AP® Physics C: Mechanics - Free-Response Questions - Section II - Time 1 hour and 40 minutes

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

AP® Physics C: Mechanics Section II provides instructions for a 1 hour 40 minute free-response exam with four questions. Students may use scratch paper for planning but must write answers in the free-response booklet, label parts and sub-parts, and use black or dark blue ink. A calculator, ruler, and straightedge are allowed, and final numerical answers must include units. Credit emphasizes correct physical principles, clear designation of each part, and showing work, including graph or diagram construction guidance and optional timing suggestions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Section II: Time and Directions

Allowed tools and reference information

Answer format and credit criteria

Optional timing guidance

Questions 1 and 2 overview

2025 AP® Physics C: Mechanics Free-Response Questions © 2025 College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks [of College Board. Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org](of College Board. Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org). AP Central is the official online home for [the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org](the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org). PHYSICS C: MECHANICS SECTION II TIME – 1 HOUR AND 40 MINUTES Directions: Section II has 4 questions and lasts 1 hour and 40 minutes. You may use the available paper for scratch work and planning, but you must write your answers in the free-response booklet. Label parts (e.g., A, B, C) and sub-parts (e.g., i, ii, iii) as needed. Use a pencil or a pen with black or dark blue ink to write your responses. A calculator is allowed in this section, as well as a ruler and straightedge. You may use a handheld four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator, or the calculator available in this application. Reference information, including lists of equations, can also be accessed in this application and is available throughout the exam. All final numerical answers should include appropriate units when applicable. Credit for your work depends on demonstrating that you know which physical principles to apply in a particular situation. Credit will be awarded only for work that is clearly designated as the solution to a specific part of a question. Credit also depends on the quality of your solutions and explanations. Therefore, you should show your work for each part in the space provided for that part. If you need more space, be sure to clearly indicate where you continue your work. When constructing a graph or diagram, use only one color of ink or pencil. You may pace yourself as you answer the questions in this section, or you may use these optional timing recommendations: It is suggested that you spend about 25 minutes each on Questions 1 and 3, about 30 minutes on Question 2, and about 20 minutes on Question 4. You can go back and forth between questions in this section until time expires. The clock will turn red when 5 minutes remain—the proctor will not give you any time updates or warnings. Note: This exam was originally administered digitally. It is presented here in a format optimized for teacher and student use in the classroom. During the AP Exam administration, students have access to reference information. To see the reference information for this course, please visit AP Central: [https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics-c-mechanics/exam](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics-c-mechanics/exam) © 2025 College Board. [Visit College Board on the web:](Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org 2)[ collegeboard.org](Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org 2)[ 2](Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org 2) Question 1: Version J 1. Two blocks, 1 and 2, slide toward each other on a horizontal surface. Block 1 has mass mand slides in the +x-direction with constant speed 2v0 . Block 2 has mass 6m and slides in the -x-direction with constant speed v0 , as shown in Figure 1. The blocks then collide and stick together. The collision occurs from time t = 0 to t = tc . After the collision, where t > tc , the blocks move together with the same constant speed. A. The diagrams in Figure 2 can be used to represent the momentum of blocks 1 and 2 before and after the collision. The momentum vector diagram for Block 1 before the collision is shown. i. Draw arrows on the grids to represent the momentum vectors of Block 2 before the collision and the two-block system before and after the collision. • Arrows should start at the zero-momentum line. • The length of the arrows should be proportional to the relative magnitudes ofthe vectors. • Represent an arrow of zero length by drawing a dot at zero. © 202

FAQs

How long is Section II and how many questions does it contain?

Section II lasts 1 hour and 40 minutes and has 4 questions.

What tools are allowed during this section?

A calculator is allowed, along with a ruler and straightedge. Reference information (equations lists) is also accessible in the application.

What determines how credit is awarded on the free-response questions?

Credit depends on demonstrating correct physical principles for each situation and showing work. Credit is awarded only for work clearly designated as the solution to a specific part, and it depends on the quality of explanations.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana