AP® Physics 1 FRQs

These are the free-response questions (FRQs) from past AP® Physics 1 exams from this College Board page. The Fluids unit questions from AP® Physics 2 exams before 2025 are also included. Scoring guidelines and example student responses are included for each question, and the points for each response are mentioned at the end of the examples (note that not all responses received perfect scores).

Check out the MCQ practice tests page for multiple choice questions and solutions for AP® Physics 1.

FRQs Listed by Topic
FRQs Listed by Year

Listed by Topic

Experimental design

2025 Q3 - - Determine mass of block using a spring scale, forces, tension, torque
2024 Q2 - - Masses oscillating on a spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, momentum
2023 Q2 - - Cart on an incline, kinematics
2022 Q3 - - Block hanging from string around wheel, energy, rotational motion
2021 Q2 - - Stretching a plastic rod
2019 Q3 - - Sphere is launched with a spring plunger, projectile motion, energy
2017 Q2 - - Coefficient of friction between block and board, forces, friction
2016 Q2 - - Testing collisions for a ball, energy

Kinematics

2023 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Cart on an incline, kinematics
2022 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks and a spring, kinematics, forces, energy, work
2021 Q1 - - Cyclist on ramp jumps over cars, kinematics, projectile motion, energy, work
2019 Q1 - - Plunger pushes block and sphere across surface, kinematics, forces, energy, work, torque, angular momentum
2019 Q2 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks, kinematics, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion
2016 Q3 - - Cart rolls down an incline with bumps, kinematics, energy

Projectile motion

2022 Q4 - - Clay and ball collide with blocks, momentum, projectile motion
2021 Q1 - - Cyclist on ramp jumps over cars, kinematics, projectile motion, energy, work
2019 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Sphere is launched with a spring plunger, projectile motion, energy
2017 Q4 - - Blocks launched from a slide on table, projectile motion, energy
2015 Q4 - - Projectile motion of two spheres, projectile motion, FBDs

Free body diagrams

2024 Q1 - - Block sliding on a track with loops, forces, FBDs, circular motion, energy
2024 Q3 - - Beam attached to a wall with a string, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion, torque
2023 Q3 - - Block and spring rotating about axle, circular motion, centripetal force, FBDs
2022 Q2 - - Gravitational force between planet and moons, law of gravitation, FBD's
2019 Q2 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks, kinematics, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion
2018 Q1 - - Spacecraft in circular orbit, circular motion, forces, FBDs, law of gravitation
2016 Q1 - - Wheel rolls down an incline, forces, FBDs, energy, friction
2015 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 hanging blocks, forces, FBDs, tension
2015 Q4 - - Projectile motion of two spheres, projectile motion, FBDs

Forces

2025 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Determine mass of block using a spring scale, forces, tension, torque
2025 Q4 - - Swimmer holding block in tank of water, forces, fluids
2024 Q1 - - Block sliding on a track with loops, forces, FBDs, circular motion, energy
2024 Q3 - - Beam attached to a wall with a string, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion, torque
2024 Q5 - - Collision of two blocks, momentum, energy, forces
2022 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks and a spring, kinematics, forces, energy, work
2019 Q1 - - Plunger pushes block and sphere across surface, kinematics, forces, energy, work, torque, angular momentum
2019 Q2 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks, kinematics, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion
2018 Q1 - - Spacecraft in circular orbit, circular motion, forces, FBDs, law of gravitation
2017 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Coefficient of friction between block and board, forces, friction
2016 Q1 - - Wheel rolls down an incline, forces, FBDs, energy, friction
2015 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 hanging blocks, forces, FBDs, tension

Law of gravitation

2024 Q4 - - Pendulum on different planets, law of gravitation, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, work, spring force
2022 Q2 - - Gravitational force between planet and moons, law of gravitation, FBD's
2018 Q1 - - Spacecraft in circular orbit, circular motion, forces, FBDs, law of gravitation

Friction

2017 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Coefficient of friction between block and board, forces, friction
2016 Q1 - - Wheel rolls down an incline, forces, FBDs, energy, friction
2015 Q3 - - Block-spring system sliding on surface, energy, work, friction

Springs

2024 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Masses oscillating on a spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, momentum
2024 Q4 - - Pendulum on different planets, law of gravitation, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, work, spring force
2023 Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2023 Q3 - - Block and spring rotating about axle, circular motion, centripetal force, FBDs
2022 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks and a spring, kinematics, forces, energy, work
2022 Q5 - - Mass oscillating on a vertical spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2019 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Sphere is launched with a spring plunger, projectile motion, energy
2015 Q3 - - Block-spring system sliding on surface, energy, work, friction

Tension

2025 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Determine mass of block using a spring scale, forces, tension, torque
2024 Q3 - - Beam attached to a wall with a string, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion, torque
2022 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks and a spring, kinematics, forces, energy, work
2022 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Block hanging from string around wheel, energy, rotational motion
2021 Q5 - - 2 blocks hanging from strings on pulleys, rotational motion, torque
2019 Q2 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks, kinematics, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion
2015 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 hanging blocks, forces, FBDs, tension

Circular motion

2024 Q1 - - Block sliding on a track with loops, forces, FBDs, circular motion, energy
2023 Q3 - - Block and spring rotating about axle, circular motion, centripetal force, FBDs
2018 Q1 - - Spacecraft in circular orbit, circular motion, forces, FBDs, law of gravitation

Energy

2025 Q1 - - Block is dropped on a moving cart, energy, momentum
2025 Q2 - - Block and spring on an incline, energy
2024 Q1 - - Block sliding on a track with loops, forces, FBDs, circular motion, energy
2024 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Masses oscillating on a spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, momentum
2024 Q5 - - Collision of two blocks, momentum, energy, forces
2023 Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2023 Q4 - - Block hanging from string around pulley, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, energy, work
2023 Q5 - - Sphere and rod rotating about axle, rotational motion, torque, energy, work
2022 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks and a spring, kinematics, forces, energy, work
2022 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Block hanging from string around wheel, energy, rotational motion
2022 Q5 - - Mass oscillating on a vertical spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2021 Q1 - - Cyclist on ramp jumps over cars, kinematics, projectile motion, energy, work
2021 Q4 - - Cylinder rolls and block slides down an incline, energy, work, rotational motion
2019 Q1 - - Plunger pushes block and sphere across surface, kinematics, forces, energy, work, torque, angular momentum
2019 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Sphere is launched with a spring plunger, projectile motion, energy
2018 Q5 - - Block dropped on another oscillating block, energy, momentum, oscillations/simple harmonic motion
2017 Q4 - - Blocks launched from slides on tables, projectile motion, energy
2016 Q1 - - Wheel rolls down an incline, forces, FBDs, energy, friction
2016 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Testing collisions for a ball, energy
2016 Q3 - - Cart rolls down an incline with bumps, kinematics, energy
2015 Q3 - - Block-spring system sliding on surface, energy, work, friction

Work

2024 Q4 - - Pendulum on different planets, law of gravitation, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, work, spring force
2023 Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2023 Q4 - - Block hanging from string around pulley, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, energy, work
2023 Q5 - - Sphere and rod rotating about axle, rotational motion, torque, energy, work
2022 Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks and a spring, kinematics, forces, energy, work
2022 Q5 - - Mass oscillating on a vertical spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2021 Q1 - - Cyclist on ramp jumps over cars, kinematics, projectile motion, energy, work
2021 Q4 - - Cylinder rolls and block slides down an incline, energy, work, rotational motion
2019 Q1 - - Plunger pushes block and sphere across surface, kinematics, forces, energy, work, torque, angular momentum
2015 Q3 - - Block-spring system sliding on surface, energy, work, friction

Momentum

2025 Q1 - - Block is dropped on a moving cart, energy, momentum
2024 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Masses oscillating on a spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, momentum
2024 Q5 - - Collision of two blocks, momentum, energy, forces
2022 Q4 - - Clay and ball collide with blocks, momentum, projectile motion
2021 Q3 - - Student pushes disk which hits a block, momentum
2018 Q5 - - Block dropped on another oscillating block, energy, momentum, oscillations/simple harmonic motion

Rotational motion

2024 Q3 - - Beam attached to a wall with a string, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion, torque
2023 Q4 - - Block hanging from string around pulley, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, energy, work
2023 Q5 - - Sphere and rod rotating about axle, rotational motion, torque, energy, work
2022 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Block hanging from string around wheel, energy, rotational motion
2021 Q4 - - Cylinder rolls and block slides down an incline, energy, work, rotational motion
2021 Q5 - - 2 blocks hanging from strings on pulleys, rotational motion, torque
2019 Q2 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks, kinematics, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion
2018 Q3 - - Disk spinning on axle, rotational motion, torque
2017 Q3 - - Disk collides with pivoting rod, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum

Torque

2025 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Determine mass of block using a spring scale, forces, tension, torque
2024 Q3 - - Beam attached to a wall with a string, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion, torque
2023 Q4 - - Block hanging from string around pulley, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, energy, work
2023 Q5 - - Sphere and rod rotating about axle, rotational motion, torque, energy, work
2021 Q5 - - 2 blocks hanging from strings on pulleys, rotational motion, torque
2019 Q1 - - Plunger pushes block and sphere across surface, kinematics, forces, energy, work, torque, angular momentum
2018 Q3 - - Disk spinning on axle, rotational motion, torque
2017 Q3 - - Disk collides with pivoting rod, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum

Angular momentum

2023 Q4 - - Block hanging from string around pulley, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, energy, work
2019 Q1 - - Plunger pushes block and sphere across surface, kinematics, forces, energy, work, torque, angular momentum
2017 Q3 - - Disk collides with pivoting rod, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum

Oscillations / simple harmonic motion

2024 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Masses oscillating on a spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, momentum
2024 Q4 - - Pendulum on different planets, law of gravitation, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, work, spring force
2023 Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2022 Q5 - - Mass oscillating on a vertical spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2018 Q5 - - Block dropped on another oscillating block, energy, momentum, oscillations/simple harmonic motion

Fluids

The fluids questions from AP Physics 2 before 2025 are also included. Only parts of those questions may be relevant to AP Physics 1 as noted below.

2025 Q4 - - Swimmer holding block in tank of water, forces, fluids
2023 Q3 - - Tank of water with pipe and two blocks, fluids, forces, buoyant force, flow, Bernoulli's equation, continuity equation
2022 Q1 - - (Part a) Block in tank of water hanging from string, fluids, forces, FBDs, buoyant force
2021 Q2 - - (Parts b and c) Balloon held underwater, fluids, density, pressure, forces, buoyant force
2019 Q4 - - (parts b and ci) Air bubble rises in water, fluids, pressure, forces, buoyant force, energy, work
2018 Q4 - - (Parts a and c) Boat carrying steel bars, fluids, forces, buoyant force, flow, continuity equation
2017 Q1 - - Water flowing through pipe, fluids, flow, continuity equation, Bernoulli's equation, conservation of energy, forces, FBDs, buoyant force

Listed by Year

2025 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Block is dropped on a moving cart, energy, momentum
Q2 - - Block and spring on an incline, energy
Q3 - - (Experimental design) Determine mass of block using a spring scale, forces, tension, torque
Q4 - - Swimmer holding block in tank of water, forces, fluids

2024 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Block sliding on a track with loops, forces, FBDs, circular motion, energy
Q2 - - (Experimental design) Masses oscillating on a spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, momentum
Q3 - - Beam attached to a wall with a string, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion, torque
Q4 - - Pendulum on different planets, law of gravitation, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, work, spring force
Q5 - - Collision of two blocks, momentum, energy, forces

2023 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
Q2 - - (Experimental design) Cart on an incline, kinematics
Q3 - - Block and spring rotating about axle, circular motion, centripetal force, FBDs
Q4 - - Block hanging from string around pulley, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, energy, work
Q5 - - Sphere and rod rotating about axle, rotational motion, torque, energy, work
AP Physics 2 - Q3 - - Tank of water with pipe and two blocks, fluids, forces, buoyant force, flow, Bernoulli's equation, continuity equation

2022 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks and a spring, kinematics, forces, energy, work
Q2 - - Gravitational force between planet and moons, law of gravitation, FBDs
Q3 - - (Experimental design) Block hanging from string around wheel, energy, rotational motion
Q4 - - Clay and ball collide with blocks, momentum, projectile motion
Q5 - - Mass oscillating on a vertical spring, oscillations/simple harmonic motion, energy, work
AP Physics 2 - Q1 - - (Part a) Block in tank of water hanging from string, fluids, forces, FBDs, buoyant force

2021 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Cyclist on ramp jumps over cars, kinematics, projectile motion, energy, work
Q2 - - (Experimental design) Stretching a plastic rod
Q3 - - Student pushes disk which hits a block, momentum
Q4 - - Cylinder rolls and block slides down an incline, energy, work, rotational motion
Q5 - - 2 blocks hanging from strings on pulleys, rotational motion, torque
AP Physics 2 - Q2 - - (Parts b and c) Balloon held underwater, fluids, density, pressure, forces, buoyant force

2019 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Plunger pushes block and sphere across surface, kinematics, forces, energy, work, torque, angular momentum
Q2 - - Pulley system with 2 blocks, kinematics, forces, FBDs, tension, rotational motion
Q3 - - (Experimental design) Sphere is launched with a spring plunger, projectile motion, energy
Q4 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
Q5 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
AP Physics 2 - Q4 - - (parts b and ci) Air bubble rises in water, fluids, pressure, forces, buoyant force, energy, work

2018 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Spacecraft in circular orbit, circular motion, forces, FBDs, law of gravitation
Q2 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
Q3 - - Disk spinning on axle, rotational motion, torque
Q4 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
Q5 - Block dropped on another oscillating block, energy, momentum, oscillations/simple harmonic motion
AP Physics 2 - Q4 - - (Parts a and c) Boat carrying steel bars, fluids, forces, buoyant force, flow, continuity equation

2017 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
Q2 - - (Experimental design) Coefficient of friction between block and board, forces, friction
Q3 - - Disk collides with pivoting rod, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum
Q4 - - Blocks launched from slides on tables, projectile motion, energy
Q5 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
AP Physics 2 - Q1 - - Water flowing through pipe, fluids, flow, continuity equation, Bernoulli's equation, conservation of energy, forces, FBDs, buoyant force

2016 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Wheel rolls down an incline, forces, FBDs, energy, friction
Q2 - - (Experimental design) Testing collisions for a ball, energy
Q3 - - Cart rolls down an incline with bumps, kinematics, energy
Q4 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
Q5 - (now AP Physics 2 material)

2015 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Pulley system with 2 hanging blocks, forces, FBDs, tension
Q2 - (now AP Physics 2 material)
Q3 - - Block-spring system sliding on surface, energy, work, friction
Q4 - - Projectile motion of two spheres, projectile motion, FBDs
Q5 - (now AP Physics 2 material)

Question Types

These are the four types of FRQs in the order that they will appear on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam. This is from page 180 in the AP Physics 1 Course and Exam Description.

Mathematical Routines (MR)

10 points; suggested time: 20-25 minutes

The Mathematical Routines (MR) question assesses students’ ability to use mathematics to analyze a scenario and make predictions about that scenario. Students will be expected to symbolically derive relationships between variables, as well as calculate numerical values. Students will be expected to create and use representations that describe the scenario, either to help guide the mathematical analysis (such as drawing a free-body diagram) or that are applicable to the scenario (such as sketching velocity as a function of time).

For AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, the MR question will ask students to make a claim or prediction about the scenario and use appropriate physics concepts and principles to support and justify that claim. The justification is expected to be a logical and sequential application of physics concepts that demonstrates a student’s ability to connect multiple concepts to each other.

Translation Between Representations (TBR)

12 points; suggested time: 25-30 minutes

The Translation Between Representations (TBR) question assesses students’ ability to connect different representations of a scenario. Students will be expected to create a visual representation that describes a given scenario. Students will derive equations that are mathematically relevant to the scenario. Students will draw graphs that relate quantities within the scenario. Finally, students will be asked to do any one of the following:

Justify why their answers to any two of the previous parts do/do not agree with each other.
Use their representations, mathematical analysis, or graph to make a prediction about another situation and justify their prediction using that reasoning or analysis.
Use their representations, mathematical analysis, or graph to make a prediction about how those representations would change if properties of the scenario were altered and justify that claim using consistent reasoning or analysis.

Experimental Design and Analysis (LAB)

10 points; suggested time: 25-30 minutes

The Experimental Design and Analysis (LAB) question assesses students’ ability to create scientific procedures that can be used with appropriate data analysis techniques to determine the answer to given questions. The LAB question can roughly be divided into two sections: Design and Analysis. In the Design portion of the LAB question, students will be asked to develop a method by which a question about a given physical scenario could be answered. The experimental procedure is expected to be scientifically sound: vary a single parameter, and measure how that change affects a single characteristic. Methods must be able to be performed in a typical high school laboratory. Measurements must be made with realistically obtainable equipment or sensors. Students will be expected to describe a method by which the collected data could be analyzed in order to answer the posed question, by either graphical or comparative analyses.

Students will then be given experimental data collected in order to answer a similar, but not identical, question to what was asked in the Design portion of the question. Students will be asked to use the data provided to create and plot a graph that can be analyzed to determine the answer to the given question. For instance, the slope or intercepts of the line may be used to determine a physical quantity or perhaps the nature of the slope would answer the posed question.

Qualitative/Quantitative Translation (QQT)

8 points; suggested time: 15-20 minutes

The Qualitative/Quantitative Translation (QQT) question assesses students’ ability to connect the nature of the scenario, the physical laws that govern the scenario, and mathematical representations of that scenario to each other. Students will be asked to make and justify a claim about a given scenario, as well as derive an equation related to that scenario. Finally, students will be asked to do any one of the following:

Justify why their answers to any of the previous parts do/do not agree with each other.
Use their representations or mathematical analysis to make a prediction about another situation and justify their prediction using that reasoning or analysis.
Use their representations and mathematical analysis to make a prediction about how those representations would change if properties of the scenario were altered and justify that claim using consistent reasoning or analysis.

While students may not be directly assessed on their ability to create diagrams or other representations of the system to answer the QQT, those skills may still help students to answer the QQT. For instance, some students may find that drawing a free-body diagram is useful when determining the acceleration of a system. However, the student will earn points for the explanation and conclusions that diagram indicates (or perhaps the derivation that results from the diagram), rather than for creating the diagram itself.

Videos

Here are some videos and playlists that cover AP Physics 1 FRQs: