PSI AP Physics

Kinematics 2D

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. An object moves around a circular path of radius R. The object starts from
point A, goes to point B and describes an arc of half of the circle. Which of
the following is true about the magnitude of displacement and traveled
distance?
Displacement Traveled Distance
A. R 2𝜋 R
B. 2R πR
𝑅
C. 2
R
D. R 4πR

2. A rock is thrown straight up from the edge of a cliff. The rock reaches the maximum height of 15
m above the edge and then falls down to the bottom of the cliff 35 m below the cliff. What is
the traveled distance of the rock?
A. 30 m B. 35 m C. 50 m D. 65 m

3. A rock is thrown straight up from the edge of a cliff. The rock reaches the maximum height of 15
m above the edge and then falls down to the bottom of the cliff 35 m below the cliff. What is
the displacement of the rock?
A. 15 m B. 35 m C. 50 m D. 65 m

4. Can an object’s average velocity equal zero when object’s speed is greater than zero?
A. Yes, when the object moves in a straight line at a constant rate
B. Yes, when the object returns to its original position
C. No, it is impossible because they are always equal
D. No, it is impossible because the magnitude of the velocity is always greater that speed

5. A car accelerates from rest at a constant rate 5 m/s2. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The car travels 5 m in every second
B. The car decreases its velocity 5 m/s in every second
C. The car increases its velocity 5 m/s in every second
D. The car’s velocity doesn’t change
An object is thrown straight up with an initial velocity v0. The graph
represents the object’s vertical displacement as a function of time. Use
the graph to the right for questions 6 through 8.

6. What is the total flying time of the object?

A. 2 s B. 4 s C. 6 s D. 8 s

7. At what time the object reaches its maximum height?

A. 2 s B. 4 s C. 6 s D. 8 s

8. What is the initial velocity v0 of the object?

A. 20 m/s B. 40 m/s C. 80 m/s D. 50
m/s

9. Which of the following graphs represents the velocity as a function of time of an object thrown
straight up?

A. B.

C. D.
10. Which of the following graphs represents the acceleration as a function of time of an object
thrown straight up?

A. B.

C. D.
The relationship between the position and time of a moving
object is shown on the graph. Use this graph for questions
11 and 12.

11. What is the instantaneous speed of the object at 4

s?
A. 1 m/s B. 2 m/s C. 3 m/s D. 4 m/s

12. During which of the following times does the object

accelerate?
A. 0 s to 2 s B. 2 s to 4 s C. 0 s to 4 s
D. 4 s to 8 s

The graph to the right describes the relationship

between velocity and time for a moving object.
Use this graph for questions 13 through 18.

13. What is the acceleration at time t = 1 s?

A. 4 m/s2 B. 2 m/s2 C. -2 m/s2
D. -4 m/s2

14. What is the acceleration at time t = 8 s?

A. 4 m/s2 B. -2 m/s2
C. -4 m/s2 D. 0 m/s2

15. What is the acceleration at time t = 6 s?

A. 1 m/s2 B. 2 m/s2
C. -4 m/s2 D. 0 m/s2

16. What is the total displacement for the

entire trip?
A. 18 m B. 12 m C. 6 m D. 30 m

17. What is the total traveled distance for the entire trip?
A. 18 m B. 12 m C. 6 m D. 30 m

18. Between what times does the object approach the origin at the constant speed?
 A. 2 s to 5 s B. 6 s to 7 s C. 7 s to 9 s D. 9 s to 10 s

19. A rock is thrown straight up with twice the initial velocity of another. How much higher will the
first rock be at its apex?
A. 2 times B. 4 times C. 16 times D. The rocks will reach the same apex
point

20. A student drops a pebble from the edge of a vertical cliff. The pebble hits the ground 4 s after it
was dropped. What is the speed of the pebble just before it hits the ground?
A. 20 m/s B. 40 m/s C. 60 m/s D. 80 m/s

21. A student drops a pebble from the edge of a vertical cliff. The pebble hits the ground 4 s after it
was dropped. What is the height of the cliff?
A. 20 m B. 40 m C. 60 m D. 80 m

22. An Astronaut on the Moon simultaneously drops a bird feather and a screw driver. The fact that
two objects reach the surface at the same time can be explained by which of the following?
A. The Moon has no gravity
B. The Moon’s gravity is much weaker than the Earth’s gravity
C. The same gravitational force is applied on both objects on the Moon
D. At the given location all objects fall with the same acceleration in the absence of air
resistance
23. A marble launcher shoots a marble horizontally from the height of 0.2 m above a horizontal
floor. The marble lands on the floor 5 m away from the launcher. How long did the marble stay
in the air?
A. 0.1 s B. 0.2 s C. 0.3 s D. 0.4 s

24. A marble launcher shoots a marble horizontally from the height of 0.2 m above a horizontal
floor. The marble lands on the floor 5 m away from the launcher. What is the initial speed of the
marble?
A. 5 m/s B. 10 m/s C. 15 m/s D. 25 m/s

25. A bicyclist moves a long a straight line with an initial velocity v0 and slows down. Which of the
following the best describes the signs set for the initial position, initial velocity and the
acceleration?
Initial position Initial velocity Acceleration
A. Positive Positive Negative
B. Negative Positive Negative
C. Negative Negative Positive
D. Negative Negative Negative

26. Which of the following is a vector quantity?

A. Traveled distance B. Displacement C. Area D. Mass

27. Which of the following is not a vector quantity?

A. Velocity B. Displacement C. Momentum D. Traveled distance
 A vector of displacement D is placed in X-Y coordinate system
shown in the diagram to the right. Use this diagram to answer
questions 28 through 30.

28. What is the x-component of vector D?

A. 2 m B. 3 m C. 4 m D. 5 m

29. What is the y-component of vector D?

A. 2 m B. 3 m C. 4 m D. 5 m

30. What is the magnitude of vector D?

A. 2 m B. 3 m C. 4 m D. 5 m
31. An object changes its velocity from V1 to V2 during a time interval Δt. Which of the following is
the correct direction for the object’s acceleration?

A. B.

C. D.
 32. A projectile is fired at 60 ̊ above the horizontal line with an initial
velocity v0. At which of the following angles the projectile will land
at the same distance as it is landed in the first trial?
A. 20 ̊ B. 30 ̊ C. 40 ̊
D. 45 ̊

33. When a projectile reaches its highest point, the vertical component of the acceleration is:
A. Greater than g B. Positive g C. Negative g D. Zero

34. When a projectile reaches its highest point, the horizontal component of the acceleration is:
A. Less than g B. Positive g C. Negative g D. Zero

35. An object is thrown horizontally with an initial velocity, v0 = 5 m/s, from the roof of a building
40 m tall. How much later does it hit the ground?
A. 4 s B. √5 s C. √8 s D. 10 s

36. An object is thrown horizontally with an initial velocity, v0 = 10 m/s, from the roof of a building
20 m tall. How far from the building does it hit the ground?
A. 5 m B. 10 m C. 15 m D. 20 m

The diagram represents a

swimmer in a river. The
swimmer is capable of
swimming in still water with a
velocity, V1 = 1 m/s. He aims
his body directly across a 100
m wide river with a current of
velocity, V2 = 2 m/s. Use this
diagram to answer questions
37 through 39.

37. How much time it will take for the swimmer to cross the river?
A. 10 s B. 20 s C. 50 s D. 100 s
 38. How far downstream will he land?
A. 100 m B. 200 m C. 150 m D. 180 m

39. What is the velocity of the swimmer relative to the river bank?
A. 1 m/s B. 2 m/s C. √3 m/s D. √5 m/s

40. The graphs above represent the position, velocity, and acceleration as a function of time for a
marble moving in one dimension. Which of the following could describe the motion of the
marble?
A. Rolling along the floor and then bouncing off a wall.
B. Rolling down one side of a bowl and then rolling up the other side.
C. Rolling up a ramp and then rolling back down.
D. Falling and then bouncing elastically off a hard floor.

Multi-Correct Questions

41. Position as a function of time of a moving object is presented by

the graph. Which of the following is true about the type of
motion?
A. The object moves with a constant positive
acceleration
B. The object moves with a constant positive velocity
C. The slope of this graph is equal to the object’s
acceleration
D. The slope of this graph is equal to the object’s velocity
42. Position as a function of time of two moving objects is presented by
the graph. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Object I has a greater velocity than object II
B. Object II has a greater velocity that object I
C. At time t0 they have the same velocity
D. At time t0 object II passes by object I

43. A projectile is fired from the ground level with an initial velocity
v0. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Vertical component of the velocity at point C is v0 sinθ
B. Horizontal component of the velocity at point C is v0 cosθ
C. The projectile travels with the same speed at point B and
D
D. The acceleration at point C is zero
44. An object accelerates from rest at a constant rate. Which of the following graphs could be used
to describe the motion of the object?

A. B.

C. D.

45. A tennis ball is thrown straight up and caught at the same height. Which of the following can
describe the motion of the ball when it reaches the apex?
A. The velocity of the ball is zero.
B. The acceleration of the ball is zero.
C. The acceleration of the ball is 9.8 m/s2 down
D. The acceleration of the ball is 9.8 m/s2 up.
Physics 12
Unit 1 Kinematics

24.

25.

b) How high is the cliff? (4 marks)

Physics 12
Unit 1 Kinematics
9708
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27.

9806
28.
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Unit 1 Kinematics
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30

9808
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b) How far from the base of the cliff d did the rock land? (3 marks)
Physics 12
Unit 1 Kinematics
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32.

b) Calculate the slope of the line, giving your answer in appropriate units. (2 marks)

c) Based on this data and this graph, make a statement about projectiles. (1 mark)
Physics 12
Unit 1 Kinematics
33. Scholarship question: A 0.50 kg ball is thrown at 42° above the horizontal at 19 m/s
from the hot air balloon when the balloon is 25 m above the ground. The balloon is
traveling upwards at a constant velocity of 3.5 m/s.

What is the range? (10 marks)

Physics 12
Unit 1 Kinematics
0006
34.

0206
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