AP Physics Fast Facts

The figure above shows two wave pulses that are approaching each other. Which of the following best shows the shape of the resultant pulse when the centers of the pulses, points P and Q coincide?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

A tube of length L₁ is open at both ends. A second tube of length L₂ is closed at one end and open at the other end. This second tube resonates at the same fundamental frequency as the first tube. What is the value of L₂?

• 1/2 L₁

• L₁

• 2 L₁

• 4 L₁

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

A guitar string of length L can vibrate with three anti-nodes. The straight dashed line shows the equilibrium position of the string. The wave pattern is most likely formed by the superposition of of which of the following pulses or waves?

• 
• 
• Two periodic waves of wavelength L/3, one moving to the left and one moving to the right.

• Two periodic waves of wavelength 2L/3, one moving to the left and one moving to the right.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

The figure shows standing wave patterns in two identical tubes. The tubes contain the same amount of water and the standing waves are produced by holding a vibrating tuning fork near the top of each tube. What is the relationship between the wavelengths λ_x and λ_y of the standing waves?

• λ_x = 1/7 λ_y

• λ_x = 2/7 λ_y

• λ_x = 7/2 λ_y

• λ_x = 7 λ_y

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

In the diagram above, two masses, one with mass m, the other with mass M = 2m are resting on a uniform plank of length L that pivots at its midpoint. If the mass m is at the far end of the plank, how far away from the pivot should the mass M be to balance the plank in a horizontal position shown?

• L/2
• L/3
• L/4
• L/6

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Select two answers.

• Between points b and e only

• Between points a and f and between points b and c

• Between points b and c and between points c and d

• Between points a and f and between points b and e

When the circuit shown above is set up, the potential difference across the battery is 3.0 V. By how much will the magnitude of the potential difference across R₂ change when R₃ is removed and its branch is left open?

• The magnitude of the potential difference across R₂ does not change.

• The magnitude of the potential difference across R₂ decreases by 0.5 V.

• The magnitude of the potential difference across R₂ increases by 0.5 V.

• The magnitude of the potential difference across R₂ increases by 1.0 V.

A circuit is designed with two resistors, R₁ = 200 Ω and R₂ = 400 Ω, as shown above. What is the relationship between the three labeled currents?

• I₁ + I₂ = I

• I > I₁ > I₂

• I₂ > I₁ > I

• I₁ = I₂ = I

A person walking along a straight line moves such that her velocity as a function of time can be represented by the graph above. At what time does the person have the same position as she had at time t = 0?

• At t = 5 s

• During the interval 5 s < t < 8 s

• At t = 8 s

• During the interval t > 8 s

Which of the following is true when an object of mass m moving on a horizontal frictionless surface hits and sticks to an object of mass M > m, which is initially at rest on the surface?

• The collision is elastic.

• The momentum of the objects that are stuck together is smaller than the initial momentum of object m.

• The speed of the objects that are stuck together will be less than object m's initial speed.

• The direction of motion of the objects that are stuck together depends on whether the hit is a head-on collision.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-2