PSI AP Physics C

Dynamics Free Response Name________________

1. A block of mass m is placed on an inclined surface that makes an angle θ above

the horizontal. A constant horizontal force F is applied on the block, causing the
block to accelerate up the incline. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the
block and the plane is µ. Present all answers in terms of m, θ, µ, F and g.
a. On the diagram below, show all the applied forces on the block
when it moves up the plane.

b. Determine the normal force applied on the block by the surface.

c. Determine the block’s acceleration as it moves up the incline.

d. If the block slides up at a constant speed, what is the value of force

F?

e. If the block slides down at a constant speed, what is the value of

force F?

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 2. A horizontal force F is applied to a small block of mass m 1 to make it slide along
the top of a larger block of mass m2 and length L. The coefficient of kinetic
friction between the blocks is µ. The larger block slides without friction along a
horizontal surface. The blocks start from rest with the smaller block at one end of
the larger block.

a. On the diagram below, draw and label all the forces acting on each
block.

b. Find the acceleration of each block, a1 and a2, relative to the

horizontal surface.

c. In terms of L, a1, and a2 find the time t needed for the small block to
slide off the end of the larger block.

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 3. Two blocks m1 and m2 are suspended at the ends of a string that passes through
a system of two light, frictionless pulleys. The system is released from rest.
a. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of block m1.
b. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of block m2.
c. Determine the tension force in the string.
d. Determine the support force in the cable attached to the celling.

4. A curved road with a radius of 150 m is banked at an angle of 25 .̊ The coefficient

of static friction between the tires and the surface is 0.4.
a. Find the speed of a car that does not require any friction force to
prevent skidding.
b. Find the maximum speed that the car can reach before sliding up
the bank. On the diagram below, show and label all the forces
acting on the car at this speed.

c. Find the minimum speed that the car can reach before sliding down
the bank. On the diagram below, show and label all the forces
acting on the car at this speed.

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 5. A sphere of mass m is released from rest. As it falls, the air exerts a resistance
force on the sphere that is proportional to the sphere’s velocity Fr = -kv. Neglect
the buoyant force of the air.
a. On the diagram below show and label all forces acting on the
sphere just after it is released.

b. On the diagram below show and label all forces acting on the
sphere after it was falling for a long time and the terminal velocity is
reached.

c. Determine the terminal velocity of the sphere.

d. Draw three graphs for the sphere motion (acceleration, velocity and
position) just after the sphere is released as well as after a long
time.

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 6. A block of mass m has an initial velocity vo at time t = 0, and slides on a
horizontal surface. The sliding friction force exerted on the block by the surface is
directly proportional to its velocity: Fr = -kv.
a. Find the amount of work that must be done on the block to bring it
to rest.
b. Find the expression for the acceleration of the block in terms of m,
k, and v.
c. Determine the speed of the block as a function of time.
d. Determine the total distance the block slides before coming to rest.

7. A car of mass m, initially at rest at time t = 0, is driven to the right along a straight
line on a horizontal road. The engine applies a constant force Fo. While moving,
the car encounters a resistance force Fr = - kv, where v is the velocity of the car
and k is a positive constant.
a. On the diagram below, show and label all forces acting on the car
as it moves to the right.

b. Determine the horizontal acceleration of the car.

c. Derive an expression for the car’s velocity as a function of time in

terms of k and Fo.
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 8. A block of mass m moving along the x – axis with a velocity v is slowed by the
resistance force Fr =-kV, where k is a constant. At time t = 0, the block has a
velocity Vo at position x= 0.
a. What is the initial acceleration of the block?
b. Derive an expression for the block’s velocity as a function of time t,
and sketch this function on the axes below.

c. Derive an expression for the block’s displacement as a function of

time and sketch this function on the axes below.

d. Determine the traveled distance by the block from t = 0 to t =∞.

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 9. As shown below, a block with a mass m slides down an inclined plane that
makes an angle θ with the horizontal. The block starts from rest at time t = 0 and
is subject to a velocity dependent resistance force Fr = -bV, where V is the
velocity of the block and b is a positive constant.
a. On the diagram below show and label all the applied forces on the
block.

b. Write, but do not solve a differential equation that can be used to

find the block’s velocity as a function of time.

c. Find the terminal velocity of the block.

d. Solve the differential equation for the block’s velocity and present it
in terms of m, b, g, θ and t.

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 10. A block of mass m is pulled along a rough horizontal surface by a force F that is
applied at an angle θ above the horizontal. The block moves at a constant
horizontal acceleration a. Express all the results in terms of m, θ, F, a, and
fundamental constants.

a. Draw and label a free-body diagram showing all the forces acting
on the block.

b. Write an expression for the normal force applied by the surface to

the block.

c. Determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and

the surface.

d. Sketch two graphs on the axes below: velocity and displacement as

functions of time, assuming the block started from rest at x = 0 and
t = 0.

e. The applied force can be large enough to levitate the block above
the surface. Derive an expression for the maximum acceleration of
the block that enables it to maintain contact with the surface.
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 11. A small box of mass m1 is placed on a long platform of mass m2. The system of
two objects is accelerated to the right by a force applied to m1. There is a
maximum value of force, F = Fo, such that the box and platform move together
without slipping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and the
platform is µk, and the coefficient of static friction between the box and the
platform is µs, and there is no friction between the platform and the surface it
rides on.

a. What is the acceleration of the system of the box and the platform
when the applied force is Fo?

b. What is the acceleration of the box when the applied force F > Fo?

c. What is the acceleration of the platform when the applied force F >
Fo?

d. At what minimum value of F will the box start moving forward on the
platform?

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 12. As shown below, two blocks with masses mB and mC are connected with a light
string and placed on the surface of an inclined plane. Block A with a mass mA is
suspended from a string that goes over a frictionless and massless pulley and is
connected to block B. The two blocks on the inclined plane move up the incline
with a constant speed. The friction force between block B and the surface is fB
and the friction force between block C and surface is fC.

a. On the diagram, show and label all forces applied on each block as
mA is moving down.

b. Find the mass of block A so that the system moves with a constant
speed.

c. The string between block B and C is cut; find the acceleration

(direction and magnitude) of block C.

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 13. Block B, with a mass MB, rests on the top of block A, with a mass MA, which is
placed on a horizontal tabletop. A light string attached to block A passes over a
frictionless and massless pulley and is connected to block C which is suspended
from the pulley. The coefficient of kinetic friction between all the surfaces is µ k
and the coefficient of static friction is µs.

a. Find the largest mass MC of block C that will not allow the two
blocks to slide on the tabletop; assume the blocks don’t slip on
each other.

b. Find the minimum value of mass MC that block C can have so the
blocks will move at a constant non zero speed when the system is
released, with block B remaining at the same relative position on
block A.

c. Find the maximum value of mass Mc that block A and B move

together.

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 14. A block of mass m is attached to one end of a rope passing over a stationary
pulley that is free to rotate. A ring of mass M can slide on the other end of the
rope. The masses of the rope and pulley are negligible. Ignore the friction in the
pulley. Present all answers in terms of M, m and g.

a. If the block remains at rest, what is the acceleration of the ring

sliding down the rope?

b. What is the friction force between the ring and the rope?

Now with new masses, the ring moves down at a constant acceleration, a, with
respect to the rope.

c. What is the acceleration of the block, ab?

d. What is the friction force between the ring and the rope, in terms of
M, m, g and a?

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Free-Response Answers

1. a.
FN

mg FFR

b. 𝐹𝑁 = 𝐹𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝐹(cos 𝜃−𝑢 sin 𝜃)−𝑚𝑔(𝑢 cos 𝜃+ sin 𝜃)
c. a = 𝑚

𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃+µ𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
d. 𝐹 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃−µ𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝑚𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃−µ𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
e. 𝐹 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃+µ𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

2. a.

𝐹− 𝜇𝑚1 𝑔 𝜇𝑚1 𝑔
b. 𝑎1 = , 𝑎2 =
𝑚1 𝑚2

2𝐿
c. t = √𝑎
1 − 𝑎2

|2𝑚1 −𝑚2 |𝑔
3. a. 𝑎1 = 2 4𝑚1 +𝑚2

|2𝑚1 −𝑚2 |𝑔
b. 𝑎2 = 4𝑚1 +𝑚2

3𝑚 𝑚 𝑔
c. 𝑇 = 4𝑚1+𝑚
2
1 2

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 3𝑚 𝑚 𝑔
d. 𝑇 = 2 4𝑚1+𝑚
2
1 2

4. a. v = 26.2 m/s

b.
FN

Rg(sin 𝜃 + 𝜇 cos 𝜃)
𝑣=√
cos 𝜃 − 𝜇 sin 𝜃
FFR
v = 39.6 m/s
mg

FN

c. FFR
Rg(sin 𝜃 − 𝜇 cos 𝜃)
𝑣=√
cos 𝜃 + 𝜇 sin 𝜃

mg
v = 9.1m/s

Fr

5. a.

mg

Fr

b.

mg

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 𝑚𝑔
c. 𝑣𝑇 =
𝑘

d.

1
6. a. 𝑊 = − 2 𝑚𝑣𝑜 2

−𝑘𝑣
b. 𝑎 = 𝑚

−𝑘𝑡
c. v = 𝑣𝑜 𝑒 𝑚

𝑣𝑜 𝑚
d. x = 𝑘

7. a. FN
FR
Fo

mg

𝐹𝑜 − 𝑘𝑣
b. 𝑎= 𝑚

−𝑘
𝐹𝑜
c. v= (1 − 𝑒 𝑚 𝑡 )
𝑘

−𝑘𝑣0
8. a. 𝑎 = 𝑚

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 −𝑘𝑡
b. 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑒 𝑚

−𝑘
𝑣𝑜 𝑚
c. 𝑥 = (1 - 𝑒 𝑚 𝑡 )
𝑘

𝑚𝑣𝑜
d. 𝑥 = 𝑘

9. a. FN

mg

𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃−𝑏𝑉 𝑑𝑣
b. =
𝑚 𝑑𝑡

𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃
c. 𝑣𝑡 = 𝑏

𝑏𝑡
𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃
d. 𝑣 = (1 − 𝑒 − 𝑚 )
𝑏

FN F
10. a.

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mg
 b. 𝐹𝑁 = 𝑚𝑔 − 𝐹 sin 𝜃
𝐹 cos 𝜃− 𝑚𝑎
c. 𝜇𝑘 = 𝑚𝑔−𝐹 sin 𝜃

d.
𝐹 cos 𝜃
e. 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚

𝐹𝑜
11. a. 𝑎 = 𝑚
1 +𝑚2

𝐹𝑜 −µ𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔
b. 𝑎1 = 𝑚1

µ𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔
c. 𝑎2 = 𝑚2

µ𝑠 𝑚1 𝑔(𝑚1 +𝑚2 )
d. 𝐹𝑚 = 𝑚2

FNB
FT1
12. a. FT1
FT2 FT2 FNC

mBg fB

mAg mcg fC

(𝑚𝐶 + 𝑚𝐵 )𝑔 sin 𝜃+ 𝑓𝐵 + 𝑓𝐶
b. 𝑚𝐴 = 𝑔

𝑚𝐶 𝑔 sin 𝜃− 𝑓𝐶
c. 𝑎 = 𝑚𝐶
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13. a. 𝑀𝑐 = 𝜇𝑠 (𝑀𝐴 + 𝑀𝐵 )

b. 𝑀𝑐 = 𝜇𝑘 (𝑀𝐴 + 𝑀𝐵 )
(𝜇𝑘 +𝜇𝑠 )(𝑀𝐴 + 𝑀𝐵 )
c. 𝑀𝑐 = 1−𝜇𝑠

(𝑀−𝑚)𝑔
14. a. 𝑎 = 𝑀

b. 𝐹𝐹𝑟 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑀(𝑔−𝑎)−𝑚𝑔
c. 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 = 𝑀+𝑚

𝑚𝑀(2𝑔−𝑎)
d. 𝐹𝐹𝑟 = 𝑀+𝑚

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