Due On: _______________ Name: _________________________

AP Physics 1: Review Packet 01

Problem 1: Consider the following eight velocity vs. time graphs. Positive velocity is forward velocity.

Graph A Graph B Graph C Graph D

Graph E Graph F Graph G Graph H

(a) Rank the objects based on their acceleration from most forward to most backward. (If any two graphs
show the same acceleration, put an equal sign between those letters.)

________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Most forward acceleration Most backward acceleration

Briefly explain how you determined the accelerations.

(b) Rank the objects based on their displacement over the 4-second interval.

________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Most forward displacement Most backward displacement

(c) Rank the objects based on their distance traveled over the 4-second interval. Remember that distance is a
scalar that can never be less than zero.

________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Longest distance Shortest distance

Briefly explain how you determined the displacements and distances. Make sure you explain the difference
between distance and displacement.

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(d) If you were asked to rank average velocity, then the ranking would look like which ranking above (part a, b,
or c)? Explain why.

(e) Explain in words what the object is doing in each of the following graphs. Use words like moving
forward, moving backward, standing still, speeding up, slowing down, and constant speed.

(i) In Graph A, the object is _______________________________________________________________.

(ii) In Graph B, the object is _______________________________________________________________.

(iii) In Graph C, the object is

_______________________________________________________________.

(iv)In Graph D, the object is _______________________________________________________________.

(v) In Graph F, the object is _______________________________________________________________.

(vi)In Graph G, the object is _______________________________________________________________.

(f) Positive net work is done on an object if it gains kinetic energy. Negative net work is done on an object if it
loses kinetic energy.

(i) For which two objects was positive net work done during the 4-second interval? _____ _____

(ii) For which two objects was negative net work done during the 4-second interval? _____ _____

(iii) For which four objects was zero net work done during the interval? _____ _____ _____
_____

Explain your answer for Graph G (why does it have positive/negative/zero net work)?

Explain your answer for Graph E (why does it have positive/negative/zero net work)?

(g) Which three graphs could represent a cart with

frictionless bearings on this incline? Explain your
reasoning.
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(h) For each motion map, state which graph describes the same motion. Motion to the right is forward.

Graph _____ Graph _____

Graph _____ Graph _____

Graph _____ Graph _____

Graph _____ Graph _____

Problem 2: An elevator starts at rest on the ground floor. The elevator moves so that its acceleration is shown
as a function of time below.

(a) Is the elevator moving upward, moving downward, or at rest at time t = 12 seconds? If the elevator is
moving, state its speed. In any case, explain your reasoning.

(b) Is the elevator moving upward, moving downward, or at rest at time t = 22 seconds? If the elevator is
moving, state its speed. In any case, explain your reasoning.

(c) At time t = 25 seconds, is the elevator above or below its initial position, or has it returned to its initial
position? Justify your answer.
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Problem 3: A world-class runner can complete a 100 m dash in about 10 s. Past studies have shown that
runners in such a race accelerate uniformly for a time tu and then run at constant speed for the remainder of the
race. A world-class runner is visiting your physics class. You are to develop a procedure that will allow you to
determine the uniform acceleration au and an approximate value of tu for the runner in a 100 m dash. By
necessity your experiment will be done on a straight track and include your whole class of eleven students.

(a) By checking the line next to each appropriate item in the list below, select the equipment, other than the
runner and the track, that your class will need to do the experiment.

____ Stopwatches ____ Tape measures ____ Rulers ____ Masking tape
____ Metersticks ____ Starters pistol ____ String ____ Chalk

(b) Outline the procedure that you would use to determine au and tu, including a labeled diagram of the
experimental setup. Use symbols to identify carefully what measurements you would make and include in
your procedure how you would use each piece of the equipment you checked in part (a).

(c) Outline the process of data analysis, including how you will identify the portion of the race that has uniform
acceleration, and how you would calculate the uniform acceleration.
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One-Dimensional Motion Review
IMPORTANT QUANTITIES
Name Symbol Units Basic Equation Name Symbol Units Basic Equation
x
Time t Seconds Velocity v m/s v
t

Position x Meters Speed v m/s v
t
Length Acceleratio v
Meters a m/s2 a
Distance d n t
Gravity on g = 9.8 m/s2
g m/s2
Earth (Down)

IMPORTANT EQUATIONS
Name Equation Given? Notes
Use if the velocity is constant or if you
Position as a function of x vt x 0 No know initial and final velocity (the
time, constant velocity.
average of those is v ).
Use if there is acceleration, and time is
Position as a function of
x 12 at 2 v 0 t x 0 Yes involved in the problem, but no mention is
time, constant acceleration.
made of final velocity.
Use if there is an acceleration and time in
Velocity as a function of v at v 0 Yes involved in the problem, no mention is
time, constant acceleration.
made of position.
Use to relate initial and final position and
Velocity in terms of
v 2 2a x x 0 v 0
2
Yes velocity to acceleration, but no mention is
position and acceleration.
made of time.

IMPORTANT GRAPHS
Name Graph (Shape) Notes
THE SLOPE OF A POSITION VS. TIME
GRAPH IS VELOCITY. Because velocity is
Position vs. Time constant, the slope is constant. This makes the
(Constant Velocity) graph a straight line.

THE SLOPE OF A POSITION VS. TIME

GRAPH IS VELOCITY. Because the slope
increases, the velocity increases. The shape of a
Position vs. Time
position vs. time graph is a parabola for constant
(Constant Acceleration)
acceleration.
 THE SLOPE OF A VELOCITY VS. TIME
GRAPH IS ACCELERATION. Because the
slope is zero, acceleration is zero if velocity is
Velocity vs. Time constant. Constant velocity means constant y-
(Constant Velocity) value, so velocity vs. time for constant velocity is
a flat line. THE AREA UNDER A VELOCITY
VS. TIME GRAPH REPRESENTS A
CHANGE IN POSITION.
THE SLOPE OF A VELOCITY VS. TIME
GRAPH IS ACCELERATION. Because the
acceleration is constant, the slope is constant.
Velocity vs. Time
Constant slope means a straight line. THE
(Constant Acceleration)
AREA UNDER A VELOCITY VS. TIME
GRAPH REPRESENTS A CHANGE IN
POSITION.
THE AREA UNDER AN ACCELERATION
VS. TIME GRAPH REPRESENTS A
CHANGE IN VELOCITY. Since velocity is
Acceleration vs. Time
constant, there is no acceleration. The graph of
(Constant Velocity)
zero is a horizontal line at y = 0, which means
there is no area which means that there is no
change in velocity.
THE AREA UNDER AN ACCELERATION
VS. TIME GRAPH REPRESENTS A
CHANGE IN VELOCITY. Since acceleration is
Acceleration vs. Time
constant, the y-value of the graph is a constant,
(Constant Acceleration)
which makes a flat line.

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

Speed is the magnitude of velocity. Two cars, one traveling 60 mph north and the other 60 mph south,
have the same speed but different velocities.
Acceleration is a change in velocity. Since velocity is a vector, an object experiences an acceleration if
either its speed or its direction changes.
x
Only use the equation v if speed is constant or you are asked for average speed!
t
v
Only use the equation a if acceleration is constant or you are asked for average acceleration!
t
x
Note that this equation can never be used at the same time as v .
t
Any object is considered to be in free-fall if gravity is the only force acting on it.

Big concept: Use kinematics whenever you have two of the

following and are asked for a third: position, velocity, time, and
acceleration.
Make sure that acceleration is constant before using the constant acceleration equations (hint: simple harmonic
motion is not const. accel. because a spring exerts a varying force; circular motion is not const. accel. because
the a keeps changing direction)