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🎡AP Physics 1
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🎡AP Physics 1

FRQ 3 – Experimental Design
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Unit 1: Kinematics
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Practice FRQ 1 of 151/15

3. Students are investigating the motion of a small ball launched horizontally from a table and traveling through the air before landing on the floor.

Figure 1. Horizontal launch from a table: definition of drop height H and horizontal range R.

Figure 1

Figure 2. Angled launch: definition of launch angle α and velocity components v₀x and v₀y.

Figure 2
A.

Describe an experimental procedure to collect data that would allow the students to determine v0v_0v0​. Include any steps necessary to reduce experimental uncertainty.

B.

Describe how the data collected in part A could be graphed and how that graph would be analyzed to determine v0v_0v0​.

Drop height hhh (m)

Measured horizontal range RRR (m)

0.200

0.514

0.300

0.628

0.400

0.730

0.500

0.827

0.600

0.904

C.

The students modify the experiment by placing a rigid block under one end of the launcher so that the ball still leaves from the table edge but the vertical drop distance to the floor is reduced. For each trial, the students measure the vertical drop distance hhh from the launch point to the floor and the horizontal range RRR. The value of hhh is changed by placing spacers of different thicknesses under the launcher.

Table 1 shows the measured values of hhh and RRR.

The students correctly determine that the relationship between RRR and hhh is R=v02hgR = v_0\sqrt{\frac{2h}{g}}R=v0​g2h​​.

The students create a graph with h\sqrt{h}h​ plotted on the horizontal axis.

i.

Indicate what measured or calculated quantity could be plotted on the vertical axis to yield a linear graph whose slope can be used to calculate an experimental value for v0v_0v0​.

Vertical axis: Horizontal axis: h\sqrt{h}h​

ii.

On the blank grid provided, create a graph of the quantities indicated in part C(i) that can be used to determine v0v_0v0​.

•

Use Table 2 to record the data points or calculated quantities that you will plot.

•

Clearly label the vertical axis, including units as appropriate.

•

Plot the points you recorded in Table 2.

iii.

Draw a straight best-fit line for the data graphed in part C(ii).

D.

Using the best-fit line that you drew in part C(iii), calculate an experimental value for v0v_0v0​. A best-fit line is drawn for the graph of RRR versus h\sqrt{h}h​. The slope of the best-fit line is measured to be S=1.15 m1/2S = 1.15\ \text{m}^{1/2}S=1.15 m1/2. Assume g=9.80 m/s2g = 9.80\ \text{m/s}^2g=9.80 m/s2.

Timed

00:00

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This practice environment simulates the AP AP Physics 1 Free Response Questions section. Here are some guidelines:

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