2019 #3 Free Response Question - AP Physics 1 - Exam Solution

The video tutorial covers question #3 from the 2019 AP Physics exam, focusing on a projectile launcher with a spring. It discusses the hypothesis that the spring constant remains the same for different compression distances. The tutorial guides through designing an experiment using conservation of mechanical energy, measuring launch speed, and analyzing data to confirm the hypothesis. It also explores the relationship between mass and launch speed, emphasizing the importance of reading ahead in problems and reducing experimental uncertainty.

What is the main hypothesis about the spring constant in the projectile launcher problem?

• It changes with the angle of launch.

• It varies with different compression distances.

• It remains constant for different compression distances.

• It depends on the material of the sphere.

Which physics principle is suggested to test the hypothesis about the spring constant?

• Conservation of Mechanical Energy

• Coulomb's Law

• Newton's Third Law

• Law of Universal Gravitation

What is the easiest experimental setup to test the spring constant hypothesis?

• Measuring the time of flight in projectile motion

• Using a pendulum to measure oscillation

• Launching the sphere vertically and measuring height

• Launching the sphere horizontally and measuring launch speed

Which equipment is necessary to measure the speed of the sphere in the experiment?

• A stopwatch

• A barometer

• A motion sensor

• A thermometer

What should be done to reduce experimental uncertainty in the procedure?

• Conduct the experiment once

• Conduct the experiment multiple times

• Use a different spring

• Use a heavier sphere

How can the experimental data be analyzed to confirm the hypothesis?

• By comparing the initial and final positions

• By calculating the average speed

• By plotting a graph with the spring constant as the slope

• By measuring the time of flight

What should the graph of the experimental data show if the hypothesis is correct?

• A vertical line

• A best fit line with a slope equal to the spring constant

• A horizontal line

• A parabolic curve

What is the relationship between sphere mass and launch speed?

• Direct relationship

• Inverse relationship

• No relationship

• Exponential relationship

How does the launch speed change with increasing sphere mass?

• It increases

• It remains constant

• It fluctuates randomly

• It decreases

What shape does the graph of launch speed versus sphere mass resemble?

• A hyperbola

• A parabola

• A concave up curve

• A straight line