AP®PhysicsCollege BoardPhysics 1: Algebra-BasedExam QuestionsUnit 3: Work, Energy & PowerConservation of Energy

Conservation of Energy (College Board AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based): Exam Questions

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Conservation of Energy

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1
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1 mark

A pendulum bob of mass 0.5 space kg is released from rest from a height of 0.4 space straight m above its lowest point.

Assuming no air resistance, which of the following is the speed of the bob at its lowest point?

  • 0.70 m/s

  • 1.4 m/s

  • 2.8 m/s

  • 3.2 m/s

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2
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1 mark

A system consists of a spring.

Which of the following energies can it have?

  • Elastic potential energy only

  • Elastic potential and translational kinetic energy

  • Gravitational potential and elastic potential energy

  • Translational kinetic energy only

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3
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1 mark

A block at the top of a slope has 20 J of gravitational potential energy. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and slope is mu subscript k space equals space 0.25.

What is the total energy in the block-Earth system once the block reaches the bottom of the slope?

  • 20 J

  • Greater than 20 J

  • Less than 20 J

  • There is not enough information to say

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4
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1 mark

A block of mass 3.0 space kg is pushed against a horizontal spring of spring constant k space equals space 200 space straight N divided by straight m, compressing it by 0.2 space straight m. The block is then released and slides on a frictionless surface. Which energy bar chart correctly represents the energy in the block-spring system at the moment of release?

  • Energy bar K, U_G and U_s. Only K is full, the others are empty.
  • Energy bar K, U_G and U_s. K is half full, U_G is one quarter full, U_s is one quarter full.
  • Energy bar K, U_G and U_s. K is half full and U_s is half full. U_G is empty.
  • Energy bar K, U_G and U_s. Only U_s is full, the others are empty.

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5
1 mark
Energy bar chart. The U_g bar is above the x axis and is the height of two background lines. The K bar has a height of zero.

The energy bar chart shows a pendulum-Earth system when the pendulum is at its maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.

Which of the following shows the pendulum-Earth system when the pendulum's speed is half of its maximum value?

  • K bar has a height of 2 lines. U_g has a height of zero
  • K bar is half a line high. U_g bar is one line high
  • K bar has a height of 1 line. U_g bar has a height of 1 line.
  • K bar has a height of half a line. U_g bar is 1.5 lines high

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1
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1 mark

A ripe apple falls from a tree. The apple falls from a height of 1.92 space straight m to the ground. Using conservation of mechanical energy, which of the following is correct for the speed of the apple just before it hits the ground?

  • 6.2 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 6.4 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 6.6 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 6.8 space straight m divided by straight s

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2
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1 mark
Diagram showing a block on a frictionless slope, starting at position xᵢ with a spring, moving to position xᶠ, reaching height hₘₐₓ.

The image above shows a spring compressed by a block, which, when released, causes the block to slide up a frictionless slope. The spring constant of the spring is 4.5 space straight N divided by straight m and it is compressed by 5.4 space cm using the block of mass 25 space straight g. Using the conservation of energy principle, which of the following is the maximum height the block reach?

  • 2.6 space cm

  • 5.2 space cm

  • 26 space cm

  • 52 space cm

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3
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1 mark
Diagram of a car on an inclined track with a loop in the middle. Position 2 is marked as half way up the loop in the track

Assuming frictional forces to be negigible, which of the following energy bar charts is correct for the roller coaster at position 2?

  • Bar chart depicting energy values with three bars labelled E_mech, K, and U_g. E_mech is 5, K is 3, and U_g is 3.
  • Bar chart displaying mechanical energy, kinetic energy, and gravitational potential energy, with mechanical at 5, kinetic at 1, and gravitational at 4
  • Bar graph showing energy values: E_mech at 5, followed by K at 4 and U_g at 1
  • Bar chart showing three bars labelled E_mech, K, and U_g. E_mech is at 5, while K and U_g are at 2.5

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4
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1 mark
Energy bar chart with Us, K, Ug. Us is at 2, K is at zero, Ug is at 2

The above energy bar chart shows a student bouncing on a trampoline. Which of the following is the system the energy bar chart shows?

  • Student, trampoline, Earth

  • Student, Earth

  • Student, trampoline

  • Trampoline, Earth

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5
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1 mark

A skier starts from rest at the top of a 20 m tall hill and skis down, experiencing friction along the way. System A contains the skier only. The skier-Earth system is System B.

Which of the following statements describes how the conservation of energy applies in each case?

  • In both systems, mechanical energy is conserved.

  • In System A, mechanical energy is not conserved, but in System B, it is.

  • Mechanical energy is not conserved in System A or System B.

  • In System A, mechanical energy is conserved, but in System B, is it not because friction does work.

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1
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1 mark

A block is held at rest at the top of an inclined slope. When the block is released, it slides down the slope. The distance traveled by the block down the slope is 16 space cm, the angle of the incline is 47 degree and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.29. Which of the following is correct for the speed of the block when it reaches the bottom of the slope?

  • 0.8 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 1.3 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 1.5 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 2.1 space straight m divided by straight s

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2
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1 mark

A cube of lead is suspended by a light string in a large container of water. The cube has a volume of 0.512 space straight m cubed and its centre of mass is 18 space straight m above the bottom of the container. The string is then cut.

Which of the following is most nearly the highest speed of the cube?

The density of lead is 11.34 times that of water.

  • 6.45 m/s

  • 6.52 m/s

  • 17.9 m/s

  • 18.1 m/s

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3
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1 mark

A pendulum consists of a bob of mass 5.0 space kg at the end of a 1.5 space straight m string. The bob is released from a height of 5.0 space cm above its lowest point. At this lowest point, tension in the string is 53 space straight N. Air resistance also acts.

Which of the following is the work done by air resistance from the beginning of the motion to the pendulum's lowest point?

  • 0 J

  • –0.25 J

  • –2.0 J

  • –2.5 J

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