ANSWER KEY

1. D 14. A 27. B 40. C

2. C 15. C 28. C 41. C
1

3. D 16. B 29. D 42. D

1 —T EST

4. B 17. C 30. D 43. A

5. B 18. D 31. C 44. D
6. C 19. D 32. C 45. D
7. C 20. A 33. C 46. A, B
8. B 21. B 34. D 47. C, D
9. B 22. B 35. B 48. B, C
10. A 23. D 36. C 49. C, D
PHYS I CS

11. D 24. D 37. A 50. A, B

12. D 25. B 38. B
13. A 26. B 39. D
A P

ANSWERS EXPLAINED
Section I: Multiple-Choice

1. (D) Twice the initial vertical velocity will give twice the time in flight. Average vertical
velocity will also be doubled. Displacement is the product of these two: 2 × 2 = 4.

Alternatively, one could use v2 = v02 + 2ad since v at the maximum height is zero. Since
v0 is doubled and then squared, the vertical displacement d must be 4 times bigger.

Free-fall problems are independent of mass.

2. (C) Conservation of momentum:

Ptot = 2(+4) + 5(–1) = +3 kg m/s = mv = (7 kg)v

v = +3/7 m/s

The collision is inelastic since the carts stick together.

3. (D) Higher altitude is strictly a function of VY (Projectile Y). Range is a function of both
VX and VY such that the angles equally above and below 45 degrees (the max angle for
range) will result in equal horizontal displacement. 30 degrees and 60 degrees are both
15 degrees off from 45 degrees.

380 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2

 4. (B) Since the 10 N force will start the mass moving, this must be greater than the static
friction force holding the mass in place. The maximum static friction must be 10 N or less.

Fs < 10 N

1
μN < 10 N

1 —T EST
μmg < 10 N

μ(5)(10) < 10

μ < 1/5

5. (B) The object is moving, so the velocity is not zero. The object is not accelerating, so

PH YS I C S
velocity is constant.

6. (C) In general:
1
y (t ) = y 0 − v y 0 − gt 2
2

x(t) = vx0t

Solve for t in the last equation. Then plug back into the first equation and substitute in

A P
y0 = h, vy0 = 0, and vx0 = v0:
1
y ( x ) = h − (0)( x v 0 ) − g ( x v 0 ) = h − gx 2 ( 2v0 2 )
2

7. (C) Maximum acceleration allows you to determine maximum displacement:

ma = kA

Knowing the amplitude allows you to determine easily the maximum speed via energy
conservation:
1 2 1
kA = mv 2
2 2

8. (B) Maximum velocities happen when going through the equilibrium point (zero accel-
eration and zero displacement): all KE and no PE.

9. (B) Momentum is conserved during the collision, which enables us to solve for an initial
upward velocity of the combination. Then energy conservation can be used to relate the
height to that initial upward velocity. Choice (A) cannot be used because some unknown
amount of mechanical energy will be lost by the bullet embedding itself in the wood.

10. (A) Constant velocity means no acceleration, so Fnet = 0.

Fpush − Ffriction = 0

Fpush − µkN = Fpush − µkmg = 0

Fpush = µkmg = (0.1)(10 kg)(10 m/s2) = 10 N

AP PHYSICS 1 381
 11. (D) First find the acceleration of the system:

Fnet = ma
1

10 N = (4 + 1 kg)a
1 —T EST

a = 2 m/s 2

The contact force, P, is the only force felt by the 1 kg mass:

Fnet = ma

P = (1 kg) (2 m/s2) = 2 N
PHYS I CS

12. (D) P = work/t = FD/t = mgh/t

13. (A) Impulse can be found by Ft if the details of the force are known or, alternatively, by:

Impulse = Δp = (1,500 kg) (0 m/s − 25 m/s) = –37,500 N•s

Ignore the minus sign as the question asks about magnitude.

A P

14. (A) When the block is at the maximum height, static friction is obtained:

Fnet = mg sin θ − µN = 0

mg sin θ − µ(mg cos θ) = 0

µ = (sin θ)/(cos θ) = tan θ

15. (C) Doubling the period requires a quadrupling of length:

T = 2π(l/g)½

16. (B) Impulse = area of F vs T graph = Δp = mvf − 0

Solving for vf = (area under graph)/m

17. (C) Conservation of energy:

1
mv 2 = mg∆h
2
1 2
v = g∆h = (10 m s2 ) ( 2.25 m − 0.75 m )
2
v = (30)½ = 5.5 m/s

18. (D) Gravitational field strength halfway between any two equal masses is always zero as
each contributes oppositely directed gravitational fields.

382 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2

19. (D) Conservation of energy while on the frictionless hills can give the speed at the top
of the hill:
1
mv 2 = KE = mg∆h
2

1
1 —T EST
Then impulse equals change in momentum can be used since the final momentum must
be zero.

20. (A)
1
Mechanical energy = mgh + mv 2
2
1 1
Energy “lost” or “gained” = mgH 2 + mv2 2 −  mgH1 + mv12 

PH YS I C S
2  2 

Work by forces other than gravity = change in energy

21. (B) Energy conservation:

1 2
kx = mgh
2

AP
Solving for h:

h = kx2/2mg

Doubling x will quadruple the height, whereas all other factors will only double the
height.

22. (B) Circular motion at the top:

Fnet = mg + N = mv2/r

The lowest speed will be when there is no normal force (N = 0):

mg = mv2/r

vtop = (gr)½

KE at the bottom must give both this speed and PE to gain 2r in height:

Ebottom = Etop
1 1
mv 2 = gm (2r ) + mvtop 2
2 2
1 1
mv 2 = gm (2r ) + m ( gr )
2 2

Solving for v:

v = (5gr)½

AP PHYSICS 1 383
 23. (D) The two 2 Ω resistors are in series with each other: 2 Ω + 2 Ω = 4 Ω.

This 4 Ω equivalent resistance is in parallel with the existing 4 Ω resistor: ¼ Ω + ¼ Ω =

½ Ω. So the equivalent resistance for that section of the circuit is 2 Ω. This 2 Ω equivalent
1

resistance is in series with the 3 Ω resistor: 2 Ω + 3 Ω = 5 Ω.

1 —T EST

24. (D) The 15 volts must be split between the 3-ohm resistor and the 2-ohm equivalent
resistance of the right-hand side (see answer 23). Voltage for the 4-ohm resistor is the
same as the voltage across the 2-ohm equivalent resistance of the right-hand side:

V = (2/5)(15 V) = 6 V
PHYS I CS

25. (B) The 15-volt battery will supply 3 amps of current for the 5-ohm circuit:

V = IR

15 V = (3A)(5 ohm)

This 3-amp current will split as it comes to the branching point before the 4-ohm resistor.
Since both pathways have equal resistance (4 ohms), the current will split evenly:
1.5 amps.
A P

26. (B) Resistance is determined by:

ρL/A

The same material means the resistivity, ρ, is the same. Letting L → L/2 and A → 2A:

ρL/A → ρ(L/2)/(2A) = (ρL/A)/4

27. (B) The wavelength is set by the length of the standing wave and the number of the
harmonic. Therefore the wavelength remains the same. The frequency of the wave must
have been raised to correspond to the higher wave speed: λf = v.

28. (C) The Doppler effect can be used to determine relative speed toward or away from the
source by looking at frequency shift in the reflected wave. Note that the velocity vector
cannot be determined. Components of velocity not directed toward or away from the
receiver do not contribute to the Doppler shift.

29. (D) The fundamental frequency in a half-pipe is ¼ wavelength:

Wavelength = wave speed/frequency = 340/340 = 1 m

The pipe needs to be ¼ of this: 0.25 m = 25 cm.

384 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2

30. (D) Any 45-45-90 triangle has sides of equal length. Therefore, a 45° vector would have
equal length components. So would 135°, 225°, and 315°, as these vectors all form 45-45-
90 triangles with their components.

1
1 —T EST
31. (C) Add the components of the vectors:

Ax + Bx = –2 + 5 = 3

Ay + By = 3 + 1 = 4

Use the Pythagorean theorem on these net components:

32 + 42 = 52

PH YS I C S
32. (C) Maximum vector addition is when the two vectors are aligned (0°) and minimum is
when they are opposite (180°). All values in between will steadily decrease the resultant
from maximum to minimum.

33. (C) Maximum range is at 45° since this gives decent time in flight and decent horizontal
velocity.

AP
34. (D) First, find the time in flight:
1
h = (10 )t 2
2

45 = 5t2

t = 3s

Now use this time to find the final speed:

vf = at = (10 m/s2)(3 s) = 30 m/s

35. (B) Find time to cross the river using only perpendicular components:

D = Vyt

240 = 8t

t = 30 s

Next find the downstream distance using the parallel component:

D = Vxt

D = (6 m/s) (30 s) = 180 m

36. (C) Work is the area under the curve:

(4 N)(6 m) + (2 N)(4 m) = 24 J + 8 J = 32 J

AP PHYSICS 1 385
 37. (A) work = Faverage · displacement

32 J = (Faverage)(10 m)
1

Faverage = 3.2 N
1 —T EST

38. (B) The bathroom scale reads the normal force:

Fnet = N − mg = ma

0.5 m/s2 = 0.05g

N − mg = m(0.05g)
PH YS I C S

N = m(1.05g)

The reading will be 5% too high.

39. (D) Balanced means the torques are equal and opposite:

50 kg · g · 1.2 = 70 kg · g · x

x = 6/7 = 0.86
AP

40. (C) Both objects start with same potential energy. However, the rolling object must use
some of that potential energy for rotational energy, leaving less for linear kinetic energy.
Therefore, the rolling object moves more slowly down the hill.

41. (C) Universal gravity (and the gravitational field) are 1/R2 laws; doubling R will quarter
the field. Note that N/kg = m/s2.

42. (D) First, find the electric field strength:

E = F/q = 5/2 N/C

Now, find the work done:

W = F · D = qE · D = (3C)(5/2)(0.4 m) = 3 J

43. (A) First, convert RPMs to rad/s:

150 rev/min × (2π/1 rev) × (1 min/60 s) = 5π rad/s

acceleration = change in velocity/time = (0 − 5π rad/s)/(2 s)

–2.5π rad/s2

386 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2

 1 2 1
44. (D) kx of work is delivered to the mass while uncompressing, followed by − kx2 done
2 2
while the mass extends the spring outward, totaling to 0 net work for the entire expan-

1
sion. Alternatively, think about the velocity being zero and the beginning and end of that
single oscillation. No change in kinetic energy occurs; therefore, no net work is done.

1 —T EST
45. (D) No external torque → means momentum must be conserved.

46. (A) and (B) Higher tension means waves will propagate at higher speeds. Since the
wavelength of the standing wave is fixed by the length of the string, the frequency of the

PH YS I C S
fundamental must also increase.

47. (C) and (D) An object’s center of mass is the balancing point by definition. The reason
for this is that the moment arm on one side is the same as on the other. Therefore, the
torque caused by gravity on either side will cancel.

48. (B) and (C) The beat frequency is caused by the difference between the two frequen-

AP
cies: 384 ± 12 = 396 or 372.

49. (C) and (D) Action–reaction pairs must be the same type of force and found on each
partner of the force exchanging objects. The weight of an object is caused by the entire
planet. Therefore, that reaction force is on the planet itself. Likewise, the normal forces
exchanged between the bottom surface of the book and top surface of the table are an
action-reaction pair.

50. (A) and (B) The cars will both experience an impulse of 50,000 N · s. The other two
cases result in smaller impulses.

Section II: Free-Response

1. (a) This is really three separate investigations. In each case, students should measure the
period repeatedly and then take the mean value.

1. Amplitude versus period. Take a period measurement for 5 to 10 different

amplitudes while keeping the mass and length the same. The amplitude can be
controlled by pulling the string-mass combo out to a certain angle as measured
by the protractor.
2. Mass versus period. Take a period measurement for 5 to 10 different masses
while keeping the amplitude and length constant.
3. Length versus period. Take a period measurement for 5 to 10 different lengths
while keeping the mass and amplitude constant. Length is measured from the
pivot point to the center of mass.

AP PHYSICS 1 387
 (b) No correlation is expected for amplitude and mass variations. A nonlinear relation-
ship is expected for length and period:

Tp = 2 π(L/g)½
1
1 —T EST
PH YS I C S
AP

(c) Beyond the usual random errors of measurement (especially when using a timer but
minimized by taking the median value of a few trials each time), one predictable
deviation is in the amplitude investigation. Pendulums actually behave as simple
harmonic oscillators only under the conditions of small angles (small enough that
sin θ is approximately θ). A large enough amplitude will require the pendulum to
oscillate at larger angles. This means that at large amplitudes, one can predict the
results to deviate from the expected as the gravitational force no longer acts as a
simple restorative force.

One other possible source of systematic error would be in the mass investigation.
As various masses are swapped out on a fixed length of string, the students may
inadvertently be changing the length of the string when adding on different-sized
masses. The length of the pendulum is from the pivot point to the center of mass. If
the students did not compensate for this when adding larger masses by shortening

388 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2

 the string, they may see an artificial relationship at higher masses in their graph of
mass versus period.

(d) To obtain a linear graph, one must plot T 2 versus L:

1
T 2 = (4π2/g)L

1 —T EST
The slope of this plot would then be equal to 4π2/g. Alternatively, one could plot T
versus L .

Length (cm) Period (s) T2 (s2)

10 0.62 0.38

PH YS I C S
20 0.90 0.81

30 1.09 1.19

40 1.28 1.64

55 1.48 2.19

75 1.75 3.06

85 1.85 3.42

AP
∆
∆

The measured slope is 4 s2/m. It can be compared to the theoretical prediction

of slope:

4π2/g = 4.02 s2/m

AP PHYSICS 1 389
 2. (a) As the value h is raised, the mass gains velocity at the bottom of the incline. As the
mass slides around the inside of the loop, it will lose speed as it goes back up. The
entire time the mass is inside the loop, it must be undergoing centripetal acceleration
1

(specifically, its v2/R must equal its inward acceleration). If the mass is moving too
slowly to maintain its circular motion, it will fail to complete the loop. The centripetal
1 —T EST

force is supplied by the normal force throughout the trajectory (sometimes also with
or against the force of gravity). If the normal force goes to zero, this indicates a loss
of contact between the sliding mass and the track. The slowest speed will occur at
the top of the loop. Therefore, this is the most likely place for the mass to fall. At the
top, gravity is acting centripetally along with the normal force, so Newton’s second
law gives us:
PH YS I C S

N + mg = mv2/R

As h gets smaller, the speed at the top will get smaller, which will decrease the right-
hand side of the equation above. At some point, mv2/R will get as small as mg, at
which point the normal force will be at zero. Any speed greater than this will let the
mass complete the loop. Any speed lower than this will cause the mass to fail to
complete the loop.

(b) The object has gravitational potential energy in the beginning, which is linearly pro-
AP

portional to h. Part of the potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy at the
top of the loop. Kinetic energy is proportional to v2. However, centripetal force is also
proportional to v2 and the centripetal force is linear with respect to the normal force.
It is this normal force going to zero that determines the critical speed. So the student
who claims there is a linear dependence between h and R is correct.

(c) Because the normal force is not always the only centripetal force, it alone is not equal
to mv2/R. Generally speaking, a component of the force due to gravity is acting cen-
tripetally (top half of the loop) or centrifugally (bottom half of the loop). However, at
the points halfway between the top and bottom, the normal force indeed is acting
alone centripetally and is equal to mv2/R.

The following drawings show only the radial component of the two forces (FN, FgR).

Top Half Bottom Half Halfway Points

FN + FgR = mv2/R FN − FgR = mv2/R FN = mv2/R

Tangent components of gravity speed up or slow down the object but do not partici-
pate in the centripetal acceleration.

390 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2

 (d) __X___ fall out of the loop

Since the original gravitational potential energy must now be going into rotation
kinetic energy, less energy will be available for the tangential speed needed to make

1
it through the loop. Since the height, h, was set minimally for the sliding block, the
rolling object will not have enough linear kinetic energy for its tangential speed to

1 —T EST
clear the top of the loop.

3. (a)

Velocity Speed Acceleration

Time (One Word (One Word (One Word
Interval From List 2) From List 1) From List 2)

PH YS I C S
A→B positive decreasing negative

B→C negative increasing negative

C→D positive constant zero

D→E zero constant zero

(b) The slope from C to D is steeper than the slope drawn from C to E. Therefore, the

A P
average velocity is greater from C to D.

(c) Point B is a turnaround point. The slope of a tangent line drawn at that point would
be horizontal. For these reasons, the instantaneous velocity at this point is zero.

(d) Points C and D are not continuous, which means the slope at these points is unde-
fined. Therefore the instantaneous velocity at these two points does not exist. Real-
world motion is always continuous.

(e)

B D E

4. (a) (i) To maintain constant speed, the tension must be constantly adjusted as the object
undergoes its centripetal motion. The tension will be lower at point B than it is at
the bottom as there is a component of gravity “helping” the tension in the cen-
tripetal direction (as opposed to gravity acting centrifugally at point A):

FcA = FcB = mv2/R

TA − mg = TB + mg sin 30° = mv2/R

TB = TA − mg(1 + sin 30°)

(ii) Constant tension will result in a much higher speed at point B as the tension
will be locked in at TA above. Since the tension at point B will be higher than in

AP PHYSICS 1 391
 case (i), mv2/R must be greater as well. Constants m and R mean the speed
must be increased.
(b) __X__ addition of rope decreases the range
1

Although we are ignoring air friction in this problem, we must consider the effect of
1 —T EST

the additional mass. Although free-fall problems generally ignore mass, the rope will
have an effect on the effective launch velocity. The end of the rope directly attached
to the twirling mass has the same velocity as the object. However, the rest of the
distributed mass is moving at a lower velocity (down to zero at the center of the
circle). Therefore, the net effect of the added mass will be to decrease the launch
velocity. In addition, recall that the equations of motion actually track the center of
mass of an object. Since the center of mass for the combined rope-plus-object system
PH YS I C S

is lower (the mass of the rope extends below the 2 kg mass), the combined rope-plus-
object system is effectively being launched from a lower height. A lower launch veloc-
ity from a lower height will result in a shorter range for the projectile.

(c) While on the way up during the circular motion, the force due to gravity is doing
negative work. The component of weight that is tangent does this negative work.
Therefore to maintain the same kinetic energy, the tension must do some positive
work. In order to accomplish this, the tension must supply an upward tangent com-
ponent as well, i.e., the circle cannot be perfect. On the downward half of the circular
AP

motion, the positive and negative work roles of the tangent components of gravity
and tension must reverse.

5. (a)

(b) Ammeters, wires, and power supplies are assumed to have zero internal resistance
as they have no resistance indicated in the circuit diagram. If there were any resis-
tance, unaccounted losses of voltage would occur in our circuit. When modeling
actual resistance inside of components, an “internal” resistor is added to the circuit
diagram.

Voltmeters would create a parallel path if they did not have infinite resistance. To
the extent they have less than infinite resistance, the addition of voltmeters to the
circuit would effectively lower the resistance, thereby lowering the voltage reading.

392 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2

(c) Kirchhoff’s loop rule states that the sum of voltages changing around the loop must
be zero. As an example of this, start to the right of the power supply and trace a loop
clockwise through the top parallel resistor and then the resistor to the right and back

1
to our starting point. Tracing our changes in voltage:

1 —T EST
+V − (I/2)R − IR = 0

For the entire circuit:

V = IR

6 = I(3)

I = 2 amps

PH YS I C S
Loop rule:

+6 − (1)(2) − (2)(2) = 6 − 2 − 4 = 0

(d) The lightbulbs get hot very quickly, which increases their electrical resistance. This,
in turn, reduces the current measured by the ammeter.

AP

AP PHYSICS 1 393
 TEST ANALYSIS
NOTE: Because the AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 are new exams (first administered in 2015),
there is no way of knowing exactly how the raw scores on the exams will translate into a 1, 2,
1

3, 4, or 5. The formula provided below is based on past practice for the AP Physics B and
1 —T EST

commonly accepted standards for grading. Additionally, the score range corresponding to
each grade varies from exam to exam and thus the ranges provided below are approximate.

AP PHYSICS 1 PRACTICE TEST 1

Section I: Multiple-Choice
Note that the questions requiring two answers are to be graded as completely correct or
incorrect.
PH YS I C S

Number correct (out of 50) = Multiple-Choice Score

Section II: Free-Response

Grade each question individually using the following scale:

4: completely correct
3: substantially correct with minor errors
AP

2: partially correct with some incorrect parts

1: a few correct attempts made, but no completely correct portions
0: completely incorrect or unanswered

Question 1 = (out of 4)

Question 2 = (out of 4)

Question 3 = (out of 4)

Question 4 = (out of 4)

Question 5 = (out of 4)

Total = (out of 20) × 2.5 = Free-Response Score

Final Score
Multiple-Choice Score
+ Free-Response Score = Final Score
(rounded to the nearest whole number )

Final Score Range AP Score

81–100 5

61–80 4

51–60 3

41–50 2

0–40 1

394 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2