AP Physics Conceptual Questions

Potential Energy is conserved

• at all times.

• only when the frame of reference that determines its base value is provided.

• when the acceleration due to gravity is constant.

• only when the object being evaluated does not have a changing mass.

If an object is resting on earth’s surface is the earth doing any work? Why?

• Yes, because a force is exerted due to gravity, and natural force pushes upward.
• No, because the object doesn't move
• Yes, because the gravitational constant is so large that despite not moving they are still growing significantly closer. Enough that substantial work is calculated.
• No, the earth is incapable of work because of its large size

Conservative Force:________:: Nonconservative Force:________

• Friction, Gravity

• Friction, Spring

• Gravity, Spring

• Spring, Friction

What approach is used to solve a problem on how much work an archer does pulling a bowstring back uniformly, if you know the mass, distance, and forces?

• Kinematics

• Momentum

• Work-Energy Theorem

• Work

What is the difference in work(done on you) if you walked up a mountain or a car drove you up the same mountain?

• Same, Your weight doesn't change and the distance traveled says the same, therefore the work is the same.
• Car does more,The added weight of the car means more work is excerted upon you
• Walking does more, It takes longer, therefore more work is done
• Neither cause work, because their is no force there is no work.

Where is centripetal acceleration pointing if a car is driving in a circle with a constant speed? Why?

• Tangent to the circle, the car must be accelerating in the direction it's pointed
• There is none, since speed is not changing there is no acceleration
• Towards the center, the velocity vector is constantly changing direction, this leads the acceleration to be towards the center.
• Outward from the circle's center, something must counteract friction

Which of these has the greatest centripetal equation?

• Large Velocity, Large Radius
• Small Velocity, Small Radius
• Large Velocity, Small Radius
• Small Velocity, Large Radius

In Kinematics which direction(s) does a thrown baseball accelerate if their is no air resistance?

• Y-Plane
• X-Plane
• Z-Plane
• X and Y Planes

If a boomerang is thrown 20m in a straight line and returns exactly to the spot it was thrown what is its displacement?

• 20m
• 40m
• 0m
• -20m

In a Distance vs Time graph what is the slope? In a Velocity vs Time? Choose the most correct answer.

• Position/Time, Velocity/Time
• Acceleration, Velocity
• Distance Traveled, Change in Velocity
• Velocity, Acceleration