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Unit 5 FRQ (Momentum)

2 min readnovember 17, 2021

AP Physics 1 Free Response Question on Momentum

👋 Welcome to the AP Physics 1 Unit 5 FRQ (). 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 with Unit 5 FRQ (Momentum) 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 the Unit 5 Overview (Coming soon!)

  • 😩 Getting stumped halfway through answering? Look through all of the available Unit 5 Resources.

  • 🤝 Prefer to study with other students working on the same topic? Join a group in Hours.


Setup

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-Ne2HVCyqUGqi.png?alt=media&token=8b67247e-b945-44a2-8e78-b4c325ddc4ef

Identical Blocks 1 and 2 are placed on a horizontal surface at points A and E, respectively, as shown. The surface is frictionless except for the region between points B and C, where the surface is rough. Beginning at time tA, Block 1 is pushed with a constant horizontal force from Point A to Point B by a mechanical plunger.

Upon reaching Point B, Block 1 loses contact with the plunger and continues moving to the right along the horizontal surface toward Block 2. Block 1 collides with and sticks to Block 2 at Point E, after which the two-block system continues moving across the surface, eventually passing Point F.


Questions


Part A

(i) On the axes below, sketch the speed of the of the two-block system as a function of time, from time tA until the blocks pass Point F at time tF. The times at which Block 1 reaches Points A through F are indicated on the time axis.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-tEX1VKqhDdY6.png?alt=media&token=7520aaf0-2428-44ff-89a7-b37cd332bc67


Part B

The system is reset and Block 1 is again released. The following conditions now exist:

Mass of Block 1 (kg)Mass of Block 2 (kg) (N/m)Distance between each letter (m) (𝜇)
538251.20.15

In addition, there is no friction on the horizontal surface except for between letters B and C.

(i) Determine the speed of Block 1 at Point B.

(ii) Determine the speed of Block 1 at Point D.

(iii) Determine the speed of the combined Blocks 1 and 2 at Point F.


Part C

(i) Was and/or energy conserved from Point D to Point F? Briefly explain your reasoning for EACH.

ConservedNot Conserved
Energy

Answers & Rubric

💯 Ready to see how you did? Take a look at the Unit 5 FRQ (Momentum) Answers.


Key Terms to Review (7)

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.

Coefficient of Friction

: The coefficient of friction represents the amount of resistance between two surfaces in contact. It quantifies how difficult it is for an object to slide or move across another surface.

Conservation of Momentum

: Conservation of momentum states that in any closed system where no external forces act, the total momentum before an event equals the total momentum after the event. Momentum refers to mass in motion.

Frictionless Surface

: A frictionless surface refers to a hypothetical surface where there is no resistance to motion. It assumes that there is no force opposing the movement of an object.

Kinetic Energy

: Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on both the mass and velocity of the object.

Momentum

: Momentum is a property of moving objects that depends on both their mass and velocity. It describes how difficult it is to stop an object in motion.

Spring Constant

: The spring constant represents how stiff or flexible a spring is. It determines how much force will be required to stretch or compress a spring by a certain distance.

Unit 5 FRQ (Momentum)

2 min readnovember 17, 2021

AP Physics 1 Free Response Question on Momentum

👋 Welcome to the AP Physics 1 Unit 5 FRQ (). 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 with Unit 5 FRQ (Momentum) 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 the Unit 5 Overview (Coming soon!)

  • 😩 Getting stumped halfway through answering? Look through all of the available Unit 5 Resources.

  • 🤝 Prefer to study with other students working on the same topic? Join a group in Hours.


Setup

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-Ne2HVCyqUGqi.png?alt=media&token=8b67247e-b945-44a2-8e78-b4c325ddc4ef

Identical Blocks 1 and 2 are placed on a horizontal surface at points A and E, respectively, as shown. The surface is frictionless except for the region between points B and C, where the surface is rough. Beginning at time tA, Block 1 is pushed with a constant horizontal force from Point A to Point B by a mechanical plunger.

Upon reaching Point B, Block 1 loses contact with the plunger and continues moving to the right along the horizontal surface toward Block 2. Block 1 collides with and sticks to Block 2 at Point E, after which the two-block system continues moving across the surface, eventually passing Point F.


Questions


Part A

(i) On the axes below, sketch the speed of the of the two-block system as a function of time, from time tA until the blocks pass Point F at time tF. The times at which Block 1 reaches Points A through F are indicated on the time axis.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-tEX1VKqhDdY6.png?alt=media&token=7520aaf0-2428-44ff-89a7-b37cd332bc67


Part B

The system is reset and Block 1 is again released. The following conditions now exist:

Mass of Block 1 (kg)Mass of Block 2 (kg) (N/m)Distance between each letter (m) (𝜇)
538251.20.15

In addition, there is no friction on the horizontal surface except for between letters B and C.

(i) Determine the speed of Block 1 at Point B.

(ii) Determine the speed of Block 1 at Point D.

(iii) Determine the speed of the combined Blocks 1 and 2 at Point F.


Part C

(i) Was and/or energy conserved from Point D to Point F? Briefly explain your reasoning for EACH.

ConservedNot Conserved
Energy

Answers & Rubric

💯 Ready to see how you did? Take a look at the Unit 5 FRQ (Momentum) Answers.


Key Terms to Review (7)

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.

Coefficient of Friction

: The coefficient of friction represents the amount of resistance between two surfaces in contact. It quantifies how difficult it is for an object to slide or move across another surface.

Conservation of Momentum

: Conservation of momentum states that in any closed system where no external forces act, the total momentum before an event equals the total momentum after the event. Momentum refers to mass in motion.

Frictionless Surface

: A frictionless surface refers to a hypothetical surface where there is no resistance to motion. It assumes that there is no force opposing the movement of an object.

Kinetic Energy

: Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on both the mass and velocity of the object.

Momentum

: Momentum is a property of moving objects that depends on both their mass and velocity. It describes how difficult it is to stop an object in motion.

Spring Constant

: The spring constant represents how stiff or flexible a spring is. It determines how much force will be required to stretch or compress a spring by a certain distance.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.