---
title: "AP Physics 2 Experimental Design FRQ Practice"
description: "68 Experimental Design and Analysis questions written in the AP format, each scored part by part."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-physics-2-revised/frqs/experimental-design"
type: "frq-type-practice"
subject: "AP Physics 2"
---

# AP Physics 2 Experimental Design FRQ Practice

## What the Experimental Design FRQ asks

The Experimental Design and Analysis question is FRQ 3 on the AP Physics 2 exam. You design a procedure to answer a question about a physical system, then graph data from a similar experiment and use your best-fit line to find a physical quantity.

- **25–30 min**: suggested on the exam
- **10 points**: across parts A to D
- **95 min**: for all four FRQs

| Part | What it asks | Points |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A: Procedure | How to collect the data: what you vary, what you measure, and with what | 2 |
| B: Analysis plan | How you would graph the data and what the graph tells you | 2 |
| C: Graph | Choose quantities that give a straight line, plot the data, and draw a best-fit line | 4 |
| D: Calculation | A value calculated from your best-fit line | 2 |

## How Experimental Design FRQ practice works

1. **Read the setup and data.** The lab scenario, the data table, and all four parts, A through D, laid out the way the exam shows them.
2. **Write on a 27-minute timer.** Inside the 25 to 30 minutes the exam suggests for this question. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
3. **Submit for a score out of 10.** Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.

## All 68 questions

### Unit 9: Thermodynamics (5)
- [Gas pressure-temperature calibration relationship](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab81fe97825fc4c8a3c94&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Ideal gas behavior, container volume determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab8e9e97825fc4c8a3ca0&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Ideal gas properties from experimental measurements](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abb2ce97825fc4c8a3cb7&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Ideal gas behavior: pressure-temperature relationship determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=6a8f966b545c4b69e56c3774&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Gas pressure and temperature relationship in rigid container](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=6a8fa3b972bc9c5c37907b3a&type=frq-3-experimental-design)

### Unit 10: Electric Force, Field, and Potential (9)
- [Dielectric permittivity determination in parallel-plate capacitors](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab461e97825fc4c8a3c6b&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Parallel plate capacitor electric field measurement](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab50fe97825fc4c8a3c72&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Electric field mapping and dielectric permittivity determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab786e97825fc4c8a3c8e&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Relative permittivity of insulating dielectric materials](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab824e97825fc4c8a3c95&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Dielectric constant determination in parallel-plate capacitor](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abdefe97825fc4c8a3cd5&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Electric field magnitude in parallel-plate capacitor](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abf46e97825fc4c8a3ce1&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Electric field and dielectric permittivity in capacitors](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac07ae97825fc4c8a3cec&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Dielectric constant determination using parallel-plate capacitor](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac268e97825fc4c8a3cff&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Electric potential and field from charged sphere](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=6ab2a26f9b75b15e9f9297e4&type=frq-3-experimental-design)

### Unit 11: Electric Circuits (10)
- [Battery emf and internal resistance determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab4b7e97825fc4c8a3c70&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Battery internal resistance determination using circuit analysis](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab592e97825fc4c8a3c78&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Capacitor discharge time constant determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab67ae97825fc4c8a3c84&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Battery terminal voltage and internal resistance determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab88ee97825fc4c8a3c9a&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Battery internal resistance determination using terminal voltage](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab95fe97825fc4c8a3ca4&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Battery emf and internal resistance determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abb0ae97825fc4c8a3cb4&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Capacitor charging circuit current measurement](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abba4e97825fc4c8a3cbc&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Battery internal resistance determination through terminal voltage](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abd5ee97825fc4c8a3cd0&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Real battery emf and internal resistance determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac243e97825fc4c8a3cfd&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Battery internal resistance determination through voltage measurements](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac479e97825fc4c8a3d14&type=frq-3-experimental-design)

### Unit 12: Magnetism and Electromagnetism (15)
- [Magnetic permeability measurement using inductor data](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=6977f28e1fb1cc32fbb25061&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic field variation in solenoids with different materials](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab5a6e97825fc4c8a3c7a&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic field magnitude in air-core solenoid](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab65ce97825fc4c8a3c82&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic permeability determination in solenoid cores](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab70de97825fc4c8a3c88&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Relative permeability determination using solenoid core materials](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab85fe97825fc4c8a3c97&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic field strength in solenoids with unknown core material](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698aba8de97825fc4c8a3caf&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic permeability determination using solenoid measurements](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abb42e97825fc4c8a3cb9&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic permeability determination using solenoid measurements](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abbf6e97825fc4c8a3cc1&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Solenoid magnetic field, current dependence, permeability determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abd91e97825fc4c8a3cd2&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic field strength, solenoid current, material permeability](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abeace97825fc4c8a3cdc&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic permeability determination in solenoid cores](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac13ae97825fc4c8a3cf4&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic field changes with material core insertion](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac1e5e97825fc4c8a3cf8&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic field strength, solenoid current, core permeability](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac2a5e97825fc4c8a3d01&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic field measurement in solenoid circuits](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac363e97825fc4c8a3d0b&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Magnetic permeability determination through solenoid flux](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac45fe97825fc4c8a3d12&type=frq-3-experimental-design)

### Unit 13: Geometric Optics (2)
- [Determining focal length through experimental lens measurement](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=6977f3641fb1cc32fbb25067&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Image formation and focal length determination with converging lens](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab8abe97825fc4c8a3c9b&type=frq-3-experimental-design)

### Unit 14: Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics (18)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern analysis and measurement](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=6977f615f3ff7a9cb0e6c327&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single slit diffraction wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab5e2e97825fc4c8a3c7e&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Double-slit interference and wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab68ae97825fc4c8a3c85&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab72be97825fc4c8a3c89&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern measurements and analysis](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab7cce97825fc4c8a3c92&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern analysis](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab87be97825fc4c8a3c99&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Double-slit interference patterns and wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ab9b8e97825fc4c8a3ca8&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698aba61e97825fc4c8a3cae&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abb50e97825fc4c8a3cba&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single slit diffraction pattern wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abca6e97825fc4c8a3cc7&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern analysis and measurements](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abd47e97825fc4c8a3cce&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abe1ee97825fc4c8a3cd7&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single slit diffraction pattern wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abf01e97825fc4c8a3ce0&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern analysis](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac05fe97825fc4c8a3cea&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac233e97825fc4c8a3cfb&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction pattern analysis and measurements](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac2d9e97825fc4c8a3d03&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single-slit diffraction and wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac36ee97825fc4c8a3d0c&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Single slit diffraction pattern wavelength determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac4b3e97825fc4c8a3d15&type=frq-3-experimental-design)

### Unit 15: Modern Physics (9)
- [Experimental determination of Planck's constant through photoelectric effect](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=6977f3131fb1cc32fbb25065&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect, stopping potential, Planck's constant](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698aba92e97825fc4c8a3cb1&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect, work function determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abbd5e97825fc4c8a3cbd&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect stopping potential and light frequency](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698abd85e97825fc4c8a3cd1&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect and Planck's constant determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac1f4e97825fc4c8a3cf9&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect and Planck's constant determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac2bae97825fc4c8a3d02&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect and Planck's constant determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac362e97825fc4c8a3d0a&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect and Planck's constant determination](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac735e97825fc4c8a3d24&type=frq-3-experimental-design)
- [Photoelectric effect stopping potential measurements](/ap-physics-2-revised/frq-practice?id=698ac914e97825fc4c8a3d2f&type=frq-3-experimental-design)

## Sample question

**Gas pressure-temperature calibration relationship**

In Experiment 1, a student is given a sealed cylinder containing a small amount of dry air and fitted with a frictionless, movable piston of cross-sectional area A = 2.00 × 10⁻³ m². The piston can move to change the volume of the trapped gas, and the student is asked to design an experiment to calibrate the gas as a thermometer and then use it to investigate thermal energy transfer when the gas is placed in thermal contact with objects at different temperatures.

Part A (2 points):
  Prompt: **Describe** a procedure for collecting data that would allow the student to determine a calibration relationship between pressure P and absolute temperature T for the gas when the volume is held constant. In your description, include the measurements to be made. Include any steps necessary to reduce experimental uncertainty.
  Verb: describe

Part B (2 points):
  Prompt: **Describe** how the collected data could be analyzed to determine the calibration relationship between P and T. Include references to appropriate equations and to relationships between measured and known quantities.
  Verb: describe

Figure 1:
  Type: apparatus_diagram
  Caption: Figure 1. Constant-volume gas thermometer calibration apparatus (piston locked) and thermal-contact setup.
  URL: https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-2-revised/974b5491-c2af-4fe3-abf7-7b1eb0ba341c_fig1.jpg
  Placement: before-part
  Part Letter: C

Figure 2:
  Type: graph_grid
  Caption: Figure 2. Graph grid for determining the proportionality constant in the constant-volume ideal-gas relationship.
  URL: https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-2-revised/974b5491-c2af-4fe3-abf7-7b1eb0ba341c_numfix2_fig2.png
  Placement: before-part
  Part Letter: C

Data Table for Part C:
  Headers: T (°C) | P (kPa)
  0.0 | 86.1
  20.0 | 92.0
  40.0 | 97.9
  60.0 | 103.8
  80.0 | 109.7

Data Table for Part C:
  Headers: T (K) | P (kPa)

Part C (4 points):
  Context: In Experiment 2, the student clamps the piston so the gas volume remains constant and places the cylinder in water baths at different temperatures. After waiting long enough for the gas to reach thermal equilibrium with the bath, the student records the bath temperature T and the corresponding gas pressure P. Table 1 contains the data collected.
  i. **Indicate** two quantities, either measured quantities from Table 1 or additional calculated quantities, that could be graphed to produce a straight line that could be used to determine the proportionality constant in the constant-volume ideal-gas relationship.

Vertical axis: ______ Horizontal axis: ______ (1 pt)
    Verb: indicate
  ii. On Figure 2, create a graph of the quantities indicated in part C(i) that can be used to determine the proportionality constant.
- Use Table 2 to record the data points or calculated quantities that you will plot.
- Clearly label the axes, including units as appropriate.
- Plot the points you recorded in Table 2. (2 pt)
    Verb: create
  iii. **Draw** a best-fit line for the data graphed in part C(ii). (1 pt)
    Verb: draw

Part D (2 points):
  Prompt: Using the best-fit line that you drew in part C(iii), **calculate** the final temperature T_f of the gas (and block). Then **calculate** the magnitude of the change in thermal energy of the metal block, |ΔE_(th,block)|, during the process.
  Context: After completing the calibration, the student uses the clamped, constant-volume gas as a thermometer in a new trial. The cylinder is wrapped in the insulating sleeve and placed in thermal contact with a metal block of mass m = 0.250 kg that is initially at T_(block, i) = 95.0°C. Before contact, the gas is at T_(gas, i) = 20.0°C. The student observes that, after a long time, the gas pressure reaches a steady value of P_f = 100.8 kPa. The student assumes (i) the gas remains ideal and at constant volume, (ii) the block and gas reach the same final temperature, and (iii) energy exchange with the surroundings is negligible. The specific heat capacity of the metal block is c = 900 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹.
  Verb: calculate

Image URLs (2):
  - https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-2-revised/974b5491-c2af-4fe3-abf7-7b1eb0ba341c_fig1.jpg
  - https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-2-revised/974b5491-c2af-4fe3-abf7-7b1eb0ba341c_numfix2_fig2.png

## Questions

**How many responses can I get scored?**

You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.

**How do I make the graph in part C?**

Open the drawing tool in the editor and plot it there. You can also graph it on paper, switch to handwrite, and add a photo of your page.

**What equipment can my procedure use?**

Equipment a typical high school lab would have, like a ruler, a voltmeter, or an ammeter. Say what you vary, what you measure, and how you measure it.

**Is the data in part C from my own procedure?**

No. Part C gives you data from a similar experiment. Your analysis plan from part B still helps you choose what to graph.

**Are these real College Board questions?**

No. We wrote them in the AP format, with the same four parts, and wrote scoring guidelines for each one.

## Related

- [Experimental Design FRQ exam guide](/ap-physics-2-revised/ap-physics-2-exam/ap-physics-2-frq-experimental-design/study-guide/ap-physics-2-frq-experimental-design)
- [AP Physics 2 Mathematical Routines FRQ practice](/ap-physics-2-revised/frqs/mathematical-routines)
- [AP Physics 2 Representations FRQ practice](/ap-physics-2-revised/frqs/translation-between-representations)
- [AP Physics 2 Qualitative/Quantitative FRQ practice](/ap-physics-2-revised/frqs/qualitative-quantitative-translation)
- [AP Physics 2 FRQs](/ap-physics-2-revised/frqs)
- Any question by id: the `get_frq` tool on the [Fiveable MCP server](/mcp/docs)

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