AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1 Name

1. A rocket is continuously firing its engines as it accelerates away from Earth. For the first kilometer of its
ascent, the mass of fuel ejected is small compared to the mass of the rocket. For this distance, which of the
following indicates the changes, if any, in the kinetic energy of the rocket, the gravitational potential energy
of the Earth-rocket system, and the mechanical energy of the Earth-rocket system?

Rocket Kinetic System Gravitational System Mechanical

A
Energy Potential Energy Energy
Increasing Increasing Increasing

System Gravitational System Mechanical

B Rocket Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy Energy
Increasing Increasing Constant

Rocket Kinetic System Gravitational System Mechanical

C
Energy Potential Energy Energy
Increasing Decreasing Decreasing

System Gravitational System Mechanical

D Rocket Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy Energy
Decreasing Increasing Constant

2. A ball is tossed straight up and later returns to the point from which it was launched. If the ball is subject to
air resistance as well as gravity, which of the following statements is correct?

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Page 1 of 18
 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

The speed at which the ball returns to the point of launch is less than its speed when it was initially
A
launched.

B The time for the ball to fall is the same as the time for the ball to rise.

C The force of air resistance is directed down-ward both when the ball is rising and when it is falling.

D The net work done by air resistance on the ball during its flight is zero.

E The net work done by gravity on the ball during its flight is greater than zero.

3. A person holds a book at rest a few feet above a table. The person then lowers the book at a slow constant
speed and places it on the table. Which of the following accurately describes the change in the total
mechanical energy of the Earth-book system?

The total mechanical energy is unchanged, because there is no change in the book’s kinetic energy as it is
A
lowered to the table.

The total mechanical energy is unchanged, because no work is done on the Earth-book system while the
B
book is lowered.

The total mechanical energy decreases, because the person does positive work on the book by exerting a
C
force that opposes the gravitational force.

The total mechanical energy decreases, because the person does negative work on the book by exerting a
D
force on the book in the direction opposite to its displacement.

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

The graph above shows velocity v as a function of time t for a 0.50 kg object traveling along a straight line. The
graph has three segments labeled 1, 2, and 3. A rope exerts a constant force of magnitude FT on the object along its
direction of motion the whole time. During segment 2 only, a frictional force of magnitude Ff is also exerted on the
object.

4. For another identical object initially at rest, no frictional force is exerted during segment 2 (between t = 2 s
and t = 4 s). A rope exerts the same constant force of magnitude FT as in the previous scenario. What is the
change in the object's kinetic energy during segment 2?

A 3.75 J

B 4.00 J

C 12.0 J

D 16.0 J

5. Which of the following is constant for an object in uniform circular motion?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A Kinetic energy

B Velocity

C Acceleration

D Displacement

E Linear momentum

6.

The figure above shows the net force exerted on an object as a function of the position of the object. The
object starts from rest at position x = 0 m and acquires a speed of 3.0 m / s after traveling a distance of 0.090
m. What is the mass of the object?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A 0.015 kg

B 0.030 kg

C 0.045 kg

D 0.060 kg

Refer to the following material to answer the group of questions.

A student is observing an object of unknown mass that is oscillating horizontally at the end of an ideal spring. The
student measures the object’s period of oscillation with a stopwatch.

7. Using a number of measurements, the student determines the following.

The total energy of the object-spring system is most nearly

A 0.98 J

B 3.8 J

C 7.6 J

D 12.8 J

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

8. An object is moving to the right with speed vi when a force of magnitude F is exerted on it. In which of the
following situations is the object’s direction of motion changing and kinetic energy decreasing at the instant
shown?

Refer to the following material for answering the questions.

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A cart is constrained to move along a straight line. A varying net force along the direction of motion is exerted on
the cart. The cart’s velocity v as a function of time t is shown in the graph above. The five labeled points divide the
graph into four sections.

9. During some part of the motion, the work done on the cart is negative. What feature of the motion indicates
this?

A The speed is increasing.

B The speed is decreasing.

C The acceleration is positive.

D The acceleration is negative.

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

10.

A person holds a 4.0 kg block at position A shown above on the left, in contact with an uncompressed
vertical spring with a spring constant of 500 N/m. The person gently lowers the block from rest at position
A to rest at position B. Which of the following describes the change in the energy of the block-spring-Earth
system as a result of the block being lowered?

A The energy decreases by approximately 1.5 J.

B The energy decreases by approximately 2.5 J.

C The energy increases by approximately 4.0 J.

D The energy of the system does not change.

11. While traveling in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, Mars gains speed during the part of the orbit where it is
getting closer to the Sun. Which of the following can be used to explain this gain in speed?

A As Mars gets closer to the Sun, the Mars–Sun system loses potential energy and Mars gains kinetic energy.

A component of the gravitational force exerted on Mars is perpendicular to the direction of motion, causing
B
an acceleration and hence a gain in speed along that direction.

The torque exerted on Mars by the Sun during this segment of the orbit increases the Mars–Sun system’s
C
angular momentum.

The centripetal force exerted on Mars is greater than the gravitational force during this segment of the orbit,
D
causing Mars to gain speed as it gets closer to the Sun.

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

12. A student is asked to determine the work done on a block of wood when the block is pulled horizontally
using an attached string. The student is supplied with a spring scale, a stopwatch, and a meterstick. Which of
the following graphical analysis techniques will allow the student to determine the work done on the block
by the string?

A Graphing the force as a function of time and calculating the slope

B Graphing the force as a function of time and calculating the area under the curve

C Graphing the force as a function of distance and calculating the slope

D Graphing the force as a function of distance and calculating the area under the curve

An object of mass m is initially at rest and free to move without friction in any direction in the xy-plane. A constant
net force of magnitude F directed in the +x direction acts on the object for 1 s. Immediately thereafter a constant
net force of the same magnitude F directed in the +y direction acts on the object for 1 s. After this, no forces act on
the object.

13. Which of the following graphs best represents the kinetic energy K of the object as a function of time?

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Page 9 of 18
 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

14.

Two blocks, of mass m and 2m, are initially at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface. A force F is exerted
individually on each block, as shown above. The graph shows how F varies with time t. Which block has
the greatest average power provided to it between t = 0 s and t = 3 s?

A The block of mass m

B The block of mass 2m

C Both blocks have the same power provided to them.

D It cannot be determined without knowing the ratio of the maximum force to the mass m.

Refer to the following material for answering group of questions.

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A crate is on a horizontal frictionless surface. A force of magnitude F is exerted on the crate at an angle θ to the
horizontal, as shown in the figure above, causing the crate to slide to the right. The surface exerts a normal force of
magnitude FN on the crate. As the crate slides a distance d, it gains an amount of kinetic energy ∆K. While F is kept
constant, the angle θ is now doubled but is still less than 90o. Assume the crate remains in contact with the surface.

15. As the crate slides a distance d, how does the new gain in kinetic energy compare to ∆K?

A The new gain is greater than ∆K.

B The new gain is less than ∆K

C The new gain is equal to ∆K.

D The new gain is greater or less than ∆K depending on the value of θ

16.

A force F is exerted on a 5 kg block to move it across a rough surface, as shown above. The magnitude of
the force is initially 5 N, and the block moves at a constant velocity. While the block is moving, the force is
instantaneously increased to 12 N. How much kinetic energy does the block now gain as it moves a distance
of 2 m?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A 10 J

B 14 J

C 24 J

D 34 J

17. In which of the following situations is the kinetic energy of the object decreasing?

A A sphere is dropped from a building.

B A satellite is moving in a circular orbit around Earth.

C A baseball is heading upward after being thrown at an angle.

D An elevator is moving upward at a constant velocity.

18.

A block on a horizontal surface of negligible friction is placed in contact with an ideal spring, as shown
above. The block is moved to the left so that the spring is compressed a distance x from equilibrium and
then released from rest. The block has kinetic energy K1 when it separates from the spring. When the spring
is compressed a distance 2x and the block is released from rest, the kinetic energy of the block when it
separates from the spring is

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A K1/2

B K1

C √2K1

D 2K1

E 4K1

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 vo

19. What is the kinetic energy of the rock just before it hits the ground?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A mgh

An object of mass m is attached to a spring on a frictionless inclined plane that makes an angle θ with the
horizontal, as shown above. The object is released from rest with the spring in its unstretched position. As the
object moves on the plane, its displacement from the unstretched position is x.

20. What is the magnitude of the work done by gravity as the object slides down the incline?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A mgx sinθ

B mgx cos θ

C mgx sinθ cosθ

21.

A 50 kg athlete running at speed v grabs a light rope that hangs from a 10-meter-high platform and swings
to a maximum of 1.8 m above the ground. Later, a 100 kg athlete, running at the same speed, grabs a similar
rope hanging from a 5-meter-high platform. What is the maximum height to which the 100 kg athlete
swings?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 1

A 0.9 m

B 1.8 m

C 2.5 m

D 3.6 m

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2 Name

1.

An athlete with mass m running at speed v grabs a light rope that hangs from a ceiling of height H and
swings to a maximum height of h1. In another room with a lower ceiling of height H/2 , a second athlete
with mass 2m running at the same speed v grabs a light rope hanging from the ceiling and swings to a
maximum height of h2 . How does the maximum height reached by the two athletes compare, and why?

A The first athlete reaches a greater height, because this athlete swings on a longer rope.

B The second athlete reaches a greater height, because this athlete has a greater mass.

The two athletes reach the same height, because the effect of the rope length offsets the effect of the
C
athletes’ masses.

D The two athletes reach the same height, because the athletes run with the same speed.

The pendulum illustrated above has a length of 2 m and a bob of mass 0.04 kg. It is held at an angle Ѳ, as shown,

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Page 1 of 16
 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

where cosѲ = 0.9.

2. If the pendulum is released from rest, the maximum speed the bob attains is most nearly

A 1 m/s

B m/s

C 2 m/s

D 4 m/s

E 6 m/s

3. Some students want to calculate the work done by friction as an object with unknown mass moves along a
straight line on a rough horizontal surface. The students have a force probe, a meterstick, and a stopwatch.
Which of the following will allow the students to take the measurements needed to calculate the work done
by friction?

A Pulling the block at an unknown constant acceleration with the force probe for a measured time

B Pulling the block at an unknown constant speed with the force probe for a measured time

C Pulling the block at an unknown constant acceleration with the force probe for a measured distance

D Pulling the block at an unknown constant speed with the force probe for a measured distance

4. A ball is dropped from rest and falls to the floor. The initial gravitational potential energy of the ball-Earth-
floor system is 10 J. The ball then bounces back up to a height where the gravitational potential energy is 7
J. What was the mechanical energy of the ball-Earth-floor system the instant the ball left the floor?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

A 0J

B 3J

C 7J

D 10 J

5.

A planet is in an elliptical orbit around a star, as shown above. Which of the following best represents the
mechanical energy Eplanet of just the planet and the mechanical energy Estar-planet of the star-planet system as
functions of time for one complete orbit?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

6.

An object is moving in the positive x-direction while a net force directed along the x-axis is exerted on the
object. The figure above shows the force as a function of position. What is the net work done on the object
over the distance shown?

A F0d

B 3F0d/2

C 2F0d

D 4F0d

7. A nonrotating spherical planet with no atmosphere has mass M and radius R. A projectile of mass m is
launched radially from the surface of the planet with initial speed . The potential energy of
the projectile-planet system, as a function of the projectile’s distance r from the center of the planet, is given
by U = - GMm/r. The greatest distance from the center of the planet that the projectile reaches is

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

A infinity

B R

8.

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. The power developed by the 900 N force is most nearly

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

A 400 W

B 800 W

C 900 W

D 1000 W

E 3600 W

9.

A 10 kg block is attached to a light cord that is wrapped around the pulley of an electric motor,
as shown above. At what rate is the motor doing work when it is pulling the block upward with an

instantaneous speed of 3 m/s and an upward acceleration of 2 m/s2 ?

A 120 W

B 240 W

C 300 W

D 360 W

E 600 W

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

10. What is the ratio of the kinetic energy of an object of mass 3m moving at speed 2v to an object of mass m/2
moving at a speed v?

A 2

B 3

C 6

D 12

E 24

11.

A child slides from rest down slides A and B shown above. The slides are the same height, and the
coefficient of friction between the slides and the child is the same. Which of the following compares the
change ∆K in the kinetic energy of the child and the change ∆U in the potential energy of the child-Earth
system for the two slides?

A ∆KA = ∆KB; ∆UA = ∆UB

B ∆KA < ∆KB; ∆UA > ∆UB

C ∆KA > ∆KB; ∆UA = ∆UB

D ∆KA > ∆KB; ∆UA > ∆UB

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

12.

The small block shown in the figure above was released from rest at point and slid down the track such
that friction was considered to be negligible. The block reached point with speed . Between points
and , what kind of work did the track do on the block, and why?

A Positive work, because the block’s kinetic energy increased.

Positive work, because a component of the gravitational force is directed along the track, making the block
B
gain kinetic energy.

C Zero work, because the average force exerted by the track on the block is zero.

Zero work, because the track does not exert a force on the block directed along the block’s direction of
D
motion.

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

13.

Two objects are released from rest at the top of ramps with the same dimensions, as shown in the figure
above. The sphere rolls down one ramp without slipping. The small block slides down the other ramp
without friction. Which object reaches the bottom of its ramp first, and why?

A The sphere, because it gains rotational kinetic energy, but the block does not

B The sphere, because it gains mechanical energy due to the torque exerted on it, but the block does not

C The block, because it does not lose mechanical energy due to friction, but the sphere does

D The block, because it does not gain rotational kinetic energy, but the sphere does

14. An automobile traveling on a straight, level road has an initial speed v when the brakes are applied. In
coming to rest with a constant acceleration, it travels a distance x. How far would the automobile travel in
coming to rest if it had the same acceleration but an initial speed 2v ?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

C x

D 2x

E 4x

15.

The pendulum shown in the figure above reaches a maximum height h above the equilibrium position as it
oscillates. Assuming friction and air resistance are negligible, which of the following is true about the total
energy of the Earth-pendulum system as the pendulum oscillates?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

A It is at a maximum when the pendulum is at its lowest position.

B It is at a maximum when the pendulum is at its maximum height h.

C It is constant throughout the pendulum’s motion.

D It is at a minimum when the pendulum is somewhere between its lowest and highest positions.

16. What is the kinetic energy of a satellite of mass m in that orbits the Earth, of mass M, in a circular orbit of
radius R ?

A Zero

Refer to the following material to give answers to the group of questions.

Three identical blocks each take a different path from a height h to the ground. Block A is released from rest and
falls vertically. Block B is released from rest and slides down a frictionless incline. Block C is projected
horizontally with an initial speed v.

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

17. Which block has the greatest speed just before hitting the ground?

A A

B B

C C

D The blocks reach the ground with the same speed.

18.

A ball is suspended by a lightweight string, as shown in the figure above. The ball is displaced to position 1
and released. The four labeled positions are evenly spaced along the arc of the ball’s motion. Between which
adjacent pairs of positions is the change in kinetic energy of the ball greatest?

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

A 1 and 2

B 2 and 3

C 3 and 4

D The change is the same for all adjacent pairs.

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.

19. The gravitational potential energy and the kinetic energy of the block are most nearly equal at which
position? (Consider the potential energy to be zero at position B.)

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

A A

B B

C C

D D

E E

20. After the block is released, in which of the following sequences of positions is the speed of the block
ordered from fastest to slowest?

A BCDE

B BECD

C DCEB

D EBCD

E EDCB

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 AP Physics 1 Test Booklet

Energy MCQ Quiz 2

21.

A block of mass 10 kg moves from position A to position B shown in the figure above. The speed of the
block is 10 m/s at A and 4.0 m/s at B. The work done by friction on the block as it moves from A to B is
most nearly

A -280 J

B -220 J

C -200 J

D 0J

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