GM): T: s; r: m
For Topic 6.6, consider this real application: For same central M, T²∝r³. Which relationship supports that result?
Correct answer: A. The relevant relationship is T² = 4π²r³/(GM).
Which relationship best represents this Topic 6.6 idea: Gravitational potential energy with zero at infinity?
Correct answer: B. Use U_g = −GMm/r. Gravitational potential energy with zero at infinity.
In Topic 6.6, which variable-and-unit description belongs with U_g = −GMm/r?
Correct answer: C. For U_g = −GMm/r: U_g: J; G: N·m²/kg²; M,m: kg; r: m
For Topic 6.6, consider this real application: Bound orbital gravitational potential energy is negative. Which relationship supports that result?
Correct answer: A. The relevant relationship is U_g = −GMm/r.
In Topic 6.6, analyze this situation: A satellite moves from periapsis toward apoapsis. Which conclusion is most consistent with the physics?
Correct answer: C. Its radius increases, speed decreases, gravitational potential energy increases, and kinetic energy decreases while total mechanical energy and angular momentum stay constant.
Which Topic 6.6 worked example best illustrates this reasoning: “Its radius increases, speed decreases, gravitational potential energy increases, and kinetic energy decreases while total mechanical energy and angular momentum stay constant”?
Correct answer: B. Elliptical orbit: A satellite moves from periapsis toward apoapsis.
A student is deciding how to begin the “Elliptical orbit” situation. What is the best first move?
Correct answer: B. Start with the physical model. Its radius increases, speed decreases, gravitational potential energy increases, and kinetic energy decreases while total mechanical energy and angular momentum stay constant.
In Topic 6.6, analyze this situation: A satellite moves to a larger circular radius. Which conclusion is most consistent with the physics?
Correct answer: C. Its circular speed decreases, period increases, and total mechanical energy increases toward zero.
Which Topic 6.6 worked example best illustrates this reasoning: “Its circular speed decreases, period increases, and total mechanical energy increases toward zero”?
Correct answer: B. Higher circular orbit: A satellite moves to a larger circular radius.
A student is deciding how to begin the “Higher circular orbit” situation. What is the best first move?
Correct answer: B. Start with the physical model. Its circular speed decreases, period increases, and total mechanical energy increases toward zero.
In Topic 6.6, analyze this situation: A spacecraft is launched from radius r with v=√(2GM/r). Which conclusion is most consistent with the physics?
Correct answer: C. Its initial kinetic energy exactly offsets the negative gravitational potential energy, so the ideal total mechanical energy is zero and it can reach infinity with zero residual speed.
Which Topic 6.6 worked example best illustrates this reasoning: “Its initial kinetic energy exactly offsets the negative gravitational potential energy, so the ideal total mechanical energy is zero and it can reach infinity with zero residual speed”?
Correct answer: B. Escape launch: A spacecraft is launched from radius r with v=√(2GM/r).
A student is deciding how to begin the “Escape launch” situation. What is the best first move?
Correct answer: B. Start with the physical model. Its initial kinetic energy exactly offsets the negative gravitational potential energy, so the ideal total mechanical energy is zero and it can reach infinity with zero residual speed.
In Topic 6.6, a student claims: “Orbit requires no force because speed can be constant.” Which correction is best?
Correct answer: B. Even a circular orbit requires inward acceleration because velocity direction changes; gravity supplies the net force.
Which statement should replace this misconception in a Topic 6.6 solution: “Orbit requires no force because speed can be constant.”?
Correct answer: A. Even a circular orbit requires inward acceleration because velocity direction changes; gravity supplies the net force.
In Topic 6.6, a student claims: “An elliptical orbit has constant speed.” Which correction is best?
Correct answer: B. Speed changes around an ellipse while total mechanical energy and angular momentum remain conserved in the ideal model.
Which statement should replace this misconception in a Topic 6.6 solution: “An elliptical orbit has constant speed.”?
Correct answer: A. Speed changes around an ellipse while total mechanical energy and angular momentum remain conserved in the ideal model.
In Topic 6.6, a student claims: “Escape speed is the speed needed to reach a high circular orbit.” Which correction is best?
Correct answer: B. Escape speed is the minimum speed for an unbound trajectory that can reach infinity; it is √(2GM/r), not the local circular-orbit speed.
Which statement should replace this misconception in a Topic 6.6 solution: “Escape speed is the speed needed to reach a high circular orbit.”?
Correct answer: A. Escape speed is the minimum speed for an unbound trajectory that can reach infinity; it is √(2GM/r), not the local circular-orbit speed.
What should a student identify before calculating in Topic 6.6?
Correct answer: B. Connect universal gravitation to circular and elliptical orbital motion, conservation of mechanical energy and angular momentum, orbital period, and the minimum escape speed from a given radius.
Which statement best describes the AP Physics 1 scope for Topic 6.6?
Correct answer: B. AP Physics 1 includes circular and elliptical orbital energy/angular-momentum reasoning, Kepler’s third-law relationship for orbital periods, and the derived escape-speed relationship. Kepler’s first and second laws are not required as named laws.
Which study sequence best matches this Topic 6.6 lesson?
Correct answer: B. The lesson is intentionally definition-first and explains terminology on the same page before equations and practice.