AP PHYSICS C: MECHANICS
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
1.
A small sphere is thrown through the air and follows the parabolic path shown in the figure. Point is the highest
point the sphere reaches. Assuming air resistance is negligible, which of the following claims is true of the sphere
while it is in motion?
(A) The vertical component of the sphere’s velocity is at a maximum at point
(B)
The horizontal component of the sphere’s velocity is zero at point
(C)
The acceleration of the sphere is constant.
.
.
(D) The sphere’s speed is constant.
(E)
The displacement of the sphere is zero at point
.
The speed v of an automobile moving on a straight road is given in meters per second as a function of time t in seconds by
the following equation:
v( t ) = 4 + 2t3
2.
What is the acceleration of the automobile at t = 2 s?
(A) 12 m/s2
(B)
16 m/s2
(C)
20 m/s2
(D) 24 m/s2
(E)
28 m/s2
A ball of mass 2.0 kg is thrown vertically upward from the top of a building. The ball’s velocity v is given as a function of
time t by the equation v(t) = R - St, where R = 5 m/s and S = 10 m/s2. The positive direction is upward.
3.
What is the ball’s acceleration at time t = 1 s?
(A) -10 m/s2
(B)
-5 m/s2
(C)
0
(D) 5 m/s2
(E)
10 m/s2
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
4.
At what time does the ball reach its maximum height above the building?
(A) 0.2 s
(B)
0.4 s
(C)
0.5 s
(D) 1.0 s
(E)
2.0 s
5.
An object is thrown with velocity v from the edge of a cliff above level ground. Neglect air resistance. In order for
the object to travel a maximum horizontal distance from the cliff before hitting the ground, the throw should be at
an angle ⯑ with respect to the horizontal of
(A) greater than 60° above the horizontal
(B)
greater than 45° but less than 60° above the horizontal
(C)
greater than zero but less than 45° above the horizontal
(D) zero
(E)
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greater than zero but less than 45° below the horizontal
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
An object is moving along a straight line. The object’s velocity as a function of time is shown in the graph above.
6.
The object has a speed of 2 m/s at which of the following times?
(A) 1 s only
(B)
6 s only
(C)
9 s only
(D) 4 s and 10 s only
(E)
1 s, 6 s, and 9 s
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
7.
The graph above shows velocity as a function of time for an object moving in a straight line. What is the average
acceleration of the object during the first seconds?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
8.
A student is testing the kinematic equations for uniformly accelerated motion by measuring the time it takes for
light-weight plastic balls to fall to the floor from a height of 3 m in the lab. The student predicts the time to fall
using g as 9.80 m/s2 but finds the measured time to be 35% greater. Which of the following is the most likely cause
of the large percent error?
(A) The acceleration due to gravity is 70% greater than 9.80 m/s2 at this location.
(B)
The acceleration due to gravity is 70% less than 9.80 m/s2 at this location.
(C)
Air resistance increases the downward acceleration.
(D) The acceleration of the plastic balls is not uniform.
(E)
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The plastic balls are not truly spherical.
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
A ball is thrown and follows a parabolic path, as shown above. Air friction is negligible. Point Q is the highest point on
the path.
9.
Which of the following best indicates the direction of the acceleration, if any, of the ball at point Q?
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
10.
There is no acceleration of the ball at point Q.
mark. It then moves toward the origin with increasing
A particle is initially at rest on the -axis at the
speed. Which of the following correctly indicates the proper sign of its velocity and acceleration?
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AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
Velocity
Acceleration
Negative
Positive
Velocity
Acceleration
Negative
Negative
Velocity
Acceleration
Positive
Positive
Velocity
Acceleration
Positive
Negative
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Velocity
Acceleration
Opposite the acceleration, but the sign cannot be
Opposite the velocity, but the sign cannot be
determined
determined
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
11.
Cars and are moving in opposite directions along a straight road. They pass each other at time
velocities are given as a function of time in the graph above. The distance between the cars at
. Their
is
(A) Zero
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
12.
An object is dropped from rest from the top of a 400 m cliff on Earth. If air resistance is negligible, what is the
distance the object travels during the first 6 s of its fall?
(A) 30 m
(B)
60 m
(C)
120 m
(D) 180 m
(E)
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360 m
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
13.
A 500-kilogram sports car accelerates uniformly from rest, reaching a speed of 30 meters per second in 6 seconds.
During the 6 seconds, the car has traveled a distance of
(A) 15 m
(B)
30 m
(C)
60 m
(D) 90 m
(E)
14.
180 m
At time t = 0 , a ball is thrown with initial speed v0 at an angle θ above the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible.
Which of the following best represents the speed of the ball as a function of time t while the ball is in flight?
(A) v0 sinθ - gt
(B)
v0 cosθ - gt
(C)
(D)
(E)
15.
An object of unknown mass is initially at rest and dropped from a height h. It reaches the ground with a velocity .
The same object is then raised again to the same height h but this time is thrown downward with velocity . It now
reaches the ground with a new velocity . How is
related to ?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
16.
The graph above shows the speed of a car on a horizontal road as a function of time for
distance traveled by the car during this time interval is most nearly
seconds. The
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
A ball is struck at time t = 0 and follows the parabolic path shown in the diagram above. The following graphs show
quantities possibly associated with the motion as a function of time t. Assume that air resistance is negligible and that the
positive directions are upward and to the right.
17.
Which graph represents the horizontal component of the velocity of the ball?
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AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
18.
Which graph represents the vertical component of the velocity of the ball?
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
19.
An object is thrown vertically upward in a region where g is constant and air resistance is negligible. Its speed is
recorded from the moment it leaves the thrower’s hand until it reaches its maximum height. Which of the following
graphs best represents the object’s speed u versus time t ?
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AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
A rock is thrown from the edge of a cliff with an initial velocity v0 at an angle ⯑ with the horizontal as shown above.
Point P is the highest point in the rock’s trajectory and point Q is level with the starting point. Assume air resistance is
negligible.
20.
Which of the following correctly describes the horizontal and vertical speeds and the acceleration of the rock at
point Q ?
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AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
Horizontal Speed
Vertical Speed
Acceleration
v0 cos ⯑
0
g
Horizontal Speed
Vertical Speed
Acceleration
0
0
g
Horizontal Speed
Vertical Speed
Acceleration
v0 cos ⯑
0
0
Horizontal Speed
Vertical Speed
Acceleration
v0 cos ⯑
v0 sin ⯑
g
Horizontal Speed
Vertical Speed
Acceleration
0
v0 cos ⯑
0
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
21.
The position of an object is given by the equation x = 3.0 t2 + 1.5 t + 4.5, where x is in meters and t is in seconds.
What is the instantaneous acceleration of the object at t = 3.0 s?
(A) 3.0 m/s2
(B)
6.0 m/s2
(C)
9.0 m/s2
(D) 19.5 m/s2
(E)
22.
36 m/s2
A spring-loaded gun can fire a projectile to a height h if it is fired straight up. If the same gun is pointed at an angle
of 45° from the vertical, what maximum height can now be reached by the projectile?
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
23.
h
In the absence of air friction, an object dropped near the surface of the Earth experiences a constant acceleration of
about 9.8 m/s2. This means that the
(A) speed of the object increases 9.8 m/s during each second
(B)
speed of the object as it falls is 9.8 m/s
(C)
object falls 0.9 meters during each second
(D) object falls 9.8 meters during the first second only
(E)
derivative of the distance with respect to time for the object equals 9.8 m/s2
24.
A plane is moving horizontally through the sky with speed . A package is dropped from the plane and travels a
horizontal distance from the point of release to where it lands on a target. If air resistance is negligible, the height
from which the package is released is
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
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AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
25.
A student throws a metal sphere, which follows the path shown above. If air resistance is negligible, which of the
following is a correct relationship between the magnitudes of the accelerations aK , aL , and aM at the three points
shown?
(A) aK = aL = aM
(B) aK = aL > aM
(C)
aK = aM > aL
(D) aK > aL = aM
(E) aK > aM > aL
26.
Two objects are dropped from rest from the same height. Object A falls through a distance dA during a time t, and
object B falls through a distance dB during a time 2t. If air resistance is negligible, what is the relationship between
dA and dB ?
(A)
(B)
(C)
dA = 2dB
(D) dA = 4dB
(E) It cannot be determined from the information given.
27.
A cannonball is shot from the top of a 30 m high hill at a velocity of 25 m/s and at an angle of 40° above the
horizontal and lands on the ground below. The speed of the cannonball at the top of its path is most nearly
(A) 0
(B)
16 m/s
(C)
19 m/s
(D) 25 m/s
(E)
29 m/s
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
28.
A target T lies flat on the ground 3 m from the side of a building that is 10 m tall, as shown above. A student rolls a
ball off the horizontal roof of the building in the direction of the target. Air resistance is negligible. The horizontal
speed with which the ball must leave the roof if it is to strike the target is most nearly
(A)
m/s
(B)
m/s
(C)
m/s
(D) 3 m/s
(E)
29.
m/s
A car is traveling down the highway at speed v when the driver slams on the brakes and skids to a stop in a distance
d. Assuming the same frictional force, how far would the car slide if its speed was 2v ?
(A) d/4
(B)
d/2
(C)
d
(D) 2d
(E)
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4d
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Test Booklet
Unit 1 Test - Kinematics
30.
A student throws a projectile horizontally at a target a horizontal distance away. The projectile is released from a
above the ground and strikes the target a height below the release point, as shown above. Which of the
height
following indicates the values that must be known for a student to calculate the initial speed of the projectile?
(A)
only
(B)
only
(C)
and
only
(D)
and
only
(E)
, , and
AP Physics C: Mechanics
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