AP Physics 1 MCQ Practice by Topic 2027
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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.
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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.
Potential Energy 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 2.0 kg object is lifted 3.0 m near Earth using g=10 m/s². What is the change in gravitational potential energy?
Correct answer: D. ΔU_g=mgΔy=(2)(10)(3)=60 J.
An ideal spring with k=200 N/m is compressed 0.10 m from relaxed length. How much elastic potential energy is stored?
Correct answer: B. U_s=½kx²=½(200)(0.10²)=1.0 J.
Gravity does +35 J of work on a ball. What is the corresponding change in gravitational potential energy?
Correct answer: B. For a conservative gravitational interaction, W_g=−ΔU_g, so ΔU_g=−35 J.
Compressing a toy launcher spring stores elastic energy. Which Topic 3.3 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Elastic potential energy: A deformed ideal spring stores energy relative to its relaxed length.
Which statement best defines Elastic potential energy in Topic 3.3?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: A deformed ideal spring stores energy relative to its relaxed length.
A second situation is observed: Stretching a spring from relaxed length increases its elastic potential energy. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Elastic potential energy is the matching concept because A deformed ideal spring stores energy relative to its relaxed length.
A tabletop can be chosen as U_g = 0 for a tossed ball problem. Which Topic 3.3 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Reference level: The zero of potential energy can be chosen for convenience; physically meaningful predictions use differences.
Which statement best defines Reference level in Topic 3.3?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: The zero of potential energy can be chosen for convenience; physically meaningful predictions use differences.
A second situation is observed: Choosing floor or table as zero changes U values but not ΔU between the same two positions. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Reference level is the matching concept because The zero of potential energy can be chosen for convenience; physically meaningful predictions use differences.
Gravity does positive work as a ball falls while U_g decreases. Which Topic 3.3 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Conservative interaction: For a conservative force, work by the force is related to the negative change in potential energy.
Which statement best defines Conservative interaction in Topic 3.3?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: For a conservative force, work by the force is related to the negative change in potential energy.
A second situation is observed: A spring does positive work as it returns toward relaxed length while U_s decreases. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Conservative interaction is the matching concept because For a conservative force, work by the force is related to the negative change in potential energy.
A released cart on a hill moves toward lower gravitational potential. Which Topic 3.3 concept most directly explains this physical situation?
Correct answer: C. Energy landscape reasoning: A system tends to accelerate in the direction of decreasing potential energy when that interaction dominates.
Which statement best defines Energy landscape reasoning in Topic 3.3?
Correct answer: A. Correct definition: A system tends to accelerate in the direction of decreasing potential energy when that interaction dominates.
A second situation is observed: A displaced spring-mass accelerates toward the minimum of elastic potential energy. Which concept is being applied?
Correct answer: B. Energy landscape reasoning is the matching concept because A system tends to accelerate in the direction of decreasing potential energy when that interaction dominates.
Which relationship best represents this Topic 3.3 idea: Near-Earth gravitational potential-energy change?
Correct answer: B. Use ΔU_g = mgΔy. Near-Earth gravitational potential-energy change.
In Topic 3.3, which variable-and-unit description belongs with ΔU_g = mgΔy?
Correct answer: C. For ΔU_g = mgΔy: ΔU_g: J; m: kg; g: m/s²; Δy: m
For Topic 3.3, consider this real application: 2 kg lifted 3 m with g=10 gives +60 J. Which relationship supports that result?
Correct answer: A. The relevant relationship is ΔU_g = mgΔy.
Which relationship best represents this Topic 3.3 idea: Ideal spring elastic potential energy?
Correct answer: B. Use U_s = ½kx². Ideal spring elastic potential energy.
In Topic 3.3, which variable-and-unit description belongs with U_s = ½kx²?
Correct answer: C. For U_s = ½kx²: U_s: J; k: N/m; x: deformation from relaxed length (m)
For Topic 3.3, consider this real application: k=200 N/m, x=0.10 m stores 1 J. Which relationship supports that result?
Correct answer: A. The relevant relationship is U_s = ½kx².
Which relationship best represents this Topic 3.3 idea: Connect work by gravity/spring to potential-energy change?
Correct answer: B. Use W_conservative = −ΔU. Connect work by gravity/spring to potential-energy change.
In Topic 3.3, which variable-and-unit description belongs with W_conservative = −ΔU?
Correct answer: C. For W_conservative = −ΔU: both terms in J
For Topic 3.3, consider this real application: If gravity does +40 J, gravitational potential energy decreases 40 J. Which relationship supports that result?
Correct answer: A. The relevant relationship is W_conservative = −ΔU.
In Topic 3.3, analyze this situation: A 3 kg book is raised 2 m. Which conclusion is most consistent with the physics?
Correct answer: C. The Earth–book system gains gravitational potential energy mgΔy.
Which Topic 3.3 worked example best illustrates this reasoning: “The Earth–book system gains gravitational potential energy mgΔy”?
Correct answer: B. Book lifted: A 3 kg book is raised 2 m.
A student is deciding how to begin the “Book lifted” situation. What is the best first move?
Correct answer: B. Start with the physical model. The Earth–book system gains gravitational potential energy mgΔy.
In Topic 3.3, analyze this situation: A spring is compressed twice as far. Which conclusion is most consistent with the physics?
Correct answer: C. Because U_s ∝ x², stored elastic energy becomes four times as large.
Which Topic 3.3 worked example best illustrates this reasoning: “Because U_s ∝ x², stored elastic energy becomes four times as large”?
Correct answer: B. Compressed spring: A spring is compressed twice as far.
A student is deciding how to begin the “Compressed spring” situation. What is the best first move?
Correct answer: B. Start with the physical model. Because U_s ∝ x², stored elastic energy becomes four times as large.
In Topic 3.3, analyze this situation: A ball moves from 2 m to 5 m above the floor. Which conclusion is most consistent with the physics?
Correct answer: C. No matter where U=0 is chosen, ΔU_g = mg(3 m).
Which Topic 3.3 worked example best illustrates this reasoning: “No matter where U=0 is chosen, ΔU_g = mg(3 m)”?
Correct answer: B. Changing zero: A ball moves from 2 m to 5 m above the floor.
A student is deciding how to begin the “Changing zero” situation. What is the best first move?
Correct answer: B. Start with the physical model. No matter where U=0 is chosen, ΔU_g = mg(3 m).
In Topic 3.3, a student claims: “Potential energy belongs to one isolated object.” Which correction is best?
Correct answer: B. It belongs to an interacting system/configuration.
Which statement should replace this misconception in a Topic 3.3 solution: “Potential energy belongs to one isolated object.”?
Correct answer: A. It belongs to an interacting system/configuration.
In Topic 3.3, a student claims: “The zero level changes the physics.” Which correction is best?
Correct answer: B. Only differences in potential energy affect predictions.
Which statement should replace this misconception in a Topic 3.3 solution: “The zero level changes the physics.”?
Correct answer: A. Only differences in potential energy affect predictions.
In Topic 3.3, a student claims: “Spring x is distance from equilibrium in every context.” Which correction is best?
Correct answer: B. For U_s=½kx², x is deformation from the spring’s relaxed length.
Which statement should replace this misconception in a Topic 3.3 solution: “Spring x is distance from equilibrium in every context.”?
Correct answer: A. For U_s=½kx², x is deformation from the spring’s relaxed length.
What should a student identify before calculating in Topic 3.3?
Correct answer: B. Relate conservative interactions to potential-energy changes, choose zero levels carefully, and connect force direction to how potential energy changes with position.
Which statement best describes the AP Physics 1 scope for Topic 3.3?
Correct answer: B. AP Physics 1 uses gravitational and elastic potential-energy models without requiring calculus.
Which study sequence best matches this Topic 3.3 lesson?
Correct answer: B. The lesson is intentionally definition-first and explains terminology on the same page before equations and practice.