Name
Period
Date
1st Semester Review
AP Physics 1
As there is no textbook for AP Physics 1 an online version written by the
creator of the MOP’s may be useful.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/
Look at the
The Physics Classroom Tutorial.
This website also has many other resources that may aid you in your quest
to review.
To make sure that you really have mastered the skills
below, you should review the labs, tests and worksheets
you have so diligently completed and saved. Be
confident! You have learned a lot!
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 2
Scientific Thinking in Experimental Settings
Experimental Design, Graphical Representation and Interpretation
Given a written description of an experiment you should be able to:
1. Distinguish between and identify the independent and dependent variables.
Correctly place these variables on the appropriate axes when graphing data.
Example: Two students wanted to determine the relationship between numbers
of cups of coffee consumed and pulse rate. They had volunteers drink 1, 2,
3, & 4 cups of coffee and recorded their pulse rate 10 minutes after each cup.
a. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
b. Which variable will be graphed on the horizontal-axis?
2. Demonstrate your understanding of the relationships y  x , y 
1
2
, y  x , and y
x
is independent of x both graphically and conceptually.
Examples:
a. Sketch and label the basic graphs of each relationship.
3. Given a graph that is not linear, manipulate the
independent variable so as to produce a straightline graph.
Example: For the relationship described in the
graph to the right, describe how to generate a
straight-line graph. In other words, what
relationship is represented?
Acceleration (m/s2)
b. The position of a ball rolling down an incline is proportional to the square
of the time. ( x  t 2 ) If the time the ball is allowed to roll is tripled, what
will happen to the change in position of the ball?
mass (kg)
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 3
4. Derive an equation of a straight line, given the statistics. Decide whether to keep
or discard the y-intercept; be able to justify your decision.
Velocity2(m2/s2)
Example: Write the math model for the straight-line graph below. Be sure to use
appropriate units.
0.50
Height (m)
m = 2.7 b = .0314
Significant Figures
1. Determine the number of Significant Figures in a given measurement.
Example: How many significant figures are in each measurement?
a. 0.0203 m
b. 2003 m
c. 4.50 x 103 m
d. 23000 m
e. 23000. m
f. 0.0000004 m
2. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide using proper significant figures.
Example: For each of the following problems, circle the least precise
measurement then complete the precision statement. In the left blank record
the value of the indicated calculation as given by the calculator. In the right
blank express the answer to the appropriate precision. Remember, all
answers must have units!
Hint: Remember, addition and subtraction is all about precision, not about the
number of significant figures!
a. Write the three steps used to add or subtract with significant figures.
i.
ii.
iii.
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 4
b. 110.32 g + 5507 g + 0.093 g + 235.8 g =
The least precise measurement is precise to the nearest
.
c. 1.245 m + 10.4 m + 0.35 m + 2.45 m =
The least precise measurement is precise to the nearest
.
d. 2.040 cm - 1.00 cm =
The least precise measurement is precise to the nearest
.
For each of the following problems, begin by writing the number of significant
figures next to each measurement. Then in the left blank record the value of
the indicated calculation as given by the calculator. In the right blank express
the answer to the appropriate number of significant figures. Remember, all
answers must have units!
e. Write the two steps used to multiply or divide with significant figures.
i.
ii.
f. Determine the volume of a block with dimensions
4.50 cm x 48.200 cm x 0.70 cm
g.
9.050 m
0.30 s
s=
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 5
Constant Velocity
1. You should be able to determine the average velocity of an object in two ways:

a. determining the slope of a x vs. t graph.

 x
b. using the equation v 
t
2. You should be able to determine the displacement of an object in two ways:

a. finding the area under a v vs. t graph.
 
b. using the constant velocity equation x  vt

3. Given an x vs. t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the object (starting position, direction of motion, velocity)

b. draw the corresponding v vs. t graph
c. draw a motion map for the object.
d. determine the average velocity of the object (slope of the line connecting any two
points).
e. write the mathematical model which describes the motion.

4. Given a v vs. t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the object (direction of motion, how fast)

b. draw the corresponding x vs. t graph
c. determine the displacement of the object (area under the curve).
d. draw a motion map for the object.
e. write a mathematical model to describe the motion.
1. Given one of three descriptions of an object's motion: written, graphical, or
motion map, produce the other two.
Examples: Sketch both the corresponding velocity vs. time graph and a motion
map for each of the motions below. Also, give a written description for each.


x
x

x
t

v
t

v

v
t

x
t
t

x
t

x
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 6

2. Determine the speed of an object from the slope of a x vs. t graph.

x (m)
Example: Determine the speed of the
60.
object whose motion is described by the
graph at right. Also, write the math
model for the motion described by the
graph and state the specific meaning of
the slope and the y-intercept.
14
t (s )

3. Determine the displacement of an object from a v vs. t graph.
Example: How far did the object travel in 3 seconds?
B
8
Velocity (m/s)
Velocity (m/s)
A
6
t (s)
8
6
t (s)
Vectors
1. Represent vector quantities using arrows.
2. Graphically and computationally solve vector problems using vector addition.
Example: You walk 30. km West and then 45 km North. What is your resultant
displacement? Sketch a vector diagram. Be sure to calculate both a
magnitude and a direction.
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 7
Balanced Forces
1. Describe and give examples of Newton's 1st Law.
2. Given a diagram or a written description of the forces acting on an object:
a. draw a force diagram for the object
b. resolve the forces into horizontal and vertical components, then find the vector
sum of the forces.
c. state whether the velocity of the object is constant or changing.
1. State and give an example of Newton's 1st Law.
2. Use the force of gravity equation
an object.
Examples:
a. Calculate the
force of gravity
acting on a 20. kg
box.
F
g
 mg  to relate the mass and the weight of
b. How much mass is in a
box that weighs 250 N?
c. How much does a 300. N
box weigh?
3. Draw and label a force diagram that correctly depicts the forces acting on a given
object.
Examples:
a. A stapler sits motionless on
a desk.
25
c. A box sits motionless on a
ramp.
b. A hover disk slides across the floor at
constant speed.
d. The boy pushes the mower at
constant speed.
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
e. A man stands in an elevator
that accelerates upward.
page 8
f. A car moving to the left slows to a
stop.
4. Use Newton’s First Law to analyze the forces acting on a non-accelerating
object.
Example: A 50. kg box is pulled across the floor at a constant velocity by a 75 N
force.
a. Draw and label a b. Calculate the force of
c. Calculate the normal
force diagram of
kinetic friction between
force acting on the box.
the box.
the box and the floor.
5. Use trig to analyze the forces acting on objects on inclines as well as applied
forces that act at angles.
Examples:
a. What force must be applied to a 6.0 kg
box to pull it up a 25 degree
frictionless incline at a constant speed?
Draw a force diagram.
6.0 kg
25
FA
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 9
FA = ?
b. A 10.5 kg box is pulled at a 50. angle
and a constant speed across the
floor as in the diagram below. The
force of kinetic friction between the
box and the floor is 22 N.
i.
Draw a force diagram of
the box.
10.5 kg
50.
ii. With what force must the box be
pulled?
iii. Calculate the normal force acting upon the box.
Uniform Acceleration
1. You should be able to determine the instantaneous velocity of an object in two ways:

a. determining the slope of the tangent to an x vs. t graph at a given point.
b. using the appropriate kinematic equation.
2. You should be able to determine the displacement of an object in two ways:

a. finding the area under a v vs. t curve
b. using the appropriate kinematic equation.
3. You should be able to determine the acceleration of an object in three ways:

a. finding the slope of a v vs. t graph

 v
b. using the mathematical model a 
t
c. using the appropriate kinematic equation.

4. Given a x vs. t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the
position, direction of motion, velocity)
 object (starting

b. draw the corresponding v vs. t and a vs. t graphs


c. draw a motion map for the object (including v and a vectors)
d. determine the instantaneous velocity of the object at a given time
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 10

5. Given a v vs. t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the object (direction of motion, acceleration)


b. draw the corresponding x vs. t and a vs. t graphs


c. draw a motion map for the object (including v and a vectors)
d. write a mathematical model to describe the motion
e. determine the acceleration
f. determine the displacement for a given time interval
1. Compare the displacement, final velocity, and acceleration of an object moving
with constant velocity and uniform acceleration.
Example: How do the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of object A

compare to object B at 3 s? How do you know?
x (m)
3
A
B
t (s )
Velocity (m/s)

 v

2. Determine the acceleration of an object from a v vs. t graph. a 
t
Example: Determine the acceleration of the object whose motion is depicted
below. Also, write the math model for the motion depicted in the graph and
state the specific meaning of the slope and the y-intercept.
8
12
t (s)
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1

3. Given a x vs. t or


x vs. t , v vs. t or
page 11

v vs. t graph, predict the shape of the corresponding

a vs. t graphs.
Example: Draw the corresponding graphs based upon the information provided
in the given graph and sketch a motion map for each.


x
x

x
t

v
t
t

v
t

a

v
t
t

a
t

x

a
t
t

x

x
4. Use the following kinematic equations to solve problems of uniform acceleration:
 

 2 
    

  
1  
v  vo  at , x  xo  (v  vo )t , x  xo  vo t  1 2 at , v 2  vo2  2a ( x  xo )
2
Examples:
a. A car starts from rest and travels 100. m in 4.0 s. Determine the
acceleration of the car.
b. A runner whose acceleration is 1.2 m
i.
How fast will she be
running at the end of the
5.0 s?
starts from rest and runs for 5.0 s.
s2
ii. How far will she have run?
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 12
Net Force


1. Use Newton's 2nd Law to qualitatively describe the relationship between F, m, and a .
(e.g., if you double the mass, the acceleration will…)



2. Given a v vs. t graph, draw the corresponding a vs. t and F vs. t graphs.
3. Determine the net force acting on an object by:
a. drawing a force diagram for an object given a written description of the forces
acting on it.
b. resolving forces into horizontal and vertical components, then finding the vector
sum of the forces.
c. analysis of the kinematic behavior of the object.
4. Solve quantitative problems involving forces, mass and acceleration using Newton's
2nd Law.
a. Having determined the net force (as in #3), and given the mass, find the
acceleration.
b. Use the kinematic equations to determine the velocity or displacement of the
object, once the uniform acceleration is known.
5. State Newton's 3rd Law; apply it in situations in which you are trying to determine all
the forces acting on an object.
1. Demonstrate your knowledge of Newton's 2nd law by predicting the effect of
changing the force or mass on the acceleration of an object.
Examples
a. Sketch the graphs which show the relationships between acceleration and
force and between acceleration and mass.
 s

am
 s

am
2
2

F (N )
b. State the relationship between



i. a and F
ii. a and m

with constant m
with constant F
m(kg)
 
iii. a , F and m
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 13
c. If the same force is applied to two objects, one of mass 10 kg and the other of
mass 20 kg, how do their accelerations compare? Explain.
d. Compare the acceleration a hockey puck experiences when first 5 N and then
10 N of force is applied.
2. Given two of the three variables (F, m or a) solve problems for the missing variable.
Example: Two chunks of dry ice rest on a smooth table top. One has a mass of
1.0 kg , the other is 2.0 kg. A 4.0 N force is applied to each for 4.0 s.
i. Draw a force diagram of
ii. What is the acceleration of each
each chunk.
chunk?
iii. Compute the velocity of
each chunk at the end of
4.0 s.
iv. Compute the displacement of each
chunk at the end of 4.0 s.
3. Draw and label force diagrams for objects experiencing multiple forces, and use
Newton’s 2nd Law to solve for acceleration or force.
Examples
a. A cable applies a 10 000 N force upward force onto a 600. kg elevator.
i. Draw and label a
ii. Is the elevator accelerating? Justify your
force diagram of the
answer.
elevator.
iii. Calculate the acceleration of
the elevator.
iv. If you were in the elevator, how
would you feel? (Lighter, heavier or
normal) Justify your answer.
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 14
b. The same elevator is now accelerating downward at 3.0 m
i.
Draw and label a
force diagram of the
elevator.
s2
ii. Compare the magnitudes of the forces acting
on the elevator. How do you know?
iii. Calculate the new tension in
the cable.
iv. If you were in the elevator, how
would you feel? (Lighter, heavier or
normal) Justify your answer.
c. A cart of mass 50. kg is pulled by a 300. N force. The coefficient of kinetic friction
between the cart and the ground is 0.27.
i. Draw and label a
ii. Calculate the normal force and then the force
force diagram of the
of kinetic friction acting on the cart.
cart.
iii. What is the acceleration of
the system?
iv. What would happen to the normal
force, the force of kinetic friction
and the acceleration if the mass of
the box is doubled?
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 15
15
d. A 9.0 kg box sits at the top of a frictionless ramp.
i. Draw and label a
ii. What component of the box's weight is acting
force diagram of the
parallel to the ramp?
box.
iii. What is the acceleration of
the box down the ramp?
iv. Compare the normal force to the
force of gravity. Justify your
answer.
4. State and give an example, using force diagrams, of Newton's 3 rd Law.
Example: A horse exerts a 500 N force on a heavy wagon, causing it to accelerate.
What force does the wagon exert on the horse?
Projectile Motion
1. Use video analysis techniques to produce position-time and velocity-time graphs
which represent the behavior of an object moving in two dimensions.
2. Determine which model (balanced force or constant net force) is appropriate to
describe the horizontal and vertical motion of an object.
3. Draw a motion map for an object undergoing projectile motion, with velocity and
acceleration vectors for both dimensions.
4. Draw a force diagram for an object undergoing projectile motion.
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 16
5. Given information about the initial velocity and height of a projectile determine
a. the time of flight,
b. the point where the projectile lands
c. velocity at impact
6. Explain what effect the mass of a projectile has on its time of flight.
1. Given the initial velocity and position information of a projectile, determine its
velocity, acceleration and position at a given instant.
Examples
a. If an object, falling from rest, takes 4.0 s to reach the ground.
i. How fast is it going at impact?
ii. From what height was it dropped?
b. If the same object were thrown downwards at 10. m , what would be the answers
s
to (i) and (ii) above?
c. A ball is thrown upward at an initial speed of 40. m .
s
i. How long will it
ii. How far above the
iii. How long will the ball
take to reach the
ground will it be?
be in the air?
top of its path?
1st Semester Review AP Physics 1
page 17
2. Given the height of an object, and its horizontal velocity, predict its location at a
given instant, including the point of impact with the ground.
Examples
a. A 5 kg bowling ball rolls off the horizontal roof of a 50. m building at 12 m .
s
i. How long does it take the ball
ii. How far from the building does it
to reach the ground?
hit?
iii. Draw a motion map (with horizontal and vertical velocity vectors) representing
the path the ball takes on its way to the ground.
b. A ball is kicked 20. m
i.
at 35°.
s
How long does it take the ball
to reach the ground?
ii. How far does the ball travel?
iii. What are the ball’s horizontal velocity,
vertical velocity, horizontal acceleration,
and vertical acceleration at its highest
point?
iv. What are the ball’s
horizontal velocity and
acceleration after 1.0 s?