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2018-19 AP Exam Instructions

After 35 minutes, say:

AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam

There are 10 minutes remaining.

After 10 minutes, say:

Stop working and turn to the last page in your booklet. . . .
You have 2 minutes to answer Questions 101–106. These are survey questions
and will not affect your score. You may not go back to work on any of the exam
questions. You may now begin.
To help you and your proctors make sure students are not working on the exam questions,
the two pages with the survey questions are identified with a large S on the upper corner
of each page. Give students 2 minutes to answer the survey questions.

Then say:
Close your booklet and put your answer sheet on your desk, faceup. Make sure
you have your AP number label and an AP Exam label on page 1 of your answer
sheet. Sit quietly while I collect your answer sheets.
Collect an answer sheet from each student. Check that each answer sheet has an
AP number label and an AP Exam label.

After all answer sheets have been collected, say:

Now you must seal your exam booklet using the white seals you set aside
earlier. Remove the white seals from the backing and press one on each area of
your exam booklet cover marked “PLACE SEAL HERE.” Fold each seal over the
back cover. When you have finished, place the booklet on your desk, faceup.
I will now collect your Section I booklet. . . .
Collect a Section I booklet from each student. Check that each student has signed the front
cover of the sealed Section I booklet.

SECTION II: Free Response

When all Section I materials have been collected and accounted for, say:
May I have everyone’s attention? Place your Student Pack on your desk. . . .
You may now remove the shrinkwrap from the Section II packet, but do not open
the exam booklet until you are told to do so. . . .
Read the bulleted statements on the front cover of the exam booklet. Look up
when you have finished. . . .
Now take an AP number label from your Student Pack and place it on the shaded
box. If you don’t have any AP number labels, write your AP number in the box.
Look up when you have finished. . . .
Read the last statement. . . .
Using your pen, print the first, middle, and last initials of your legal name in the
boxes and print today’s date where indicated. This constitutes your signature
and your agreement to the statements on the front cover. . . .
Now turn to the back cover. Using your pen, complete Items 1 through 3 under
“Important Identification Information.”. . .
Read Item 4. . . .

AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam 233

 2018-19 AP Exam Instructions

I need to collect the Student Pack from anyone who will be taking another
AP Exam. Keep it, however, if you will be taking the Physics C: Electricity and
Magnetism exam this afternoon. If you have no other AP Exams to take, place
your Student Pack under your chair now. . . .
Read the information on the back cover of the exam booklet. Do not open the
booklet until you are told to do so. Look up when you have finished. . . .
Collect the Student Packs from students who are taking any other AP Exams this year.

Then say:
Are there any questions? . . .
Rulers, straightedges, and calculators may be used for Section II. Be sure these
items are on your desk. . . .
You have 45 minutes to complete Section II. You are responsible for pacing
yourself and may proceed freely from one question to the next. You must write
your answers in the exam booklet using a pen with black or dark blue ink or a
No. 2 pencil. If you use a pencil, be sure that your writing is dark enough to be
easily read. If you need more paper to complete your responses, raise your
hand. At the top of each extra sheet of paper you use, write only:
ƒ your AP number,
ƒ the exam title, and
ƒ the question number you are working on.
Do not write your name. Are there any questions? . . .

You may begin.

Note Start Time . Note Stop Time .

You should also make sure that Hewlett-Packard calculators’ infrared ports are not facing
each other and that students are not sharing calculators.

After 35 minutes, say:

There are 10 minutes remaining.

After 10 minutes, say:

Stop working and close your exam booklet. Place it on your desk, faceup. . . .
If any students used extra paper for a question in the free-response section, have those
students staple the extra sheet(s) to the first page corresponding to that question in their
free-response exam booklets. Complete an Incident Report after the exam and return
these free-response booklets with the extra sheets attached in the Incident Report return
envelope (see page 68 of the 2018-19 AP Coordinator’s Manual for complete details).

Then say:
Remain in your seat, without talking, while the exam materials are collected. . . .
Collect a Section II booklet from each student. Check for the following:

ƒ Exam booklet front cover: The student placed an AP number label on the shaded box
and printed their initials and today’s date.
ƒ Exam booklet back cover: The student completed the “Important Identification
Information” area.
When all exam materials have been collected and accounted for, return to students who are
taking Mechanics only any electronic devices you may have collected before the start of
the exam.

234 AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam

2018-19 AP Exam Instructions

AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam

If you are giving the regularly scheduled exam, say:
You may not discuss or share the free-response exam content with anyone
unless it is released on the College Board website in about two days. Your
AP Exam score results will be available online in July.

If you are giving the alternate exam for late testing, say:
None of the content in this exam may ever be discussed or shared in any way
at any time. Your AP Exam score results will be available online in July.

If any students completed the AP number card at the beginning of this exam and are
about to be dismissed say:
Please remember to take your AP number card with you. You will need the
information on this card to view your scores and order AP score reporting
services online.

If no students are taking Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, say:

You are now dismissed.

If some students are taking Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, say:

Those of you taking Mechanics only are now dismissed.
The students taking the Electricity and Magnetism exam now get a 10-minute break.
Remember that the Electricity and Magnetism exam cannot begin before 2 p.m., but should
start before 3 p.m.

After the students taking Mechanics only have left, say:

If you will also be taking the Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam, please
listen carefully to these instructions before we take a 10-minute break. Please
put all of your calculators under your chair. Your calculators and all items you
placed under your chair at the beginning of this exam, including your Student
Pack, must stay there, and you are not permitted to open or access them in any
way. You are not allowed to consult teachers, other students, notes, textbooks,
or any other resources during the break. You may not make phone calls,
send text messages, check email, use a social networking site, or access any
electronic or communication device. You may not leave the designated break
area. If you do not follow these rules, your score will be canceled. Are there
any questions? . . .

You may begin your break. Testing will resume at .

If you will be administering Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism at 2 p.m., be sure

all exam materials are kept secure during the break. When the students return from
break, turn to page 237 and begin the exam administration for Physics C: Electricity
and Magnetism.

If you have no students taking Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, return all exam
materials to secure storage until they are shipped back to the AP Program. (See page 27 of
the 2018-19 AP Coordinator’s Manual for more information about secure storage.)

AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam 235

 ®
AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam
SECTION II: Free Response 2019
DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

At a Glance
Total Time
45 minutes
Number of Questions
3
Percent of Total Score
50%
Writing Instrument
Either pencil or pen with
black or dark blue ink
Electronic Device
Calculator allowed
Weight
The questions are
weighted equally.

Instructions
The questions for Section II are printed in this booklet. You may use any blank space in
the booklet for scratch work, but you must write your answers in the spaces provided for
each answer. A table of information and lists of equations that may be helpful are in the
booklet. Calculators, rulers, and straightedges may be used in this section.
All final numerical answers should include appropriate units. Credit for your work
depends on demonstrating that you know which physical principles would be appropriate
to apply in a particular situation. Therefore, you should show your work for each part in
the space provided after that part. If you need more space, be sure to clearly indicate
where you continue your work. Credit will be awarded only for work that is clearly
designated as the solution to a specific part of a question. Credit also depends on the
quality of your solutions and explanations, so you should show your work.
Write clearly and legibly. Cross out any errors you make; erased or crossed-out work will
not be scored. You may lose credit for incorrect work that is not crossed out.
Manage your time carefully. You may proceed freely from one question to the next. You
may review your responses if you finish before the end of the exam is announced.

Form I
Form Code 4PBP4-S

80
 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C TABLE OF INFORMATION
CONSTANTS AND CONVERSION FACTORS
Proton mass, m p 1.67 – 10 27 kg Electron charge magnitude, e 1.60 – 10 19 C
Neutron mass, mn 1.67 – 10 27 kg 1 electron volt, 1 eV 1.60 – 10 19 J
Electron mass, me 9.11 – 10 31 kg Speed of light, c 3.00 – 108 m s
Universal gravitational 6.67 – 10 11 N<m 2 kg 2
Avogadro’s number, N 0 6.02 – 10 23 mol 1 G
constant,
Acceleration due to gravity
Universal gas constant, R 8.31 J (mol <K)
at Earth’s surface, g 9.8 m s2
Boltzmann’s constant, k B 1.38 – 10 23 J K
1 unified atomic mass unit, 1u 1.66 – 10 27 kg 931 MeV c 2
Planck’s constant, h 6.63 – 10 34 J <s 4.14 – 10 15 eV <s
hc 1.99 – 10 25 J <m 1.24 – 103 eV < nm
Vacuum permittivity, e0 8.85 – 10 12 C2 N < m 2

Coulomb’s law constant, k 1 4 pe0 9.0 – 109 N< m 2 C2

Vacuum permeability, m0 4 p – 10 7 (T <m) A
Magnetic constant, k „ m0 4 p 1 – 10 7 (T< m) A
1 atmosphere pressure, 1 atm 1.0 – 105 N m 2 1.0 – 105 Pa

meter, m mole, mol watt, W farad, F

kilogram, kg hertz, Hz coulomb, C tesla, T
UNIT second, s newton, N volt, V degree Celsius, ’C
SYMBOLS
ampere, A pascal, Pa ohm, W electron volt, eV
kelvin, K joule, J henry, H

PREFIXES VALUES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS FOR COMMON ANGLES

D
Factor Prefix Symbol q 0 30D 37D 45D 53D 60D 90D
109 giga G sin q 0 12 35 2 2 45 3 2 1
106 mega M cos q 1 3 2 45 2 2 35 12 0
103 kilo k tan q 0 3 3 34 1 43 3 ‡
10 2 centi c
10 3 milli m The following assumptions are used in this exam.
10 6 micro m I. The frame of reference of any problem is inertial unless otherwise
stated.
10 9 nano n II. The direction of current is the direction in which positive charges
10 12 pico p would drift.
III. The electric potential is zero at an infinite distance from an isolated
point charge.
IV. All batteries and meters are ideal unless otherwise stated.
V. Edge effects for the electric field of a parallel plate capacitor are
negligible unless otherwise stated.

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 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C EQUATIONS

MECHANICS ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Ãx Ãx 0  a x t a = acceleration G 1 q1q2 A = area
E= energy FE B = magnetic field
1 2 4pe0 r 2
x x0  Ãx 0 t  at F = force C = capacitance
2 x G
f = frequency G FE d = distance
Ãx2 2
Ãx 0  2 a x x  x0 E
h = height q E = electric field
G G I = rotational inertia e emf
=
G
a
ÇF Fnet
J = impulse G G Q F = force
m m
K = kinetic energy vÔ E < dA e0 I = current
G G k = spring constant J = current density
dp dV
F A = length Ex  L = inductance
dt dx
L = angular momentum A = length
G G G G G
J m= mass n
Ô F dt Dp
P = power
DV  Ô E <dr = number of loops of wire
per unit length
G G p = momentum N = number of charge carriers
p mv 1 q
G G
r = radius or distance V
4pe0 Ç rii P = power
per unit volume
T = i
Ff m FN period
t = time Q = charge
G G 1 q1q2
U= potential energy UE qV q = point charge
DE W Ô F <dr 4pe0 r R = resistance
v = velocity or speed
1 2 r = radius or distance
K mà W= work done on a system Q
2 x = DV t = time
position C
m = coefficient of friction U = potential or stored energy
dE k e0 A V = electric potential
P q = angle C
dt d
t = torque v = velocity or speed
G G r = resistivity
P F <v w = angular speed Cp
a = angular acceleration
Ç Ci F = flux
i
DUg mg Dh f = phase angle k = dielectric constant
G G 1 1 G G G
Fs k D x Cs
ÇC FM qv – B
Ã2 i i
ac w2r G G
r
G G G
Us
1
k Dx
2
I
dQ vÔ < d A m0 I
B
2 dt
t r –F G
x xmax cos( wt  f
G m0 I d A – r
G G 1
QDV
1
C DV 2 dB
G Çt t net UC 4p r 2
a 2 2
I I 2p 1 G G G
T rA
w f R F Ô A–B
I d
2 2 A
I Ô r dm Ç mr
m G G Bs m0 nI
Ts 2p E rJ
k
Ç mi xi G G
x cm I Nevd A FB Ô B < dA
Ç mi Tp 2p
A
g G G
à rw DV d FB
G I e vÔ < d A
E 
G Gm1m2 R dt
G G G FG
L r – p Iw r2 Rs Ç Ri dI
e L
1 2 Gm1m2 i dt
K Iw UG 
2 r 1 1 1 2
ÇR UL LI
Rp i i 2
w w0  at

1 2 P I DV
q q0  w0 t  at
2

-3-
 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C EQUATIONS

GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY CALCULUS

Rectangle A = area df d f du
A bh C = circumference dx du dx
V = volume
Triangle d n
S = surface area x nx n  1
1 dx
A bh b = base
2 d ax
h = height e aeax
Circle  = length dx

A pr2 w = width d 1
ln ax
r = radius dx x
C 2p r s = arc length d
s rq q = angle dx
>sin ax @ a cos ax
Rectangular Solid
d
V wh dx
>cos ax @  a sin ax
Cylinder s
r n 1 n 1
V pr 
2
q
Ôx dx
n 1
x , n › 1

ax 1 ax
S 2p r   2p r 2
Ôe dx e
a
Sphere
dx
4 3 Ôxa ln x  a
V pr
3
1
S 4p r 2 Ô cos ax dx a
sin ax

1
Right Triangle Ô sin ax dx  cos ax
a
a 2  b2 c2
VECTOR PRODUCTS
a  
sin q
c A B AB cos q
c  
b a A–B AB sin q
cos q
c q 90°
b
a
tan q
b

-4-
 PHYSICS C: MECHANICS
SECTION II
Time—45 minutes
3 Questions

Directions: Answer all three questions. The suggested time is about 15 minutes for answering each of the questions,
which are worth 15 points each. The parts within a question may not have equal weight. Show all your work in this
booklet in the spaces provided after each part.

1. A projectile is launched from the back of a cart of mass m that is held at rest, as shown above. At time t = 0, the
projectile leaves the cart with speed v0 at an angle θ above the horizontal. The projectile lands at point P.
Assume that the starting height of the projectile above the ground is negligible compared to the maximum height
reached by the projectile and the horizontal distance traveled.
(a) Derive an expression for the time tP at which the projectile reaches point P. Express your answer in terms of
v0 , θ , and physical constants, as appropriate.

(b) On the axes below, sketch the horizontal component v x and the vertical component vy of the velocity of
the projectile as a function of time t from t = 0 until t = tP . Explicitly label the vertical intercepts with
algebraic expressions.

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 The projectile is again launched from the same position, but with the cart traveling to the right with speed v1
relative to the ground, as shown above. The projectile again leaves the cart with speed v0 relative to the cart at
an angle q above the horizontal, and the projectile lands at point Q, which is a horizontal distance D from the
launching point. Express your answers in terms of v0 , q , and physical constants, as appropriate.
(c) Give a physical reason why the projectile lands at point Q, which is not as far from the launch position as
point P is, and explain how that physical reason affects the flight of the projectile.

(d) Derive an expression for v1 . Express your answer in terms of v0 , q , D, and physical constants, as
appropriate.

After the launch, the cart’s speed is v2 . Beginning at time t = 0, the cart experiences a braking force of
F = -bv , where b is a positive constant with units of kg s and v is the speed of the cart. Express your
answers to the following in terms of m, b, v2 , and physical constants, as appropriate.
(e)
i. Using Newton’s second law, write but DO NOT solve a differential equation that represents the motion
of the cart while it experiences the braking force.

ii. Show that the speed v (t ) of the cart as a function of time is given by the equation v (t ) = v2 e -bt m
.

iii. Derive an expression for the distance the cart travels from t = 0 until the time it comes to a stop.

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-7-
2. A thin uniform disk of mass M and radius R has a string wrapped around its edge and attached to the ceiling.
The bottom of the disk is at a height 3R above the floor, as shown above. The disk is released from rest. The
rotational inertia of a disk around its center is I = MR2 2 .
(a) On the circle below that represents the disk, draw and label the forces (not components) that act on the disk.
Each force must be represented by a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing away from, the disk, beginning
at the point where the force is exerted on the disk. The dot is at the center of the disk.

(b) When released from rest, the disk falls and the string unwinds. The force the string exerts on the disk is FT ,
and the gravitational force exerted on the disk is Fg . Which of the following expressions correctly relates
FT and Fg as the disk falls?

____ FT < Fg ____ FT = Fg ____ FT > Fg

Justify your answer.

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-8-
 (c) Express all answers in terms of M, R, and physical constants, as appropriate.
i. Derive an expression for the acceleration a of the disk as it falls.

ii. Derive an expression for the time D t that it takes the disk to reach the ground.

iii. Derive an expression for the rotational kinetic energy K rot of the disk at the instant it reaches the
ground.

Question 2 continues on the next page.

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-9-
 (d) A very narrow wedge is cut out of the thin uniform disk of mass M, as shown above. If r is the distance
from the tip of the wedge, then the linear mass density of the wedge can be expressed as follows:
Mr
l (r ) = .
25R 2

i. Using integral calculus, derive an expression for the rotational inertia of the wedge around its tip.

ii. Derive an expression for the rotational inertia of the modified disk (i.e., the disk after the narrow
wedge is cut out) around its original center.

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-10-
THIS PAGE MAY BE USED FOR SCRATCH WORK.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

-11-
3. Three blocks are connected by strings that pass over pulleys of negligible mass. Block B is on a level,
horizontal surface of negligible friction. Block A is on top of block B. String 1 connects blocks A and B. The
coefficients of static and kinetic friction between blocks A and B are s and k , respectively. Block C is
hanging over the end of the table and is attached to block B by string 2, as shown above. The masses of blocks
A, B, and C are m A , mB , and m C , respectively. When block C is released, the system remains at rest.
(a)
i. On the dot below, which represents block A, draw and label the forces (not components) that act on
block A. Each force must be represented by a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing away from,
the dot.
Block A

ii. On the dot below, which represents block B, draw and label the forces (not components) that act
on block B. Each force must be represented by a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing away from,
the dot.
Block B

(b) Derive an expression for the maximum value for mC at which the blocks will remain at rest. Express all
algebraic answers in terms of  s , k , m A , mB , m C , and physical constants, as appropriate.

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-12-
 The setup is modified, as shown in the figure above. Block A and one of the pulleys are removed, and block B
remains on the table. There is still negligible friction between block B and the table. A lump of clay is added to
block B. The students use Newton’s second law to derive an equation for the acceleration aC of block C. The
acceleration is given by the equation aC = mC g mtot , where mtot is the combined mass of the clay and the two
blocks. Students use the setup shown above to experimentally determine the acceleration g due to gravity. In
each trial, a student moves a small amount of clay from block B to block C and then releases the blocks from
rest, recording the new values of mC and aC . The total mass of the clay and the two blocks is mtot  5.0 kg .
The graph below shows aC as a function of mC , where mC is now the combined mass of block C and the mass
of clay added to block C.

(c)
i. Draw a best-fit line to the data points in the graph above.
ii. Use the best-fit line from part (c)(i) to calculate an experimental value for the acceleration g due to
gravity.

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-13-
 (d) If the mass of the pulley in part (c) is significant, would the experimental value of g be greater than, less
than, or equal to the value calculated in part (c)(ii) ?
____ Greater than ____ Less than ____ Equal to
Justify your answer.

A different group of students repeats the experiment, but instead of moving clay from block B to block C,
they just remove a small amount of clay from block B and set it aside, away from the setup. The equation
aC  mC g mtot still applies to the new experiment.
(e) In order to provide a straight-line graph that can be used to determine an experimental value for g, what two
quantities should the students now graph? Check all that apply.
1 mc
____ ac vs ____ ac vs mtot ____ ac vs
mtot mtot

1
____ ac vs mC ____ mc vs mtot ____ mc vs
mtot
Justify your answer.

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