AP Physics 1 practice questions, with answers
These are original practice questions written in the style of AP Physics 1, grouped by unit. Try each one before opening the answer, and use the explanations to see exactly where your reasoning went wrong.
On this page
- How to use this page
- Unit 1: Kinematics
- Unit 2: Force and translational dynamics
- Unit 3: Work, energy and power
- Unit 4: Linear momentum
- Unit 5: Torque and rotational dynamics
- Unit 6: Energy and momentum of rotating systems
- Unit 7: Oscillations
- Unit 8: Fluids
- After you finish
- Frequently asked questions
- Key takeaways
- Related guides
How to use this page
Work through one unit at a time. Write your answer, including the reasoning, before you open the solution. Mark yourself honestly: a correct number with no reasoning would not earn full credit on the real exam. Keep a list of the questions you missed and the reason, such as a sign error, a wrong principle or a misread question. Retry those questions a week later. These questions are for practice only; for real exam questions, use the released materials on AP Central. Take g = 9.8 m/s² unless stated.
Unit 1: Kinematics
Motion in one and two dimensions, graphs and projectiles. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 24 m/s in 8.0 s. How far does it travel?
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Q2. A ball is thrown straight up at 14.7 m/s. How long until it returns to the thrower's hand?
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Q3. On a velocity-time graph, the line is horizontal at −3 m/s. Describe the motion.
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Q4. A ball rolls off a 1.25 m high table at 2.0 m/s. How far from the table does it land?
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Unit 2: Force and translational dynamics
Newton's laws, free-body diagrams, friction and circular motion. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A 4.0 kg box is pulled across a floor by a 30 N horizontal force. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.50. Find the acceleration.
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Q2. A person stands on a scale in a lift accelerating downwards. Does the scale read more, less or the same as their weight? Explain.
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Q3. A 0.20 kg ball on a string moves in a horizontal circle of radius 0.50 m at 3.0 m/s. Find the tension, ignoring gravity.
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Q4. Two blocks, 2 kg and 3 kg, are pushed together across a frictionless surface by a 10 N force on the 2 kg block. Find the force between the blocks.
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Unit 3: Work, energy and power
Kinetic and potential energy, work and conservation of energy. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A 2.0 kg ball is dropped from 5.0 m. Find its speed just before it lands, ignoring air resistance.
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Q2. A spring with k = 200 N/m is compressed 0.10 m and launches a 0.050 kg ball. Find the ball's launch speed.
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Q3. A motor lifts a 50 kg load 12 m in 20 s at constant speed. Find the power output.
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Q4. A sled slides down a hill and its speed at the bottom is less than predicted by energy conservation. Why?
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Unit 4: Linear momentum
Impulse, collisions and conservation of momentum. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A 0.15 kg ball moving at 20 m/s is hit back at 30 m/s. Find the impulse.
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Q2. A 1000 kg car at 20 m/s hits a stationary 1500 kg car and they lock together. Find their speed.
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Q3. Why do airbags reduce injury?
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Unit 5: Torque and rotational dynamics
Torque, rotational inertia and angular acceleration. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A 30 N force is applied at right angles to a 0.40 m wrench. Find the torque.
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Q2. A uniform 4 m plank is balanced at its centre. A 300 N child sits 1.5 m from the centre. Where must a 450 N child sit?
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Q3. A solid disc and a hoop of the same mass and radius roll down the same ramp. Which reaches the bottom first?
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Unit 6: Energy and momentum of rotating systems
Rotational kinetic energy and angular momentum. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A spinning skater pulls in their arms. What happens to their angular speed and why?
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Q2. A wheel with I = 0.50 kg m² spins at 10 rad/s. Find its rotational kinetic energy.
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Unit 7: Oscillations
Simple harmonic motion, springs and pendulums. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. A 0.50 kg mass on a spring of k = 50 N/m oscillates. Find the period.
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Q2. A pendulum's length is quadrupled. What happens to its period?
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Q3. Where is the speed of a mass on a spring greatest?
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Unit 8: Fluids
Density, pressure, buoyancy and fluid flow. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. Find the pressure due to water at a depth of 10 m. (ρ = 1000 kg/m³)
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Q2. A 0.0020 m³ block is fully submerged in water. Find the buoyant force.
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Q3. Water flows through a pipe that narrows from 4 cm² to 1 cm². How does its speed change?
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After you finish
Count your correct answers in each unit. Any unit where you missed more than one question is a priority for revision. Re-read the relevant guide, redo the questions you missed without looking at the answers, then move on to official free-response questions for that unit. Steady, targeted practice like this is how most students move from a 3 to a 5.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real AP exam questions?
No. They are original questions written in the style of AP Physics 1 to help you practise. Released exam questions are available from the College Board on AP Central.
How many practice questions should I do before the exam?
Quality matters more than quantity. Aim to cover every unit, review every mistake, and complete several full timed practice exams in the final month.
Key takeaways
- Write your reasoning, not just the number.
- Track mistakes by unit and by type.
- Retry missed questions a week later.
- Follow up weak units with official free-response questions.
- Use full timed practice exams in the final month.