AP Physics 1 2017 Free Response Solutions

The paragraph discusses the analysis of a 2017 AP Physics free response question focusing on circuits. The speaker, Dan Fullerton, explains three different circuits with varying setups of batteries and light bulbs, treating light bulbs as resistors. The main task involves ranking the potential differences across the light bulbs and determining which circuit's battery will run out of usable energy first and last. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not getting stuck on a single part and moving on to ensure all possible points are earned. The analysis includes a discussion on power dissipation and the impact of circuit configurations on energy usage. The speaker also provides an approach to writing a detailed response with equations and diagrams, although not explicitly written out in the video.

This paragraph details an experiment to determine the coefficient of static friction between a flat wood board and a wood block. Two methods are discussed: one involving tilting the board until the block begins to slide, and the other using a spring scale to pull the block until it moves. The speaker outlines the procedure, including the equipment needed and the steps to take, as well as how to derive the equation for the coefficient of static friction. The paragraph also addresses how to reduce experimental uncertainty by plotting the applied force against the weight of the block and using the slope to find the coefficient of static friction. The speaker concludes with a discussion on whether static and kinetic friction coefficients are equal, noting that while they may appear the same, a detailed look at the data reveals discrepancies.

The paragraph focuses on angular momentum in the context of a rod with a pivot point and a disc being thrown towards it. The speaker explains the qualitative reasoning for where the disc should hit the rod to maximize angular speed. The discussion then moves to evaluating a provided equation for post-collision angular speed and its consistency with the qualitative analysis. The speaker critiques an incorrect equation proposed by a student, highlighting physical sense and conservation of angular momentum as key to identifying the mistake. Finally, the speaker derives an equation for the post-collision angular speed of the rod, considering the disc's rotation and the rod's mass distribution. The impact of the disc bouncing off the rod versus sticking to it is also analyzed, noting a greater change in angular momentum and thus a higher angular velocity in the case of a bounce.

This paragraph presents a scenario where two teams launch blocks from different heights on slides and examines the distance each block travels after being released. The speaker explains that the block dropped from a higher point will travel further due to having more kinetic energy and a higher horizontal velocity. In a second experiment, the speaker discusses the distance each block travels when both are launched from the same height but on slides with different shapes. The explanation hinges on the conservation of energy and the fact that both blocks have the same amount of kinetic energy and are in the air for the same amount of time, resulting in them landing the same distance from their tables. The speaker also addresses which block will hit the floor first, attributing it to the quicker acceleration and earlier reach of the edge of the table for the block released from a steeper slope.

The paragraph explores a wave question involving two pulses traveling in opposite directions on a string. The speaker describes the task of plotting the velocity of a specific point on the string as the pulses interact over time. A detailed graph is provided, showing the velocity of the string piece at Point P from the start to the end of the 5-second interval. The speaker then instructs on sketching the shape of the entire string at a specific time when the pulses are completely overlapped, emphasizing the importance of superposition in determining the final wave shape. The explanation focuses on the addition of wave values to derive the resultant waveform, which should be neatly presented in the sketch.