AP PHYSICS 1 Test Booklet

Ap D unit 3 test

1. Planet X has twice Earth’s mass and three times Earth’s radius. The magnitude of the gravitational field near Planet
X’s surface is most nearly
(A) 2 N/kg
(B) 7 N/kg
(C) 10 N/kg
(D) 20 N/kg

A ball of mass m is attached to a vertical rod by two massless strings. The rod is rotated about its axis so that both
strings are taut, with tensions T1 and T2, respectively. The strings and rod form the right triangle shown in the figure
above. The ball rotates in a horizontal circle of radius r with speed v.

2. What is the magnitude of the net force on the ball?

3. What is the tension T1 in the upper string?

4. A spaceship is traveling from Earth to the Moon. Which of the following is true of the gravitational force on the
ship due to the two objects when the ship is equidistant from Earth and the Moon?

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(A) There is no net force because the ship is beyond the influence of Earth and the Moon.
(B) There is no net force because the forces exerted by Earth and the Moon balance.
(C) There is a net force because the force exerted by Earth is smaller than that exerted by the Moon.
(D) There is a net force because the force exerted by Earth is greater than that exerted by the Moon.
(E) There is a net force because the ship must be accelerating toward the Moon.

5.
A stone disk is sliding on frictionless ice to the west with speed v, as shown in the figure above. As the disk slides
by, a child uses a rubber mallet to hit the disk at point X, exerting a force directly toward the center of the disk.
The child hits point X every half second for about 10 s, changing the trajectory of the disk but not causing it to
rotate. Which of the following most closely approximates the path of the disk while the child is hitting it?

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 (A)
A northward linear path

(B)
A northwestward linear path

(C)
A parabolic path

(D)
A circular path

6. Planet 1 orbits Star 1 and Planet 2 orbits Star 2 in circular orbits of the same radius. However, the orbital period of
Planet 1 is longer than the orbital period of Planet 2. What could explain this?
(A) Star 1 has less mass than Star 2.
(B) Star 1 has more mass than Star 2.
(C) Planet 1 has less mass than Planet 2.
(D) Planet 1 has more mass than Planet 2.
(E) The masses of the planets are much less than the masses of the stars.

7. A planet of mass m orbits a star of mass M, where m<<M. The orbit is circular, its radius is r, and its period is T.
True statements about the planet’s orbit include which of the following?

I. The orbital speed equals 2πr / T

III. If the orbital radius r were greater, T would also be greater.

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 (A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

A block released from rest at position A slides with negligible friction down an inclined track, around a vertical loop,
and then along a horizontal portion of the track, as shown above. The block never leaves the track.

8. Which of the following is true of the net force on the block when it is at position C ?
(A) It is directed vertically downward only.
(B) It is directed vertically upward only.
(C) It is directed to the left only.
(D) It is directed to the right only.
(E) It has components both to the left and vertically downward.

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9.
The figure above represents a racetrack with semicircular sections connected by straight sections. Each section
has length d, and markers along the track are spaced d/4 apart. Two people drive cars counterclockwise around the
track, as shown. Car X goes around the curves at constant speed vc, increases speed at constant acceleration for
half of each straight section to reach a maximum speed of 2vc, then brakes at constant acceleration for the other
half of each straight section to return to speed vc. Car Y also goes around the curves at constant speed vc, increases
speed at constant acceleration for one-fourth of each straight section to reach the same maximum speed 2vc, stays
at that speed for half of each straight section, then brakes at constant acceleration for the remaining fourth of each
straight section to return to speed vc.

(a) On the figures below, draw an arrow showing the direction of the net force on each of the cars at the
positions noted by the dots. If the net force is zero at any position, label the dot with 0.

(b)

i. Indicate which car, if either, completes one trip around the track in less time, and justify your answer
quantitatively without using equations.

ii. Justify your answer about which car, if either, completes one trip around the track in less time
quantitatively with appropriate equations.

(c) Explain how your equations in part (b) ii reexpress your reasoning in part (b) i. Do not simply refer to any
final results of your calculations, but instead indicate how terms in your equations correspond to concepts in your
qualitative explanation.

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10.
 A student swings a ball on a light rod at a constant speed in a vertical circle, as shown in the figure. Which of the
following correctly ranks the magnitudes of the forces exerted by the rod on the ball , , , and when the ball is at
locations 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

11. A satellite of mass m and speed v moves in a stable, circular orbit around a planet of mass M. What is the radius of
the satellite’s orbit?
(A) GM/mv
(B) Gv/mM
2
(C) GM/v
(D) GmM/v
2
(E) GmM/v

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12.
 The figure shows three cases where two spheres are touching and attract each other with the gravitational force.
The radii of the spheres in each case are shown. All of the spheres are made of material with the same density.
Which of the following correctly ranks these cases based on the gravitational force between the spheres?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

13. Two satellites are in circular orbits around Earth. Satellite has mass and an orbital radius of , where is the radius
of Earth. Satellite has mass and an orbital radius of . Which of the following correctly compares the magnitude of
the force exerted by Earth on each satellite and the speed of each satellite?

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Force Speed
 (A)

Force Speed
(B)

Force Speed
(C)

Force Speed
(D)

14. A planet with half Earth’s mass and half Earth’s radius is discovered. What would an astronaut who weighs 800 N
on Earth weigh on the planet?
(A) 100 N
(B) 200 N
(C) 400 N
(D) 800 N
(E) 1600 N

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15.
A rock attached to a string swings in a vertical circle, as shown above, with negligible air resistance. Which of
the following diagrams could correctly show all the forces on the rock when the string is in the position above?

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

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16.
An experiment is performed using the apparatus above. A small disk of mass m1 on a frictionless table is attached
to one end of a string. The string passes through a hole in the table and an attached narrow, vertical plastic tube.
An object of mass m2 is hung at the other end of the string. A student holding the tube makes the disk rotate in a
circle of constant radius r, while another student measures the period P.

(a) Derive the equation that relates P and m2.

The procedure is repeated, and the period P is determined for four different values of m2, where m1 = 0.012 kg and
r = 0.80 m. The data, which are presented below, can be used to compute an experimental value for g.
0.02 0.04 0.06
0 0 0

1.40 1.05 0.80

0.080

P (s) 0.75

(b) What quantities should be graphed to yield a straight line with a slope that could be used to determine g ?

(c) On the grid below, plot the quantities determined in part (b), label the axes, and draw the best-fit line to
the data. You may use the blank rows above to record any values you may need to calculate.

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(d) Use your graph to calculate the experimental value of g.

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