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100+ Free AP Physics 1 Practice Questions

Pass your AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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What is the difference between distance and displacement for a moving object?

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Key Facts: AP Physics 1 Exam

40

multiple-choice questions in 80 minutes (50% of score)

College Board

4

free-response questions in 100 minutes (50% of score)

College Board

8

course units after the 2024-25 redesign, including new Fluids

College Board CED

1-5

score scale, with 3+ typically earning college credit

College Board

10-15%

exam weight of the newly added Fluids unit

College Board CED

$99

published 2025-26 US exam fee per AP exam

College Board

The redesigned AP Physics 1 exam (effective Fall 2024) has 40 multiple-choice questions in 80 minutes and 4 free-response questions in 100 minutes, each section worth 50% of the score. The course now covers eight units, with Fluids newly added from AP Physics 2. Calculus is not required — it is fully algebra-based. Scores are reported 1-5, and a 3 or higher typically earns college credit. The 2025-26 published exam fee is $99 in the US (source: College Board, apstudents.collegeboard.org).

Sample AP Physics 1 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AP Physics 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 3.0 m/s^2. How fast is it moving after 4.0 seconds?
A.7.0 m/s
B.1.3 m/s
C.12 m/s
D.24 m/s
Explanation: With constant acceleration from rest, v = v0 + at = 0 + (3.0 m/s^2)(4.0 s) = 12 m/s. The initial velocity is zero because the car starts from rest, so the final velocity equals acceleration times time.
2On a position-versus-time graph for an object, what does the slope of the line at a given instant represent?
A.The object's acceleration
B.The object's mass
C.The total distance traveled
D.The object's instantaneous velocity
Explanation: The slope of a position-versus-time graph is the rate of change of position with time, which is velocity. The slope at a single instant gives the instantaneous velocity at that moment.
3A ball is thrown straight up and returns to the thrower's hand. Ignoring air resistance, what is its acceleration at the highest point of its flight?
A.Zero, because the velocity is momentarily zero
B.9.8 m/s^2 directed downward
C.9.8 m/s^2 directed upward
D.It depends on the initial speed
Explanation: Throughout the entire flight the only force is gravity, so the acceleration is a constant 9.8 m/s^2 directed downward, even at the top. At the highest point the velocity is zero, but the acceleration is unchanged.
4A projectile is launched horizontally from a cliff with speed 20 m/s. Ignoring air resistance, how does its horizontal velocity component change during the flight?
A.It remains constant at 20 m/s
B.It decreases to zero at the top
C.It increases due to gravity
D.It reverses direction halfway through
Explanation: In projectile motion with no air resistance, there is no horizontal force, so the horizontal velocity component stays constant at its initial value of 20 m/s. Only the vertical component changes because gravity acts vertically.
5An object moving in a straight line has a velocity-versus-time graph that is a horizontal line above the time axis. What is the object's motion?
A.At rest the entire time
B.Speeding up uniformly
C.Moving at constant velocity
D.Slowing down uniformly
Explanation: A horizontal line on a velocity-versus-time graph means the velocity does not change with time, so the object moves at constant velocity. Because the line is above the axis, the velocity is nonzero and in the positive direction.
6A runner travels 100 m east, then 60 m west, all along a straight track. What is the runner's displacement?
A.160 m east
B.40 m west
C.160 m west
D.40 m east
Explanation: Displacement is the straight-line change in position with direction. Taking east as positive, displacement = 100 m - 60 m = 40 m, directed east. Distance traveled would be 160 m, but displacement accounts for direction.
7A stone is dropped from rest. How far does it fall in the first 2.0 seconds, taking g = 10 m/s^2 and ignoring air resistance?
A.10 m
B.40 m
C.20 m
D.5 m
Explanation: Using d = (1/2)g t^2 for an object dropped from rest, d = (1/2)(10 m/s^2)(2.0 s)^2 = (1/2)(10)(4) = 20 m. The displacement grows with the square of the time.
8Two objects are launched as projectiles from the same height, one horizontally and one dropped straight down at the same instant, with no air resistance. Which lands first?
A.The dropped object lands first
B.The horizontally launched object lands first
C.They land at the same time
D.It depends on the horizontal speed
Explanation: Vertical and horizontal motions are independent. Both objects start with zero vertical velocity and fall the same height under the same gravitational acceleration, so they take the same time to land. The horizontal speed does not affect the time to fall.
9An object's velocity-versus-time graph is a straight line with a negative slope, passing through positive velocity values that decrease toward zero. What is happening to the object?
A.It is moving forward but slowing down
B.It is at rest
C.It is moving backward and speeding up
D.It has constant velocity
Explanation: Positive velocity means the object moves in the positive direction, and a negative slope means the velocity is decreasing in magnitude. The object is therefore moving forward while slowing down (negative acceleration).
10A car traveling at 30 m/s brakes uniformly and stops in 6.0 seconds. What is the magnitude of its acceleration?
A.5.0 m/s^2
B.180 m/s^2
C.0.20 m/s^2
D.36 m/s^2
Explanation: Acceleration is the change in velocity divided by time: a = (0 - 30 m/s) / 6.0 s = -5.0 m/s^2. The magnitude is 5.0 m/s^2, with the negative sign indicating it opposes the motion.

About the AP Physics 1 Exam

AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based is a College Board introductory, algebra-based physics course and exam. Following the 2024-25 redesign, the course is organized into eight units spanning kinematics, forces and dynamics, energy, momentum, torque and rotation, rotational energy and angular momentum, oscillations, and fluids (fluids was added from AP Physics 2). The exam has a 40-question multiple-choice section (80 minutes) and a 4-question free-response section (100 minutes), each worth 50% of the score, and is reported on a 1-5 scale.

Questions

40 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours (80 min multiple choice + 100 min free response)

Passing Score

Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher typically earns college credit

Exam Fee

$99 per exam (2025-26) (College Board)

AP Physics 1 Exam Content Outline

10-15%

Unit 1: Kinematics

Motion in one and two dimensions, motion graphs, and projectile motion.

18-23%

Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics

Newton's laws, free-body diagrams, friction, gravitation, and circular motion.

18-23%

Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power

Work-energy theorem, conservation of energy, springs, and power.

10-15%

Unit 4: Linear Momentum

Impulse, conservation of momentum, and elastic and inelastic collisions.

10-15%

Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics

Torque, rotational inertia, and Newton's second law for rotation.

5-8%

Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems

Rotational kinetic energy, angular momentum, and its conservation.

5-8%

Unit 7: Oscillations

Simple harmonic motion of springs and pendulums and energy in oscillations.

10-15%

Unit 8: Fluids

Density, pressure, buoyancy, continuity, and Bernoulli's equation.

How to Pass the AP Physics 1 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher typically earns college credit
  • Exam length: 40 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours (80 min multiple choice + 100 min free response)
  • Exam fee: $99 per exam (2025-26)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AP Physics 1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Do not skip the new Fluids unit — it carries 10-15% of the exam and is missing from older prep books.
2Master free-body diagrams early; most dynamics, rotation, and fluids problems start with identifying forces correctly.
3Practice explaining your reasoning in words, since AP Physics 1 free-response questions reward qualitative and quantitative justification.
4Memorize the algebra-based kinematics equations and know when each applies (especially when acceleration is constant).
5Use conservation laws (energy, momentum, angular momentum) as your default strategy before reaching for force equations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the AP Physics 1 exam and how long is it?

The exam has 40 multiple-choice questions (80 minutes) and 4 free-response questions (100 minutes), for about 3 hours total. Each section is worth 50% of the final score.

What changed in the 2024-25 AP Physics 1 redesign?

The course was reorganized into eight units and Fluids was moved in from AP Physics 2. The exam format also became 40 multiple-choice questions and 4 free-response questions, with each section weighted 50%.

Is AP Physics 1 algebra-based or calculus-based?

AP Physics 1 is algebra-based. It uses algebra and basic trigonometry rather than calculus, so it is accessible to students who have not taken calculus.

How is AP Physics 1 scored and what score earns credit?

AP Physics 1 is scored on a 1-5 scale. A 3 or higher is generally considered passing and earns college credit at many institutions, though some colleges require a 4 or 5.

What are the eight units of AP Physics 1?

Kinematics; Force and Translational Dynamics; Work, Energy, and Power; Linear Momentum; Torque and Rotational Dynamics; Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems; Oscillations; and Fluids.

How much does the AP Physics 1 exam cost?

The published 2025-26 AP exam fee is $99 per exam in the United States. Fee reductions are available for eligible students, and many schools subsidize the cost.