AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Practice Test (2026)

Students in a physics lab track a remote-controlled car along a straight painted line on a long hallway floor. Taking East as the positive direction, they record the following: the car starts at the 0 m mark, drives 100 m East to the far end of the hallway, pauses briefly, then reverses and drives 20 m West before stopping. A stopwatch gives the total elapsed time from initial start to final stop as 10.0 s. The students are asked to report both the average speed (a scalar, based on total path length) and the average velocity (a vector, based on net displacement) for the entire 10.0 s trip.

Based on the recorded motion, which of the following best describes the car's average speed and average velocity over the full 10.0 s trip?

Which of the following best describes the difference between distance and displacement?

A graph shows velocity (m/s) on the y-axis and time (s) on the x-axis. The graph starts at (0,0), goes to (2, 4) in a straight line, then from (2,4) to (4,4) in a straight horizontal line, then from (4,4) to (5,0) in a straight line.

The velocity-time graph above represents the motion of an object. During which time interval is the magnitude of the object's acceleration the greatest?

An object has a positive velocity and a negative acceleration. Which of the following statements accurately describes the object's motion?

A ball is thrown straight upward. Neglecting air resistance, what is the acceleration of the ball at the very peak of its trajectory?

A graph shows position (m) on the y-axis and time (s) on the x-axis. The graph starts at (0,0), goes to (2, 4) in a straight line, then from (2,4) to (4,0) in a straight line, then from (4,0) to (5,-4) in a straight line.

The position-time graph above represents the motion of an object. During which time interval is the object moving with the greatest speed?

A car accelerates uniformly from 10 m/s to 30 m/s over a distance of 80 meters. What is the magnitude of the car's acceleration?

What does instantaneous velocity refer to?

A graph shows velocity (m/s) on the y-axis and time (s) on the x-axis. The graph starts at (0,0), goes to (2, 6) in a straight line, then from (2,6) to (4,2) in a straight line, then from (4,2) to (6,0) in a straight line.

Based on the velocity-time graph provided, what is the total displacement of the object from t = 0 s to t = 6 s?

A projectile is launched horizontally from a cliff. Neglecting air resistance, which of the following statements is true about its motion after it leaves the cliff?

Which of the following quantities is a scalar quantity?

A graph shows position (m) on the y-axis and time (s) on the x-axis. The graph starts at (0,0) and curves upward, becoming less steep as time increases, ending at (5,10). The curve is concave down.

The position-time graph above shows an object moving in the positive direction. What can be concluded about the object's motion?

A physics student is analyzing a lab run in which a 0.50 kg cart is launched down a smooth straight track. Photogates at opposite ends of the track give her two velocity readings: an initial velocity v₀ = 2.0 m/s as the cart enters the first gate, and a final velocity v = 6.0 m/s as it leaves the second gate. A meter stick fixed alongside the track gives the displacement between gates as Δx = 4.0 m. The acceleration of the cart was not measured directly, and the student does NOT want to compute it as an intermediate step. She needs to find the time t that the cart spent traveling between the two gates using only the three measured quantities (v₀, v, Δx).

Which kinematic equation is the most appropriate single choice for computing t directly from v₀, v, and Δx without first solving for acceleration?

A car is traveling at a speed v and can brake to a stop in a distance d. If the car were traveling at a speed of 2v, what would be its stopping distance, assuming the same constant braking acceleration?

A ball is thrown at an angle above the horizontal. At the highest point of its trajectory, what are the ball's vertical velocity and vertical acceleration?

Which of the following are the standard SI units for acceleration?

A graph shows velocity (m/s) on the y-axis and time (s) on the x-axis. Object A starts at (0,0) and goes to (4,8) in a straight line. Object B starts at (0,4) and goes to (4,8) in a straight line.

Two objects, A and B, have their velocity-time graphs shown above. Both objects start at the same initial position (x=0 m at t=0 s). At t = 4 s, which of the following statements is true?