AP PHYSICS 2 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

1.

Two fluids of densities p and 2p are layered in a cylindrical container of diameter d, as shown above. The height of
each fluid is h, and the pressure at the top of the column is P0. What is the absolute pressure at the inside surface of
the bottom of the container?
(A) 3pgh
(B) 4pgh
(C) 4pg/πd2
(D) P0 + 3pgh

(E)

2. An underground tunnel has two openings, with one opening a few meters higher than the other. If air moves past the
higher opening at a greater speed than it moves past the lower opening, what happens inside the tunnel?
(A) The air does not move.
(B) Air moves from the lower opening toward the higher opening.
(C) Air moves from the higher opening toward the lower opening.
(D) Air enters both openings.
(E) Air leaves both openings.

AP Physics 2 Page 1 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

3.

A block is submerged in a container of liquid and held under the surface of the liquid by a string connected to the
bottom of the container, as shown in the figure above. The tension in the string is not zero. How does the buoyant
force FB exerted by the liquid on the block compare to the block’s weight w ?
(A) FB < w
(B) FB = w
(C) FB > w
(D) Either FB < w or FB > w, depending on the density of the liquid.

4. A 3.0 kg block hanging from a spring scale is submerged in a beaker of water until the spring scale reads 20 N.
What is the buoyant force on the block?

(A) 10 N
(B) 17 N
(C) 37 N
(D) 50 N
(E) It cannot be determined without knowing the dimensions of the block.

Page 2 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

5.

The figure above shows an object of mass 0.4 kg that is suspended from a scale and submerged in a liquid. If the
reading on the scale is 3 N, then the buoyant force that the fluid exerts on the object is most nearly
(A) 1.3 N
(B) 1.0 N
(C) 0.75 N
(D) 0.33 N
(E) 0.25 N

6. The equation of continuity for an incompressible fluid, A1v1 = A2v2 , is essentially an expression of the conservation
of which of the following quantities?
(A) Energy
(B) Time
(C) Linear momentum
(D) Angular momentum
(E) Mass

AP Physics 2 Page 3 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

A cube of mass m with sides of length s is completely submerged in a tank of fluid of density r and held in place by a
string attached to the bottom of the tank, as shown above. The height of the fluid is h, and the string has a nonzero tension
FT.

7. Which of the following indicates how the density of the cube compares with the density of the fluid and provides
correct evidence for the comparison?
The fact that the cube is completely submerged is evidence that the density of the cube is greater than
(A)
the density of the fluid.
The fact that the cube is completely submerged is evidence that the density of the cube is less than the
(B)
density of the fluid.
The fact that there is tension in the string is evidence that the density of the cube is greater than the
(C)
density of the fluid.
The fact that there is tension in the string is evidence that the density of the cube is less than the density
(D)
of the fluid.

8. Which of the following is a correct expression for the density of the cube?
(A) (ps3g + FT) / s3g

(B) (ps3g - FT) / s3g

(C) (FT + mg) / s3g

(D) (FT - mg) / s3g

9. A spring scale calibrated in kilograms is used to determine the density of a rock specimen. The reading on the
spring scale is 0.45 kg when the specimen is suspended in air and 0.36 kg when the specimen is fully submerged in
water. If the density of water is 1000 kg/m3, the density of the rock specimen is

Page 4 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) 2.0 X 102 kg/m3

(B) 8.0 X 102 kg/m3
(C) 1.25 X 103 kg/m3
(D) 4.0 X 103 kg/m3
(E) 5.0 X 103 kg/m3

10. Three different gas samples that have the same number of molecules and are at room temperature are kept at
different pressures. A lab technician has determined the molecular mass of each gas and recorded the pressure and
molecular mass of each sample in the table below.

Which of the following ranks the density ρ of the gas samples?

(A) Px = Py > Pz
(B) Py > Pz > Px
(C) Pz > Px = Py
(D) Pz > Py > Px

11.

Three identical reservoirs, A, B, and C, are represented above, each with a small pipe where water exits
horizontally. The pipes are set at the same height above a pool of water. The water in the reservoirs is kept at the
levels shown. Which of the following correctly ranks the horizontal distances d that the streams of water travel
before hitting the surface of the pool?
(A) dA > dB > dC
(B) dA = dB = dC
(C) (dA = dB) > dC
(D) dC > dB > dA

AP Physics 2 Page 5 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

12. A block floating in water is supported by the buoyant force exerted on the block by the water. The buoyant force is
created on the atomic scale primarily by which of the following electrostatic forces?
(A) A force of attraction between neutral atoms of the block and neutral atoms of the water
(B) A force of attraction between charged atoms of the block and charged atoms of the water
A force of repulsion between nuclei in the neutral atoms of the block and nuclei in the neutral atoms of
(C)
the water
A force of repulsion between electrons in the neutral atoms of the block and electrons in the neutral
(D)
atoms of the water

13. Water flowing in a horizontal pipe speeds up as it goes from a section with a large diameter to a section with a small
diameter. Which of the following can explain why the speed of the water increases?
(A) The gravitational potential energy of the water-Earth system increases.
(B) The gravitational potential energy of the water-Earth system decreases.
(C) Work is done because the water in the larger pipe has a higher pressure.
(D) Work is done because the water in the larger pipe has a lower pressure.

14.

A fluid flows steadily from left to right in the pipe shown above. The diameter of the pipe is less at point 2 then at
point 1, and the fluid density is constant throughout the pipe. How do the velocity of flow and the pressure at points
1 and 2 compare?

Page 6 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

Velocity Pressure
(A)

v1 < v2 p1 = p2

Velocity Pressure
(B)

v1 < v2 p1 > p2

Velocity Pressure
(C)

v1 = v2 p1 < p2

Velocity Pressure
(D)

v1 > v2 p1 = p2

Velocity Pressure

(E)

v1 > v2 p1 > p2

AP Physics 2 Page 7 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

15.

The diagram above shows a pipe with an ideal fluid in motion to the right. As the fluid enters region II, which of the
following quantities related to the fluid will increase?

I. Pressure

II. Linear speed

III. Volume rate of flow

(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II
(E) II and III

16.

Each of the beakers shown above is filled to the same depth h with liquid of density p. The area A of the flat bottom
is the same for each beaker. Which of the following ranks the beakers according to the net downward force exerted
by the liquid on the flat bottom, from greatest to least force?

Page 8 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) I, III, II, IV

(B) I, IV, III, II
(C) II, III, IV, I
(D) IV, III, I, II
(E) None of the above; the force on each is the same.

A cube of mass with sides of length is completely submerged in a tank of fluid of density and held in place by a
string attached to the bottom of the tank, as shown above. The height of the fluid is , and the string has a nonzero tension
. There is a stopper in the side of the tank at a distance above the bottom of the tank.

17. is the buoyant force exerted by the fluid on the cube and is the force of gravity on the cube. Which of the
following is a correct free-body diagram for the cube that includes correct relative sizes of the forces?

AP Physics 2 Page 9 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A)

Page 10 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(B)

AP Physics 2 Page 11 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(C)

Page 12 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(D)

18. The stopper is now removed. Which of the following equations will give a correct expression for the initial speed
of the fluid as it leaves the tank?
(A)
(B)

(C)

(D)

AP Physics 2 Page 13 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

19.

A hollow rectangular box is filled with a liquid and can be placed in any of the three orientations shown above. In
which orientation will the fluid pressure at the bottom of the box be greatest, and why?
Orientation X, because pressure at the bottom of a fluid is greater when the vertical height of the fluid is
(A)
greater
Orientation Y, because pressure at the bottom of a fluid is greater when the width times the height of the
(B)
fluid is greater
Orientation Z, because pressure at the bottom of a fluid is greater when the area of the bottom surface is
(C)
greater
(D) All three orientations have the same pressure, because the weight of the fluid is the same in each case.

20. An ideal fluid is flowing with a speed of 12 cm/s through a pipe of diameter 5 cm. The pipe splits into three smaller
pipes, each with a diameter of 2 cm. What is the speed of the fluid in the smaller pipes?
(A) 4 cm/s
(B) 12 cm/s
(C) 25 cm/s
(D) 75 cm/s

Page 14 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

21.

A tank is open at the top and has water flowing out through a hole in the bottom, as shown above. The bottom of the
tank is a height above the ground, and the depth of the water is . Which of the following would increase the rate
of water flow through the hole?
(A) Increasing and keeping constant
(B) Increasing and keeping constant
(C) Decreasing and keeping constant
(D) Decreasing and keeping constant

22. A student has four cubes of identical volume, each made of a different material. The student also has four identical
beakers, filled to the top with the same liquid, in which the cubes will float. The student cannot directly measure the
mass of the cubes. Which of the following procedures will provide enough information to rank the densities of the
cubes? Select two answers.
Let each cube float in a beaker. Measure the height of the portion of each cube that remains above the
(A)
surface of the liquid.
Push each cube down in a beaker until it is just completely submerged. Measure the volume of liquid
(B)
that overflows from each beaker.
Push down on each cube with a force sensor until the cube is just completely submerged and then keep
(C)
the cube stationary. Record the reading on each force sensor.
Hang each cube from a spring of known length and lower each cube into a beaker until the cube is as far
(D)
in the liquid as possible without pushing it. Record the stretched length of each spring.

AP Physics 2 Page 15 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

23.

The containers pictured above are each filled to a height h with the same fluid of uniform density. Which of the
following is true of the pressure, pI, pII, pIII, and pIV, at the bottom of each respective container?
(A) pIII > pI > pII > pIV
(B) pI > pII > pIII > pIV
(C) pI = pII ; pIII > pIV
(D) pI > pII ; pIII = pIV
(E) They are all the same.

24. A pump pushes water of density through a horizontal pipe to an opening. The diameter of the pipe is
at the pump and at the opening. If the water exits the opening at , the pressure difference
between the pump and the opening is most nearly
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

25.

An ideal fluid with density 960 kg/m3 fills the pipe shown in the side view above and flows through it. The pipe has
a circular cross section, and the speed of the fluid at point A is 0.6 m/s . The difference in the pressure of the fluid at
points A and B is most nearly

Page 16 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) 1.2 × 103 Pa

(B) 2.6 × 103 Pa
(C) 3.8 × 103 Pa
(D) 6.4 × 103 Pa

26. The pressure exerted on the bottom of a dam by the water in the reservoir created by the dam depends on the
(A) shape of the dam
(B) area of the dam
(C) depth of the water at the dam
(D) surface area of the reservoir
(E) shape of the bottom of the reservoir

27. Water is flowing through a horizontal pipe. In a section of the pipe with diameter the water has a speed and a
pressure . The water enters a section where the diameter of the pipe increases to . What is the pressure of the
water in the larger section of pipe in terms of ?
(A)
(B)
(C)
The pressure in the larger section is greater, but the exact value cannot be expressed in terms of only
(D)
without additional information about the water-pipe system.

28. Directions: For the question or incomplete statement below, two of the suggested answers are correct. For
this question, you must select both correct choices to earn credit. No partial credit will be earned if only one
correct choice is selected. Select the two that are best in each case.

An ideal fluid is moving from left to right through a pipe, as shown in the figure above. The diameter of the pipe
decreases and the height increases from left to right. True statements about the pressure of the fluid as it moves
through the pipe include which of the following? Select two answers.

AP Physics 2 Page 17 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) The pressure tends to decrease due to the increase in the fluid’s speed as the pipe gets narrower.

(B) The pressure tends to increase due to the decrease in the fluid’s speed as the pipe gets narrower.

The pressure tends to decrease due to the increase in the potential energy of the fluid-Earth system as the
(C)
pipe gets higher.

The pressure tends to increase due to the increase in the potential energy of the fluid-Earth system as the
(D)
pipe gets higher.

A hollow prism in the shape of a right triangle is shown in the figure above. The prism is filled with a liquid and can be
placed in any of the three orientations shown.

29. The liquid-filled prism is placed in a large tank containing a different liquid and sinks to the bottom of the tank.
is the magnitude of the buoyant force exerted on the prism by the liquid in the tank when the prism is in orientation
. and are the buoyant forces for orientations and . Which of the following correctly ranks the three
buoyant forces?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

30. Water initially moving through a small horizontal cylindrical pipe enters a new section of pipe with twice the radius
of the initial pipe. What is the ratio of the speed of the water in the new section of pipe to the initial speed of the
water?

Page 18 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) 2/1
(B) 1/1
(C) 1/2
(D) 1/4

Helium gas is flowing steadily through the pipe shown above. The diameter of the pipe at the left end is 2.00 x 10-2m and
at the right is 1.00 x 10-2m. The flow is slow enough that the density of the gas remains essentially constant. The volume
flow rate is 2.00 x 10-3m3/s.

31. The speed of the gas in the right end of the pipe is how many times the speed in the left end?
(A) 1/4
(B) 1/2
(C) 1
(D) 2
(E) 4

32. What is the speed of the gas in the left end of the pipe?
(A) 4 x 10-5 m/s
(B) 0.10 m/s
(C) 0.20 m/s
(D) m/s

(E) m/s

AP Physics 2 Page 19 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

33.

The cylindrical tank shown above has a radius of and an open pipe of radius near its
bottom. Water flows into the tank at a rate of , which keeps the water in the tank at a constant height
above the pipe. The speed of water leaving the pipe is most nearly
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

34. A solid object of mass m is suspended vertically from a spring balance. The spring balance reads W when the object
is in air. When the object is submerged in water while still attached to the balance, the reading on the balance is
(A) always exactly W
(B) always greater than W
(C) greater than W only if the density of the object is greater than the density of water
(D) always less than W
less than W only if the density of the object
(E)
is greater than the density of water

Page 20 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

35.

The three objects shown are made from the same material. The density of the material is greater than the density of
water. The objects are released from rest in water. Which object will have the greatest initial acceleration?
(A) Object
(B) Object
(C) Object
(D) None; all three objects will have the same acceleration.

36.

A T-shaped tube with a constriction is inserted in a vessel containing a liquid, as shown above. What happens if air
is blown through the tube from the left, as shown by the arrow in the diagram?

AP Physics 2 Page 21 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) The liquid level in the tube rises to a level above the surface of the liquid surrounding the tube.
(B) The liquid level in the tube falls below the level of the surrounding liquid.
(C) The liquid level in the tube remains where it is.
(D) The air bubbles out at the bottom of the tube.
(E) Any of the above depending on how hard the air flows.

37.

Water of density 1000 kg/m3 flows at a speed of 3.0 m/s through a section of pipe of radius 0.040m. The pipe bends
upward to 0.25 m above its original height and tapers to a radius of 0.020 m, as shown in the figure above.

If the water pressure is 1.50 × 105 Pa in the lower part of the pipe, the water pressure in the upper part of the pipe is
most nearly

(A) 0.80 ×105 Pa

(B) 1.48 ×105 Pa
(C) 1.53 ×105 Pa
(D) 2.29 ×105 Pa

38. Two blocks of equal volume but unequal mass hang at rest from strings. The blocks are completely submerged in a
container of water but do not touch the bottom or sides of the container. Which of the following must be true?
Select two answers.

Page 22 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) The tension is the same in both strings.

(B) The buoyant force is the same on both blocks.
(C) The net force on each block is different.
(D) The blocks have different densities.

39.

The figure above shows pipe 1 of cross-sectional area A1 and pipe 2 of cross-sectional area A2 , which merge into
pipe 3 of cross-sectional area A3 . The water in pipes 1 and 2 flows with speeds v1 and v2, respectively. What is the
speed of the water in pipe 3 ?

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

40.

The figure above represents a portion of a blood vessel with circular cross sections. The segment on the left has
diameter 1.6 mm, and each of the segments on the right has diameter 0.4 mm. Assume the blood can be treated as
an ideal fluid. If blood enters the segment on the left with speed v, at what speed does the blood leave the segments
on the right?

AP Physics 2 Page 23 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

(A) 2v
(B) 4v
(C) 8v
(D) 16v

41. A fluid flows through a pipe of radius r at a speed v for a time t. The volume of fluid that flows past a point in the
pipe during this time is equal to
(A) 2πrvt
(B) πr2vt
(C) 2πrv/t
(D) 2πr2v/t
(E) πr2/vt

42.

Water is flowing with a speed of 9.0 m / s through a pipe of diameter 10 cm. The pipe widens to 30 cm as it goes up
an 8.0 m step, as shown in the figure above. If the pressure at point A is 2.0 x 105Pa, what is the pressure at point B
? (The density of water is 1.0 x 103 kg / m3.)
(A) 1.2 x 105Pa
(B) 1.6 x 105Pa
(C) 2.4 x 105Pa
(D) 3.2 x 105Pa

43. Water of density is pumped through a straight, horizontal hose and out a nozzle that has an opening
with a cross-sectional area times smaller than that of the hose. The water exits the nozzle at a speed of
. The difference between the pressure of the fluid when it is in the hose near the pump and as it exits the nozzle is
(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

Page 24 of 26 AP Physics 2
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

44.

Water flows from left to right through the horizontal section of pipe shown above. At point the speed of the
water is , and at it is . The density of water is . What is the difference in water
pressure between points and ?
(A) Zero
(B)
(C)
(D)

45. A large rock thrown into a pool of water of uniform density becomes completely submerged and then sinks to the
bottom. When is the buoyant force on the rock the greatest?
(A) When it just hits the water
(B) When it is partially underwater
(C) When it is completely underwater
(D) It cannot be determined without knowing the depth of the pool.
(E) It cannot be determined without knowing the mass of the rock.

46. Which of the following helps explain why the buoyant force exerted on an object submerged in a fluid on Earth is
always directed upward?
(A) The buoyant force forms a Newton’s third law pair with the force of gravity on the object.
The fluid pressure exerts a force that balances the weight of the object, which means pressure is only
(B)
exerted upward on the object.
Fluid pressure is exerted on all surfaces of an object and increases with depth. The horizontal forces due
(C)
to the pressure cancel, but the vertical forces do not.
The surface tension between fluid molecules tends to resist the object moving downward through the
(D)
surface of the fluid. This resistive force causes a net force upward.

AP Physics 2 Page 25 of 26
 Scoring Guide

unit 1 summative mcq

47.

The liquid-filled tank shown above has a small pipe at the bottom where liquid flows out of the tank. If the level of
liquid in the tank is kept constant, which of the following best explains why the liquid is essentially at rest at point
but has kinetic energy at point ?
(A) Work is done on the liquid by the gravitational force only.
(B) Work is done on the liquid because of the atmospheric pressure at point only.
(C) Work is done on the liquid because of the difference in atmospheric pressure between points and .
(D) Work is done on the liquid because the liquid’s pressure at point is less than its pressure at point .

Page 26 of 26 AP Physics 2