AP® Physics 1 Past Exam FRQs

These are the free-response questions (FRQs) from past AP® Physics 1 exams from this College Board page. 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 explanations for AP® Physics 1.

FRQs listed by topic
FRQs listed by year

Listed by Topic

Experimental design

2023 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Cart on an incline, kinematics
2022 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Block hanging from string around wheel, energy, rotational motion
2021 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Stretching a plastic rod
2019 Q3 - - (Experimental design) Sphere is launched with a spring plunger, projectile motion, energy
2017 Q2 - - (Experimental design) Coefficient of friction between block and board, forces, friction
2016 Q2 - - (Experimental design) 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 slides on tables, projectile motion, energy
2015 Q4 - - Projectile motion of two spheres, projectile motion, FBDs

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

Free body diagrams

2023 Q3 - - Block and spring rotating about axle, circular motion, centripetal force, FBDs
2023 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

Tension

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

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

Law of gravitation

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

Circular motion

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

Rotational motion

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

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

Energy

2023 Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, 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, 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, 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

2023 Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, 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, 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

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, simple harmonic motion

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

Simple harmonic motion

2023 Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2022 Q5 - - Mass oscillating on a vertical spring, simple harmonic motion, energy, work
2018 Q5 - - Block dropped on another oscillating block, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion

Listed by Year

2023 Free-Response Questions Answers & scoring guidelines

Q1 - - Cart oscillating on horizontal spring, 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

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, FBD's
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, simple harmonic motion, energy, work

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

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)

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, simple harmonic motion

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)

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)