AP Physics 1 : AP Physics 1

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Impulse And Momentum

Which of the following explains why when we land on our feet, we instinctively bend our knees? Hint: think about the relationship between force, impulse, and time.

Possible Answers:

By bending our knees we extend the time it takes us to stop, which diminishes the impact force

By bending our knees we extend the time it takes us to stop, which increases the impact force

By bending our knees we use a greater force to stop, which makes the impulse smaller

When we bend our knees we extend the time in which we apply the force that stops us, so our impulse is smaller

When we bend our knees we extend the time in which we apply the force that stops us, so our impulse is greater

Correct answer:

By bending our knees we extend the time it takes us to stop, which diminishes the impact force

Explanation:

Say that, when we hit the ground, we have a velocity , which is predetermined by whatever happens before the impact. When we hit the ground you will experience a force for some time. This force will cause the acceleration that reduces our velocity to zero and gets us to stop. Note that, regardless of how much time it takes us to stop, the change in momentum (impulse) is fixed, since it directly depends on how much our velocity changes:

 (since we come to a stop)

Note that the initial momentum does not depend on the impact force nor on how much time it takes to stop. The initial momentum depends on the velocity we have when we first hit the ground. This velocity is given by whatever happened before we hit the ground, which no longer concerns us since we only care about what happens from the moment we first hit the ground till the moment we stop. Yes, the time that passes for you to stop is very small, but it is impossible for it to be zero. So we have that the change in momentum (impulse) is a constant:

, since  is predetermined. 

Remember that any change in momentum for a given mass occurs because its velocity changes. The velocity of the mass changes due to an acceleration and an acceleration is caused by a force. This gives us a relationship between force and impulse:

In our scenario,  would be the impact force that stops us and  the time it takes us to stop. From the equation above, it is easy to see that, since  is fixed, when  gets larger  gets smaller, and the other way around. Therefore, we bend our knees to effectively increase the time it takes us to stop. Thus, diminishing the impact force as to avoid hurting ourselves.

Example Question #11 : Impulse And Momentum

When catching an object, an average person can stand a maximum impact force of 20000N. Forces greater than this would most likely break bones in the person's hand. If a person catches a 500g baseball that moves at , what is the minimum time the person should take to stop it in order to avoid seriously hurting his hand?  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem we need to use the relationship between force and impulse:

 

Since the ball is moving with a Velocity of , we have that

Note that the final velocity of the ball is zero since it comes to a stop. We want the force, , experienced by the person's hand to be less than or equal to the maximum impact force

 

Mathematically:

Use the impulse equation and solve for time:

 

Example Question #11 : Impulse And Momentum

What is the impulse of a bowling ball that has mass 10kg that hits bowling pins going at , and slows to  after striking the bowling pins?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Impulse is defined as the change in momentum. 

Where  is the impulse,  is final momentum and  is the initial momentum. Recall:

Where  is mass and  is velocity. 

Our bowling ball has a mass of 10kg, with initial velocity of  and final velocity of 

Plug in these two values into the equation for impulse and solve.

Example Question #11 : Impulse And Momentum

Imagine a baseball player hitting a home run. If the 1 kg ball is thrown at  

and it leaves the bat at . What is the impluse applied by the bat to the ball?

Assume the collision lasts  of a second and the ball leaves at the same angle it entered.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Impulse is the change in momentum. So all that is needed for this problem is to solve for the change in momentum. 

Note!!!! momentum is a vector quantity. This means that we must accound for the change in the ball's direction. This can be done by defining one of the directions negative.

For convience, I'll define the initial velocity as negative. Plugging in numbers we get

.

We never accounted for the time of the collision. We would have needed to do this if the problem asked for the force the bat applied. 

Example Question #12 : Impulse And Momentum

A  bullet is fired at a   block of lead resting on a frictionless surface. The bullet has an initial speed of , while the block is initially at rest. After hitting the block, the bullet rebounds with a speed of . How fast is the lead block moving after the bullet rebounds off of it?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, we will use conservation of momentum.  The initial momentum of the system must be equal to the final momentum of the system if no external forces act on it.  It is important to note the directions and signs  of the velocities.  From this information, we may write:

Example Question #434 : Newtonian Mechanics

A  truck travelling at  to the right has a head-on collision with a  car moving at  to the left. During the collision, the two vehicles become stuck together. With what speed does the two-car pair move after the collision?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, we must first note that this is a collision problem.  Secondly, we must be careful with the signs of the velocities associated with each vehicle.  

Because of the parameters of the problem, it is easy to see that the total momentum of the system initially is equal to zero.  Therefore, the final momentum of the system must also be zero.

Example Question #471 : Ap Physics 1

Some students are investigating momentum using carts and a spring. They have a way to release the spring while the carts are in motion without disturbing the motion. They put the spring and release mechanism between two carts whose masses are  and  with the lighter cart in the front. They put the entire system in motion to the right with a velocity of . They then trigger the spring to release. As a result, the front, less massive cart has a new velocity of  to the right.  What was the speed and direction of the more massive cart after the "explosion"?

Possible Answers:

 to the left

 to the left

 to the right

 to the right

  (the cart is motionless)

 to the left

Correct answer:

 to the right

Explanation:

The key is that both carts will receive the same impulse () from the spring, but in opposite directions. Since impulse is change in momentum, find the change in light cart's momentum:

This is directed to the right. So the change in the momentum of the heavier cart is:

, to the left. Solve for its final momentum:

Use this to find its velocity:

 

The positive sign means that it is moving to the right.

We could also use momentum conservation. Find total momentum before:

 

The less massive cart has:

 after the explosion, so the more massive cart has the other

Example Question #14 : Impulse And Momentum

A billiard ball travels at  toward another billiard ball traveling at . They collide elastically. Which option correctly describes the final velocities of the billiard balls? Assume they have the same mass.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Due to conservation of momentum, the initial momentum must equal the final momentum of the system. Both billiard balls are of equal mass, and since the collision is elastic than the billiard balls will simply exchange momentum. This is a problem that is best to think about before starting to solve any equations because sometimes the correct answer is one you can deduce without any calculations. Therefore:

Example Question #11 : Impulse And Momentum

 object is moving along with the velocity given below. Calculate the magnitude of the momentum vector .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We begin by writing down the definition of an object's linear momentum 

We then find the magnitude of the momentum by taking the square root of the sum of squares of its components.

Example Question #15 : Impulse And Momentum

An asteroid of mass  is traveling with the velocity .

 

What is the magnitude of the momentum of the asteriod?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, we will need to find the magnitude of the velocity vector.

 

 

Plugging in our values

 

 

 

Momemtum is defined as

 

Thus,

 

 

We plug in our values

 

 

 

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