Forces and Free-Body Diagrams AP Style Practice
Authored by ELIZABETH WOODARD
Physics
11th Grade
NGSS covered
Used 10+ times
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This AP Physics quiz focuses on forces and free-body diagrams, targeting the fundamental concepts of vector addition, equilibrium, and Newton's laws of motion. The questions assess 11th-grade level understanding of how forces interact in various physical situations, including objects on inclined planes, projectile motion, and systems in equilibrium. Students need to demonstrate mastery of vector components, understanding that forces are vectors that must be added using proper geometric principles, and the ability to analyze when the net force equals zero versus when there is an unbalanced force causing acceleration. The quiz requires students to interpret free-body diagrams accurately, recognize that weight always acts vertically downward, normal forces act perpendicular to contact surfaces, and friction opposes motion. Students must also understand that objects moving at constant velocity have zero net force, while accelerating objects have a non-zero net force in the direction of acceleration. Created by Elizabeth Woodard, a Physics teacher in the US who teaches grade 11. This comprehensive assessment serves as excellent preparation for AP Physics 1 examinations and can be effectively used for review sessions, homework assignments, or formative assessment to gauge student understanding before high-stakes testing. The quiz works particularly well as a diagnostic tool to identify misconceptions about force vectors and equilibrium concepts, allowing teachers to address gaps in understanding before moving to more complex dynamics problems. Teachers can use individual questions as warm-up problems or discussion starters, while the complete set provides thorough practice with the mathematical and conceptual skills outlined in NGSS HS-PS2-1 and AP Physics 1 Learning Objectives 3.A.3.1, 3.A.3.3, and 3.B.2.1, which focus on analyzing forces, creating free-body diagrams, and applying Newton's laws to predict motion.
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13 questions
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1.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
15 mins • 1 pt
A bucket rests on top of a crate, which rests on a floor, as shown in the diagram. The bucket is lifted off the crate. How does the force due to microscopic interactions between the crate and the floor change, if at all, as the bucket is lifted off the crate?
It decreases.
It increases.
It stays the same.
It could either increase or decrease depending on the materials that the crate and floor are made of.
Answer explanation
Tags
NGSS.HS-PS2-1
2.
MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION
15 mins • 1 pt
A cart rolls along a track that is inclined at an angle of 37° to the horizontal, as shown. At the moment shown, there are three forces exerted on the cart: a downward force of magnitude 50 N, a drag force of magnitude 20 N, and a normal force from the track of magnitude 40 N, as shown in the free-body diagram.
The magnitude of the vector sum of the forces on the cart is most nearly
10 N
20 N
0 N
110 N
Answer explanation
Tags
NGSS.HS-PS2-1
3.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
15 mins • 1 pt
What is the magnitude of the vector sum of the forces exerted on the puck?
3 N
4 N
5 N
7 N
Answer explanation
Tags
NGSS.HS-PS2-1
4.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
15 mins • 1 pt
The forces exerted on an object at a particular instant are represented in the free-body diagram. The magnitude of each force is drawn to scale. A student claims that the vector sum of the forces on the object is equal to zero. Is the student’s claim valid?
Yes, because the horizontal components add to zero.
Yes, because the vertical components add to zero.
No, because the vertical components of the forces do not completely add to zero.
No, because the magnitudes of all the forces are not equal
Answer explanation
Tags
NGSS.HS-PS2-1
5.
MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION
15 mins • 1 pt
In which of the following free-body diagrams is the magnitude of the vector sum of the forces the greatest?
Answer explanation
Tags
NGSS.HS-PS2-1
6.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
15 mins • 1 pt
The free-body diagram shows the three forces exerted on an object. Each square in the grid is 1 N by 1 N. What is the magnitude of the vector sum of the forces exerted on the object?
0 N
2 N
6 N
7.7 N
Answer explanation
Tags
NGSS.HS-PS2-1
7.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
30 sec • 1 pt
The left figure shows a block at rest on a rough inclined surface. The block is attached to a wall by a string of negligible mass. The vector sum of the forces is zero. The right figure shows the free-body diagram for the block. The string is cut and the vector sum of the forces on the block remains zero. Which of the following free-body diagrams could show the forces exerted on the block after the string is cut?
Answer explanation
Tags
NGSS.HS-PS2-1
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