--- title: "AP Physics C: Mechanics Qualitative/Quantitative FRQ Practice" description: "50 Qualitative/Quantitative Translation questions written in the AP format, each scored part by part." canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frqs/qualitative-quantitative-translation" type: "frq-type-practice" subject: "AP Physics C: Mechanics" --- # AP Physics C: Mechanics Qualitative/Quantitative FRQ Practice ## What the Qualitative/Quantitative FRQ asks The Qualitative/Quantitative Translation (QQT) question is FRQ 4 on the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam. You compare two quantities and justify the comparison in words, derive an expression for one of them, then use that expression to reason about a new case. - **15–20 min**: suggested on the exam - **8 points**: across parts A to C - **95 min**: for all four FRQs | Part | What it asks | Points | | --- | --- | --- | | A: Qualitative reasoning | Compare two quantities and justify the comparison in words | 3 | | B: Derivation | Derive an expression for one of the quantities | 3 | | C: Connection | Use your derivation to reason about or calculate a new case | 2 | ## How Qualitative/Quantitative FRQ practice works 1. **Read the full question.** The scenarios, their figures, and parts A through C, laid out the way the exam shows them. 2. **Write on an 18-minute timer.** Inside the 15 to 20 minutes the exam suggests for this question. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go. 3. **Submit for a score out of 8.** Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included. ## All 50 questions ### Unit 1: Kinematics (7) - [Projectile motion in different reference frames](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=6977cfdd9149230b55452b0a&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Projectile motion in inertial reference frames](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698aaae795febec003839152&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Projectile motion in different reference frames](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698aacaa95febec003839154&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Projectile motion in different reference frames](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab33495febec003839161&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Projectile motion at different launch angles](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab46f95febec003839164&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Projectile motion in moving reference frames](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab88695febec00383916c&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Particle motion, velocity, and acceleration analysis](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab8ff95febec00383916f&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) ### Unit 2: Force and Translational Dynamics (6) - [Block acceleration comparison on inclined planes](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=6977dc09723e91f48e2f3967&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Spring-loaded blocks on inclined plane with friction](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698aaa7e95febec003839151&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Spring force and friction during block deceleration](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab12d95febec00383915b&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Atwood machine with friction and tension analysis](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab21895febec00383915e&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Spring-compressed blocks with friction and relative motion](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab71e95febec003839167&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Spring-connected blocks on inclined plane](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab85e95febec00383916b&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) ### Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power (5) - [Mechanical energy changes in pushed block systems](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698aa9f895febec003839150&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Block sliding down incline, spring compression](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698aad6c95febec003839155&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Variable force, work-energy theorem, mass comparison](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab4bf95febec003839165&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Pulley system acceleration and velocity comparison with friction](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=6a95dbef238b7da72beac1fb&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Pulley system acceleration and power with varying mass](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=6a96004848d22243b27212c5&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) ### Unit 4: Linear Momentum (7) - [Elastic collision between two carts momentum conservation](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab75f95febec003839169&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Collision impulse comparison: inelastic vs elastic](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab7c495febec00383916a&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Time-varying force, impulse, and cart motion](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab9ae95febec003839170&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Elastic collision impulse and momentum conservation](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abbb395febec003839176&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Elastic and inelastic collision momentum changes](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abe6e95febec003839186&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Momentum conservation and impulse in cart collisions](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abf1f95febec00383918b&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Perfectly inelastic collision momentum conservation](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ac47a95febec0038391a8&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) ### Unit 5: Torque and Rotational Dynamics (11) - [Rotational motion of pivoted rod under applied force](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abb5095febec003839174&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotating disk with hanging masses and string tension](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abbf695febec003839178&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotational dynamics: disk-block system angular acceleration](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abc9795febec00383917b&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotational dynamics of a multi-mass rod system](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abd4995febec00383917e&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotational dynamics of cylinders with applied force](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abde095febec003839184&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotational dynamics of off-axis pivot point](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abe7495febec003839187&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rolling cylinders with different rotational inertias](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abf4b95febec00383918d&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotational dynamics with friction on accelerating platform](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ac0b695febec003839191&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotating platform deceleration and friction forces](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ac37995febec0038391a0&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotational motion, friction, and slipping dynamics](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ac56395febec0038391ab&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotating platform friction and angular acceleration](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ac5cd95febec0038391ad&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) ### Unit 6: Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems (5) - [Angular momentum of rotating cylinders with falling blocks](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=6977d115307a15d5e4d12694&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Inelastic collision with rotational and translational motion](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ab9fb95febec003839171&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Inelastic collision: clay ball embedding in sphere](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698abd6395febec00383917f&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Inelastic collision angular momentum conservation](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ac29a95febec00383919a&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Rotational inertia and angular momentum conservation](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ac44895febec0038391a4&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) ### Unit 7: Oscillations (9) - [Rotational dynamics of pivoted physical pendulum](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698acbdc95febec0038391c9&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Physical pendulum angular acceleration and oscillation period](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ace2495febec0038391d2&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Physical pendulum oscillation periods for rods](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698acff795febec0038391d5&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Spring oscillation kinetic energy comparison](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ad09995febec0038391d6&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Physical pendulum versus simple pendulum periods](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ad27d95febec0038391dd&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Physical pendulum periods for rods of different lengths](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ad76695febec0038391ed&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Spring-mass system simple harmonic motion](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ad81595febec0038391ef&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Simple harmonic motion, spring-mass systems, periods](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ad8a095febec0038391f2&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [Simple harmonic motion of spring-mass system](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frq-practice?id=698ad95495febec0038391f5&type=frq-4-qualitative-quantitative-translation) ## Sample question **Projectile motion in different reference frames** A student stands on a platform that moves horizontally to the right with constant speed vₚ = 3.0 m/s. The student throws a ball with an initial speed of v₀ = 5.0 m/s at an angle of 37° above the horizontal, as measured in the reference frame of the platform. The ball is released at a height h = 2.0 m above the ground, as shown in Figure 2. Neglect air resistance. Figures: Type: setup_diagram Caption: Figure 2. Side view of ball trajectory URL: https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-c-mechanics/dc4f343b-77d0-4f21-bae2-c0f7348c254b_fig2.jpg Placement: after-background Part A (3 points): Prompt: The time the ball is in the air in Scenario 1 is t₁, and the time the ball is in the air in Scenario 2 is t₂, both as measured in the ground reference frame. **Indicate** whether t₁ is greater than, less than, or equal to t₂ by writing one of the following. - t₁ > t₂ - t₁ < t₂ - t₁ = t₂ **Justify** your answer using qualitative reasoning beyond referencing equations. Verb: indicate and justify Figure 1: Type: comparison_diagram Caption: Figure 1. Top view of two scenarios URL: https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-c-mechanics/dc4f343b-77d0-4f21-bae2-c0f7348c254b_fig1.jpg Placement: before-part Part Letter: B Part B (3 points): Prompt: **Derive** an expression for the horizontal distance d₁ that the ball travels before landing, as measured in the ground reference frame, as shown in Figure 1. Express your answer in terms of vₚ, v₀, θ, h, and physical constants, as appropriate. Begin your derivation by writing a fundamental physics principle or an equation from the reference information. Context: Consider Scenario 1 only. Verb: derive Part C (2 points): Prompt: **Indicate** whether the magnitude |v_x1| is greater than, less than, or equal to the magnitude |v_x2|. **Briefly justify** your answer. Context: An observer on the ground measures the horizontal component of the ball's velocity just before it lands in Scenario 1 to be v_x1, and in Scenario 2 to be v_x2. Verb: indicate and briefly justify Image URLs (2): - https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-c-mechanics/dc4f343b-77d0-4f21-bae2-c0f7348c254b_fig2.jpg - https://kcbwzropdukwhmmvdylp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/frq_stimulus/ap-physics-c-mechanics/dc4f343b-77d0-4f21-bae2-c0f7348c254b_fig1.jpg ## Questions **How many responses can I get scored?** You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring. **What does qualitative/quantitative translation mean?** You reason about the physics in words, then with an equation, and connect the two. Part A asks for a justified comparison, part B for a derivation, and part C for a prediction that uses your derivation. **How is the QQT different from the Translation Between Representations (TBR) question?** The QQT is shorter, at 8 points and 15 to 20 minutes, and centers on comparisons you justify in words. The TBR is worth 12 points and also asks for a diagram and a graph. **Can I write my answer by hand?** Yes. Switch the editor to handwrite, write on paper, and add a photo of your page. **Are these real College Board questions?** No. We wrote them in the AP format, with the same three parts, and wrote scoring guidelines for each one. ## Related - [Qualitative/Quantitative FRQ exam guide](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/ap-physics-c-mechanics-exam/ap-physics-c-mechanics-ap-phys-mech-frq-qualitative-quantitative-translation/study-guide/ap-physics-c-mechanics-ap-phys-mech-frq-qualitative-quantitative-translation) - [AP Physics C: Mechanics Mathematical Routines FRQ practice](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frqs/mathematical-routines) - [AP Physics C: Mechanics Representations FRQ practice](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frqs/translation-between-representations) - [AP Physics C: Mechanics Experimental Design FRQ practice](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frqs/experimental-design) - [AP Physics C: Mechanics FRQs](/ap-physics-c-mechanics/frqs) - Any question by id: the `get_frq` tool on the [Fiveable MCP server](/mcp/docs) ## About This Document Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`. - [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns - [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing - [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`) - [MCP server for AP teachers](https://fiveable.me/mcp/teachers): a teacher's classes, assignments and AP-rubric grading (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp/teacher`)