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

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

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)