Unit 2 Progress Check: MCQ AP
Physics 1 Test Questions with
Complete Solutions 2026 Updated.
Three objects are located in the xy-plane as shown in the figure. If mA=2.0 kg, mB=3.0kg, and
mC=5.0 kg, what is the center of mass of the three-object system? - Answer (7.8, 5.2)
A rope is attached to a crate at an angle to the horizontal, as shown on the left. The rope pulls
the crate to the right across a rough horizontal surface at a constant speed. The free-body
diagram on the right shows the forces exerted on the crate at the instant shown on the left. As
the crate moves across the surface, the coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the
surface increases but the speed of the crate remains constant. Which of the following free-body
diagrams could show the forces exerted on the crate a short time later, after the coefficient of
friction has increased?
Responses - Answer C
The figures show the forces exerted on an object moving on a horizontal surface at two different
moments in time. Which of the following correctly compares the change in direction, if any, of
the velocity of the object in the two figures? - Answer B
A person stands on a scale in an elevator. Consider the following four forces:
Fp-s : The force of the person on the scale
Fs-p : The force of the scale on the person
Fp-E : The force of the person on Earth
FE-p : The force of Earth on the person
Which of the following correctly ranks the magnitudes of these forces while the elevator is
moving upward with increasing speed?
Responses - Answer C (Fp-s = Fs-p)>(Fp-e=Fe-p)
A 10 kg block is connected to both ends of a rope. The rope passes over a pulley with negligible
friction and mass, and the entire assembly is placed in an elevator, as shown in the figure. The
elevator has a constant upward acceleration of 2m/s2. What is the magnitude of the tension
force in the rope as the elevator accelerates?
Responses - Answer 60N
, A block of mass m is held at rest against a vertical wall by an applied force FA. The wall exerts a
normal force FN on the block. The coefficient of static friction between the block and the wall is
μs. If the magnitude of FA is larger than the minimum required magnitude to keep the block in
place, which of the following equations correctly describes the force of static friction, Ff, exerted
on the block? - Answer Ff=mg
A block of mass m is attached to a spring on an inclined plane that makes an angle θ with the
horizontal. Initially, the block is held in place with the spring at its unstretched length, as shown
on the left. The block is then slowly lowered until it comes to rest at equilibrium at a
displacement x0 from its original position, as shown on the right. Which of the following
expressions is equal to the spring constant of the spring? - Answer mgsin θ/ x0
A ball of mass m is attached to a vertical pole by a rope and travels in a horizontal circle, as
shown. The rope is attached to the top of the pole, has length L, and makes an angle θ with the
pole. The ball travels with constant speed v. Which of the following is a correct expression for
the tension force in the rope?
Responses - Answer mv^2/Lsin^2θ
An applied force is exerted on a textbook, pushing it against a rough wall, as indicated by the
arrow in the figure. The applied force keeps the textbook at rest. Which of the following free-
body diagrams could represent the forces exerted on the textbook? - Answer B
A rod with uniform density is centered on x=0, as shown in the figure. Spheres 1 and 2 with
masses M1 and M2, respectively, are connected to the ends of the rod. The center of mass of
the rod-spheres system is located at xcm. If the mass of each of the two spheres is doubled, but
the mass of the rod does not change, where will the new center of mass of the spheres-rod
system be located? - Answer Between xcm and 2xcm
The diagram shows a bucket that is holding a rock and being lifted by a rope. The rope, bucket,
and rock are all moving upward together. Which of following claims must be true? - Answer
The force the rock exerts on the bucket is equal in magnitude to the force the bucket exerts on
the rock.
Which of the following is an example of an object in translational equilibrium? - Answer A
sled sliding at constant velocity down a hill.
In the three scenarios shown in the figure, forces are exerted on one or both of the boxes on a
horizontal surface. The arrows indicate the direction of the forces, all of which have the same
Physics 1 Test Questions with
Complete Solutions 2026 Updated.
Three objects are located in the xy-plane as shown in the figure. If mA=2.0 kg, mB=3.0kg, and
mC=5.0 kg, what is the center of mass of the three-object system? - Answer (7.8, 5.2)
A rope is attached to a crate at an angle to the horizontal, as shown on the left. The rope pulls
the crate to the right across a rough horizontal surface at a constant speed. The free-body
diagram on the right shows the forces exerted on the crate at the instant shown on the left. As
the crate moves across the surface, the coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the
surface increases but the speed of the crate remains constant. Which of the following free-body
diagrams could show the forces exerted on the crate a short time later, after the coefficient of
friction has increased?
Responses - Answer C
The figures show the forces exerted on an object moving on a horizontal surface at two different
moments in time. Which of the following correctly compares the change in direction, if any, of
the velocity of the object in the two figures? - Answer B
A person stands on a scale in an elevator. Consider the following four forces:
Fp-s : The force of the person on the scale
Fs-p : The force of the scale on the person
Fp-E : The force of the person on Earth
FE-p : The force of Earth on the person
Which of the following correctly ranks the magnitudes of these forces while the elevator is
moving upward with increasing speed?
Responses - Answer C (Fp-s = Fs-p)>(Fp-e=Fe-p)
A 10 kg block is connected to both ends of a rope. The rope passes over a pulley with negligible
friction and mass, and the entire assembly is placed in an elevator, as shown in the figure. The
elevator has a constant upward acceleration of 2m/s2. What is the magnitude of the tension
force in the rope as the elevator accelerates?
Responses - Answer 60N
, A block of mass m is held at rest against a vertical wall by an applied force FA. The wall exerts a
normal force FN on the block. The coefficient of static friction between the block and the wall is
μs. If the magnitude of FA is larger than the minimum required magnitude to keep the block in
place, which of the following equations correctly describes the force of static friction, Ff, exerted
on the block? - Answer Ff=mg
A block of mass m is attached to a spring on an inclined plane that makes an angle θ with the
horizontal. Initially, the block is held in place with the spring at its unstretched length, as shown
on the left. The block is then slowly lowered until it comes to rest at equilibrium at a
displacement x0 from its original position, as shown on the right. Which of the following
expressions is equal to the spring constant of the spring? - Answer mgsin θ/ x0
A ball of mass m is attached to a vertical pole by a rope and travels in a horizontal circle, as
shown. The rope is attached to the top of the pole, has length L, and makes an angle θ with the
pole. The ball travels with constant speed v. Which of the following is a correct expression for
the tension force in the rope?
Responses - Answer mv^2/Lsin^2θ
An applied force is exerted on a textbook, pushing it against a rough wall, as indicated by the
arrow in the figure. The applied force keeps the textbook at rest. Which of the following free-
body diagrams could represent the forces exerted on the textbook? - Answer B
A rod with uniform density is centered on x=0, as shown in the figure. Spheres 1 and 2 with
masses M1 and M2, respectively, are connected to the ends of the rod. The center of mass of
the rod-spheres system is located at xcm. If the mass of each of the two spheres is doubled, but
the mass of the rod does not change, where will the new center of mass of the spheres-rod
system be located? - Answer Between xcm and 2xcm
The diagram shows a bucket that is holding a rock and being lifted by a rope. The rope, bucket,
and rock are all moving upward together. Which of following claims must be true? - Answer
The force the rock exerts on the bucket is equal in magnitude to the force the bucket exerts on
the rock.
Which of the following is an example of an object in translational equilibrium? - Answer A
sled sliding at constant velocity down a hill.
In the three scenarios shown in the figure, forces are exerted on one or both of the boxes on a
horizontal surface. The arrows indicate the direction of the forces, all of which have the same
