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Every AP Physics 1 FRQ Sorted by Topic

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Jason Kuma

Writer | Coach | Builder | Fremont, CA

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Below is every single AP Physics 1 FRQ from 2015-2024 sorted by topic. AP Physics C students can also use these FRQs

Overview

FRQs are free response questions. You will need to complete 5 FRQ questions in 90 minutes on the AP Physics 1 exam. This post should help you better sort through FRQs to get the practice you need!

NOTE: Most questions have multiple topics in it so some FRQs may be in multiple topic lists.

Here are all the links to college board AP Physics 1 FRQs and solutions.

(A) Unit 1 Kinematics

  • 2023 Q2 – Experimental design, cart on ramp, linearization.
  • 2021 Q1 – Biker jump, motion graph.
  • 2015 Q4 – Linear kinematics, motion graphs.

(B) Unit 2 Dynamics, forces

  • 2023 Q2 – Experimental design, cart on ramp, linearization.
  • 2023 Q3 – Spring, circular motion, FBD.
  • 2021 Q2 – Experimental design, dynamics, rod width vs stretch.
  • 2019 Q2 – Atwood machine, FBD, Kinematics.
  • 2017 Q2 – Experimental design, friction coefficient.
  • 2016 Q3 – Bumpy incline, motion graphs.
  • 2015 Q1 – 3 block pulley system. Atwood machine

(C) Unit 3 Circular Motion and Gravitation

  • 2023 Q3 – Spinning block, FBDs, tangential speed.
  • 2022 Q2 – Two orbiting moons, gravitation, circular motion.
  • 2018 Q1 – Orbiting spacecraft, circular motion.

(D) Unit 4 Energy

  • 2023 Q1 – Horizontal spring, block on cart collision, harmonic motion, energy graphs.
  • 2023 Q5 – Spinning rod, energy, torque.
  • 2022 Q1 – Pulley, spring, energy bar chart.
  • 2022 Q3 – Experimental design, hanging block pulley, energy graphs.
  • 2022 Q5 – Vertical spring, motion graphs, energy.
  • 2021 Q1 – Biker jump, projectile, motion graph.
  • 2021 Q4 – Rolling cylinder, sliding block, energy.
  • 2019 Q1 – Spring, block, friction.
  • 2019 Q3 – Experimental design, spring launcher, projectile.
  • 2017 Q4 – Ramp energy, projectile motion.
  • 2016 Q2 – Energy, elastic collision.
  • 2015 Q3 – Springs, friction, energy graph.

(E) Unit 5 Momentum

  • 2023 Q4 – Wheel vs disk pulley, angular momentum.
  • 2022 Q4 – Clay vs ball collision, velocity of center of mass, projectile.
  • 2021 Q3 – Impulse, momentum, disk collision.
  • 2019 Q1 – Collisions, velocity of center of mass, motion graph.
  • 2017 Q3 – Ball and rod collision, angular momentum.
  • 2016 Q2 – Experimental design, bouncy ball.

(F) Unit 6 Rotation

  • 2024 Q4 – Mass on pulley, Newton’s law of rotation.
  • 2023 Q5 – Spinning rod, energy, torque.
  • 2023 Q4 – Wheel vs disk pulley, angular momentum.
  • 2022 Q3 – Experimental design, hanging block pulley, energy graphs.
  • 2021 Q5 – Pulley with mass, motion graph.
  • 2021 Q4 – Rolling cylinder, sliding block, energy.
  • 2019 Q1 – Linear vs rotational motion, friction.
  • 2018 Q3 – Rotating disk, frictional torque, motion graphs.
  • 2017 Q3 – Disk-bar collision, momentum.
  • 2016 Q1 – Rolling wheel, sliding block, rotational energy.

(G) Unit 7 Simple Harmonic Motion

  • 2023 Q1 – Horizontal spring, block on cart collision, harmonic motion, energy graphs.
  • 2022 Q5 – Vertical spring, motion graphs, energy.
  • 2018 Q5 – Two block collision on a spring.
Picture of Jason Kuma
Jason Kuma

Writer | Coach | Builder | Fremont, CA

Units in AP Physics 1

Unit 1 – Linear Kinematics

Unit 2 – Linear Forces

Unit 3 – Circular Motion

Unit 4 – Energy 

Unit 5 – Momentum 

Unit 6 – Torque 

Unit 7 – Oscillations 

Unit 8 – Fluids

Reading Key

LRN
RE
PS
PQ
Black
White
Blue
Orange

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Download Equation Sheet
KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque and Rotations
\(p = mv\)\(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\)
\(J = \Delta p\)\(I = \sum mr^2\)
\(p_i = p_f\)\(L = I \cdot \omega\)
Simple Harmonic MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[katex]g[/katex]Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface
[katex]G[/katex]Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex]
[katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex]Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion.
[katex]k[/katex]Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex]
[katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex]Mass of the Earth
[katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex]Mass of the Moon
[katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex]Mass of the Sun
VariableSI Unit
[katex]s[/katex] (Displacement)[katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex]
[katex]v[/katex] (Velocity)[katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex]
[katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration)[katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex]
[katex]t[/katex] (Time)[katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex]
[katex]m[/katex] (Mass)[katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex]
VariableDerived SI Unit
[katex]F[/katex] (Force)[katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex]
[katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy)[katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex]
[katex]P[/katex] (Power)[katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex]
[katex]p[/katex] (Momentum)[katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex]
[katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity)[katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex]
[katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque)[katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex]
[katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia)[katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex]
[katex]f[/katex] (Frequency)[katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex]

General Metric Conversion Chart

Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]

  3. Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]

  4. Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]

Prefix

Symbol

Power of Ten

Equivalent

Pico-

p

[katex]10^{-12}[/katex]

Nano-

n

[katex]10^{-9}[/katex]

Micro-

µ

[katex]10^{-6}[/katex]

Milli-

m

[katex]10^{-3}[/katex]

Centi-

c

[katex]10^{-2}[/katex]

Deci-

d

[katex]10^{-1}[/katex]

(Base unit)

–

[katex]10^{0}[/katex]

Deca- or Deka-

da

[katex]10^{1}[/katex]

Hecto-

h

[katex]10^{2}[/katex]

Kilo-

k

[katex]10^{3}[/katex]

Mega-

M

[katex]10^{6}[/katex]

Giga-

G

[katex]10^{9}[/katex]

Tera-

T

[katex]10^{12}[/katex]

  1. 1. Some answers may vary by 1% due to rounding.
  2. Gravity values may differ: \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\) or \(10 \, \text{m/s}^2\).
  3. Variables can be written differently. For example, initial velocity (\(v_i\)) may be \(u\), and displacement (\(\Delta x\)) may be \(s\).
  4. Bookmark questions you can’t solve to revisit them later
  5. 5. Seek help if you’re stuck. The sooner you understand, the better your chances on tests.

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