AP PHYSICS 2 Test Booklet

Test 1 - FRQ

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

(10 points, suggested time 20 minutes)

An insulated cylinder with a noninsulated piston contains a gas that is initially at . The piston has an area of
, a thickness of , and a thermal conductivity of . The temperature of the
surrounding room is .

(a) The graph below shows the temperature of the gas as a function of time as the gas cools to room temperature.
Describe a method for using the graph to estimate the amount of energy that is conducted through the piston.

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Test 1 - FRQ

(b) The pressure inside the cylinder is initially equal to the atmospheric pressure , and the cooling process
happens slowly enough for the pressures to remain at equilibrium. The dot on the graph below of pressure as a
function of volume represents the initial state of the gas at . On the graph, draw a line or curve that could
represent the process that the gas goes through as it cools.

(c) In a different process, the gas loses of energy by cooling. Pressure as a function of volume for the
process is shown on the graph below. What is the change in the internal energy of the gas during the process?

(d) After the gas has reached equilibrium with the surroundings, the piston is pushed in very quickly. Qualitatively
describe the change in the internal energy of the gas, if any, due to this rapid compression.

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Test 1 - FRQ

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

2. (12 points, suggested time 25 minutes)

A cylinder with a movable piston contains a sample of ideal gas. A temperature probe and a pressure probe
are inserted into the cylinder, as shown above. The sample of gas is taken through a three-step cycle, ABCA.

• In process AB, the volume is decreased to its original value while constant pressure is maintained.
• In process BC, the gas expands back to its original volume isothermally.
• In process CA, the gas returns to its original state without any work being done on or by the gas.

(a)

i. On the axes below, draw a graph of pressure P as a function of volume V for the three-step process ABCA,
labeling states B and C. The pressure and volume of state A are and , respectively. Label the axes with the
values of pressure and volume for states B and C in terms of and .

ii. For process BC, is energy added to the gas by heating or removed from the gas by cooling? Support your claim
using physics principles.

(b) For process CA, is the net flow of energy into the gas or out of the gas? Explain your reasoning using physics
principles. Describe one method by which this flow of energy could be accomplished in the laboratory.

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Test 1 - FRQ

(c) Curves 1 and 2 below show the distributions of particle speeds when the sample of gas is in two of the states,
with curve 1 a state that occurs before curve 2 as the gas goes through the cycle. Which states correspond to curve
1 and 2? Support your claim using physics principles.

3. A diver descends from a salvage ship to the ocean floor at a depth of 35 m below the surface. The density of ocean
water is 1.025 x 103 kg/m3.

(a) Calculate the gauge pressure on the diver on the ocean floor.

(b) Calculate the absolute pressure on the diver on the ocean floor.

The diver finds a rectangular aluminum plate having dimensions 1.0m x 2.0m x 0.03m. A hoisting cable is
lowered from the ship and the diver connects it to the plate. The density of aluminum is 2.7 x 103kg/m3. Ignore
the effects of viscosity.

(c) Calculate the tension in the cable if it lifts the plate upward at a slow, constant velocity.

(d) Will the tension in the hoisting cable increase, decrease, or remain the same if the plate accelerates upward at
0.05 m/s2?

____Increase ____decrease ___remain the same

Explain your reasoning

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Test 1 - FRQ

4. A team of engineering students is testing their newly designed 200 kg raft in the pool where the diving team
practices. The raft must hold a 730 kg steel cube with edges of length 45.0 cm without sinking. Assume the
density of water in the pool is 1000 kg/m3 .

a. The students use a crane to gently place the cube on the raft but accidentally place it off center. The cube
remains on the raft for a few moments and then the raft tilts, causing the cube to slide off and sink to the
bottom of the pool. The raft remains floating in the pool. In a coherent paragraph-length response,
indicate whether the water level in the pool when the cube is on the bottom of the pool is higher than,
lower than, or the same as when the cube is on the raft, and explain your reasoning. For both cases,
assume that there is no motion of the water.

b. The bottom of the pool is 5 m below the surface of the water. The crane is now used to lift the cube out
of the pool. The cube is lifted upward at a slow and constant speed, so all drag forces are negligible.

i. Predict how the force exerted by the crane on the cube when the bottom of the cube is at a depth
of 2.0 m compares to the force exerted by the crane on the cube when the bottom of the cube is
at a depth of 4.0 m. Explain your reasoning.

ii. On the black square below, which represents the cube, draw and label the forces (not
components) that are exerted on the cube while the crane is lifting it and the bottom of the cube
is 4 m below the surface of the water. Each force must be represented by a distinct arrow
starting on, and pointing away from, the black square. The lengths of the arrows should
approximately demonstrate the net force on the cube.

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Boyant force Tension force

Gravity

iii. Calculate the force exerted by the crane on the cube when the bottom of the cube is 4 m below
the surface of the water.

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