AP Physics 1 Free Response Question for Kinematics
👋 Welcome to theAP Physics Unit 1 FRQ (Kinematics).These are longer questions, so grab some paper and a pencil, or open up a blank page on your computer. After you finish, you can see how you did withUnit 1 FRQ (Kinematics) Answers.
⏱ The AP Physics 1 exam has 5 free-response questions, and you will be given 90 minutes to complete the FRQ section. (This means you should give yourself ~18 minutes to go through each practice FRQ.)
🤔 Need a quick refresher of the unit as a whole? Check out theUnit 1 Overview.
😩 Getting stumped halfway through answering? Look through all of the availableUnit 1 Resources.
Learning Objectives and Science Practices
3.A.1.1 Express the motion of an object using narrative, mathematical, and graphical representations. [SP 1.5, 2.1, 2.2]
4.A.2.1 Make predictions about the motion of a system based on the fact that acceleration is equal to the change in velocity per unit time, and velocity is equal to the change in position per unit time. [SP 6.4]
4.A.2.3 Create mathematical models and analyze graphical relationships for acceleration, velocity, and position of the center of mass of a system and use them to calculate properties of the motion of the center of mass of a system. [SP 1.4, 2.2]
Reference Video
Flipping Physics: Walking Position, Velocity and Acceleration as a Function of Time Graphs
Setup
A student of mass m stands on a platform scale in an elevator in a tall building. The positive direction for all vector quantities is upward. The vertical position of an elevator as a function of time is shown below. The velocity at 6 seconds is -30 m/s.
Questions
(a) On the grid below, plot the velocity of the elevator as a function of time.
(b) Calculate the average acceleration for the time period t = 2s to t = 4s.
Setup
An inspector provides the student with the following graph showing the acceleration (a) of the elevator as a function of time (t).
Questions
(c) During what time interval(s) is the speed of the elevator constant? How do you know?
Answers & Rubric
💯 Ready to see how you did? Take a look at the Unit 1 FRQ (Kinematics) Answers.
Acceleration: Acceleration refers to the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It can be positive (speeding up), negative (slowing down), or zero (constant speed).
AP Physics 1 exam: The AP Physics 1 exam is a standardized test that assesses students' understanding of introductory physics concepts. It consists of multiple-choice questions and free-response questions.
Average acceleration: Average acceleration is the rate at which an object changes its velocity over time. It is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time interval during which the change occurs.
Center of mass: The center of mass is the point in an object or system where its mass can be considered to be concentrated. It is the average position of all the parts of the object, weighted according to their masses.
Graphical Representations: Graphical representations in physics involve using graphs to visually represent data or relationships between variables. They help us interpret information more easily and identify patterns or trends.
Kinematics: Kinematics is the branch of physics that describes motion without considering its causes. It focuses on concepts such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
Mathematical models: Mathematical models are representations of real-world phenomena using mathematical equations and formulas. They allow scientists and engineers to make predictions, analyze data, and understand complex systems.
Mathematical Representations: Mathematical representations in physics refer to the use of equations and formulas to describe physical phenomena. These representations allow us to quantitatively analyze and predict the behavior of objects and systems.
Position: Position refers to the location of an object in relation to a reference point.
Vector quantities: Vector quantities are physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction. They are represented by arrows, where the length represents magnitude and the direction represents orientation.
Velocity: Velocity refers to the rate at which an object changes its position in a specific direction. It includes both speed and direction.
Walking Position, Velocity, and Acceleration as a Function of Time Graphs: These graphs show how an object's position, velocity, and acceleration change over time while walking. The position graph represents the distance traveled at each moment, the velocity graph shows how fast the person is moving at each moment, and the acceleration graph indicates changes in speed.
