PHYSICS I Salmon

JANUARY 11, 2018 Corrections:

Directions: For each question or statement fill in the appropriate space on the answer sheet. Use the letter
preceding the word, phrase, or quantity which best completes or answers the question. Each of the 25
questions is worth 4 points.
Use: g = -10 m/s2 and the vertically upward direction is positive unless specifically stated
otherwise. Ignore air resistance unless specifically stated otherwise.
1. An object moves as represented in the position/time graph provided to the right.

Which pair of the following graphs of velocity/time and acceleration/time describe

the same object motion within the same time frame? Ans is B

2. You throw a small ball upward and measure the upward distance that it travels to its peak. If you then throw the
same ball so that it travels twice the upward distance to its peak, what is true about the motion of the ball the second
time it is thrown upward?

(A) Its initial speed was twice the speed in the first experiment.
(B) Its initial speed was less than twice the speed in the first experiment.
(C) Its initial speed was more than twice, but less than four times the speed in the first experiment.
(D) Its initial speed was four times the speed in the first experiment.
(E) Its initial speed was more than four times the speed in the first experiment.

3. A ball is dropped off of a cliff of height h. Its velocity upon hitting the ground is v. At what height from the
bottom of the cliff is the ball’s velocity equal to v/2?
(A) h/16 (B) h/4 (C) h/2 (D) 3h/4 (E) 15h/16

NJSL Phy I Jan 2018 Exam Page 1

4. A bungee jumper drops from rest off of a bridge, and is in freefall for half of the distance to the ground. Her cable
then kicks in, and she slows down at a constant acceleration for the other half of the distance. Which of the
following graphs could represent her position as a function of time? Ans is A

5. At the beginning of a basketball game, the referee tosses the ball straight upward between two players. At what
speed must a basketball player leave the floor in an attempt to grab the ball if his center of gravity must achieve a
height of 1.25 m above the floor?
(A) 1.25 m (B) 2.5 m (C) 5m (D) 25 m
s s s s

6. A student gives a horizontal shove to an old, rusty shopping cart. The shopping cart squeaks to a halt within
seconds. Which of the following slows down the shopping cart?
(A) The normal force exerted by the wheels on the axles.
(B) The friction force exerted by the wheels on the axles.
(C) The normal force exerted by the ground on the wheels.
(D) The friction force exerted by the ground on the wheels.

7. A powerful motorcycle can produce an acceleration of 4 m while already traveling at a speed of 90 km

s2 hr .
At this speed, the net resisting force (including air and friction) is 400-N. What is the magnitude of the force the
motorcycle applies to the road in order to accomplish this acceleration, if the motorcycle and rider have a combined
mass of 320-kg?

(A) 1080 N (B) 1280 N (C) 1480 N (D) 1680 N

8. Consider the four descriptions of an object below:

I. An object experiences uniform velocity in a straight line path.
II. An object rests motionless on a tabletop.
III. An object slides down an inclined ramp at constant speed.
IV. An object moves at a constant speed in a circular path.
Which of the above is a description of an object in equilibrium?

(A) I & II only (B) II only (C) I, III, & IV only (D) I, II, & III only

9. A block hangs from two ropes at unequal angles, as shown above. The block is at rest. Which of the following
makes correct comparisons of the tension in each rope?
(A) The tension is greater in rope A.
(B) The tension is greater in rope B.
(C) The tension is equal in both ropes.
(D) The mass of the block must be known.
(E) The exact angles of the ropes must be known.

NJSL Phy I Jan 2018 Exam Page 2

Use the following information for Questions #10 & 11.
Kilauea is an active shield volcano on the “big” island of Hawaii. It has been constantly erupting lava and spitting
rocks since 1983, adding over 600 acres of new land via cooling lava. Kilauea rises 1250-m above the Pacific
Ocean. As shown below, a volcanic rock is ejected from the center of the crater at a velocity of 40 m at an angle
s
of 53o above horizontal. Use sin 53o = 0.8 and cos 53o = 0.6 .

10. What is the maximum height above the Pacific Ocean this volcanic rock reaches?
(A) 1024m (B) 1250m (C) 1301m (D) 2274m

11. At what horizontal distance, R, from the center of the crater does it splash into the ocean? Correct ans is B
(A) 386m (B) 464m MG (C) 515m (D) 618m

Use the following information for Questions #12 - # 14. An elevator containing physics students has a total mass of
2000-kg (mass of empty elevator PLUS students…). The elevator begins at rest on the ground floor and ends at rest
on the top floor of a physics building.
12. The elevator accelerates upward from rest at a rate of 1.5 m for 2 sec . Calculate the tension in the elevator
s2
cable during this upward acceleration.
(A) 23,000 N (B) 20,000 N (C) 17,000 N (D) 3,000 N

13. After this brief acceleration, the elevator continues upward at a constant velocity for nine seconds. It then
decelerates at a rate of 3 m and stops. Calculate the tension in the elevator cable during this deceleration.
s2
(A) 6,000 N (B) 14,000 N (C) 20,000 N (D) 26,000 N

14. Assuming the ground floor is y = 0 , what is the final vertical position of the elevator full of students?
(A) 8m (B) 27 m (C) 31.5m (D) 39.5m

NJSL Phy I Jan 2018 Exam Page 3

15. Suppose you want to push a crate of mass M up a frictionless ramp inclined at angle θ, as shown below. To do
so, you apply a totally horizontal force F and cause the crate to slide upward to the top at a constant speed. What is
the magnitude of F if the crate moves at a constant speed up the ramp, assuming F remains horizontal the entire
trip? Correct Ans is letter A.
(A) Mg tan θ (B) Mg sin θ
cos θ
(C) Mg cos θ (D) Mg
sin θ

16. In the scenarios shown below, two blocks of masses m1 and m2, whereas m2 > m1, are connected by a massless
string over a light, frictionless pulley. In scenario I a hand is holding block 1 so that it stays at rest, in scenario II a
hand is holding block 2 so that it stays at rest, and in scenario III the blocks are released from rest. What comparison
can you make about the scale readings in each of the three
scenarios?

(A) The scale reading in scenario I is the greatest, followed by scenario II, and then scenario III.
(B) The scale reading in scenario I is the greatest, followed by scenario III, and then scenario II.
(C) The scale readings in scenarios I and II are equal, and each is greater than scenario III.
(D) The scale readings in scenarios I and II are equal, and each is less than scenario III.
(E) The scale readings in all three are equal.

17. A 350 kg hot air balloon feels a 5,000 N upward buoyant force from the air. The balloon
is tethered to the ground by two ropes that are oriented at angles 60° from the horizontal, as
shown below. How much tension must each rope be able to withstand in order for the
balloon not to be lifted off the ground?

(A) 785 N (B) 900 N (C) 1,570 N (D) 2,900 N (E) 4,870 N

NJSL Phy I Jan 2018 Exam Page 4

 Use the following information for Questions #18 & #19. As shown, three boxes of masses, M, 3M, and 6M
respectively, are pulled along a frictionless surface by a single horizontal force F.
18. What is the acceleration of the 3M mass?
F F F F
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2M 3M 4M 10M

19. What is the ratio of the tensions in the two ropes between the boxes,
T1 ?
T2
(A) 1 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3
10 4 3 2

Use the following information for Questions #20 & #21. A 3-kg physics textbook sits on your flat level passenger seat as you

drive to school. You exit the highway at a speed of 10 m

s onto a level circular ramp of radius 50-m. You maintain a constant
10 m
s speed around the ramp.

20. What is the smallest coefficient of static friction between the textbook and the seat so that the book does not
slide while you proceed along the level ramp?
(A) 0.1 (B) 0.2 (C) 0.3 (D) 0.4

21. If there is no friction between the textbook and the seat and the ramp is actually banked downward to the right
(as you drive) at an angle of 15o below horizontal, what is the fastest speed you can negotiate the curve and have the
textbook not slide?
(A) 8m (B) 10 m (C) 11.6 m (D) 22 m
s s s s

NJSL Phy I Jan 2018 Exam Page 5

Questions 22-24 relate to the following four scenarios, in which object P and Q each move along the dotted lines
shown at constant speeds, during the same time interval. In drawing letter A the distance from the center of the
circle to P is r, while the distance to Q is 2 r. In letter C Q is 4 r, while in letter D Q is again 2 r.

22. In which scenario are the two objects moving at equal speeds?

(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D

23. In which scenario do the two objects have the same magnitude of acceleration?

(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D

24. In which scenario is the acceleration of object Q twice that of object P?

(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D

25. The conical pendulum shown below swings in a circle of radius 0.6 m and speed 1.4 m/s. What angle does the
string make with the vertical?

(A) 5°
(B) 18°
(C) 26°
(D) 34°
(E) Cannot determine the angle since the mass of the pendulum must be known

NJSL Phy I Jan 2018 Exam Page 6

AP I and AP 2 PHYSICS FORMULAE Updated 12-22-2017
 PHYSICS I Salmon Exam
JANUARY 11, 2018
SOLUTIONS Corrections:
1. B 14. C
2. A 15. D A is correct.
3. D 16. B
4. A 17. B
5. C 18. D
6. D 19. D
7. D 20. B
8. D 21. C
9. A 22. B
10. C 23. C
11. D B 24. D
12. A 25. B
13. B
January Exam:
Kinematic, Dynamics, Circular Motion, Universal Gravitation.
February Exam:
impulse and linear momentum and conservation of linear momentum: collisions, Work and Energy, Conservation of
Energy, Collisions, Plus review of Jan topics
March Exam:
Rotational kinematics, torque, rotational dynamics Conservation of angular momentum, Simple Harmonic motion: simple
pendulum, Mass-spring systems Plus review of Jan and Feb topics
April Exam:
Introductory electrostatics: Concepts of electric charge Conservation of electric charge, Coulomb’s Law, DC circuits
(resistors only) Mechanical waves and sound, Plus review of Jan, Feb, and March topics.
Dates for 2018 Season
Thursday January 11, 2018 Thursday February 8, 2018
Thursday March 8, 2018 Thursday April 12, 2018
All areas and schools must complete the April exam and mail in the results
by April 28th, 2018
New Jersey Science League
PO Box 65 Stewartsville, NJ 08886-0065
phone # 908-213-8923 fax # 908-213-9391 email: newjsl@ptd.net
Web address: http://entnet.com/~personal/njscil/html/
What is to be mailed back to our office?
PLEASE RETURN THE AREA RECORD AND ALL TEAM MEMBER SCANTRONS
(ALL STUDENTS PLACING 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH).
If you return Scantrons of alternates, then label them as ALTERNATES.
Dates for 2019 Season
Thursday January 10, 2019 Thursday February 7, 2019
Thursday March 7, 2019 Thursday April 11, 2019
 PHYSICS I Salmon Corrections
FEBRUARY 8, 2018
Directions: For each question or statement fill in the appropriate space on the answer sheet. Use the letter preceding the word,
phrase, or quantity which best completes or answers the question. Each of the 25 questions is worth 4 points.
Use: g = -10 m/s2 and the vertically upward direction is positive unless specifically stated otherwise.
Ignore air resistance unless specifically stated otherwise.

1. Which of the following is an acceptable unit for impulse using fundamental MKS units?
kg kg ⋅ m kg ⋅ m 2 kg ⋅ m
(A) (B) (C) (D)
s s s s2

2. As shown below, two people sit at opposite ends of a boat, which is initially at rest. The person to the right throws a large ball to the
person on the left. What is the direction of the velocity of the people/boat system at the time immediately after the ball is thrown and,
later, after the ball is caught? (Assume that air and water friction are negligible.)

Immediately After After the

the Ball is Thrown Ball is Caught
(A) Right At rest
(B) Left At rest
(C) At rest At rest
(D) Right Left
(E) Left Right

3. As shown in an overhead view below, a small disc, A, strikes a larger disc, B, on a frictionless air table. The 0.25kg Disc A is
moving at a velocity of 2 m at 45 o before the collision with the stationary 0.5kg Disc B. After the collision, Disc A is seen moving at
s
70 to the right of vertical at a speed of 1 m . What is the magnitude and direction, VB and θ , respectively, of the velocity of Disc B
o
s
after the collision?

4. A bobsled of mass M moves without across a surface with negligible friction at speed v. Two objects are dropped vertically into the
bobsled one after the other: first an object of mass 2m, and then an object of mass m. Afterward the sled moves with speed v/2. What
would be the final speed of the sled if the objects were dropped into it at the same time?
(A) v/4 (B) 2v/3 (C) v/3 (D) v/2 (E) 3v/5

5. A cliff diver of mass 55kg runs toward the edge of a cliff and jumps at 6 m at an angle of 30 o above horizontal. The cliff edge is
s
40m above the water below. How fast will this diver be moving when she hits the water?
(A) 10 m (B) 15 m (C) 21 m (D) 29 m
s s s s

NJSL Phy I Feb Exam 2018 Page 1

Use the following information for Questions #6 - #8: As shown below, a small box of mass m slides without friction down a straight
ramp of length L inclined at an angle of θ above the horizontal. Upon reaching the bottom of the ramp it strikes and sticks to a larger
stationary box of mass M. The two boxes then slide along a rough horizontal floor until coming to rest at a distance x from the bottom
of the ramp.

6. What is the speed at which the small box reaches the bottom of
the ramp, vm ?
2gL 2gL
(A) (B)
cosθ sin θ
(C) 2gL sin θ (D) 2gL cosθ

7. Immediately after sticking to the larger box, with what speed, VT , do both boxes move? Use the symbol vm (asked for in #6) for the
speed of the small box at the end of the ramp.
(A)
Mvm
(B)
mvm
(C)
(M + m )vm (D)
(M + m )vm
M +m M +m M m
8. Using VT (asked for in #7) for the initial speed of both boxes, what is distance x?
2 µ K VT2 2VT2 µ K VT2 VT2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
g µK g 2g 2µ K g

9. You have two objects: a ball that is covered with the hook side of Velcro and an incline covered with the loop side of
Velcro that is fixed onto a low-friction cart. The ball is dropped vertically onto the incline, which is at rest. When the ball
collides with the incline, it sticks to it without moving relative to the surface. Which of the following will be true about the cart/ball
system after the ball sticks to the cart?
(A) It will be rolling to the left.
(B) It will be rolling to the right.
(C) It will be at rest.
(D) The final velocity of the system depends on the angle of the incline.

10. A cart of mass m is at rest on a horizontal, frictionless track in a laboratory. A student uses a force sensor
to exert horizontal force on the cart, and collects the data shown in the graph below. Which of the following is true about the cart
during the time interval 0-8s? All full credit: Graph was missing.

(A) Its initial momentum is positive, and its final momentum is

negative.
(B) Its initial momentum is in the opposite direction as its final
momentum.
(C) Its momentum is zero at t = 4 s.
(D) Its initial momentum is equal to its final momentum.

11. Two identical balls with equal speed hit a wall. Ball 1 hits the wall and stops. Ball 2 bounces off with half of its initial speed in the
opposite direction. Which of the following is true?
(A) Ball 2 has half times as much impulse exerted on it as Ball 1.
(B) Ball 2 has twice as much impulse exerted on it as Ball 1.
(C) Ball 2 has 3/2 as much impulse exerted on it as Ball 1.
(D) Ball 2 has 2/3 as much impulse exerted on it as Ball 1.
(E) Ball 2 has the same impulse exerted on it as Ball 1.

NJSL Phy I Feb Exam 2018 Page 2

12. As shown below, a mass M slides without friction at speed V on a smooth lab tabletop. It strikes a larger mass 2M and sticks to it.
At what horizontal distance x from the edge of the table do the masses strike the floor?

V 2h V 2h
(A) (B)
3 g 3 g
2h 2h
(C) V (D) V
3g g

13. A 40-gram (40 g ) steel pellet moving at 40 m hits and embeds 10cm into a 600 g block of wax. Assuming the wax offers a
s
constant resisting force to the pellet until the pellet reaches the 10cm inside the wax, what is the ratio of the initial kinetic
K
energy of the system (before collision) to the final kinetic energy of the system (after collision), i ?
Kf

(A) 32 (B) 16
1 1
(C) 8 (D) 1
1 1

14. The graph shown below represents a variable force F measured in Newtons acting on a 3kg object through a displacement x
measured in millimeters. If the object starts at rest, what is its final speed when it reaches 20mm ?
(A) 0.25 m
s
(B) 0.5 m
s
(C) 0.75 m
s
(D) 1.0 m
s

15. During a head-on collision, how does an air bag protect a passenger in the car?

(A) It decreases the impulse exerted the passenger.

(B) It decreases the initial momentum of the passenger.
(C) It lengthens the stopping time of the passenger, and decreases the force exerted on them during the collision.
(D) It shortens the stopping time of the passenger, and increases the force exerted on them during the collision.

16. A ball of mass m with speed v strikes the floor at an angle θ with the normal, as shown above. It then rebounds with the same
speed and at the same angle. The magnitude of the ball’s change in kinetic energy is Even though the diagram is missing it is not
needed in order to answer this question. KE is dependent on mass and velocity. Neither changes so answer remains as letter A.
1 1 1
(A) Zero (B) 𝑚(𝑣𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)2 (C) 𝑚𝑣 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 (D) 𝑚(2𝑣𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)2 (E) 2𝑚𝑣 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
2 2 2

NJSL Phy I Feb Exam 2018 Page 3

17. In Trial 1 shown below, Cart A of mass m is collided with identical Cart B on a flat frictionless surface. The two carts stick
together, and travel up a frictionless incline to reach a maximum vertical height h above the flat track. Trial 2 is identical to
Trial 1, except the mass of Cart A is changed to 2m. To what maximum vertical height will the two carts travel in Trial 2, in
terms of h? (Height of the carts refers to the height of their combined center of mass) No answer is correct. All full credit

(A) h (B) √2h (C) 2h (D) 4h (E) Less than h

18. A 0.050 kg tennis ball is moving to the left at 10 m/s when it is hit by a tennis racket
that is moving to the right. The magnitude of the force exerted on the ball by the racket as a
function of time is shown in the figure below. What is the speed of the ball after the
collision with the racket?

(A) 30 m/s (B) 50 m/s (C) 70 m/s (D) 90 m/s

Use the following information for Questions #19 - #21: As shown, a force F is directed upward at an angle θ by a rope in
an attempt to move a heavy crate of mass M across a rough floor. Coefficients of static and kinetic friction are µ s & µ k ,
respectively.

19. What minimum force F is required to get the mass to move if initially at
rest?
µ s Mg µ s Mg
(A) (B)
cosθ + µ s sin θ sin θ + µ s cosθ
µ k Mg µ k Mg
(C) (D)
cosθ + µ k sin θ sin θ + µ k cosθ

20. What minimum force F is then required to keep it moving at a constant speed
once it is moving?
µ s Mg µ s Mg µ k Mg µ k Mg
(A) (B) (C) (D)
cosθ + µ s sin θ sin θ + µ s cosθ cosθ + µ k sin θ sin θ + µ k cosθ

21. After the mass has been moving at a constant speed v for a short distance, the rope breaks. Through what distance does the mass
move before coming to rest?
v2 v2 v2 v2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
g (cosθ + µ s sin θ ) µs g µk g 2µ k g

NJSL Phy I Feb Exam 2018 Page 4

Use the following information for Questions #22 - #24: To escape Lego™ Joker, Lego™ Batman shoots a grappling hook vertically
upward from his Lego™ utility belt to the Lego™ Batcopter operated by Lego™ Robin, as shown below. Lego™
Batman’s grappling hook cable is pulled by a small battery-powered motor that lifts the 250 gram Lego™ Batman to a height
of h at a constant speed of 5 m . The battery that powers Lego™ Batman’s grappling hook motor stores 10 J of energy.
s
Assume the motor is 100% efficient.

22. How much power is delivered to the motor?

(A) 1.25W (B) 12.5W
(C) 125W (D) 1250W

23. To what height does Lego™ Batman rise above the ground
if all the stored battery energy is converted? Ans is C not B
(A) 1m (B) 2m
(C) 4m (D) 5m

24. If the Lego™ Batcopter were moving horizontally at 20 m

s
Just before Lego™ Batman grabbed onto it and it continued in
a purely horizontal path, what is its new horizontal speed? All full credit since mass of Batcopter (1 Kg ) was left out.
(A) 20 m (B) 18 m (C) 16 m (D) 14 m
s s s s

25. A 1,500 kg car traveling at 12.5 m/s collides with a 2,500 kg van stopped at a traffic light. As a result of the collision, the two vehicles become
attached. If the duration of the collision is 0.2 seconds, which choice is closest to the magnitude of the average force exerted on the car during this
time?
(A) 5 kN (B) 35 kN (C) 45 kN (D) 60 kN (E) 95 kN

NJSL Phy I Feb Exam 2018 Page 5

AP I and AP 2 PHYSICS FORMULAE Updated 12-22-2017
 PHYSICS I Salmon Exam Corrections
FEBRUARY 8, 2018
SOLUTIONS
1. B 14. B
2. A 15. C
3. D 16. A
4. D 17. C All full credit No correct Ans
5. D 18. A
6. C 19. A
7. B 20. C
8. D 21. D
9. C 22. B
10. D All full credit: Missing graph 23. B C
11. C 24. C All full credit: 1 kg left out
12. A 25. D
13. B
January Exam: Kinematic, Dynamics, Circular Motion, Universal Gravitation.
February Exam: impulse and linear momentum and conservation of linear momentum: collisions, Work and
Energy, Conservation of Energy, Collisions, Plus review of Jan topics
March Exam:
Rotational kinematics, torque, rotational dynamics Conservation of angular momentum, Simple Harmonic
motion: simple pendulum, Mass-spring systems Plus review of Jan and Feb topics
April Exam:
Introductory electrostatics: Concepts of electric charge Conservation of electric charge, Coulomb’s Law, DC
circuits (resistors only) Mechanical waves and sound, Plus review of Jan, Feb, and March topics.
Dates for 2018 Season
Thursday February 8, 2018
Thursday March 8, 2018 Thursday April 12, 2018
All areas and schools must complete the April exam and mail in the results
by April 28th, 2018

New Jersey Science League

PO Box 65 Stewartsville, NJ 08886-0065
phone # 908-213-8923 fax # 908-213-9391 email: newjsl@ptd.net
Web address: http://entnet.com/~personal/njscil/html/

What is to be mailed back to our office?

PLEASE RETURN THE AREA RECORD AND ALL TEAM MEMBER SCANTRONS
(ALL STUDENTS PLACING 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH).
If you return Scantrons of alternates, then label them as ALTERNATES.
Dates for 2019 Season
Thursday January 10, 2019 Thursday February 7, 2019
Thursday March 7, 2019 Thursday April 11, 2019
 New Jersey Science League Salmon Exam No Corrections
PHYSICS 1
MARCH 8, 2018
Directions: For each question or statement fill in the appropriate space on the answer sheet. Use the letter
preceding the word, phrase, or quantity which best completes or answers the question. Each of the 25 questions is
worth 4 points. As prescribed by the College Board for AP Physics, the work done on a system is a positive quantity.
Use: g =10 m/s2.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All axes of rotation are taken to be at the center of mass unless specifically stated
otherwise.
1
Rotational Inertia of a solid disc: MR 2 Rotational Inertia of a hollow disc (hoop or ring): MR 2
2
2 2
Rotational Inertia of a solid sphere: MR 2 Rotational Inertia of a hollow sphere: MR 2
5 3
1
Rotational Inertia of a solid rod of length L with axis of rotation through the geometric center: ML2
12
1
Rotational Inertia of a solid rod of length L with axis of rotation through one end: ML2
3
Use the following information for Questions #1 & #2: Shown below is the old-style wooden roller coaster called El Toro
at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. An occupied roller coaster of total mass M is pulled to the top of the first
hill, labelled as Point A, by means of a motor. It is then sent on its merry way to travel through Points B and C. At Point
A, just before its descent, the coaster is travelling at an initial speed of VA. Point A is at a height of HA above the ground
below. Point B is at a height of HB above the ground below. Once the car reaches Point A, the only force of “propulsion”
is gravity. Neglect friction unless specifically stated.

1. Which expression below represents the speed of the coaster car when it reaches Point B?
(A) MVA2 + 2 Mg ( H A − H B ) (B) VA2 + 2 g ( H A − H B )

(C) VA2 + 2 Mg ( H A − H B ) (D) VA2 − 2 g ( H A − H B )

2. At which point(s) along the path is the normal force exerted by the tracks on the roller coaster car the greatest?
(A) Point A (B) Point B (C) Points A & C (D) Point C
3. As shown below, a spring scale is attached to each end of a uniform meter stick and suspended from a solid metal bar.
An unknown mass, M, much larger than the mass of the meter stick (making the mass of the meter stick negligible) is
hung from a point on the meter stick. The result is that the spring scale on the right has a reading that is three times that of
the left spring scale. At what centimeter mark is the unknown mass hung?

(A) 20 cm (B) 80 cm (C) 25 cm (D) 75 cm

NJSL Phy I March Exam 2018 Page 1

4. “Walking the plank” is seen once in a while in Hollywood pirate movies. It usually entails simply laying a long wooden
board near the edge of the ship so that some of it is suspended over usually shark-infested waters then some poor soul
must “walk” it to his demise. In the image below, the sailor, not named Captain Jack Sparrow, “walking” has a mass of
75-kg. The plank is of uniform density and width and is 10-m long with 2-m of length hanging over the water and 8-m
still inside the ship. The plank weighs 200 Newtons. How far out from the edge of the boat will this poor sailor be able to
walk before the plank begins to tip toward the water below?
(A) 0.4-m (B) 0.6-m

(C) 0.8-m (D) 1.0-m

5. After a particularly grueling and muddy mountain bike ride, you place your bicycle upside-down on a shop bench to
clean and align it (Figure 1). You notice five large blobs of dried mud stuck to the outside of the front tire and no matter
how you turn the wheel or how fast you spin it, the tire keeps coming to rest in the position shown in Figure 2; indicating
rotational and static equilibrium. There are two clumps with mass M, one clump of mass 2M and one clump of mass 3M.
What is the mass of the 5th mud clump, designated with a smiley-face and a lower-case m, in terms of M?

M
(A)
2

(B) M

3M
(C)
2

(D) 2M

6. Below is an original pencil sketch of a Hobbit’s home in Hobbiton, The Shire, from JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
Trilogy™. The doors to the Hobbits’ homes are circular; impractical, but cute. Note the doorknob on these Hobbit doors is
located in the center of the circular door. With what minimum force must the occupant, Bilbo Baggins, push on this
central doorknob to open it compared to the minimum force necessary, F, if the knob were placed at the more modern and
conventional position at the far left edge of the door. Assume the door swings inward to the right; hinges on the right of
the door as seen from the image.

F
(A) (B) F
2
3F
(C) (D) 2F
2

NJSL Phy I March Exam 2018 Page 2

7. A uniform long thin solid rod of length L and mass M is free to rotate on a frictionless axle located at the left end at
point O, as shown below. The rod is released from rest from the initial horizontal position. Which of the following choices
represents the angular speed of the rod when it reaches the vertical position?

g 6g
(A) (C)
3L L

3g g
(B) D)
L 6L

8. In the diagram below, two masses are suspended motionless from the same height, H = 2m , from a massless
frictionless pulley. M 1 = 2kg and M 2 = 4kg . With what speed does M 2 strike the ground after the system is released
from rest?
(A) 2.4 m
s
(B) 3.2 m
s
(C) 3.7 m
s
(D) 6.2 m
s

9. The frictionless and massless pulley used in #8 is now replaced with one from the semi-real world where it actually has
a mass of m = 4kg and a radius of R = 15cm . Treat the pulley as a uniform circular disc and assume the string does not
slip or stretch and there is still negligible friction. After released from rest, with what speed does M 2 strike the ground?
Use the same masses and height as in #8 above.
(A) 2.4 m
s
(B) 3.2 m
s
(C) 3.7 m
s
(D) 6.2 m
s
10. A solid metal sphere of mass M starts at rest and rolls without slipping down an incline. The incline has a length of L
and is inclined at an angle of θ above the horizontal. Which of the following represents the speed of the center of mass of
the sphere upon reaching the bottom of the incline?
5 10 10
(A) 2 gL sin θ (B) gL sin θ (C) gL cos θ (D) gL sin θ
7 7 7

11. Consider the following quantities as an object undergoes a constant centripetal acceleration:
I. Magnitude of tangential velocity III. Linear Momentum
II. Direction of tangential velocity IV. Angular Momentum

Which of the above quantities changes as long as the radius remains constant?
(A) I & III only (B) III & IV only (C) II & III only (D) All of them; I, II, III, & IV

NJSL Phy I March Exam 2018 Page 3

12. Consider the below images of a typical helicopter with a single rotor and a tail “fan” and a large military Chinook
helicopter with two large rotors and no tail fan. It is noted that the two rotors of the Chinook helicopter rotate in opposite
directions. Why must the two rotors on the Chinook rotate in opposite directions?

(A) If both blades rotated in the same direction, the “lift” force each creates would interfere with the other through
turbulent air flow.
(B) If both blades rotated in the same direction, it would violate Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
(C) The opposite rotations cause a cancellation of the net energy production of the system; one blade creating a “positive
energy, the other an equal and opposite “negative” energy.
(D) The opposite rotations cause a cancellation of the angular momentum of the system; one blade creating a “positive
angular momentum, the other an equal and opposite “negative” angular momentum.

13. Fishermen use a suspended spring scale to weigh their catches, although some don’t feel obligated to tell the truth
about the data. What is the spring constant for such a scale if the spring stretches 8-cm for a 10-kg fish?
(A) 1250 N (B) 800 N (C) 80 N (D) 8 N
m m m m

14. A simple pendulum and a mass on the end of a spring will both oscillate with the same period T when here on Earth.
They are both taken to a “Super-Earth” in a near-by solar system where the planet has twice the radius and twice the mass
of Earth. What is the relationship between the original Earth period T and the new period on the Super-Earth?
(A) They both have longer periods
(B) They both have shorter periods
(C) The pendulum has a shorter period, but the mass/spring is the same.
(D) The pendulum has a longer period, but the mass/spring is the same.

15. A certain type of “Cuckoo” clock uses a vertical spring with a cute figurine of mass M attached to the bottom that
oscillates up and down in periodic motion with period T. If the spring breaks and is mistakenly replaced by one that has
twice the spring constant as the original, what is the period if using the same cute figurine?
(A) 2T (B) 2T (C) T (D) T
2 2

16. During an emergency stop, a car decelerates at 7 m . The tires have a 30cm radius, an initial angular velocity of
s2
95 rad s , and assume they do not slip. How far does the car travel before coming to a stop?
(A) 23.3m (B) 58m (C) 116m (D) 193.4m

17. A solid disc of mass M and radius R rolls without slipping down a ramp of length L inclined at an angle of θ above
the horizontal. It starts at rest and reaches a final linear speed of V at the bottom of the ramp. Which of the following
changes could be associated with another solid disc / ramp set-up that would yield a final linear velocity of 2V ?
(A) Keep the same disc, but double the length of the ramp to 2L .
(B) Double the radius of the disc to 2R , keep all other quantities the same.
(C) Double the radius to 2R and double the mass to 2M of the disc, keep all other quantities the same.
(D) Keep the same disc, but quadruple the length of the ramp to 4L .

NJSL Phy I March Exam 2018 Page 4

18. A tennis ball of mass M and radius R rolls on level ground without slipping at an initial linear speed of V when it
begins ascending a ramp inclined at an angle of θ above the horizontal. Which of the following represents the length of
the ramp the ball rolls before coming to a stop? Of course, treat the tennis ball as a hollow sphere.
3V 2 7V 2 5V 2 6V 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
4 g sin θ 10 g sin θ 6 g sin θ 5 g sin θ

19. At recess, three children are sitting on the edge of a merry-go-round that has a mass of 200kg , has a radius of 2m ,
and is spinning at 20RPM . The kids have masses of 35kg , 30kg , and 25kg . The child whose mass is 30kg suddenly
jumps off the ride. What is the new angular velocity of the ride in RPM ?
(A) 20RPM (B) 22.3RPM (C) 23.75RPM (D) 25.3RPM

Use the following information for Questions #20 & #21: As shown below, a mass M is moving to the left on a
frictionless horizontal surface at speed V when it collides and sticks to a stationary mass 3M which is attached to an
ideal spring of spring constant k . The left side of the spring is
attached firmly to a rigid immovable wall.

20. If M = 4kg , V = 10 m , and k = 75 N

s m , what is the maximum compression of the spring after the collision of
M with 3M ?
(A) 1 m (B) 1m (C) 2m (D) 4m
2

21. What is the ensuing frequency of the system as long as M stays attached to 3M ?
5 4 5π 4π
(A) sec −1 (B) sec −1 (C) sec −1 (D) sec −1
4π 5π 4 5

22. As shown below, Tarzan is in the process of saving Jane yet again. Jane is reading a book oblivious to the hungry
killer crocodile sneaking up on her from behind. Tarzan, of mass 100kg , starts at rest and swings on a 20m long vine
that initially is at an angle of 60o above vertical. He swoops down and grabs Jane, of mass 50kg , just in time. What is
the maximum vertical height of the branch they can reach safely on the tree on the left?
(Tarzan and Jane images compliments of Walt Disney clipart: https://www.disneyclips.com )

(A) 4m
(B) 5m
(C) 6m
(D) 10m

NJSL Phy I March Exam 2018 Page 5

23. Betelgeuse, don’t say it three times real fast or we’re all in trouble, is a red supergiant star in the Orion constellation
about 640 light years away from us. It is the 9th brightest star in the night sky. It is so large that if it replaced our own sun
the surface of Betelgeuse would be out at Jupiter’s orbit! Its mass, M B , is twenty times the mass of our Sun, 20 M O ,
where M O = 2 x1030 kg . Its radius, RB , is an astounding 7 x1011 m , about 1,000 times the size of our sun! It rotates on its
axis with a period, TB , of 15yr . Due to its size and variable radiation output, it is expected to explode in a supernova and
create a black hole at any time. If after it undergoes supernova, it collapses into a black hole with a final effective radius
RF , known as the Schwarzschild Radius, and keeps 75% of its original mass (the other 25% is ejected into space by the
supernova explosion), what is the black hole period of rotation, TF ? Ignore relativistic effects.
4 RF2 TB 4 RB2TB 3RB2TB 3RF2 TB
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3RB2 3RF2 4 RF2 4 RB2

24. A conical pendulum is a simple pendulum that moves not only back and forth, but moves forward and backwards.
This way, the pendulum bob of mass M sweeps out a circular path in a horizontal plane. The supporting string has a
length L and makes a constant angle of θ with the vertical. In terms of the variables given and common physical constants,
which expression represents the angular momentum of the mass M?

(A) M 2 gL3 sin 3 θ tan θ

(B) M 2 gr 3 sin 3 θ tan θ
(C) M 2 gL3 sin 2 θ tan θ
(D) M 2 gr 3 sin 2 θ tan θ

25. Consider the following four objects shown below: a hollow thin cylinder, a solid cylinder, a solid sphere, and a hollow
sphere. The rotational inertia is provided, as well as at the beginning of this exam, for each object in reference to the axis
that each would use in rolling down an incline. However, none of the masses or the radii is known, so you cannot assume
they are equal in anything. All four objects are placed at the top of the ramp shown and released from rest. They roll to the
bottom without slipping. Without knowing the values of the masses and the radii, in what order do they arrive at the
bottom beginning with the “winner”?

(A) Hollow thin cylinder, hollow sphere, solid cylinder, & solid sphere.
(B) Solid sphere, hollow sphere, solid cylinder, & hollow thin cylinder.
(C) Solid sphere, solid cylinder, hollow sphere, & hollow thin cylinder.
(D) This question cannot be answered without knowing the masses and radii of each object.

NJSL Phy I March Exam 2018 Page 6

AP I and AP 2 PHYSICS FORMULAE Updated 12-22-2017
 PHYSICS 1 Salmon Exam No Corrections
MARCH 8, 2018
SOLUTIONS
Deadline: All March exam results must be post marked by March 16th or scan the record sheet and
email to newjsl@ptd.net or the scores will not count.
1. B 14. D
2. B 15. C
3. D 16. B
4. C 17. D
5. C 18. C
6. D 19. C
7. B 20. B
8. C 21. A
9. B 22. A
10. D 23. D
11. C 24. A
12. D 25. C
13. A
January Exam:
Kinematic, Dynamics, Circular Motion, Universal Gravitation.
February Exam:
impulse and linear momentum and conservation of linear momentum: collisions, Work and Energy, Conservation of
Energy, Collisions, Plus review of Jan topics
March Exam:
Rotational kinematics, torque, rotational dynamics Conservation of angular momentum, Simple Harmonic motion: simple
pendulum, Mass-spring systems Plus review of Jan and Feb topics
April Exam:
Introductory electrostatics: Concepts of electric charge Conservation of electric charge, Coulomb’s Law, DC circuits
(resistors only) Mechanical waves and sound, Plus review of Jan, Feb, and March topics.
Dates for 2018 Season
Thursday March 8, 2018 Thursday April 12, 2018
All areas and schools must complete the April exam and mail in the results
by April 28th, 2018
New Jersey Science League
PO Box 65 Stewartsville, NJ 08886-0065
phone # 908-213-8923 fax # 908-213-9391 email: newjsl@ptd.net
Web address: http://entnet.com/~personal/njscil/html/
What is to be mailed back to our office?
PLEASE RETURN THE AREA RECORD AND ALL TEAM MEMBER SCANTRONS
(ALL STUDENTS PLACING 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH).
If you return Scantrons of alternates, then label them as ALTERNATES.
Dates for 2019 Season
Thursday January 10, 2019 Thursday February 7, 2019
Thursday March 7, 2019 Thursday April 11, 2019
 PHYSICS 1 Salmon Exam NO Corrections:
APRIL 12, 2018
Directions: For each question or statement fill in the appropriate space on the answer sheet. Use the letter
preceding the word, phrase, or quantity which best completes or answers the question. Each of the 25 questions is
worth 4 points. Use: g =10. m/s2. Use conventional electrical current.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Fundamental charge: e = 1.6 x10−19 C Speed of sound in air: v = 340 m
s
Use the following information for Questions #1 & #2: Before a high school wrestling match, all contestants must
weigh-in to be sure they aren’t heavier than the weight class they are competing in. The commercial grade scale used by
the officials operates on a stiff spring that compresses when the wrestler steps on a platform.
1. If the spring compresses a distance of 1cm under its maximum load of 200kg , what is the effective spring constant?
(A) 2 N (B) 200 N (C) 20, 000 N (D) 200, 000 N
m m m m

2. At a different school on a different scale, one particular wrestler steps on the scale and the spring, of spring constant
2,900 N m , compresses a distance of 25cm , in what weight class listed below is he closest to without being
“overweight?” Use 1kg = 2.2 pounds .
(A) 152 pounds (B) 160 pounds (C) 170 pounds (D) 182 pounds

3. Your jet plane is sitting on the runway at Newark Liberty Airport waiting for take-off for a Spring Break 2018 getaway.
Being the physics prodigy you are, you notice the twin jets making a beat frequency of 0.5Hz and you are told the
average frequency coming from the two jet engines is 4500 Hz. Which entry in the table below represents the individual
frequencies of the two engines?
Engine #1 Engine #2
(A) 4500 Hz. 4500 Hz.
(B) 4499.5 Hz. 4500.5 Hz.
(C) 4499.75 Hz. 4500.25 Hz.
(D) 4500 Hz. 4500.5 Hz.

4. A wave traveling on a stretched Slinky® takes 2sec to make a round trip (back & forth) along the 5m Slinky®. It is
noted that there are four antinodes and five nodes along the path. What is the frequency of this wave?
(A) 1 Hz (B) 2Hz (C) 4Hz (D) 5Hz
2
5. A standing wave is observed on a 120-cm rope held in place at both ends. The rope wave contains 3 antinodes when the
frequency is 120-Hz. What is the fundamental frequency of this rope?
(A) 20Hz (B) 40Hz (C) 80Hz (D) 120Hz
6. For a physics class project you construct a handmade musical instrument consisting of a tube closed at one end. What
length tube should you construct in order to have it produce a fundamental frequency of 128Hz ; ‘C’ below middle ‘C’?
(A) 66.4cm (B) 99.2cm (C) 1.33m (D) 1.51m
7. You then build a tube open at both ends that produces the same fundamental frequency as the tube referred to in #6
above; 128Hz ; ‘C’ below middle ‘C’. What is the length of this tube open at both ends?
(A) 66.4cm (B) 99.2cm (C) 1.33m (D) 1.51m

NJSL Phy I April Exam 2018 Page 1

8. How many electrons must be removed from a neutral object so that it will acquire a net charge of +1µ C ?
(A) 6.25 x109 (B) 6.25 x1012 (C) 1.60 x1012 (D) 1.60 x1019

9. What is the electrostatic force between two alpha particles (Helium nuclei, 42 He ) separated by a distance of 0.1nm ?
(A) 2.31x10−18 N (B) 9.22 x10−18 N (C) 2.31x10−8 N (D) 9.22 x10−8 N

10. Two point charges are placed on an x-axis and held in place as shown below. A +4 µ C charge is placed at the origin,
O, and a +6 µ C charge is placed 10cm to the right of the origin. A third point charge of +2 µ C is placed at the 5cm mark
directly between the two original charges. What is the magnitude and direction of the net force acting on the +2 µ C
charge caused by the other two charges?

(A) 14.4N to the left (B) 14.4N to the right (C) 72N to the left (D) 72N to the right

11. By what factor must you change the distance between two point charges to increase the electrostatic force between
them by a factor of 10?
(A) Increase the distance by a factor of 10. (B) Decrease the distance by a factor of 10.
(C) Increase the distance by a factor of 10 . (D) Decrease the distance by a factor of 10 .

12. Two individual isolated protons near the surface of Earth are used in an experiment. Proton P1 is held in place while
another proton P2 is dropped from some undisclosed distance much larger than d vertically above P1 . It is noticed that
when P2 reached a distance d directly above P1 , it stops falling and remains stationary. What is the distance d?
(A) 0.014m (B) 0.028m

(C) 0.117m (D) 0.234m

13. You shuffle across your carpeted living room to open the front door when you are rudely shocked as you make contact
with the doorknob. If a total charge of 0.5µ C moves from your fingers to the doorknob in 0.1µ sec , what is the
electrical current?
(A) 5 x10−6 A (B) 5 x10−3 A (C) 0.5A (D) 5A

14. A recurring theme on TV’s The Big Bang Theory show is that one of the characters, Penny, continually ignores her
“Check Engine” light. Assuming she drives a typical car with a 12V battery and the “Check Engine” light receives
25mA of current when lit, what is the resistance of Penny’s “Check Engine” light?
(A) 0.3Ω (B) 0.48Ω (C) 300Ω (D) 480Ω

15. Most consumer batteries are “all the same.” However, alkaline batteries have the advantage of being able to put out a
constant voltage till just before the actual end of its useful life. If an alkaline battery is rated at 2.0A ⋅ hr and 1.52V ,
approximately how long can it keep a 0.25W flashlight bulb lit?
(A) 12hr (B) 6hr (C) 3hr (D) 1.5hr

NJSL Phy I April Exam 2018 Page 2

16. According to the US EIA (United States Energy Information Administration; www.eia.gov) there are 120 Million
households in the US with television sets. The average household has 2.3 TVs each running for an average of 8.5 hours
per day. That yields a whopping 276 Million TVs in the US. This does NOT include computers, tablets, or smartphones.
The average TV runs on 120V at 150W and the average US electric charge from power companies is $0.12
kW ⋅ hr .
Approximately what is the yearly monetary cost of running all these TVs for the aforementioned 8 hours per day?

(A) $14.5 Million (B) $14.5 Billion (C) $6.3 Million (D) $6.3 Billion
year year year year

17. Which choice below represents the smallest equivalent resistance, REq , possibly attained by connecting one 36Ω ,
one 500Ω , and one 1000Ω resistor together?
(A) 0.03Ω (B) 23.5Ω (C) 32.5Ω (D) 36Ω

18. In the circuit shown below, what is the magnitude and direction of the current through the 6Ω resistor oriented
vertically on the right side of the circuit as labeled?
(A) 8-A downward toward the bottom of page.
(B) 8-A upward toward the top of page.
(C) 4-A downward toward the bottom of page.
(D) 4-A upward toward the top of page.

19. You are provided with three resistors and one battery or unknown non-zero emf. The three resistors have values of
24Ω , 48Ω , and 96Ω . You can connect the resistors in any configuration to the given battery. Which configuration
below will cause the battery to deliver the greatest power to the circuit?
(A) (B)

(C) (D)

20. What is the internal resistance of a battery with an emf = 3V that can deliver a current of 0.5A to a 4Ω resistor
connected in series with the battery?
(A) 0.5Ω (B) 1Ω (C) 2Ω (D) 4Ω

NJSL Phy I April Exam 2018 Page 3

21. Which of the following diagrams represents the proper method of using an Ammeter and a Voltmeter to measure the
current through and potential difference across resistor R2 ?

Use the following information for Questions #22 & #23: Use the basic circuit configuration from #21 above;
shown below without the meters. The battery has terminal voltage V , total circuit current is IT , and resistors R1 , R2 , and
R3 are of unknown values.

22. In terms of the given variables, what is the potential difference

across resistor R2 ?
(A) V − IT R1 (B) V − IT R3
(C) V − IT ( R1 + R3 ) (D) V − IT ( R1 − R3 )

23. In terms of the given variables, what is the total current of the circuit, IT ?
V V V V
(A) (B) (C) (D)
R1 +
1
R1 −
1 R1 + R2 + R3 R2 + R3 +
1
 1 1   1 1  R3
 +   + 
 R2 R3   R2 R3 

24. The threshold intensity of human hearing is defined to be 1x10−12 W which equates to 0dB (deci-Bell).
m2
Prolonged exposure to high sound levels can seriously damage the human ear. Any sound with intensity level of 90dB or
higher is considered to be harmful. 90dB for 8 hours can cause permanent hearing damage as can 2 hours at 100dB and
only 7 minutes at 120dB , considered the “threshold for pain.” Personal ear-buds commonly worn today routinely crank
out more than 100dB for extended periods of time. In W , how much louder is a 120dB than a 80dB sound?
m2
(A) 50% louder (B) 40 W louder (C) 40 times louder (D) 10,000 times louder
m2

25. Assume the orbit of Earth about the Sun to be circular. Use orbital radius R , Earth mass m , Sun mass M , and
Universal Gravitation Constant G . Which of the following represents the total mechanical energy of the Earth as it orbits
the Sun? Consider linear quantities only.
GMm GMm GMm GMm
(A) (B) − (C) (D) −
2R 2R R2 R2

NJSL Phy I April Exam 2018 Page 4

 PHYSICS 1 Salmon Exam No Corrections
APRIL 12, 2018
SOLUTIONS
All schools and areas must finish the April exam and post mark or scan all results by April 30th.
1. D 14. D
2. B 15. A
3. C 16. B
4. B 17. C
5. B 18. A
6. A 19. D
7. C 20. C
8. B 21. C
9. D 22. A
10. A 23. A
11. D 24. D
12. C 25. B
13. D
January Exam: Kinematic, Dynamics, Circular Motion, Universal Gravitation.
February Exam: impulse and linear momentum and conservation of linear momentum: collisions, Work and Energy,
Conservation of Energy, Collisions, Plus review of Jan topics
March Exam: Rotational kinematics, torque, rotational dynamics Conservation of angular momentum, Simple Harmonic
motion: simple pendulum, Mass-spring systems Plus review of Jan and Feb topics
April Exam: Introductory electrostatics: Concepts of electric charge Conservation of electric charge, Coulomb’s Law, DC
circuits (resistors only) Mechanical waves and sound, Plus review of Jan, Feb, and March topics.
Dates for 2018 Season
Thursday April 12, 2018
All return envelopes must be post marked by April 30th or scanned then emailed
New Jersey Science League
PO Box 65 Stewartsville, NJ 08886-0065
phone # 908-213-8923 fax # 908-213-9391 email: newjsl@ptd.net
Web address: http://entnet.com/~personal/njscil/html/
What is to be mailed back to our office?
PLEASE RETURN THE AREA RECORD AND ALL TEAM MEMBER SCANTRONS
(ALL STUDENTS PLACING 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH).
If you return Scantrons of alternates, then label them as ALTERNATES.
Dates for 2019 Season
Thursday January 10, 2019 Thursday February 14, 2019
Thursday March 14, 2019 Thursday April 11, 2019
AP I and AP 2 PHYSICS FORMULAE Updated 12-22-2017