AP®PhysicsCollege BoardPhysics 1: Algebra-BasedExam QuestionsUnit 5: Torque & Rotational DynamicsTorque

Torque (College Board AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based)

Exam Questions

5 mins5 questions
1
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Diagram of a pulley system with a circular pulley suspended from a horizontal line and a square mass labeled "m" hanging from the pulley by a rope.

A block of mass 10 kg is attached to a rope which runs over a pulley of radius 0.5 m, as shown in the figure.

Which of the following is most nearly the torque exerted by the box on the pulley?

  • 5 space straight N times straight m

  • 20 space straight N times straight m

  • 50 space straight N times straight m

  • 100 space straight N times straight m

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2
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Diagram showing a wedge pushing a drum, labeled "drum," with a hanging square labeled "crate." The system appears to involve mechanical movement.

A winch used to lift heavy crates consists of a cable wound around a drum of diameter 2.5 m, as shown in the figure. The maximum torque the winch can withstand without breaking is 1250 N⋅m.

Which of the following most nearly represents the maximum mass of the crate the winch could lift without breaking?

  • 50 space kg

  • 100 space kg

  • 500 space kg

  • 1000 space kg

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3
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Four diagrams labeled A to D showing different forces acting on a pivoted beam. Forces are applied vertically and at an angle in various magnitudes and directions.

Forces are exerted on four identical rods, as shown in the figure.

Which of the following correctly ranks the magnitude of the net torque about the pivot on the left end of each rod?

  • tau subscript A space greater than thin space tau subscript B space greater than thin space tau subscript C space greater than thin space tau subscript D

  • tau subscript A space greater than thin space tau subscript B space greater than thin space tau subscript D space greater than thin space tau subscript C

  • tau subscript D space equals thin space tau subscript C space greater than thin space tau subscript B space greater than thin space tau subscript A

  • tau subscript C space greater than thin space tau subscript D space greater than thin space tau subscript B space greater than thin space tau subscript A

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4
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Diagram showing a horizontal bar pivoted at point O, inclined at an angle of 30 degrees above the horizontal, with a vertical dashed line from the bar to indicate the angle.

A uniform rigid bar of weight W is pivoted at point O and is supported by a rope that makes a 30° angle with the horizontal axis, as shown in the figure.

Which of the following diagrams best represents the directions of the forces acting on the bar?

  • A horizontal beam with two upward arrows at its ends and one downward arrow labeled "w" at its center, indicating forces acting on it.
  • A rectangular bar with two diagonal arrows pointing upwards at each end and a downward arrow labeled "W" in the center.
  • Diagram of a rectangular beam with one downward arrow labeled 'W' at its center and two diagonal arrows at opposite ends pointing up and to the sides.
  • Diagram depicting a horizontal rectangular beam with three force vectors. Two angled vectors act on the top left and bottom right, and one vertical vector labeled 'w' acts downward.

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5
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Pendulum diagram showing mass m at end of length L, forming a 60-degree angle with a horizontal pivot point P.

A pendulum of length L with a bob of mass m is suspended from point P, as shown in the figure.

Which of the following expressions correctly represents the torque exerted on the pendulum about point P when released from an angle of 60° below the horizontal?

  • 1 half m g L

  • fraction numerator square root of 3 over denominator 2 end fraction m g L

  • m g L

  • square root of 3 m g L

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