AP Physics 1 PRACTICE MC 2

1. A solid metal ball and a hollow plastic ball of the same 6. Three forces act on an object. If the object is in
external radius are released from rest in a large vacuum translational equilibrium, which of the following must be
chamber. When each has fallen 1 m, they both have the true?
same I. The vector sum of the three forces must equal zero.
(A) inertia (B) speed II. The magnitudes of the three forces must be equal.
(C) momentum (D) kinetic energy III. All three forces must be parallel.
(E) change in potential energy (A) I only (B) II only
2. A student weighing 700 N climbs at constant speed to the (C) I and III only (D) II and III only
top of an 8 m vertical rope in 10 s. The average power (E) I, II and III
expended by the student to overcome gravity is most 7. The graph at the right represents the potential energy U
nearly as a function of displacement x for an object on the end
(A) 1.1 W (B) 87.5 W of a spring oscillating in simple harmonic motion with
(C) 560 W (D) 875 W amplitude x0 . Which of the following graphs represents
(E) 5,600 W the kinetic energy K of the object as a function of
displacement x ?
3. A railroad car of mass m is moving at speed v when it
collides with a second railroad car of mass M which is at (A) (B)
rest. The two cars lock together instantaneously and move
along the track. What is the speed of the cars immediately
after the collision?
v mv
(A) (B)
2 M

(C)
Mv
(D)
(
m+ M v ) (C) (D)

m m
mv
(E)
(
m+ M )
(E)

4. An open cart on a level surface is rolling without 8. A child pushes horizontally on a box of mass m which
frictional loss through a vertical downpour of rain, as moves with constant speed v across a horizontal floor.
shown at the right. As the car rolls, an appreciable amount The coefficient of friction between the box and the floor
of rainwater accumulates in the cart. The speed of the cart is μ . At what rate does the child do work on the box?
will
(A) mgv (B) μmgv
(A) increase because of conservation of momentum (C) v /μmg (D) μmg / v
(B) increase because of conservation of mechanical (E) μmv2
energy
(C) decrease because of conservation of momentum
(D) decrease because of conservation of mechanical
energy
(E) remain the same because the raindrops are falling
perpendicular to the direction of the cart’s motion
5. Units of power include which of the following?
I. Watt 9. A block of mass 3.0 kg is hung from a spring, causing it
II. Joule per second to stretch 12 cm at equilibrium, as shown above. The
III. Kilowatt-hour 3.0 kg block is then replaced by a 4.0 kg block, and the
(A) I only (B) III only new block is released from the position shown above, at
(C) I and II only (D) II and III only which time the spring is un-stretched. How far will the
(E) I, II, and III 4.0 kg block fall before its direction is reversed?
(A) 9 cm (B) 18 cm
(C) 24 cm (D) 32 cm
(E) 48 cm
AP Physics 1 PRACTICE MC 2
10. An object has a weight W when it is on the surface of a 15. A ball of mass 0.4 kg is initially at rest on the ground. It is
planet of radius R . What will be the gravitational force kicked and leaves the kicker’s foot with a speed of
on the object after it has been moved to a distance of 4R 5.0 m/s in a direction 60o above the horizontal. The
from the center of the planet? magnitude of the impulse imparted by the ball to the foot
(A) 16W (B) 4W (C) W is most nearly
1 1 (A) 1 N/s (B) 3 N/s
(D) W (E) W
4 16 2
(C) 2 N/s (D) N/s
11. What is the kinetic energy of a satellite of mass m that 3
orbits the Earth, of mass M, in a circular orbit of radius (E) 4 N/s
R?
1 GMm 1 GMm
(A) Zero (B) (C)
2 R 4 R
1 GMm GMm
(D) (E)
2 R2 R2

16. A wheel of radius R and negligible mass is mounted on a

horizontal frictionless axle so that the wheel is in a
vertical plane. Three small objects having masses m , M,
and 2M , respectively, are mounted on the rim of the
12. Two objects of mass 0.2 kg and 0.1 kg, respectively, wheel, as shown above. If the system is in static
move parallel to the x-axis, as shown above. The 0.2 kg equilibrium, what is the value of m in terms of M ?
object overtakes and collides with the 0.1 kg object.
M
Immediately after the collision, the y-component of the (A) (B) M
velocity of the 0.2 kg object is 1 m/s upward. What is the 2
y-component of the velocity of the 0.1 kg object 3M
immediately after the collision? (C) (D) 2M
2
(A) 2 m/s downward (B) 0.5 m/s downward
5M
(C) 0 m/s (D) 0.5 m/s upward (E)
(E) 2 m/s upward 2
Questions 13-14 Questions 17-18

Three objects can only move along a straight, level path.

The graphs below show the position d of each of the objects
plotted as a function of time t.

A rock of mass m is thrown horizontally off a building

from a height h, as shown above. The speed of the rock as it
leaves the thrower’s hand at the edge of the building is v0.
13. The magnitude of the momentum of the object is
increasing in which of the cases? 17. How much time does it take the rock to travel from the
(A) II only (B) III only edge of the building to the ground?
(C) I and II only (D) I and III only (A) hv0 (B) h v0
(E) I, II, and III
(C) hv0 g (D) 2h g
14. The sum of the forces on the object is zero in which of the
cases? (E) 2h g
(A) II only (B) III only
(C) I and II only (D) I and III only
(E) I, II, and III
AP Physics 1 PRACTICE MC 2
18. What is the kinetic energy of the rock just before it hits
the ground?
1
(A) mgh (B) mv 2
2 0
1 1
(C) mv 2 − mgh (D) mv 2 + mgh
2 0 2 0
1
(E) mgh − mv0 2
2
22. A system of two wheels fixed to each other is free to
19. Two people of unequal mass are initially standing still on rotate about a frictionless axis through the common center
ice with negligible friction. They then simultaneously of the wheels and perpendicular to the page. Four forces
push each other horizontally. Afterward, which of the are exerted are exerted tangentially to the rims of the
following is true? wheels, as shown above. The magnitude of the net torque
(A) The kinetic energies of the two people are equal. on the system about the axis is
(B) The speeds of the two people are equal. (A) zero (B) FR
(C) The momenta of the two people are of equal (C) 2FR (D) 5FR
magnitude. (E) 14FR
(D) The center of mass of the two-person system moves
23. A wheel of mass M and radius R rolls on a level surface
in a direction of the less massive person.
without slipping. If the angular velocity of the wheel
(E) The less massive person has a smaller initial
is ω , what is its linear momentum?
acceleration than the more massive person.
(A) M w R (B) M w 2 R (C) M w R 2
M w 2 R2
(D) (E) zero
2
Questions 24-25 refer to the following information
A wheel with rotational inertia I is mounted on a fixed,
frictionless axle. The angular speed ω of the wheel is
increased from zero to ωf in a time interval T .
20. A stationary object explodes, breaking into three pieces of
masses m, m, and 3m. the two pieces of mass m move 24. What is the average net torque on the wheel during this
off at right angles to each other with the same magnitude time interval?
of momentum mV, as shown in the diagram above. What
are the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the wf wf I w 2f
(A) (B) (C)
piece having mass 3m ? T T2 T
V V Iw f Iw f
(A) (B) (D) (E)
3 3 T2 T

2V 2V 25. What is the average power input to the wheel during this
(C) (D) time interval?
3 3
Iw f I w 2f
(E) 2V (A) (B)
2T 2T
Iw 2
f I 2w f
(C) (D)
2T 2 2T 2
I 2w 2f
(E)
2T 2
26. For which of the following motions of an object must the
21. A rod on a horizontal tabletop is pivoted at one end and is acceleration always be zero?
free to rotate without friction about a vertical axis, as I. Any motion in a straight line
shown above. A force F is applied at the other end, at an II. Simple harmonic motion
angle θ to the rod. If F were to be applied III. Any motion in a circle
perpendicular to the rod, at what distance from the axis
should it be applied in order to produce the same torque? (A) I only (B) II only
(C) III only (D) Either I or III, but not II
(A) L sin q (B) L cos q (C) L (E) None of these motions guarantees zero acceleration.
(D) L tan q (E) 2L
AP Physics 1 PRACTICE MC 2
Questions 30-31

27. A rope of negligible mass supports a block that weighs

30 N, as shown above. The breaking strength of the rope A sphere of mass m1 , which is attached to a spring, is
is 50 N. The largest acceleration that can be given to the displaced downward from its equilibrium position as shown
block by pulling up on it with the rope without breaking above left and released from rest. A sphere of mass m2 ,
the rope is most nearly which is suspended from a string of length ! , is displaced to
(A) 6 m/s2 (B) 6.7 m/s2 the right as shown above right and released from rest so that it
(C) 10 m/s 2
(D) 15 m/s2 swings as a simple pendulum with small amplitude. Assume
(E) 16.7 m/s2 that both spheres undergo simple harmonic motion
30. Which of the following is true for both spheres?
(A) The maximum kinetic energy is attained as the sphere
passes through its equilibrium position.
(B) The maximum kinetic energy is attained as the sphere
reaches its point of release.
(C) The minimum gravitational potential energy is
attained as the sphere passes through its equilibrium
28. A compressed spring mounted on a disk can project a position.
small ball. When the disk is not rotating, as shown in the (D) The maximum gravitational potential energy is
top view above, the ball moves radially outward. The disk attained when the sphere reaches its point of release.
then rotates in a counterclockwise direction as seen from (E) The maximum total energy is attained only as the
above, and the ball is projected outward at the instant the sphere passes through its equilibrium position.
disk is in the position shown above. Which of the
following best shows the subsequent path of the ball 31. If both spheres have the same period of oscillation, which
relative to the ground? of the following is an expression for the spring constant?
(A) (B) ℓ g m1ℓ
(A) (B) (C)
m1g m2 ℓ g
m2 g m1g
(D) (E)
ℓ ℓ
32. A block attached to the lower end of a vertical spring
(C) (D) oscillates up and down. If the spring obeys Hooke’s law,
the period of oscillation depends on which of the
following?
I. Mass of the block
II. Amplitude of the oscillation
III. Force constant of the spring
(E) (A) I only (B) II only
(C) III only (D) I and II
(E) I and III
33. An empty sled of mass M moves without friction across
a frozen pond at speed v0 . Two objects are dropped
vertically into the sled one at a time: first an object of
29. A ball is thrown straight up in the air. When the ball mass m and then an object of mass 2m . Afterward the
reaches its highest point, which of the following is true? sled moves with speed vf . What would be the final speed
(A) It is in equilibrium. of the sled if the objects were dropped into it in reverse
(B) It has zero acceleration. order?
(C) It has maximum momentum. vf vf
(A) (B) (C) vf
(D) It has maximum kinetic energy. 3 2
(E) None of the above (D) 2vf (E) 3vf
AP Physics 1 PRACTICE MC 2
34. A new planet is discovered that has twice the Earth’s Questions 39-40
mass and twice the Earth’s radius. On the surface of this
A horizontal, uniform board of weight 125 N and length 4 m is
new planet, a person who weighs 500 N on Earth would
supported by vertical chains at each end. A person weighing
experience a gravitational force of
500 N is sitting on the board. The tension in the right chain is
(A) 125 N (B) 250 N (C) 500 N 250 N.
(D) 1000 N (E) 2000 N
39. What is the tension in the left chain?
(A) 250 N (B) 375 N (C) 500 N
(D) 625 N (E) 875 N
40. How far from the left end is the person sitting?
(A) 0.4 m (B) 1.5 m (C) 2 m
(D) 2.5 m (E) 3 m
41. Two objects, A and B , initially at rest, are “exploded”
apart by the release of a coiled spring that was
compressed between them. As they move apart, the
velocity of object A is 5 m/s and the velocity of object B
is –2 m/s. The ratio of the mass of object A to the mass
of object B, mA/mB, is
35. The graph above represents position x versus time t for (A) 4/25 (B) 2/5 (C) 1/1
an object being acted on by a constant force. The average (D) 5/2 (E) 25/4
speed during the interval between 1 s and 2 s is most
nearly
(A) 2 m/s (B) 4 m/s (C) 5 m/s (D) 6 m/s (E) 8 m/s
Questions 36-37

42. The cart of mass 10 kg shown above moves without

frictional loss on a level table. A 10 N force pulls on the
cart horizontally to the right. At the same time a 30 N
force at an angle of 60o above the horizontal pulls on the
cart to the left. What is the magnitude of the horizontal
acceleration of the cart?
(A) 0.5 m/s2 (B) 1.6 m/s2 (C) 2.0 m/s2
(D) 2.5 m/s2 (E) 2.6 m/s2
43. A child has a toy tied to the end of a string and whirls the
toy at constant speed in a horizontal circular path of
A student obtains data on the magnitude of force applied
radius R . The toy completes each revolution of its
to an object as a function of time and displays the data on the
motion in a time period T . What is the magnitude of the
graph above.
acceleration of the toy?
36. The slope of the “best fit” straight line is most nearly
(A) Zero (B)
4p 2 R
(C)
pR
(A) 5 N/s (B) 6 N/s (C) 7 N/s
T2 T2
(D) 8 N/s (E) 10 N/s (D) g (E) 2πg
37. The increase in the momentum of the object between 44. A simple pendulum and a mass hanging on a spring both
t = 0 s and t = 4 s is most nearly have a period of 1 s when set into small oscillatory
(A) 40 N·s (B) 50 N·s (C) 60 N·s motion on Earth. They are taken to Planet X , which has
(D) 80 N·s (E) 100 N·s the same diameter as Earth but twice the mass. Which of
38. How does an air mattress protect a stunt person landing the following statements is true about the periods of the
on the ground after a stunt? objects on Planet X compared to their periods on Earth?
(A) It reduces the kinetic energy loss of the stunt person. (A) Both are shorter.
(B) It reduces the momentum change of the stunt person. (B) Both are the same.
(C) It increases the momentum change of the person. (C) Both are longer.
(D) It shortens the stopping time of the stunt person and (D) The period of the mass on the spring is shorter; that
increases the force applied during the landing. of the pendulum is the same.
(E) It lengthens the stopping time of the stunt person and (E) The period of the pendulum is shorter; that of the
reduces the force applied during the landing. mass on the spring is the same.
AP Physics 1 PRACTICE MC 2
47. Which of the following graphs best represents the kinetic
energy K of the object as a function of time?
(A) (B)

45. A steel ball supported by a stick rotates in a circle of (C) (D)

radius r , as shown above. The direction of the net force
acting on the ball when it is in the position shown is
indicated by which of the following?
(A) (B)

(E)

(C) (D)

(E) 48. The two blocks of masses M and 2M shown above

initially travel at the same speed v but in opposite
directions. They collide and stick together. How much
Questions 46-47 mechanical energy is lost to other forms of energy during
the collision?
An object of mass m is initially at rest and free to move
without friction in any direction in the xy-plane. A constant 1 3
(A) Zero (B) Mv 2 (C) Mv 2
net force of magnitude F directed in the +x direction acts on 2 4
the object for 1 s. Immediately thereafter a constant net force 4 3
of the same magnitude F directed in the +y direction acts on (D) Mv 2 (E) Mv 2
the object for 1 s. After this, no forces act on the object. 3 2
49. A satellite of mass m and speed v moves in a stable,
46. Which of the following vectors could represent the
circular orbit around a planet of mass M . What is the
velocity of the object at the end of 3 s, assuming the
radius of the satellite’s orbit?
scales on the x and y axes are equal?
(A) (B) GM Gv GM
(A) (B) (C)
mv mM v2
GmM GmM
(D) (E)
v v2

(C) (D)

50. A constant force of 900 N pushes a 100 kg mass up the

inclined plane shown above at a uniform speed of 4 m/s.
(E) The power developed by the 900 N force is most nearly
(A) 400 W (B) 800 W
(C) 900 W (D) 1000 W
(E) 3600 W