Physics C: Mech · Unit 1 · Paper 2

Kinematics unit test

A test on this unit alone, marked as a percentage and a letter grade — for the test your class is actually sitting, rather than for May. Answer everything, then submit once: seeing the answer to question 3 before attempting question 4 makes the final percentage meaningless.

Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3

Each paper is built from this unit’s 40 terms and is the same for everyone, so a teacher can assign “Unit 1, Paper 2” and every student sits the identical test. Multiple choice is marked objectively; the written sections you mark yourself against the model answer and rubric.

Suggested time 35 min 32 points0/17 attempted

Centripetal acceleration

Finding turning points on a v–t graph

Dimensional analysis as a check

Free fall as constant acceleration

Area under a velocity-time curve

Concavity of a position graph

Reading acceleration from curvature of x(t)

Maximum height of a projectile

Velocity components during flight

Sign conventions in one dimension

Velocity as a derivative

Speed at a given height

Short answer 1. Define or explain: River crossing problem

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Integrating to find position

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Choosing coordinates

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Period and frequency in circular motion

3 pts

Free response

8 pts

Two identical blocks are launched horizontally from the edge of a table of height H. Block A leaves the table with speed v, and block B leaves with speed 2v. Air resistance is negligible.

A. Indicate whether block B lands after, before, or at the same time as block A. Justify your answer using qualitative reasoning beyond referencing equations.

B. Derive expressions for the time of flight and the horizontal range of a block launched horizontally from height H with speed v₀.

C. Justify how your derived expressions in part B are or are not consistent with your comparison in part A, and determine the ratio of the two blocks’ horizontal ranges.