AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Unit 1 Practice Test & Exam | 20 Questions

1. [Skill: 1A | Topic: 1.1] A student describes the motion of a cart on a straight track using the quantities listed below. I. distance traveled of 12 m II. displacement of -12 m III. speed of 3.0 m/s IV. velocity of -3.0 m/s Which of the quantities are scalars in one-dimensional motion?

(A)I and III only(B)II and IV only(C)I, II, and III only(D)I, II, III, and IV

2. [Skill: 1B | Topic: 1.1] An object moves along the x-axis. The displacement of the object during a time interval is reported as $\Delta x = -4\ \text{m}$. Which arrow best represents this displacement on a one-dimensional number line where positive x is to the right?

(A)An arrow 4 m long pointing to the right(B)An arrow 4 m long pointing to the left(C)An arrow 4 m long with no direction indicated(D)An arrow 4 m long pointing to the right labeled -4 m

3. [Skill: 2A | Topic: 1.1] A toy car moves along a straight track with the following sequence of displacements: $\Delta x_1 = +4\ \text{m}$, then $\Delta x_2 = -7\ \text{m}$, then $\Delta x_3 = +2\ \text{m}$. What is the car’s net displacement after the three moves?

(A)-1 m(B)+1 m(C)-13 m(D)+13 m

4. [Skill: 2A | Topic: 1.1] A student tracks the position of a robot moving along the x-axis. The robot’s position is recorded at three times: At $t_0$, $x_0 = -2\ \text{m}$ At $t_1$, $x_1 = +5\ \text{m}$ At $t_2$, $x_2 = +1\ \text{m}$ Which choice correctly gives (1) the total distance traveled from $t_0$ to $t_2$ and (2) the displacement from $t_0$ to $t_2$?

(A)Distance = 7 m; Displacement = +3 m(B)Distance = 11 m; Displacement = +3 m(C)Distance = 11 m; Displacement = -3 m(D)Distance = 3 m; Displacement = 11 m

Refer to the figure below.

5. [Skill: 5A | Topic: 1.2] An object moves along the x-axis. The graph shows the object's position $x$ as a function of time $t$. Which of the following is the object's average velocity from $t=2\ \text{s}$ to $t=5\ \text{s}$?

(A)-2.0 m/s(B)-1.2 m/s(C)+1.2 m/s(D)+2.0 m/s

6. [Skill: 2A | Topic: 1.2] A student uses the object model to describe their motion along a straight hallway (east is positive x). The student starts at $x=0\ \text{m}$, walks to $x=+3\ \text{m}$, then turns around and ends at $x=-1\ \text{m}$. The total time for the motion is $8\ \text{s}$. Which of the following correctly gives the student's displacement and average velocity for the entire motion?

(A)Displacement: $-1\ \text{m}$; Average velocity: $-0.125\ \text{m/s}$(B)Displacement: $4\ \text{m}$; Average velocity: $0.50\ \text{m/s}$(C)Displacement: $1\ \text{m}$; Average velocity: $0.125\ \text{m/s}$(D)Displacement: $-4\ \text{m}$; Average velocity: $-0.50\ \text{m/s}$

Refer to the figure below.

7. [Skill: 5A | Topic: 1.2] The graph shows the velocity $v$ of an object moving along the x-axis as a function of time $t$. Which of the following correctly describes the object's acceleration during the intervals $0\text{ s} \le t < 2\text{ s}$ and $2\text{ s} \le t \le 4\text{ s}$?

(A)From 0–2 s: acceleration is zero; from 2–4 s: acceleration is constant and negative.(B)From 0–2 s: acceleration is constant and positive; from 2–4 s: acceleration is zero.(C)From 0–2 s: acceleration is constant and negative; from 2–4 s: acceleration is constant and positive.(D)From 0–4 s: acceleration is constant and negative.

8. [Skill: 2B | Topic: 1.2] A cart moves along a straight track. A motion sensor provides the following velocity data. Time $t$ (s): 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 Velocity $v$ (m/s): 0.2, 0.6, 0.9, 1.5, 1.7, 2.0 A student wants the best estimate of the cart’s instantaneous acceleration at $t=3.0\ \text{s}$. Which calculation will provide the best estimate?

(A)$\dfrac{v(3.1\,\text{s})-v(2.9\,\text{s})}{3.1\,\text{s}-2.9\,\text{s}}$(B)$\dfrac{v(3.2\,\text{s})-v(2.8\,\text{s})}{3.2\,\text{s}-2.8\,\text{s}}$(C)$\dfrac{v(3.4\,\text{s})-v(2.6\,\text{s})}{3.4\,\text{s}-2.6\,\text{s}}$(D)$\dfrac{v(3.1\,\text{s})-v(2.6\,\text{s})}{3.1\,\text{s}-2.6\,\text{s}}$

Refer to the figure below.

9. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 1.3] An object moves along the x-axis. A graph of the object’s position $x$ as a function of time $t$ is shown. A straight tangent line is drawn to the curve at $t=3\ \text{s}$. What is the object’s instantaneous velocity at $t=3\ \text{s}$ ?

(A)2 m/s(B)4 m/s(C)8 m/s(D)10 m/s

10. [Skill: 2.A | Topic: 1.3] A cart moves along a straight track. The cart’s velocity as a function of time is represented by a piecewise-linear graph: - At $t=0\ \text{s}$, $v=2\ \text{m/s}$. - From $t=0$ to $t=4\ \text{s}$, $v$ increases linearly to $6\ \text{m/s}$. - From $t=4$ to $t=6\ \text{s}$, $v=6\ \text{m/s}$. - From $t=6$ to $t=10\ \text{s}$, $v$ decreases linearly to $0\ \text{m/s}$. What is the cart’s displacement from $t=0$ to $t=10\ \text{s}$?

(A)34 m(B)40 m(C)44 m(D)52 m

11. [Skill: 2.A | Topic: 1.3] A ball is thrown straight upward with initial velocity $v_0=15\ \text{m/s}$ from a height of $1.5\ \text{m}$ above the ground. Neglect air resistance. Take $g=9.8\ \text{m/s}^2$ downward. What is the ball’s velocity at $t=2.0\ \text{s}$ after it is thrown?

(A)4.6 m/s upward(B)4.6 m/s downward(C)19.6 m/s downward(D)34.6 m/s downward

12. [Skill: 1.B | Topic: 1.3] A particle moves along the x-axis. Its acceleration as a function of time is shown in a graph with the following constant values: - From $t=0$ to $t=2\ \text{s}$, $a=+3\ \text{m/s}^2$. - From $t=2$ to $t=5\ \text{s}$, $a=0\ \text{m/s}^2$. - From $t=5$ to $t=7\ \text{s}$, $a=-2\ \text{m/s}^2$. At $t=0$, the particle’s velocity is $v_0=1\ \text{m/s}$. What is the particle’s velocity at $t=7\ \text{s}$?

(A)3 m/s(B)5 m/s(C)-1 m/s(D)7 m/s

13. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 1.4] A train moves east (positive x-direction) at a constant speed of 20 m/s relative to the ground. An observer P is seated on the train. An observer G is standing on the ground. A student S walks down the aisle of the train at a constant speed of 1.0 m/s west (negative x-direction) relative to the train. Which statement correctly describes the student’s velocity as measured by the two observers?

(A)Observer P measures the student moving west at 1.0 m/s, and observer G measures the student moving east at 21 m/s.(B)Observer P measures the student moving east at 1.0 m/s, and observer G measures the student moving east at 19 m/s.(C)Observer P measures the student moving west at 1.0 m/s, and observer G measures the student moving east at 19 m/s.(D)Observer P measures the student moving east at 1.0 m/s, and observer G measures the student moving west at 19 m/s.

14. [Skill: 2.A | Topic: 1.4] Two cars move along a straight, level road (the x-axis). Car A moves at a constant velocity of +12 m/s relative to the ground. Car B moves at a constant velocity of +20 m/s relative to the ground. A passenger in car A measures car B to be moving relative to car A. What velocity does the passenger in car A measure for car B?

(A)+32 m/s(B)+8.0 m/s(C)-8.0 m/s(D)-32 m/s

Refer to the figure below.

15. [Skill: 5.A | Topic: 1.4] A cart moves along a straight track. In the ground reference frame, the cart’s velocity as a function of time is represented by the graph described below. [Image Cue]: Velocity–time graph, "Cart Velocity vs. Time (Ground Frame)", horizontal axis t (s) from 0 to 4, vertical axis v (m/s) from 0 to 10, straight line increasing from point (0, 2) to point (4, 10). An observer O moves in the +x direction at a constant velocity of +3 m/s relative to the ground. What acceleration will observer O measure for the cart during the interval from t = 0 s to t = 4 s?

(A)0 m/s^2(B)1.0 m/s^2(C)2.0 m/s^2(D)5.0 m/s^2

16. [Skill: 2.A | Topic: 1.5] A student measures a displacement vector for a robot: the robot moves 50 m at an angle of 30° north of east. The +x-axis points east, and the +y-axis points north. Which pair best represents the components of the displacement vector $(\Delta x, \Delta y)$?

(A)$(43\ \text{m},\ 25\ \text{m})$(B)$(25\ \text{m},\ 43\ \text{m})$(C)$(50\ \text{m},\ 30\ \text{m})$(D)$(43\ \text{m},\ -25\ \text{m})$

17. [Skill: 2.A | Topic: 1.5] A ball is launched from level ground with initial speed 20 m/s at an angle of 37° above the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible. Take $g = 9.8\ \text{m/s}^2$. Also use $\sin 37^\circ = 0.60$ and $\cos 37^\circ = 0.80$. What is the total time the ball spends in the air before returning to its launch height?

(A)1.22 s(B)1.63 s(C)2.45 s(D)3.27 s

18. [Skill: 5.A | Topic: 1.5] A ball rolls off a horizontal table and becomes a projectile. A motion sensor records the ball’s position every 0.20 s after it leaves the table. The coordinate system has +x horizontal (to the right) and +y vertical (upward). Recorded data: - $t$ (s): 0.00, 0.20, 0.40, 0.60 - $x$ (m): 0.00, 0.60, 1.20, 1.80 - $y$ (m): 1.20, 1.00, 0.42, -0.56 Which of the following best describes the acceleration components $(a_x, a_y)$ of the ball during the recorded interval?

(A)$(0\ \text{m/s}^2,\ -9.8\ \text{m/s}^2)$(B)$(3.0\ \text{m/s}^2,\ -9.8\ \text{m/s}^2)$(C)$(0\ \text{m/s}^2,\ 0\ \text{m/s}^2)$(D)$(-9.8\ \text{m/s}^2,\ 0\ \text{m/s}^2)$

AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Unit 1: Kinematics Practice Exam

Exam Details

A. Multiple-Choice Questions (18 Questions)

B. Short Answer Questions (2 Questions)

AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Unit 1: Kinematics Practice Exam

Exam Details

A. Multiple-Choice Questions (18 Questions)

B. Short Answer Questions (2 Questions)