AP Physics 1 : Forces

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Newton's First Law

A spacecraft is deep in space and motionless. Then, the spacecraft separates into two sections going in opposite directions. The first has a mass of and is moving with a magnitude of velocity of . The second has a mass of . Determine the magnitude of velocity of the second section.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use conservation of momentum:

Plug in values.

Solve for :

Example Question #1 : Newton's First Law

A skydiver of mass  has reached terminal velocity at . Estimate the force of wind resistance she is experiencing.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If the diver has reached terminal velocity, her acceleration is .

Thus, according to Newton's second law:

Her net force is equal to zero.

The only forces acting on her are gravity and wind resistance, which must add up to zero.

Where is pointing down and thus negative

Plug in values:

Solve for

Example Question #231 : Forces

If an object is being accelerated, what must be true about the forces acting on it?

Possible Answers:

There are no forces acting

There is only one force  acting

The sum of the forces  

The forces acting are perpendicular to the motion of the object

Correct answer:

The sum of the forces  

Explanation:

From the definition of Newton's first law, for an object to not be accelerated, .  Therefore, for an object to be accelerated, .

Example Question #232 : Forces

A ball rolls off the back of a train going . Neglecting air friction, what is the horizontal speed of the ball just before it hits the ground?

Possible Answers:

More than 

Approximately 

Less than 

Correct answer:

Approximately 

Explanation:

Newtons first law states than an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. Because we are disregarding air friction, there is no external force to slow the ball down in the horizontal direction after it falls off the train. The acceleration of gravity would only affect the ball in the vertical direction.

Example Question #11 : Newton's First Law

Suppose that two people skydive out of a plane. Person A is , while person B is . After both people open their parachutes, they begin to slow down until they both reach a constant velocity. How does the net force between persons A and B differ?

Possible Answers:

The net force on person A is twice as great

The net force on person B is four times as great

The net force on person A and B are equal

The net force on person A is four times as great

The net force on person B is twice as great

Correct answer:

The net force on person A and B are equal

Explanation:

For this question, we're told that two skydivers of different masses are jumping out of an airplane. At some point, both skydivers slow down to the point at which they reach constant velocity.

To answer this, we have to realize how constant velocity affects the net force. Since the velocity for both people is constant, that means that no acceleration is occurring. Moreover, because either person is not accelerating, we see that the net force on each person is zero. Consequently, the net force for both person A and B is the same.

Example Question #11 : Newton's First Law

An object rests in the middle of an empty, motionless boxcar on a perfectly frictionless surface. 

What will happen when the boxcar is pulled forward by a locomotive?

Possible Answers:

The object will remain in the same location in relation to the earth, which will cause it to appear to move to the back of the boxcar.

None of these

The object will shoot to the front of the boxcar

The object will move with the boxcar.

The object will behave erratically, so it is impossible to predict beforehand.

Correct answer:

The object will remain in the same location in relation to the earth, which will cause it to appear to move to the back of the boxcar.

Explanation:

According to Newton's first law, an object will remain at rest until a force is applied. If the floor of the boxcar is perfectly motionless, than the object will remain in the same spot in relation to the earth. This will make it appear to move to the back of the boxcar.

Example Question #12 : Fundamentals Of Force And Newton's Laws

"A box traveling on a slippery surface will continue at its initial speed forever." This statement is consistent with which law?  

Possible Answers:

Newton's Third Law: every object continues in its state of rest or of uniform velocity in a straight line as long as no net force acts on it

Newton's Third Law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Newton's First Law: every object continues in its state of rest or of uniform velocity in a straight line as long as no net force acts on it

Law of Frictional Force: force must be greater than frictional forces to continue moving

Newton's First Law: both contact and non-contact forces will act upon every object (at rest or traveling at a constant velocity)

Correct answer:

Newton's First Law: every object continues in its state of rest or of uniform velocity in a straight line as long as no net force acts on it

Explanation:

The correct answer is "Newton's First Law: every object continues in its state of rest or of uniform velocity in a straight line as long as no net force acts on it." On a slippery surface, we can assume there is no friction. If there is no friction working against the box's movement, the box will continue to move at its initial velocity forever.  If the box were on a rough surface, friction from the surface would act against the box, causing the box's velocity to slow and eventually stop (if the force acting on the box is not greater than that of the frictional force). 

Example Question #11 : Newton's First Law

How much force must be applied to keep an object with a mass of  moving to the left at a constant velocity of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Force is defined as

Since the velocity is constant, the acceleration is zero. Therefore the force required to keep this object in motion is zero.

This is also stated in Newton's First Law: "An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force."

Example Question #11 : Fundamentals Of Force And Newton's Laws

A van is driving around with a bowling ball in the back, free to roll around. The van approaches a red light and must decelerate to come to a complete stop. As the van is slowing down, which direction is the bowling ball rolling?

Possible Answers:

To the front of the van

To the right side of the van

To the left side of the van

To the back of the van

The bowling ball does not move

Correct answer:

To the front of the van

Explanation:

According to Newton's First Law of Motion, an object that is in motion will stay in motion unless acted on by another force. When the van slows down, the ball will want to continue moving forward, and the friction between it and the floor of the van is not strong enough to keep the ball back.

Example Question #231 : Forces

A van with helium-filled party balloons is driving around when it approaches a red light. When the van is slowing down to come to a complete stop, in which direction do the balloons go?

Possible Answers:

Towards the left side of the van

Towards the back of the van

Towards the front of the van

The balloons do not move

Towards the right side of the van

Correct answer:

Towards the back of the van

Explanation:

According to Newton's First Law of Motion, something in motion will stay in motion unless acted on by another force. As the van slows down, we expect free object in the van to continue moving forward within the van. However, helium is lighter than air so the air in the van will continue to move forward, leaving the light balloons in the back of the van.

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