Physics C: Mech · Unit 1 · Paper 3

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 3” 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

Launching from a height

Trajectory equation

Motion with a = a(x)

Period and frequency in circular motion

Centripetal acceleration

Concavity of a position graph

Projectile motion with calculus

When kinematic equations do not apply

Velocity components during flight

Deriving an expression symbolically

Complementary launch angles

Velocity as a derivative

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Time of flight on level ground

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Acceleration as a derivative

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Relative velocity

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Tangential versus centripetal acceleration

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.