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🎡AP Physics 1
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🎡AP Physics 1

FRQ 1 – Mathematical Routines
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Unit 1: Kinematics
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Practice FRQ 1 of 151/15

1. A student rolls a small puck across a smooth horizontal air table. At the instant shown in Figure 1, the puck is at point P. An observer in the lab frame measures the puck’s velocity to have magnitude 2.0 m/s directed 30° north of east. A second observer is in a cart that moves with constant velocity 1.2 m/s due east relative to the lab.

Figure 1. Puck velocity in the lab frame and cart velocity relative to the lab (top view).

Figure 1

Figure 2. Axes for graphing the lab-frame y-component of velocity, v_y, from t = 0 to 4.0 s.

Figure 2
A.
i.

On the axes shown in Figure 2, sketch a graph of the y-component of the puck’s velocity vyv_yvy​ as a function of time ttt from t=0t = 0t=0 to t=4.0 st = 4.0\ \text{s}t=4.0 s, as measured in the lab frame.

ii.

Derive an expression for the x- and y-components of the puck’s displacement Δr⃗\Delta \vec{r}Δr during the interval from t=0t = 0t=0 to t=4.0 st = 4.0\ \text{s}t=4.0 s as measured in the lab frame. Express your answers in terms of the given speed 2.0 m/s, the angle 30∘30^\circ30∘, and physical constants, as appropriate. Begin your derivation by writing a fundamental physics principle or an equation from the reference information.

iii.

Derive an expression for the magnitude of the puck’s average velocity ∣v⃗avg∣\left|\vec{v}_{\text{avg}}\right|∣vavg​∣ over the interval from t=0t = 0t=0 to t=4.0 st = 4.0\ \text{s}t=4.0 s as measured in the lab frame. Express your answer in terms of the given speed 2.0 m/s and the angle 30∘30^\circ30∘. Begin your derivation by writing a fundamental physics principle or an equation from the reference information.

B.

Indicate whether the magnitude of the puck’s velocity as measured by the cart observer is greater than, less than, or equal to 2.0 m/s. The cart observer measures positions using axes that remain parallel to the lab axes. The cart moves with constant velocity 1.2 m/s due east relative to the lab for the entire 4.0 s interval.

Greater than 2.0 m/s
Less than 2.0 m/s
Equal to 2.0 m/s
Justify your response by using one-dimensional vector addition for the x-components and by referencing the puck’s y-component of velocity.

Timed

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Free Response Question Practice

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

  • Read each question carefully before responding. Pay attention to command verbs like "identify," "explain," "analyze," or "evaluate."
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