2022

AP Physics C:
®

Mechanics
Scoring Guidelines
Set 2

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 AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines

Question 1: Free-Response Question 15 points

(a) For correctly drawing and labeling the force of gravity and the normal force on the sled 1 point
For correctly drawing and labeling the force of friction on the on the sled 1 point
For correctly drawing and labeling the force of tension on the on the sled 1 point
Example Response

Scoring Notes:
 Examples of appropriate labels for the force due to gravity include: FG , Fg , Fgrav ,
W , mg , Mg , “grav force,” “F Earth on block,” “F on block by Earth,”
FEarth on block , FE,Block . The labels G and g are not appropriate labels for the force due
to gravity. Fn , FN , N , “normal force,” “ground force,” or similar labels may be
used for the normal force. Fstring , Fs , FT , FTension , T , “string force,” “tension
force,” or similar labels may be used for the tension force exerted by the string.
 A response with extraneous forces or vectors can earn a maximum of two points.

Total for part (a) 3 points

(b) For any correct trigonometric expression for  in terms of the given quantities 1 point

x  x 
sin      sin 1  
y 2  x2 2
 y x
2

OR
y y
cos     cos 1
y2  x2 y 2  x2

OR
x x
tan      tan 1
y y

Total for part (b) 1 point

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AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines
(c)(i) For beginning the derivation with Newton’s second law to write an equation that is consistent 1 point
with part (a).
F  ma
FN  FT , y  Fg  0
FN  FT , y  Fg

Scoring Note: Derivation must start with a statement of Newton’s second law to earn this
point.
For correctly substituting the vertical component of the tension in terms of the given variables 1 point
consistent with part (b)
FN  mg  FT cos 
 y 
FN  mg  FT  
2 2
 y x 

(c)(ii) For summing the forces in the horizontal direction, consistent with parts (a) and (b) 1 point

Fnet  FT , x  Ff

For correctly substituting the horizontal component of the force of tension in terms of the 1 point
given variables
Fnet   FT sin   F f
 x 
Fnet   FT    F f
2 2
 y x 
For correctly substituting the expression for the normal force from part (c)(i) into the 1 point
expression for the force of friction

 x 
Fnet  FT 
2
  k FN
2 
 y x 
 x    y 
Fnet  FT      mg  F 
 y 2  x 2  

2 2  k  T
 y x    
Total for part (c) 5 points

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AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines
(d) For using the integral definition of work to derive an expression for the work done by the 1 point
force of tension

W   F  dx

For any indication that the work done on the sled by the string is due only to the horizontal 1 point
component of the tension in the string

W   FT ,x dx

For using the horizontal component of the force of tension consistent with part (b) or (c) 1 point
x L  x 
W   FT  dx
x 0 2 2 
 y x 

For correct limits of integration, x= 0 to x= L, and indicating that the work done is negative 1 point
2 2
let u  y  x , then du  2x dx

W  FT 
x L 1
x 0 2  1u du
 
xL
W  FT y 2  x2
x 0

W   FT  y  L  y2
2 2

Total for part (d) 4 points
(e) For selecting “ E1  E2 ” with an attempt at a relevant justification 1 point

For a justification that correctly relates the force of friction to the normal force, and the normal 1 point
force to the position or the angle
Example Response
The vertical component of the string force is the largest when the string is more vertical
( 0  x  L ). A larger vertical component of the string tension leads to a larger normal force
and, hence, a larger friction force.
Total for part (e) 2 points

Total for question 1 15 points

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 AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines

Question 2: Free-Response Question 15 points

(a) For selecting “ J S  J 2 ” with an attempt at a relevant justification 1 point

For a correct justification 1 point
Example Response
The impulse between the two blocks is the same, so because Block 1 is moving at the end, the
impulse given by the spring must be greater than the impulse given to Block 2 by Block 1.
Total for part (a) 2 points
(b) For correctly drawing the momentum for blocks 1 and 2 for the time interval 0  t  tC : 1 point
Block 1 shows an increasing curve with a decreasing slope (concave down) to highest value
(technically a cosine curve) and Block 2 shows zero momentum up to tC (a horizontal line
along the time axis).
For drawing a horizontal line for Block 1 when t  tC that is smaller in magnitude than the 1 point
momentum of Block 1 at time t  tC

For drawing a horizontal line for Block 2 when t  tC that is smaller in magnitude than the 1 point
momentum of Block 1 after time t  tC

For blocks 1 and 2 having a change in momentum that is equal in magnitude such that 1 point
Block 1 loses momentum and Block 2 gains momentum
Example Response

Total for part (b) 4 points

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AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines
(c) For using conservation of energy to find the speed of Block 1 at x  0 1 point
For using conservation of momentum to find the speed of the two-block system after the 1 point
collision
For combining correct equations from above 1 point
Example Response
1 1
k  x 2  m1v12
2 2
k
v1  x
m1

m1v1   m1  m2  v
m1v1
v
m1  m2

x km1
v 
m1  m2

Total for part (c) 3 points

(d)(i) For drawing an appropriate best-fit line including approximately the same number of points 1 point
above and below the line
Example Response

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 AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines
(d)(ii) For calculating the slope using two points on the line 1 point
For correctly relating the slope of the best-fit line to the mass of Block 2 1 point
For a correct mass of Block 2 1 point
Example Response
(0.60  0.02) m/s
slope   10.67 s-1
 0.055  0.0175  m
km1
slope 
m1  m2
km1
m2   m1
slope

m2 

150
N
m 
 0.50 kg 
 0.50 kg
10.67 s -1
m2  0.31 kg

Scoring Note: Acceptable responses for mass are 0.27 kg  0.37 kg .

Total for part (d) 4 points

(e) For selecting “ k   150 N/m ” with an attempt at relevant justification 1 point

For a correct justification 1 point

Example Response
A greater m2 indicates the spring constant k  should be greater than 150 N/m . The slope of
the graph is the same so as m2 increases k must be smaller.

Total for part (e) 2 points

Total for question 2 15 points

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AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines

Question 3: Free-Response Question 15 points

(a) For correct location and label of the force exerted on the board by the spring 1 point
For correct location and label of the force exerted on the board by gravity 1 point
For correct location and label of the force exerted on the board by the pivot 1 point
Example Response

Scoring Notes:
 Examples of appropriate labels for the force due to gravity include: FG , Fg , Fgrav ,
W , mg , Mg , “grav force,” “F Earth on block,” “F on block by Earth,” FEarth on block ,
FE,Block . The labels G and g are not appropriate labels for the force due to gravity.
Fn , FN , N , “normal force,” “ground force,” or similar labels may be used for the
normal force, which can be used instead of Fpivot . Fspring , FS , “spring force,” or
similar labels may be used for the force exerted by the spring.
 A response with extraneous forces or vectors can earn a maximum of two points.

Total for part (a) 3 points

(b) For indicating that the sum of the torques equals zero 1 point
  0

For substituting mg for the force of gravity and k  x for the spring force into a torque 1 point
equation
L L
k x  mg  0
4 4
For a correct expression for x 1 point

mg
x 
k

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AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines
Example Response
  0
Fspring dspring  Fweight d weight  0
L L
kx  mg  0
4 4
mg
x 
k
Scoring Note: This point can be earned regardless of whether a negative sign is present.

Total for part (b) 3 points

(c)(i) For a sketch that begins at a maximum value and monotonically decreases to a minimum of 1 point
zero at t  t1
For a sketch that is concave down between t  0 and t  t1 1 point
Example Response

Scoring Note: Any part of the graph beyond t1 is not considered in scoring.

(c)(ii) For indicating that the torques are in opposite directions in the rotational form of Newton’s 1 point
second law
 spring   g  I 

For including sin  90   0  , sin  90   0  , or cos  0 in an expression for the net torque 1 point
exerted on the rod
Fspring d spring (cos  )  Fg d g (cos  )  I B 0

For substituting mg for the force due to gravity and substituting kx2 for the spring force in 1 point
an expression for the net torque exerted on the rod
d spring k x2 (cos  0 )  d g mg (cos  0 )  I B 0

For substituting correct lever arms in an expression for the net torque exerted on the rod 1 point

L L
(cos 0 )kx2  (cos 0 )mg  I B 0
4 4

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AP® Physics C: Mechanics 2022 Scoring Guidelines

Example Response
 spring   g  I
Fspring d spring (cos 0 )  Fg d g (cos  0 )  I B 0
lspring (cos 0 )kx2  l g (cos 0 )mg  I B 0
L L
(cos  0 )kx2  (cos  0 )mg  I B 0
4 4
L
0   kx2 cos  0  mg cos 0 
4I B

Total for part (c) 6 points

(d) For selecting “     0 ” with an attempt at a relevant justification 1 point

For indicating that the net torque does not change 1 point

For indicating the rotational inertia increases 1 point

Example Response
The net torque on the system is the same (the spring and the person exert the same force and
the additional torques from the gravitational forces on the masses cancel) but the rotational
inertia of the system is now larger. This means that the angular acceleration of the system is
now smaller than it was before.
Total for part (d) 3 points

Total for question 3 15 points

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