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Physics 1 Ap classroom unit 3

AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based (Pascagoula High School)

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AP PHYSICS 1 Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

1. This question is a long free-response question. Show your work for each part of the question.

Students want to verify that the centripetal acceleration of an object undergoing uniform circular motion with
tangential speed and radius can be described by the equation . In the experiment, the students use a
variable speed turntable that can rotate about a pole at its center. A track is attached to the top of the turntable such
that a cart of mass can freely move toward and away from the center pole of the turntable. One end of a force
probe is attached to the pole, and the other end is attached to the cart, as shown above. All frictional forces are
negligible.

(a) The dot below represents the cart while undergoing uniform circular motion and at the location shown in the
figure above. On the dot, draw and label the forces (not components) exerted on the cart. Each force must be
represented by a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing away from, the appropriate dot.
Note: Draw the relative lengths of all vectors to reflect the relative magnitudes of all the forces.

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

(b) Using the experimental apparatus shown above, design an experimental procedure the students could use to
verify that the centripetal acceleration of an object undergoing uniform circular motion with tangential speed
and radius can be described by the equation .

i. In the table below, list the quantities and associated symbols that would be measured in the experiment and the
equipment used to measure them. Also list the equipment that would be used to measure each quantity. You do not
need to fill in every row. If you need additional rows, you may add them to the space just below the table.

Quantity to Be Measured Symbol for Quantity Equipment for Measurement

ii. Describe an experimental procedure to verify that the centripetal acceleration of an object undergoing uniform

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

circular motion with tangential speed and radius can be described by the equation . Give enough
detail so that another student could replicate the experiment. As needed, include a diagram of the experimental
setup. Assume equipment usually found in a school physics laboratory is available.

iii. State how the measured quantities could be analyzed to verify that the centripetal acceleration of an object
undergoing uniform circular motion with tangential speed and radius can be described by the equation
.

(c) In a separate experiment, the students take force probe readings for different turntable speeds, and also
measure the time it takes the turntable to make one revolution at each speed. The table shows the results of the
students’ measurements. The cart’s center of mass moves in a circle of radius .

Period Force
0.75 3.5
1.25 1.3
2.0 0.49
2.5 0.32

Indicate two quantities that could be graphed to yield a straight line whose slope could be used to calculate a
numerical value for the mass of the cart.

Vertical axis _______________

Use the remaining columns in the table, as needed, to record any quantities that you indicated that are not given. Label
each column you use and include units.

On the grid, plot the data points you indicated. Clearly scale and label both axes, including units as appropriate.

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

Part (a)

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1 2

Student response accurately includes both of the following criteria.

1 point is earned for a downward force due to gravity and an upward normal force of the same
magnitude.
1 point is earned for a leftward centripetal force (force from the spring scale).

Example Response:

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

Part (b)i

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1

Student response accurately includes the following criteria.

1 point is earned for listing relevant/appropriate equipment for determining the centripetal acceleration of
the cart.

Example Response:

Part (b)ii

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

0 1 2 3 4 5

Student response accurately includes all of the following criteria.

1 point is earned for a plausible method to directly or indirectly determine whether the equation is
verified from the experimental data using the equipment listed in (b)i.
1 point is earned for a valid method to determine or directly measure the speed of the cart.
1 point is earned for a valid method to determine or directly measure the radius of the cart’s circular path.
1 point is earned for a valid method to determine or directly measure the force that is responsible for the
centripetal acceleration.
1 point is earned for an attempt to reduce experimental uncertainty (e.g., performing multiple trials with
parameters that are either fixed or varied -- e.g. “using the same cart mass” or “using carts of different
mass” -- as appropriate)

Example Response:

One must measure the mass m of the cart by using a balance. One can measure the distance r of the cart’s circular path
with a meterstick or ruler after scaling the distance from a photograph or video taken from a slow motion camera. The
force exerted by the spring on the cart can be found by observing the measuring scale that is found on the spring scale.
The time it takes the cart to make one revolution around the circle, the cart’s period, can be found with a stopwatch. A
determination of the cart’s speed can be found by using the equation , where is the period of the cart. In order
to reduce uncertainty one should repeat the experiment several times, keeping the mass of the cart the same in all trials.

Part (b)iii

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1 2

Student response accurately includes both of the following criteria.

1 point is earned for implicitly or explicitly using Newton’s second law to relate the mass of the cart to
the centripetal acceleration:
1 point is earned for indicating that the measured spring scale force should be compared to the calculated
value and that they should be equal within experimental uncertainty.

Part (c)

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

0 1 2

Student response accurately includes both of the following criteria.

1 point is earned for indicating quantities that would produce a linear graph.
1 point is earned for correctly graphing values that lie along a straight line.

Example Response:

Vertical axis ___Force_______

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U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

2. This question is a short free-response question. Show your work for each part of the question.

An astronaut stands on the surface of a spherical asteroid that has a weak gravitational field but no atmosphere.
The astronaut throws a small rock straight upward, as shown at left above. The rock travels upward until it reaches
a distance of from the center of the asteroid, where is the asteroid’s radius, and then falls back down to the
asteroid’s surface.

(a) The dots below represent the rock immediately after being thrown and when it is a distance from the
asteroid’s center. On each dot, draw and label the forces (not components) exerted on the rock at the indicated
time. Each force must be represented by a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing away from, the appropriate dot.

Note: Draw the relative lengths of all vectors to reflect the relative magnitudes of all the forces at both times.

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U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

(b) The graph at left below shows the rock’s velocity as a function of time after being thrown upward with an
initial velocity . The dashed line shows what the velocity would be if the rock experienced a constant
acceleration, and the solid curve shows the rock’s actual velocity.

After the rock lands back on the surface, the astronaut then throws the rock straight upward a second time but with
a greater force so that the rock’s initial speed is greater than initial speed for the first throw. The graph at
right below shows the rock’s velocity as a function of time after being thrown upward the second time.

In a clear, coherent, paragraph-length response that may also contain equations and/or drawings, make claims for
the following aspects of the rock’s motion.

For the first throw, state a claim for what is happening at time .
State a claim about the strength of the gravitational force exerted on the rock as the rock gets farther from the
asteroid.
For the first throw, state a claim about the relationship about the strength of the gravitational force exerted on
the rock as the rock gets farther from the asteroid and the behavior indicated between time 0 and in the
velocity-time graph.
For the second throw, state a claim about why there is a horizontal asymptote for the velocity.

Part (a)

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

0 1 2

Student response accurately includes both of the following criteria.

1 point is earned for a downward gravitational force on each dot.

Example Response:

Part (b)

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Student response accurately includes all of the following criteria.

1 point is earned for stating that time is when the rock reaches its maximum height or distance from
the center of the asteroid on the first throw.
1 point is earned for a statement that the gravitational force gets weaker farther away from the asteroid.
1 point is earned for stating or implying that the weaker gravitational force means that the acceleration
(or slope of velocity-time graph) gets smaller in magnitude OR stating that the change (reduction) in
speed is less (or speed is greater) compared to the constant-acceleration graph.
1 point is earned for one of the following regarding the second throw.
- stating that, if the rock gets far enough away from the asteroid, the gravitation force can become

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Scoring Guide

U3 Topic FRQ Gravitation and Circular Motion

negligible
- stating that the rock has enough speed to escape the gravitational field
- stating that the rock is far enough away from the asteroid that it moves at a (nearly) constant speed
1 point is earned for a logical, relevant, and internally consistent argument that addresses the required
argument or question asked, and follows the guidelines described in the published requirements for the
paragraph-length response

Example Response:

On the first throw, since the gravitational force exerted on the rock gets weaker as the rock gets farther from the asteroid,
the rock’s acceleration gets less in magnitude. This can be seen by the slope of the graph (on the left) getting shallower
from time 0 to . At , the rock’s velocity is zero and it has reached its maximum height. On the second throw, the rock
is thrown farther, and reaches a height where the gravitational force (or acceleration) is negligible, and the rock’s velocity
approaches a constant value.

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