AP Physics 2 FRQ Practice by Topic 2027
Every topic has four substantial free-response tasks: Mathematical Routines, Translation Between Representations, Experimental Design and Analysis, and Qualitative/Quantitative Translation. Select one topic, write the response before opening guidance, then use the evidence checklist or self-grader to find what your reasoning is missing.
What do the four AP Physics 2 FRQ practice modes test?
The four sets force you to calculate, translate representations, design/analyze experiments, and connect qualitative predictions to quantitative relationships. That prevents FRQ practice from becoming four copies of the same algebra problem.
One topic at a time keeps the page focused
Lesson pages link directly to the matching set; the base FRQ page remains a directory rather than rendering all 184 prompts at once.
Boundary Behavior of Waves and Polarization FRQ Set
When a wave reaches a boundary, part of the disturbance can reflect and part can transmit. Frequency remains tied to the source, the reflected pulse orientation depends on how the transmitted-wave speed changes, transverse waves can be polarized, and intensity describes average power delivered per area.
Treat polarization qualitatively; a polarizer can reduce transmitted intensity, but a quantitative polarizer-angle law is not required here. Keep diffraction and multi-wave interference for Topics 14.7–14.9.
Situation: A student analyzes this Boundary Behavior of Waves and Polarization situation: A pulse on a light string meeting a heavier-string region partly reflects and partly transmits; the source-set frequency does not change at the junction.
- State the governing model and define the system or physical quantities that matter.
- Starting from f_reflected = f_transmitted = f_incident, derive a symbolic expression for a requested target quantity before substituting numbers.
- Explain how the result changes when one relevant variable is multiplied by a factor while the other model conditions remain fixed.
- Give one units, sign/direction, limiting-case or order-of-magnitude check that could expose an incorrect result.
Open reasoning and scoring evidence
- The response must select f_reflected = f_transmitted = f_incident only when reflection and transmission at a stationary boundary.
- Symbols should be consistent with: all frequencies in Hz; the boundary is stationary and the source frequency is unchanged.
- The proportional comparison must follow the functional dependence of the selected relationship rather than an unrelated equation.
- The final check must be physically interpretable, not just a calculator repeat.
Situation: Consider A transverse light wave can be polarized because its oscillation direction is perpendicular to propagation; a longitudinal sound wave cannot be polarized in the same way. The same physics must be represented verbally, graphically and mathematically.
- Draw or describe a labeled physical representation showing the important objects, directions, boundaries or measured quantities.
- Sketch the graph or spatial representation that best displays the predicted behavior; label axes, signs and important features.
- Write a relationship consistent with the representation, using I = P_avg/A when its condition “average wave power spread over an area” is satisfied.
- Explain one explicit connection among the diagram/graph, the equation and the physical meaning of reflection.
Open reasoning and scoring evidence
- The representation must encode the actual physical situation rather than act as decoration.
- Graph features such as slope, area, intercept, curvature, maxima/minima or direction must be linked to the relevant model.
- A valid equation must use variables/units consistently: I intensity (W/m²); P_avg average power (W); A area normal to energy flow (m²).
- reflection means the portion of a wave that returns into the original medium at a boundary; the explanation should use that meaning to connect the representations.
Situation: Design an investigation for this target: Send pulses toward boundaries with different effective wave speeds, record reflected/transmitted pulse orientation and wavelength, and use polarizers to compare transverse-wave transmission qualitatively.
- State the independent variable, dependent variable and at least two quantities that must be controlled or measured.
- Describe a feasible apparatus/procedure that produces repeated measurements across a useful range of the independent variable.
- Choose a graph or linearization whose slope/intercept/shape tests a relationship such as transmitted speed decreases → reflected pulse inverted and explain the expected trend.
- Explain how repeats, uncertainty and one plausible systematic effect influence the strength of the conclusion.
Open reasoning and scoring evidence
- The procedure must vary one intended cause while controlling plausible competing causes.
- Measurements must be sufficient to test a relationship rather than produce one isolated value.
- The graph choice must follow the expected functional dependence and connect a graph feature to a physical quantity.
- Uncertainty discussion must affect the evidence claim; simply saying “human error” is not enough.
Situation: Compare two valid Boundary Behavior of Waves and Polarization scenarios based on A pulse on a light string meeting a heavier-string region partly reflects and partly transmits; the source-set frequency does not change at the junction. In the second scenario, one relevant variable changes while the model remains valid.
- Predict whether the target physical quantity increases, decreases or remains unchanged before doing algebra.
- Justify the prediction using the physical meaning of transmission (the portion of a wave that crosses into the second medium).
- Use f_reflected = f_transmitted = f_incident or another appropriate relationship from this topic to determine a symbolic factor or ratio.
- State the model boundary that must remain satisfied: Treat polarization qualitatively; a polarizer can reduce transmitted intensity, but a quantitative polarizer-angle law is not required here. Keep diffraction and multi-wave interference for Topics 14.7–14.9.
Open reasoning and scoring evidence
- The qualitative prediction should appear before the quantitative calculation and should not depend on hindsight.
- The justification must name a physical cause/model, not simply restate that one variable became larger or smaller.
- The symbolic ratio must follow the correct functional dependence and preserve what is held fixed.
- A complete answer states the boundary/assumption so the comparison is not overgeneralized.
Use the FRQ Self-Grader to check evidence quality, then switch to a different topic or a full model exam. Do not improve the response merely by copying phrases from the scoring guide.
AP Physics 2 FRQ practice questions
How many FRQs are available per topic?
Four original multipart FRQs per topic, for 184 topic FRQs across all 46 topics.
Why are there four different FRQ modes?
They deliberately exercise different physics actions: mathematical reasoning, representation translation, experimental/data reasoning and qualitative-to-quantitative reasoning.
Should I open the reasoning guide while writing?
No. Finish a defensible response first. Open the guide only after you have committed to your model, representation and evidence.
Are drafts uploaded or stored on a server?
No server submission is used. The optional response workspace stores drafts only in your own browser when local storage is available.
How should I score my response?
Use the task-specific reasoning guide plus the separate FRQ Self-Grader. Look for explicit evidence, not just a correct final number.
When should I move to full practice exams?
After you can produce complete topic-level responses without relying on the guide. Full exams test whether you can identify the model without a topic heading.