Translational Kinetic Energy & Potential Energy (College Board AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based): Exam Questions

A baseball player throws a ball vertically upward. The ball has initial speed $v$ and initial kinetic energy $K$.

Which of the following gives the final speed and final kinetic energy of the ball when it is halfway through its descent back to the player's hands?

A satellite of mass $1.6\times {10}^5\mathrm{kg}$ is launched from the surface of the Earth to an altitude of $4.3\times {10}^6\mathrm{m}$. Given that the Earth has a mass of $5.98\times {10}^{24}\mathrm{kg}$ and a radius of $6.37\times {10}^6\mathrm{m}$, which of the following is correct for the change in the gravitational potential energy of the satellite?

An object falls from rest from a height $h$ close to the surface of the Moon. The Moon has no atmosphere.

Which of the following energy bar charts could represent the gravitational potential energy $U_g$ and kinetic energy $K$ of the object when it is one-quarter of the way through its fall?

A particle is thrown vertically upwards to a height $h$ with a speed $v$. It travels up to the highest point above the ground at point X, and it falls back down through point Y at $\frac{3}{5}h$ above the ground.

Which of the following values is the correct speed of the particle at point Y?

A box of mass $m$ is pushed up an inclined slope with an applied force $F$. Which of the following energy bar charts is correct for the gravitational potential energy, $U_g$, kinetic energy, $K$, and elastic potential energy, $U_s$ , of the object whilst it is in motion if the system is defined as only the box?

The following table provides data for four different springs, showing their spring constants ($k$) and compression distances ($∆x$).

Which of the following correctly ranks the elastic potential energies stored in the springs from greatest to least?

The table below provides data for three pairs of objects, showing their masses ($m_1$​, $m_2$) and the separation distances ($r$) between their centers of mass.

Which pair has the greatest magnitude of gravitational potential energy?

A spacecraft of mass $m$ is traveling at a constant velocity $v_S$​ relative to an observer on Earth. Another observer, moving with velocity $v_O$​ relative to Earth in the same direction as the spacecraft, measures the spacecraft’s velocity as $v\text{'}$.

Which of the following correctly expresses the kinetic energy of the spacecraft as measured by the moving observer?

The energy bar chart shows the spring potential energy, $U_s$, translational kinetic energy, $K$, and gravitational potential energy, $U_g$, for a bungee jumper at the lowest point in their motion.

Which of the following correctly defines the system?

A car of mass $m$ is moving at a constant velocity $v_0$​ relative to the ground. A truck of mass $3m$ is moving in the same direction with velocity $v_r$ relative to the ground. An observer inside the truck measures the car's kinetic energy as $K\text{'}$.

Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between $K\text{'}$ and the kinetic energy of the car $K_0$​ as measured from the reference frame of the ground?