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AP®PhysicsCollege BoardPhysics 1: Algebra-BasedExam QuestionsUnit 1: KinematicsDisplacement, Velocity & Acceleration

Displacement, Velocity & Acceleration (College Board AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based)

Exam Questions

15 mins15 questions
1
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Which of the following statements about velocity are correct?

  • Velocity is the distance traveled by an object over an interval of time.

  • Velocity is a scalar quantity with both magnitude and direction.

  • It is possible for an object to travel at a constant speed without a constant velocity.

  • The magnitude of an object's average velocity is its average speed.

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2
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Which of the following statements is true about acceleration?

  • If an object experiences negative acceleration, then its speed must be decreasing.

  • If an object experiences constant acceleration, then its average and instantaneous acceleration must be equal.

  • If an object is accelerating, then its speed must be changing.

  • If an object's acceleration is zero, the object must be stationary.

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3
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Over a 2 minute period, an ant travels 20 space straight m south from its initial position and then 12 space straight m east.

Which of the following correctly describes the ant's average velocity?

  • 0.27 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 0.27 space straight m divided by straight s space SE

  • 0.19 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 0.19 space straight m divided by straight s space SE

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4
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The beep test is a fitness activity used in sports. Participants run back and forth between markers spaced 20 space straight m apart, in time to a series of beeps. The beeps get faster over time, and when a participant can no longer keep up, they have to drop out.

A Physics student is correctly measuring the displacement of a participant during a section of the beep test.

Which of the following data sets did the student record?

  • time/s

    displacement/m

    0

    0

    10

    10

    20

    10

    30

    10

    40

    10

    50

    10

    60

    10

  • time/s

    displacement/m

    0

    0

    10

    10

    20

    20

    30

    35

    40

    50

    50

    70

    60

    90

  • time/s

    displacement/m

    0

    0

    10

    10

    20

    20

    30

    10

    40

    0

    50

    15

    60

    10

  • time/s

    displacement/m

    0

    0

    10

    10

    20

    20

    30

    30

    40

    20

    50

    10

    60

    0

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5
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Which of the following is a correct description of an object's position?

  • 7 space straight m

  • 7 degree

  • open parentheses 7 comma space 1 close parentheses

  • 7 space straight m left

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6
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Which of the following statements about position is true?

  • Position is a scalar quantity

  • Position is always measured relative to a reference point

  • Position and displacement are the same

  • Position has no directional component

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7
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A car's velocity changes from 10 space straight m divided by straight s to 20 space straight m divided by straight s in 5.0 space straight s. Which of the following is the car's average acceleration?

  • 2.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared

  • 3.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared

  • 5.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared

  • 10.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared

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8
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When an object moves with a constant velocity, which of the following is true?

  • Its acceleration is zero.

  • Its speed must be zero.

  • Its displacement depends on the distance traveled.

  • Its direction must change.

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9
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A ball is thrown straight up into the air. As it rises, it slows down until it momentarily stops at its highest point before falling back down.

Which of the following best explains the meaning of the ball’s negative acceleration as it rises?

  • The acceleration is negative because the ball is moving upward.

  • The acceleration is negative because gravity is acting in the opposite direction to the ball’s velocity.

  • The acceleration is negative because the ball’s speed is decreasing as it moves.

  • The acceleration is negative because the ball stops at its highest point.

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10
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An object moves in a straight line with a constant velocity of 10 space straight m divided by straight s for 10 space straight s, then stops for 5 space straight s.

Which of the following is the object’s average velocity over the total time?

  • 5.0 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 6.7 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 7.5 space straight m divided by straight s

  • 10.0 space straight m divided by straight s

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11
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Three objects move along a straight line. Object 1 travels from x space equals space 2.0 space straight m to x space equals space 8.0 space straight m and then to x space equals space 4.0 space straight m. Object 2 travels from x space equals space 5.0 space straight m to x space equals space 1.0 space straight m and then to x space equals space 9.0 space straight m. Object 3 travels from x space equals space 3.0 space straight m to x space equals space 7.0 space straight m and then to x space equals space 2.0 space straight m.

Which of the following correctly describes the magnitudes of their displacements relative to each other?

  • Displacement: increment x subscript 2 space greater than space increment x subscript 1 space greater than space increment x subscript 3 Distance: d subscript 2 space greater than space d subscript 1 space greater than space d subscript 3

  • Displacement: increment x subscript 2 space greater than space increment x subscript 3 space greater than space increment x subscript 1 Distance: d subscript 3 space greater than space d subscript 2 space greater than space d subscript 1

  • Displacement: increment x subscript 3 space greater than space increment x subscript 2 space greater than space increment x subscript 1 Distance: d subscript 1 space greater than space d subscript 2 space greater than space d subscript 3

  • Displacement: increment x subscript 1 space greater than space increment x subscript 2 space greater than space increment x subscript 3 Distance: d subscript 3 space greater than space d subscript 1 space greater than space d subscript 2

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12
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A drone travels 2.5 space km north, then 3.0 space km east and finally 1.5 space km south, completing the journey in 45 space minutes.

Which of the following correctly gives the ratio of the drone's average speed to its average velocity and the direction of its average velocity?

  • Ratio: 2.00, Direction: 18 degree north of east

  • Ratio: 2.22, Direction: 18 degree north of east

  • Ratio: 2.22, Direction: 18 degree east of north

  • Ratio: 2.50, Direction: 20 degree east of north

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13
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A motorcycle initially moving at 10.0 space straight m divided by straight s accelerates at 3.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared on a straight road for 5.0 space straight s. The motor cycle enters an uphill incline where it accelerates uniformly at 1.5 space straight m divided by straight s squared until it reaches a final speed of 40.0 space straight m divided by straight s.

Which of the following is the total time required to reach this speed?

  • 10.0 space straight s

  • 13.3 space straight s

  • 15.0 space straight s

  • 17.0 space straight s

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14
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Two cars start from rest and accelerate uniformly for 9.0 space straight s. Car 1 accelerates for 4.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared on a straight level road and car 2 accelerates at 2.5 space straight m divided by straight s squared on a level road for 3.0 space straight s, then continues accelerating at 5.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared for the remaining 6.0 space straight s.

Which of the following correctly compares the final velocities of the two cars, v subscript 1and v subscript 2?

  • v subscript 1 space equals space v subscript 2

  • v subscript 2 space greater than space v subscript 1 by 1.5 space straight m divided by straight s

  • v subscript 1 space greater than space v subscript 2 by 3.0 space straight m divided by straight s

  • v subscript 2 space greater than space v subscript 1 by 4.0 space straight m divided by straight s

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15
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A bus accelerates from rest at 2.5 space straight m divided by straight s squared for 6.0 space straight s, then continues at a constant speed for 15.0 space straight s. A car starts from rest 5.0 space straight s after the bus begins, accelerating uniformly at 3.0 space straight m divided by straight s squared.

Which of the following is the time at which the car catches up with the bus?

  • 20.2 space straight s

  • 18.4 space straight s

  • 23.4 space straight s

  • 26.7 space straight s

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