AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1 Name
1.
The figure above shows a uniform beam of length L and mass M that hangs horizontally and is attached to a
vertical wall. A block of mass M is suspended from the far end of the beam by a cable. A support cable runs
from the wall to the outer edge of the beam. Both cables are of negligible mass. The wall exerts a force FW
on the left end of the beam. For which of the following actions is the magnitude of the vertical component of
FW smallest?
A Keeping the support cable and block as shown in the diagram
Moving the lower end of the support cable to the center of the beam and leaving the block at the outer end
B
of the beam
Keeping the lower end of the support cable at the outer end of the beam and moving the block to the center
C
of the beam
D Moving both the support cable and the block to the center of the beam
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Page 1 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
2.
The diagram above shows a top view of a child of mass M on a circular platform of mass 5M that is rotating
counterclockwise. Assume the platform rotates without friction. Which of the following describes an action
by the child that will result in an increase in the total angular momentum of the child-platform system?
A The child moves toward the center of the platform.
B The child moves away from the center of the platform.
The child moves along a circle concentric with the platform (dashed line shown) opposite the direction of
C
the platform’s rotation.
D None of the actions described will change the total angular momentum of the child-platform system.
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Page 2 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
3.
The diagram above shows a top view of a child of mass M on a circular platform of mass 2M that is rotating
counterclockwise. Assume the platform rotates without friction. Which of the following describes an action
by the child that will increase the angular speed of the platform-child system and gives the correct reason
why?
A The child moves toward the center of the platform, increasing the total angular momentum of the system.
B The child moves toward the center of the platform, decreasing the rotational inertia of the system.
The child moves away from the center of the platform, increasing the total angular momentum of the
C
system.
D The child moves away from the center of the platform, decreasing the rotational inertia of the system.
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Page 3 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
4.
A system consists of a disk rotating on a frictionless axle and a piece of clay moving toward it, as shown in
the figure above. The outside edge of the disk is moving at a linear speed v, and the clay is moving at speed
v/2. The clay sticks to the outside edge of the disk. How does the angular momentum of the system after the
clay sticks compare to the angular momentum of the system before the clay sticks, and what is an
explanation for the comparison?
A It is the same because there is no external torque acting on the system.
B It is greater because the rotating mass increases, which increases the rotational inertia.
C It is less because the speed of the disk decreases when the clay sticks to it.
D It is less because the angular momentum of the clay opposes that of the disk.
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Page 4 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
5. A solid metal bar is at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface. It is free to rotate about a vertical axis at the
left end. The figures below show forces of different magnitudes that are exerted on the bar at different
locations. In which case does the bar’s angular speed about the axis increase at the fastest rate?
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AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
6.
A wheel of radius R and negligible mass is mounted on a horizontal frictionless axle so that the wheel is in a
vertical plane. Three small objects having masses m, M, and 2M, respectively, are mounted on the rim of the
wheel, as shown above. If the system is in static equilibrium, what is the value of m in terms of M ?
B M
D 2M
7. A disk of known radius and rotational inertia can rotate without friction in a horizontal plane around its
fixed central axis. The disk has a cord of negligible mass wrapped around its edge. The disk is initially at
rest, and the cord can be pulled to make the disk rotate. Which of the following procedures would best
determine the relationship between applied torque and the resulting change in angular momentum of the
disk?
Pulling on the cord, exerting a force of 15 N for 2 s and then 25 N for 3 s, and measuring the final angular
A
velocity of the disk
For five different time intervals, pulling on the cord, exerting a force of 15 N, and then measuring the angle
B
through which the disk rotates in each case
For five different time intervals, pulling on the cord, exerting a force of 15 N, and then measuring the final
C
angular velocity of the disk
For five forces of different magnitude, pulling on the cord for 5 s, and then measuring the final angular
D
velocity of the disk
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Page 6 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
8.
A massless rigid rod of length 3d is pivoted at a fixed point W, and two forces each of magnitude F are
applied vertically upward as shown above. A third vertical force of magnitude F may be applied, either
upward or downward, at one of the labeled points. With the proper choice of direction at each point, the rod
can be in equilibrium if the third force of magnitude F is applied at point
A W only
B Y only
C V or X only
D V or Y only
E V, W, or X
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AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
9.
A compressed spring mounted on a disk can project a small ball. When the disk is not rotating, as shown in
the top view above, the ball moves radially outward. The disk then rotates in a counterclockwise direction as
seen from above, and the ball is projected outward at the instant the disk is in the position shown above.
Which of the following best shows the subsequent path of the ball relative to the ground?
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Page 8 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
A horizontal, uniform board of weight 125 N and length 4 m is supported by vertical chains at each end. A person
weighing 500 N is sitting on the board. The tension in the right chain is 250 N.
10. How far from the left end of the board is the person sitting?
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AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
A 0.4 m
B 1.5 m
C 2m
D 2.5 m
E 3m
11. What is the tension in the left chain?
A 250 N
B 375 N
C 500 N
D 625 N
E 875 N
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Page 10 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
12.
An object weighing 120 N is set on a rigid beam of negligible mass at a distance of 3 m from a pivot, as
shown above. A vertical force is to be applied to the other end of the beam a distance of 4 m from the pivot
to keep the beam at rest and horizontal. What is the magnitude F of the force required?
A 10 N
B 30 N
C 90 N
D 120 N
E 160 N
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Page 11 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
13.
A disk is initially rotating counterclockwise around a fixed axis with angular speed w0.
At time t = 0, the two forces shown in the figure above are exerted on the disk. If counterclockwise is
positive, which of the following could show the angular velocity of the disk as a function of time?
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Page 12 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
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Page 13 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
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Page 14 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
14.
A rod is at rest on a flat, horizontal surface. One end of the rod is attached to a pivot, and the rod may freely
rotate around the pivot if acted upon by a net external torque, as shown in Figure 1. In an experiment, the
rod is initially at rest and student exerts a net torque on the rod. Data are collected to create a graph of the
rod’s angular acceleration as a function of time, as shown in Figure 2. Frictional forces are considered to be
negligible. How can the student use the graph to determine the angular momentum of the rod at ?
Determine the average angular acceleration from to and multiply the result by the rotational inertia of
A
the rod.
Determine the area bound by the curve and the horizontal axis from to and multiply the result by the
B
rotational inertia of the rod.
Determine the average slope of the curve from to and multiply the result by the rotational inertia of
C
the rod.
D Multiply the angular acceleration at by the rotational inertia of the rod.
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Page 15 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
15.
A thin rod of length d on a frictionless surface is pivoted about one end, as shown above, and can rotate
freely. The rod is at rest when it is struck by a sphere with linear momentum of magnitude pi perpendicular
to the rod. The sphere rebounds along its original line of motion with momentum of magnitude pf. What is
the magnitude of the angular momentum of the rod immediately after the collision?
A pf - pi
B pf + pi
C (pf - pi )d
D (pf + pi )d
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Page 16 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
16.
A light string is attached to a massive pulley of known rotational inertia , as shown in the figure. A
student must determine the relationship between the torque exerted on the pulley and the change in the
pulley’s angular velocity when the torque is applied for . In addition to a stopwatch to measure the time
interval, what two measurements could the student make in order to determine the relationship? Select two
answers.
A Mass of the pulley
B Radius of the pulley
C Entire length of the string
D Force exerted on the string to turn the pulley
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Page 17 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
17.
A student conducts an experiment to determine the relationship between applied torque and change in
angular velocity. The student uses the apparatus shown in the figure above, consisting of two disks that are
glued together and mounted on a horizontal axle. Blocks of varying mass are hung from a string wound
around the smaller disk. The blocks are released from rest, exerting different torques on the disks, and are
allowed to fall a fixed distance. For each block, the time of fall t and the final angular velocity ωf of the
disks are measured. There is considerable friction between the disks and the axle. Which of the following
best represents a plot that can be obtained from the student’s data?
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Page 18 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
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Page 19 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
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Page 20 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
18.
Mars moves in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, and the mass of Mars is much less than the mass of the
Sun. At the instant shown above, Mars is getting farther away from the Sun. How does this affect the
potential energy of the Mars-Sun system and the magnitude of Mars’s angular momentum with respect to
the Sun?
System Potential Energy Mars's Angular Momentum
A
Increases Increases
System Potential Energy Mars's Angular Momentum
B
Increases Remains the same
System Potential Energy Mars's Angular Momentum
C
Decreases Decreases
System Potential Energy Mars's Angular Momentum
D
Decreases Remains the same
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Page 21 of 22
AP Physics 1 Test Booklet
Torque & Rotational Motion FRQ 1
19.
A moon is in an elliptical orbit about a planet as shown above. At point A the moon has speed μA and is at
distance RA from the planet. At point B the moon has speed μB. Which of the following explains a correct
method for determining the distance of the moon from the planet at point B in terms of the given quantities?
Conservation of angular momentum, because the gravitational force exerted by the moon on the planet is the
A
same as that exerted by the planet on the moon
Conservation of angular momentum, because the gravitational force exerted on the moon is always directed
B
toward the planet
Conservation of energy, because the gravitational force exerted on the moon is always directed toward the
C
planet
Conservation of energy, because the gravitational force exerted by the moon on the planet is the same as that
D
exerted by the planet on the moon
20. A satellite that is a spinning cylinder has initial rotational inertia I0 and angular velocity w0. Solar panels
unfold from the satellite and are extended outward. The satellite then has rotational inertia If = aI0 and
angular velocity wf = bw0, where a and b are constants. Which of the following is true about the constants a
and b?
A a = 1 and b = 1
B a > 1 and b < 1
C a > 1 and b = 1
D a < 1 and b < 1
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Page 22 of 22
AP Physics 1 Torque & Rotational Motion MCQ Quiz 1 Solutions
1. D
2. D
3. B
4. A
5. A
6. C
7. D
8. C
9. E
10. B
11. B
12. C
13. C
14. B
15. D
16. B & D
17. A
18. B
19. B
20. B
