AP Physics 1 | Exam Prep Guides | Physics Mastermind | Speed Review

Every AP Physics 1 FRQ Sorted by Topic

Jason
3 minutes

3 minutes

Jason Kuma

Writer | Coach | Builder | Fremont, CA

Get Expert Physics Coaching

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.

Jason Kuma

Writer | Coach | Builder | Fremont, CA

Programs

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

Nerd-Notes is free

and now you can help keep Nerd-Notes alive, remove all ads, get unlimited UBQ credits, access Phy Chat, and unlock 20 more features for the price of lunch.

Kinematics	Forces
$\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2$	$F = ma$
$v = v_i + at$	$F_g = \frac{G m_1m_2}{r^2}$
$a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$	$f = \mu N$
$R = \frac{v_i^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g}$

Circular Motion	Energy
$F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}$	$KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2$
$a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}$	$PE = mgh$
	$KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f$

Momentum	Torque and Rotations
$p = m v$	$\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)$
$J = \Delta p$	$I = \sum mr^2$
$p_i = p_f$	$L = I \cdot \omega$

Constant	Description
$g$	Acceleration due to gravity, typically $9.8 , \text{m/s}^2$ on Earth’s surface
$G$	Universal Gravitational Constant, $6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2$
$\mu_k$ and $\mu_s$	Coefficients of kinetic ( $\mu_k$ ) and static ( $\mu_s$ ) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ( $\mu_s$ ) is usually greater than kinetic friction ( $\mu_k$ ) as it resists the start of motion.
$k$	Spring constant, in $\text{N/m}$
$M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg}$	Mass of the Earth
$M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg}$	Mass of the Moon
$M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg}$	Mass of the Sun

Variable	SI Unit
$s$ (Displacement)	$\text{meters (m)}$
$v$ (Velocity)	$\text{meters per second (m/s)}$
$a$ (Acceleration)	$\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}$
$t$ (Time)	$\text{seconds (s)}$
$m$ (Mass)	$\text{kilograms (kg)}$

Simple Harmonic Motion
$F = -k x$
$T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}$
$T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}$

Variable	Derived SI Unit
$F$ (Force)	$\text{newtons (N)}$
$E$ , $PE$ , $KE$ (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy)	$\text{joules (J)}$
$P$ (Power)	$\text{watts (W)}$
$p$ (Momentum)	$\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}$
$\omega$ (Angular Velocity)	$\text{radians per second (rad/s)}$
$\tau$ (Torque)	$\text{newton meters (Nm)}$
$I$ (Moment of Inertia)	$\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}$
$f$ (Frequency)	$\text{hertz (Hz)}$

Prefix	Symbol	Power of Ten
Pico-	p	$10^{-12}$
Nano-	n	$10^{-9}$
Micro-	µ	$10^{-6}$
Milli-	m	$10^{-3}$
Centi-	c	$10^{-2}$
Deci-	d	$10^{-1}$
(Base unit)	–	$10^{0}$
Deca- or Deka-	da	$10^{1}$
Hecto-	h	$10^{2}$
Kilo-	k	$10^{3}$
Mega-	M	$10^{6}$
Giga-	G	$10^{9}$
Tera-	T	$10^{12}$

Everything you need to master Physics — for free.

Meet Phy. The world's most advanced personal AI tutor.

Learning supercharged. 1000+ Physics problems + AI help.

7 AP Physics 1 units condensed into 8 short articles.

Proven tip, tricks, and hacks to help you score that coveted five.

Learn Physics, from scratch at your own pace.

Guaranteed performance boost in scores and understanding.

5 weeks for a 5. Expedited progress. Stellar Results.

1-to-1 lessons covering AP Physics from start to end.

Other 1-to-1 and group programs to accelerate Physics mastery.

Article Content

Every AP Physics 1 FRQ Sorted by Topic

Jason Kuma

Article Content

Overview

(A) Unit 1 Kinematics

(B) Unit 2 Dynamics, forces

(C) Unit 3 Circular Motion and Gravitation

(D) Unit 4 Energy

(E) Unit 5 Momentum

(F) Unit 6 Rotation

(G) Unit 7 Simple Harmonic Motion

Jason Kuma

Units in AP Physics 1

Reading Key

LRN

RE

PS

PQ

Black

White

Blue

Orange

Nerd-Notes is free

Elite Tutoring for Physics

5 Weeks for a 5 on the AP Physics 1 Exam

Prepare for High School Physics

Nerd Notes

Discover the world's best Physics resources

Continue with

Made By Nerd-Notes.com

Error Report

Try UBQ

Try Prof Phy™

Jason here! Feeling uneasy about your next physics test? We will help boost your grade in just two hours.

Thanks for reading Nerd-Notes.

We use site cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse on this website, you accept the use of cookies as outlined in our privacy policy.