ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C TABLE OF INFORMATION

CONSTANTS AND CONVERSION FACTORS

27 19
Proton mass, m p 1.67 10 kg Electron charge magnitude, e 1.60 10 C
27 19
Neutron mass, mn 1.67 10 kg 1 electron volt, 1 eV 1.60 10 J
31
Electron mass, me 9.11 10 kg Speed of light, c 3.00 108 m s
Universal gravitational 11
N m2 kg 2
Avogadro’s number, N 0 6.02 10 23 mol 1 G 6.67 10
constant,
Acceleration due to gravity
Universal gas constant, R 8.31 J (mol K)
at Earth’s surface, g 9.8 m s2
23
Boltzmann’s constant, k B 1.38 10 J K
27
1 unified atomic mass unit, 1u 1.66 10 kg 931 MeV c 2
Planck’s constant, 34 15
h 6.63 10 Js 4.14 10 eV s
25 3
hc 1.99 10 Jm 1.24 10 eV nm
12 2 2
Vacuum permittivity, e0 8.85 10 C Nm

Coulomb’s law constant, k 1 4 pe0 9.0 109 N m 2 C2

7
Vacuum permeability, m0 4p 10 (T m) A
7
Magnetic constant, k m0 4 p 1 10 (T m) A
1 atmosphere pressure, 1 atm 1.0 105 N m 2 1.0 105 Pa

meter, m mole, mol watt, W farad, F

kilogram, kg hertz, Hz coulomb, C tesla, T
UNIT second, s newton, N volt, V degree Celsius, C
SYMBOLS
ampere, A pascal, Pa ohm, W electron volt, eV
kelvin, K joule, J henry, H

PREFIXES VALUES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS FOR COMMON ANGLES

Factor Prefix Symbol q 0 30 37 45 53 60 90
109 giga G sin q 0 12 35 2 2 45 3 2 1
106 mega M cos q 1 3 2 45 2 2 35 12 0
103 kilo k tan q 0 3 3 34 1 43 3
2 centi c
10
10 3 milli m The following assumptions are used in this exam.
10 6 micro m I. The frame of reference of any problem is inertial unless otherwise
stated.
10 9 nano n II. The direction of current is the direction in which positive charges
10 12 pico p would drift.
III. The electric potential is zero at an infinite distance from an isolated
point charge.
IV. All batteries and meters are ideal unless otherwise stated.
V. Edge effects for the electric field of a parallel plate capacitor are
negligible unless otherwise stated.
 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C EQUATIONS

MECHANICS ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Ãx Ãx 0 ax t a = acceleration 1 q1q2 A = area
E= energy FE B = magnetic field
1 2 4pe0 r 2
x x0 Ãx 0 t at F = force C = capacitance
2 x
f = frequency FE d = distance
Ãx2 Ãx 0 2 2ax x x0 E
h = height q E = electric field
F Fnet
I = rotational inertia e = emf
a J = impulse Q F = force
m m E dA
K = kinetic energy e0 I = current
dp k = spring constant J = current density
F = length dV L = inductance
dt Ex
L = angular momentum dx
= length
J F dt Dp m= mass DV E dr n = number of loops of wire
P = power per unit length
p mv p = momentum N = number of charge carriers
1 qi per unit volume
r = radius or distance V
4pe0 i
ri P = power
Ff m FN T = period
t = time Q = charge
1 q1q2 q = point charge
U= potential energy UE qV
DE W F dr 4pe0 r R = resistance
v = velocity or speed
1 2 W= work done on a system r = radius or distance
K mà Q
2 x = position DV t = time
C
m = coefficient of friction U = potential or stored energy
dE k e0 A V= electric potential
P q = angle C
dt d
t = torque v = velocity or speed
w = angular speed r = resistivity
P F v Cp Ci
a = angular acceleration i F = flux
DUg mg Dh f = phase angle k = dielectric constant
1 1
Fs kDx Cs i Ci
FM qv B
Ã2 2
ac w r
r 1 2 dQ B d m0 I
Us k Dx I
2 dt
t r F
x xmax cos( wt f m0 I d r
1 1 2 dB
t t net UC QDV C DV 4p r 2
a 2 2
I I 2p 1
T r
w f R F I d B
A
I r 2 dm mr 2
m Bs m0 nI
Ts 2p E rJ
k
mi xi
x cm I Nevd A FB B dA
mi
Tp 2p
g
à rw DV d FB
I e E d
Gm1m2 R dt
FG
L r p Iw r2 Rs Ri dI
e L
1 2 Gm1m2 i dt
K Iw UG
2 r 1 1 1 2
UL LI
Rp i Ri 2
w w0 at

1 2 P I DV
q q0 w0 t at
2
 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C EQUATIONS

GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY CALCULUS!

Rectangle A = area df d f du
A bh C = circumference dx du dx
V = volume
Triangle d n 1
S = surface area x nx n
1 dx
A bh b = base
2 h = height d ax
e aeax
Circle = length dx

A pr2 w = width d 1
ln ax
r = radius dx x
C 2p r s = arc length d
s rq q = angle sin ax a cos ax
dx
Rectangular Solid
d
V wh cos ax a sin ax
dx
Cylinder s
1
r x n dx xn 1, n 1!
V pr 2
q n 1
1 ax
S 2p r 2p r 2 eax dx e
a
Sphere
dx
4 3 ln x a
V pr x a
3
1
2 cos ax dx sin ax
S 4p r a
1
sin ax dx cos ax
Right Triangle a
a2 b2 c2
VECTOR PRODUCTS!
a
sin q
c AB AB cos q
c a
b A B AB sin q
cos q
c q 90°
b
a
tan q
b
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PHYSICS C: MECHANICS
SECTION I
Time—45 minutes
35 Questions

Directions: Each of the questions or incomplete statements below is followed by five suggested answers or
completions. Select the one that is best in each case and then fill in the corresponding circle on the answer sheet.

Note: To simplify calculations, you may use g = 10 m/ s2 in all problems.

1. Cars A and B are moving in opposite directions

along a straight road. They pass each other at time
t = 0. Their velocities v are given as a function of
time t in the graph above. The distance between
the cars at t = 8 s is
(A) Zero
(B) 24 m
(C) 48 m
⑨
(D) 96 m
(E) 192 m

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2. A particle is moving along the y-axis. The

particle’s position as a function of time is
given by y = α t 3 − β t + φ , where α = 1 m s3 ,
β = 4 m s , and φ = 3 m . What is the particle’s
acceleration at time t = 3.0 s?

O
(A) 6.0 m s2
(B) 9.0 m s2 32E -

B 3. Two stones, represented in the figure above, are

thrown from the same height with the same initial
(C) 18 m s2 speed. Stone A is thrown vertically downward and
(D) 23 m s 2
ext stone B is thrown horizontally. If the stones are
thrown at the same time and air resistance is
(E) 27 m s 2 6L negligible, which of the following is true?
(A) The two stones will reach the ground at the

Y
same time with the same speed.
(B) The two stones will reach the ground at the
same time but with different speeds.
(C) Stone A will reach the ground first, but stone
B will have the greater speed just before
hitting the ground.
X(D) Stone A will reach the ground first, but the
two stones will have the same speed just
before they hit the ground.
X(E) Stone A will reach the ground first, and will
have the greater speed just before hitting the
ground.

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Questions 4-6 Questions 7-8

(7) a
E
Ge T
9-
2
·

A car moves in a straight line along the x-axis.

The velocity of the car v x as a function of time t is
A car is traveling clockwise around a circular
racetrack of radius 1440 m. When the car is at the shown in the graph above. The position x of the car
northernmost point on the circle, as shown above, it at t = 0 is x = 0.
has a speed of 36.0 m s and is slowing down at a
rate of 1.20 m s 2 .
7. The average acceleration a x of the car during the
4. The direction of the velocity of the car is interval of 0 to 10 s is most nearly
-
(A) due east (A) −2.0 m s 2
(B)
(C)
south of east
due south -
(B) −0.40 m s 2

(D) south of west (C) +0.40 m s 2

(E) due west
(D) +1.0 m s2
5. The direction of the acceleration of the car is
(E) +2.0 m s 2
(A) due east
~
(B) south of east 8. The average velocity of the car during the interval
(C) due south of 0 to 10 s is most nearly
(D) south of west
(E) due west (A) −1.4 m s
-
(B) +0.40 m s
6. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of (C) +1.4 m s
the car?
(D) +1.8 m s
(A) 0.30 m s 2 (E) +4.0 m s
(B) 0.90 m s 2
(C) 1.2 m s 2
-
(D) 1.5 m s2
(E) 2.1 m s 2

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9. Two blocks rest on a table, as shown above.

The bottom block is pulled to the right by an
applied force F that is strong enough so that the
two blocks do not move together (i.e., they do not
have the same acceleration or velocity). There is
friction between the blocks, but the tabletop is
frictionless. When the top block leaves the
bottom block, where does it land and why?
(A) The top block will land directly below where
it starts because objects at rest tend to stay
at rest.
(B) The top block will land to the left of where it
starts because of the static friction between
the blocks.
(C) The top block will land to the left of where it
starts because of the kinetic friction between
the blocks.
(D) The top block will land to the right of where
it starts because of the static friction

V
between the blocks.
(E) The top block will land to the right of where
it starts because of the kinetic friction
between the blocks.

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10. A sphere of mass m is dropped from the top of a building and reaches the ground before achieving terminal
velocity. The force of air resistance that acts on the sphere as it falls is given by F = −kv , where k is a positive
constant and v is the velocity of the sphere. What happens to the magnitude of the sphere’s velocity and
acceleration, and to the distance it falls during each second, as the sphere approaches the ground?
Magnitude of Velocity Magnitude of Acceleration Distance of Fall Each Second
(A) Increases Increases Increases
~
(B) Increases Decreases Increases
(C) Increases Decreases Decreases
(D) Decreases Increases Decreases
(E) Decreases Decreases Increases

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Questions 11-12 Questions 13-14

An object of mass 0.5 kg is given an initial velocity

and then slides across a horizontal surface. The object
experiences a resistive force that is a function of
velocity. The velocity v of the object as a function
of time t is given by v ( t ) = α e − β t , where
α = 2 m s and β = 3 s −1 .
-

11. Which of the following is a correct expression

for the net force, in newtons, exerted on the object
as a function of time?
Cart A is traveling east when it collides with
(A) -6e -3t cart B, which is traveling north. Cart A has a
-
(B) -3e -3t mass of 3.05 kg, and cart B has a mass of 2.10 kg.
The two carts travel together as a single object on a

>
(C) e -3t horizontal surface at an angle θ relative to due east,
(D) 2e -3t as shown above.
2
(E)
(
3 1 - e -3t ) 13. In one trial, the initial speed of cart A is 2.5 m s

12. The energy dissipated due to the resistive force and the initial speed of cart B is 1.5 m s . The
after a very long time is most nearly angle θ relative to east that the carts travel after
the collision is most nearly
(A) 0.5 J
~
(B) 1 J ~
(A) 22
&

5
(C) 2 J (B) 36
(D) 4 J
(E) infinity (C) 45 132 .

(D) 54
(E) 62

14. In another trial, the speed of the carts immediately

after the collision is 0.60 m s , and the carts slide
0.24 m on the horizontal surface before coming to
rest. The coefficient of kinetic friction between
the sliding carts and the surface is most nearly
-
6usy
(A) 0.08
(B) 0.13
(C) 0.19
(D) 0.25
(E) 0.75
20 .

24xg

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03
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Questions 15-17 16. Which of the following is a correct expression for

the coefficient of kinetic friction m ?
kx0
(A)
4mg
kx0

i
(B)
2mg
3kx0
A block of mass m is on a rough horizontal surface (C)
and is attached to a spring with spring constant k. 4mg
The coefficient of kinetic friction between the kx0
(D)
surface and the block is m . When the block is at mg
-kx +
position x = 0, the spring is at its unstretched length. 2kx0
ma =
umg
The block is pulled to position x = +x0 , as shown (E)
mg
above, and released from rest. The block then travels
to the left and passes through x = 0 before coming 17. Which of the following is a differential
momentarily to rest at position x = - x0 2 . equation that could be used to solve for the
block’s position x as a function of time t when it
is moving to the left?
15. Which of the following is a correct expression
d 2x
for the kinetic energy of the block as it first (A) m = kx + µ mg
travels through position x = 0? dt 2
(A) 0 d 2x
(B) m = kx − µ mg
(B) kx02 2 dt 2
2

~ (C) kx02 2 − µ mgx0 #

(C) m
d x
dt
= −kx + µ mg
2

(D) kx02 2 − 3µ mgx0 2 d2x

(D) m = −kx − µ mg
(E) kx02 2 − 2 µ mgx0 dt 2
d 2x
(E) m = kx
dt 2

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Questions 18-19 18. Which of the following is a correct expression

for v f ?

(A) gh
(B) vi2 + 2gh
m
--
In the diagram above, a block of mass M is initially (C)
(m + M ) i
v
at rest on a horizontal surface at the base of an
inclined plane. The surface and plane have negligible m
(D) v
friction. The block is struck by a projectile of mass m M i
traveling with a horizontal velocity vi . The projectile M
(E) v
becomes embedded in the block, and they move m i
together to the right with speed v f .
19. The block and projectile smoothly transition
onto the inclined plane. Which of the following
is a correct expression for the maximum height
that the block moves up the inclined plane in
terms of v f ?

-(A)
v 2f
2g
vf
(B)
2g
Mv 2f
(C)
2mg
2g
(D)
v 2f
2g
(E)
vf

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20. The net force F acting on an object that moves

along a straight line is given as a function of
time t by F (t ) = κ t 2 + τ , where κ = 1 N s 2
and τ = 1 N . What is the change in momentum
of the object from t = 0 s to t = 3 s? 21. Cart A of mass 2m is moving with velocity v
to the right on a horizontal frictionless track, as
(A) 6 kg m s shown above, when it collides with cart B of
(B) 10 kg m s mass m. Cart B is initially at rest, and the
~(C) 12 kg m s collision is perfectly elastic. Which of the
(D) 30 kg m s following best describes the motion of the carts
immediately after the collision?
(E) It cannot be determined without knowing the
initial momentum of the object. (A) Cart A is moving to the left, and cart B is
moving to the right.
(B) Cart A is moving to the left, and cart B
remains stationary.
(C) Cart A is stationary, and cart B is moving to
the right.
(D) Both carts move to the right, and they are
stuck together.

=
(E) Both carts move to the right, but they are not
stuck together.

Y =
2v -

W
=

4 - V
=
V -
O
3

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22. A ball of mass m is dropped from rest at a

height h and collides elastically with the floor,
rebounding to its original height. What is the
magnitude of the net impulse on the ball during
the collision with the floor?
(A) Zero
(B) m gh 23. A sphere starts from rest at the top of a ramp, as
(C) m 2gh shown above. It rolls without slipping down the
ramp. The potential energy of the sphere-Earth
(D) m 4gh system is zero at the bottom of the ramp. Which
of the following is true of the sphere when it
X
(E) m 8gh
reaches the bottom of the ramp?
(A) Its rotational kinetic energy equals the
initial potential energy of the sphere-Earth
system.
(B) Its translational kinetic energy equals the
initial potential energy of the sphere-Earth
system.
(C) Its translational kinetic energy and rotational
kinetic energy are equal.
~ (D) The sum of its translational kinetic energy
and rotational kinetic energy equals the
initial potential energy of the sphere-Earth
system.
(E) The sum of its translational kinetic energy
and rotational kinetic energy equals the
energy lost because of friction.

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↑

25. A satellite is in a circular orbit such that it

stays directly over the same point on Earth’s
equator. Which of the following must be true
for the satellite?
I. It must have a specific mass.

X II. It must have a specific altitude.

III. It must have a specific angular velocity.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
24. Two horizontal disks of mass M have the radii ~
(D) II and III only
shown above. Disk A is attached to an axle of (E) I, II, and III
negligible mass spinning freely with angular
velocity ω0 . Disk B, not attached to the axle and
initially held at rest, is released and drops down
onto disk A. When both disks spin together
without slipping, the angular velocity ω f of the

=
disks is
1
(A) ω
3 0
1
(B) ω

40 . But
2 0
2
(C) ω
3 0
4
5
~
(D) ω
5 0
2
(E) ω
-

5 0

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Questions 27-28

26. Spheres X, Y, and Z have the masses and

locations indicated in the figure above. What is
the magnitude of the net gravitational force on
sphere X due to the other two spheres?
Gm 2
(A)
2r 2
Gm 2
(B)
r2
11Gm 2
~
(C)
9r 2

5Gm 2
(D)
4r 2
Two identical satellites orbit a planet of
2Gm 2
(E) radius R in circular orbits A and C of radii 3R
r2 and 12R, respectively, as shown above.

27. How does the magnitude of the gravitational

force FA between the planet and satellite in
orbit A compare to the magnitude of the
gravitational force FC between the planet
and satellite in orbit C?
(A) FA = 2FC
(B) FA = 3FC
(C) FA = 4FC

-
(D) FA = 12FC
(E) FA = 16FC

28. The speed of the satellite in orbit A is v A .

The speed of the satellite in orbit C is vC .
The ratio v A vC is

(A) 12
(B) 11
~ (C) 21
(D) 41
(E) 12 1

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29. At the surface of Earth, an object is suspended by

two cords. One cord is horizontal and one cord is 31. A pendulum and a spring both have a 1 kg sphere
at an angle to the horizontal, as shown in the attached to their ends and have the same length
figure above. The tension in the horizontal cord is when in equilibrium, as shown in the figure
TH . If the assembly is moved to the surface of a above. They both oscillate with the same period.
If the 1 kg spheres are replaced with 2 kg spheres
-

planet with the same average density and twice

the radius of Earth, the new tension in the and the amplitudes of oscillation are unchanged,
horizontal cord will be which of the following is true about the resultant
period of oscillation for each?
(A) TH 2 Pendulum Spring
(B) TH 4 (A) Remains the same Decreases
(C) TH ~
(B) Remains the same Increases
(C) Remains the same Remains the same
~
(D) 2TH
(D) Increases Remains the same
(E) 4TH (E) Increases Increases

30. A space shuttle has a mass of 90,000 kg. In order

to stay in a circular orbit, it must have a velocity
of 8000 m s. The pilot discovers that the shuttle
has slowed down to 7900 m s, and the shuttle’s
speed needs to increase. If the thrusters exert a
constant force of 50,000 N, how long do the
thrusters have to exert this force in order to return
the shuttle to orbital velocity?
(A) 30 s
(B) 60 s
(C) 120 s
*
(D) 180 s
(E) 240 s

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Questions 32-34 33. For system A, when the block is halfway between
its release position and its equilibrium position,
the block’s kinetic energy is K and the elastic
potential energy of the spring-block system is U.
The ratio K U is

A
(A) 1 3
(B) 1 2
(C) 1 1
Systems A and B contain identical ideal springs
and identical blocks that can slide along a surface (D) 2 1
-
of negligible friction. In system A, the surface is
horizontal. In system B, the surface makes an
(E) 3 1
a
angle q with the horizontal. Initially, both blocks 34. A student wants to use an apparatus similar to
are at rest and in equilibrium. Each block is then system B to measure the acceleration due to
pulled the same distance d in the direction shown gravity g. If the mass of the block, the force
in the figures and released from rest at t = 0. constant of the spring, and the angle of the
incline are known, what additional data must be
measured to determine an experimental value
32. After the block in system A is released from rest, for g ?
the time for the block to first reach a maximum
I. The stretch of the spring at the equilibrium
speed is D tA . After the block in system B is position
released, the time for the block to first reach a II. The speed of the block as it passes the
maximum speed is equilibrium position
~
(A) D t A III. The time interval between two consecutive
passes through the equilibrium position
D t A (sin q )
(B)
(C) D t A (sin q )
~
(A) I only
(B) II only
(D) D t A (cosq ) (C) I and II
(E) D t A (cosq ) (D) II and III
(E) I and III

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35. A 2.0 kg block is attached to a string that passes

over a pulley and is attached to an ideal spring
of spring constant k = 100 N m, as shown
above. The pulley and string have negligible
mass, and there is negligible friction in the pulley.
The block is held in place with the spring at its
original unstretched length and then released from
rest. The amplitude of the resulting oscillation is
most nearly
(A) 4.0 cm
(B) 2.0 cm
(C) 10 cm
~
(D) 20 cm
(E) 40 cm

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