1988 C mechanics

1. Which of the following pairs of graphs shows the distance traveled versus time and the speed versus time for an
object uniformly accelerated from rest
Distance Speed Distance Speed
(A) (B)

t t t t
o o o o

Distance Speed Distance Speed

(C) (D)

t t t t
o o o o

Distance Speed
(E)

t t
o o

A 4-kilogram mass has a speed of 6 meters per second on a horizontal frictionless surface, as shown above. The mass

collides head-on and elastically with an identical 4-kilogram mass initially at rest. The second 4-kilogram mass then
collides head-on and sticks to a third 4-kilogram mass initially at rest.
2. The final speed of the first 4-kilogram mass is
(A) 0 m/s (B) 2 m/s (C) 3 m/s (D) 4 m/s (E) 6 m/s

3. The final speed of the two 4-kilogram masses that stick together is
(A) 0 m/s (B) 2 m/s (C) 3 m/s (D) 4 m/s (E) 6 m/s

4. A particle of mass m moves along a straight path with a speed v defined by the function v = bt2 + c, where b and
c are constants and t is time. What is the magnitude F of the net force on the particle at time t = t1 ?
(A) bt1 2 + c (B) 3mbt1 + 2c (C) mbt1 (D) mbt1 + c (E) 2mbt1

5. An object released from rest at time t = 0 slides down a frictionless incline a distance of 1 meter during the first
second. The distance traveled by the object during the time interval from t = 1 second to t = 2 seconds is
(A) 1 m (B) 2 m (C) 3 m (D) 4m (E) S m

6. Two people are in a boat that is capable of a maximum speed of 5 kilometers per hour in still water, and wish to
cross a river 1 kilometer wide to a point directly across from their starting point. If the speed of the water in the
river is 5 kilometers per hour, how much time is required for the crossing?
(A) 0.05 hr (B) 0.1 hr (C) 1 hr (D) 10 hr
(E) The point directly across from the starting point cannot be reached under these conditions.
7. Vectors V1, and V2 shown above have equal magnitudes. The vectors represent the velocities of an object at
times t1, and t2, respectively. The average acceleration of the object between time t1 and t2 was
(A) zero (B) directed north (C) directed west (D) directed north of east (E) directed north of west

8. A projectile of mass M1 is fired horizontally from a spring gun that is initially at rest on a frictionless surface.
The combined mass of the gun and projectile is M2. If the kinetic energy of the projectile after firing is K, the
gun will recoil with a kinetic energy equal to
M2 M 12 M1 M1
(A) K (B) K (C) K D) K (E) K
M1 M 22 M 2  M1 M 2  M1

9. A piece of wire of uniform cross section is bent in the shape shown above. What are the coordinates
(x, v ) of the center of mass?
(A) (15/14, 6/7) (B) (6/7, 6/7) (C) (15/14, 8/7) (D) (1,1) (E) (1,6/7)

10. A projectile is fired from the surface of the Earth with a speed of 200 meters per second at an angle of 30° above
the horizontal. If the ground is level, what is the maximum height reached by the projectile?
(A) 5 m (B) 10 m (C) 500 m (D) 1,000 m (E) 2,000 m

11. A particle moves along the x-axis with a nonconstant acceleration described by a = 12t, where a is in meters per
second squared and t is in seconds. If the particle starts from rest so that its speed v and position x are zero
when t = 0, where is it located when t = 2 seconds?
(A) x = 12 m (B) x = 16m (C) x = 24 m (D) x = 32 m (E) x = 48 m

12. A figure skater is spinning on frictionless ice with her arms fully extended horizontally. She then drops her arms
to her sides. Which of the following correctly describes her rotational kinetic energy and angular momentum as
her arms fall?
Rotational Kinetic Angular
Energy Momentum
(A) Remains constant Remains constant
(B) Decreases Increases
(C) Decreases Decreases
(D) Increases Decreases
(E) Increases Remains constant
13. A ball is dropped from a height of 10 meters onto a hard surface so that the collision at the surface may be
assumed elastic. Under such conditions the motion of the ball is
(A) simple harmonic with a period of about 1.4 s
(B) simple harmonic with a period of about 2.8 s
(C) simple harmonic with an amplitude of 5 m
(D) periodic with a period of about 2.8 s but not simple harmonic
(E) motion with constant momentum

Questions 14-15
An object moving in a straight line has a velocity v in meters per second that varies with time t in seconds according
to the following function.
v = 4 + 0.5 t2

14. The instantaneous acceleration of the object at t = 2 seconds is

(A) 2 m/s2 (B) 4 m/s2 (C) 5 m/s2 (D) 6 m/s2 (E) 8 m/s2

15. The displacement of the object between t = 0 and t = 6 seconds is

(A) 22 m (B) 28 m (C) 40 m (D) 42 m (E) 60 m

16. A pendulum consists of a ball of mass m suspended at the end of a massless cord of length L as shown above.
The pendulum is drawn aside through an angle of 60. with the vertical and released. At the low point of its
swing, the speed of the pendulum ball is
(A) gL (B) 2gL (C) ½gL (D) gL (E) 2gL

17. A rock is lifted for a certain time by a force F that is greater in magnitude than the rock's weight W. The change
in kinetic energy of the rock during this time is equal to the
(A) work done by the net force (F - W) (B) work done by F alone
(C) work done by W alone (D) difference in the momentum of the rock before and after this time
(E) difference in the potential energy of the rock before and after this time
Questions 18-19 refer to the graph below of the displacement x versus time t for a particle in simple harmonic
motion.

18. Which of the following graphs shows the kinetic energy K of the particle as a function of time t for one cycle of
motion?

19. Which of the following graphs shows the kinetic energy K of the particle as a function of its displacement x ?
20. A satellite travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit as shown above. As the satellite travels from point X to
point Y. which of the following is true about its speed and angular momentum?

Speed Angular Momentum

(A) Remains constant Remains constant
(B) Increases Increases
(C) Decreases Decreases
(D) Increases Remains constant
(E) Decreases Remains constant

21. A newly discovered planet, "Cosmo," has a mass that is 4 times the mass of the Earth. The radius of the Earth is
Re. The gravitational field strength at the surface of Cosmo is equal to that at the surface of the Earth if the
radius of Cosmo is equal to (A) ½Re (B) Re (C) 2Re (D) Re (E) Re2

22. Two artificial satellites, 1 and 2, orbit the Earth in circular orbits having radii R1 and R2, respectively, as shown
above. If R2 = 2R1, the accelerations a2 and a1 of the two satellites are related by which of the following? (A)
a2 = 4a1 (B) a2 = 2a1 (C) a2 = a1 (D) a2 = a1/2 (E) a2 = a1/4

23 A bowling ball of mass M and radius R. whose moment of inertia about its center is (2/5)MR2, rolls without
slipping along a level surface at speed v. The maximum vertical height to which it can roll if it ascends an
v2 2v 2 v2 7v 2 v2
incline is (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
5g 5g 2g 10g g
24. A ball of mass m is attached to the end of a string of length Q as shown above. The ball is released from rest
from position P. where the string is horizontal. It swings through position Q. where the string is vertical, and
then to position R. where the string is again horizontal. What are the directions of the acceleration vectors of the
ball at positions Q and R?
Position Q Position R
(A) Downward Downward
(B) Downward To the right
(C) Upward Downward
(D) Upward To the left
(E) To the right To the left

25. A mass m moves on a curved path from point X to point Y. Which of the following diagrams indicates a
possible combination of the net force F on the mass, and the velocity v and acceleration a of the mass at the
location shown?

Questions 26-27
A particle moves in a circle in such a way that the x and y-coordinates of its motion are given in meters as functions
of time t in seconds by:
x = 5cos(3t) y = 5 sin (3t)

26. What is the period of revolution of the particle?

(A) 1/3 s (B) 3 s (C) 2/3 s (D) 3/2 s (E) 6 s
27. Which of the following is true of the speed of the particle?
(A) It is always equal to 5 m/s. (B) It is always equal to 15 m/s.
(C) It oscillates between 0 and 5 m/s. (D) It oscillates between 0 and 15 m/s.
(E) It oscillates between 5 and 15 m/s.

28. The radius of the Earth is approximately 6,000 kilometers. The acceleration of an astronaut in a perfectly
circular orbit 300 kilometers above the Earth would be most nearly
(A) 0 m/s2 (B) 0.05 m/s2 (C) 5 m/s2 (D) 9 m/s2 (E) 11 m/s2

29. Two blocks are pushed along a horizontal frictionless surface by a force of 20 newtons to the right, as shown
above. The force that the 2-kilogram block exerts on the 3-kilogram block is
(A) 8 newtons to the left (B) 8 newtons to the right (C) 10 newtons to the left
(D) 12 newtons to the right (E) 20 newtons to the left

30. When a mass m is hung on a certain ideal spring, the spring stretches a distance d. If the mass is then set
oscillating on the spring, the period of oscillation is proportional to
d g d m2 g m
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
g d mg d g

31. In which of the following diagrams is the torque about point O equal in magnitude to the torque about point X in
the diagram above? (All forces lie in the plane of the paper.)

32. A 10-kilogram body is constrained to move along the x-axis. The potential energy U of the body in joules is
given as a function of its position x in meters by
U(x) = 6x2 - 4x + 3
The force on the particle at x = 3 meters is
(A) 32 N in +x direction (B) 32N in -x direction (C) 45 N in +x direction (D) 45 N in -x direction
(E) 98 N in +x direction
33. A rock is dropped from the top of a 45-meter tower, and at the same time a ball is thrown from the top of the
tower in a horizontal direction. Air resistance is negligible. The ball and the rock hit the level ground a distance
of 30 meters apart. The horizontal velocity of the ball thrown was most nearly
(A) 5 m/s (B) 10 m/s (C) 14.1 m/s (D) 20 m/s (E) 28.3 m/s

34. Two objects of equal mass hang from independent springs of unequal spring constant and oscillate up and down.
The spring of greater spring constant must have the
(A) smaller amplitude of oscillation (B) larger amplitude of oscillation
(C) shorter period of oscillation (D) longer period of oscillation
(E) lower frequency of oscillation

35. A satellite moves in a stable circular orbit with speed vo at a distance R from the center of a planet. For this
satellite to move in a stable circular orbit a distance 2R from the center of the planet, the speed of the satellite
must be
v0 v0
(A) (B) (C) vo (D) 2v 0 (E) 2vo
2 2
Electricity multiple choice - 1988
36. Two small spheres have equal charges q and are separated by a distance d. The force exerted on each sphere by
the other has magnitude F. If the charge on each sphere is doubled and d is halved, the force on each sphere has
magnitude
(A) F (B) 2F (C) 4F (D) 8F (E) 16F

37. Which of the following statements about conductors under electrostatic conditions is true?
(A) Positive work is required to move a positive charge over the surface of a conductor.
(B) Charge that is placed on the surface of a conductor always spreads evenly over the surface.
(C) The electric potential inside a conductor is always zero.
(D) The electric field at the surface of a conductor is tangent to the surface.
(E) The surface of a conductor is always an equipotential surface.

38. A charged particle traveling with a velocity v in an electric field E experiences a force F that must be
(A) parallel to v (B) perpendicular to v (C) parallel to v x E (D) parallel to E (E) perpendicular to E

39. Two resistors of the same length, both made of the same material, are connected in a series to a battery as shown
above. Resistor II has a greater cross. sectional area than resistor I. Which of the following quantities has the
same value for each resistor?
(A) Potential difference between the two ends (B) Electric field strength within the resistor
(C) Resistance (D) Current per unit area
(E) Current

40. A positive charge of 3.0 x 10-8 coulomb is placed in an upward directed uniform electric field of 4.0 x 104N/c.
When the charge is moved 0.5 meter upward, the work done by the electric force on the charge is
(A) 6 x 10-4 J (B) 12 x 10-4 J (C) 2 x 104 J (D) 8 x 104 J (E) 12 x 104 J

41. Which of the following can be used along with fundamental constants, but no other quantities, to calculate the
magnitude of the electric field between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor whose plate dimensions and
spacing are not known?
(A) The flux between the plates (B) The total charge on either plate
(C) The potential difference between the plates (D) The surface charge density on either plate
(E) The total energy stored in the capacitor

42. Two very long parallel wires carry equal currents in the same direction into the page, as shown above. At point
P, which is 10 centimeters from each wire, the magnetic field is
(A) zero (B) directed into the page (C) directed out of the page (D) directed to the left
(E) directed to the right
43. When two identical parallel-plate capacitors are connected in series, which of the following is true of the
equivalent capacitance?
(A) It depends on the charge on each capacitor.
(B) It depends on the potential difference across both capacitors.
(C) It is larger than the capacitance of each capacitor.
(D) It is smaller than the capacitance of each capacitor.
(E) It is the same as the capacitance of each capacitor.
Questions 44-45

A proton traveling with speed v enters a uniform electric field of magnitude E, directed parallel to the plane of the
page, as shown in the figure above. There is also a magnetic force on the proton that is in the direction opposite to
that of the electric force.

44. Which of the following is a possible direction for the magnetic field?
(A) (B) (C) (D)  (directed out of the page) (E) (directed into the page)

45. If e represents the magnitude of the proton charge, what minimum magnitude of the magnetic field could
balance the electric force on the proton?
(A) E/v (B) eE/v (C) vE (D) eE (E) evE

46. At time t = 0 the switch is closed in the circuit shown above. Which of the following graphs best describes the
potential difference V, across the resistance as a function of time t ?
Questions 47-48 relate to the following configurations of electric charges located at the vertices of an equilateral
triangle. Point P is equidistant from the charges.

47. In which configuration is the electric field at P equal to zero?

48. In which configuration is the electric field at P pointed at the midpoint between two of the charges?

49. Two square parallel-plate capacitors of capacitances C1 and C2 have the dimensions shown in the diagrams
above. The ratio of C1 to C2 is (A) 1 to 4 (B) 1 to 2 (C) 1 to 1 (D) 2 to 1 (E) 4 to 1

50. A current I, uniformly distributed over the cross section of a long cylindrical conductor of radius a, is directed as
shown above. Which of the following graphs best represents the intensity B of the magnetic field as a function of
the distance r from the axis of the cylinder?
51. At point X a charged particle has a kinetic energy of 9 microjoules ( J ). It follows the path shown above from
X to Y through a region in which there is an electric field and a magnetic field. At Y the particle has a kinetic
energy of 11 J. What is the work done by the magnetic field on the particle?
(A) 11 J (B) 2 J (C) - 2 J (D) -11 J (E) None of the above

52. In a region of space there is a uniform B field in the plane of the page but no E field. A positively charged
particle with velocity v directed into the page is subject to a force F in the plane of the page as shown above.
Which of the following vectors best represents the direction of B?

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

53. Two conducting spheres, X and Y. have the same positive charge +Q, but different radii (rx > ry) as shown
above. The spheres are separated so that the distance between them is large compared with either radius. If a
wire is connected between them, in which direction will current be directed in the wire?
(A) From X to Y (B) From Y to X (C) There will be no current in the wire.
(D) It cannot be determined without knowing the magnitude of Q.
(E) It cannot be determined without knowing whether the spheres are solid or hollow.

54. The emf of a battery is 12 volts. When the battery delivers a current of 0.5 ampere to a load, the potential
difference between the terminals of the battery is 10 volts. The internal resistance of the battery is
(A) 1  (B) 2  (C) 4  (D) 20  (E) 24 

55. A square loop of wire of side 0.5 meter and resistance 10-2 ohm is located in a uniform magnetic field of
intensity 0.4 tesla directed out of the page as shown above. The magnitude of the field is decreased to zero at a
constant rate in 2 seconds. As the field is decreased, what are the magnitude and direction of the current in the
loop?
(A) Zero (B) 5 A, counterclockwise (C) 5 A, clockwise (D) 20 A, counterclockwise (E) 20 A,
clockwise
Questions 56-57 refer to a sphere of radius R that has positive charge Q uniformly distributed on its surface

56. Which of the following represents the magnitude of the electric field E and the potential V as functions of r, the
distance from the center of the sphere, when r < R ?
E V
(A) 0 kQ/R
(B) 0 kQ/r
(C) 0 0
(D) kQ/r2 0
(E) kQ/R2 0

57. Which of the following represents the magnitude, of the electric field E and the potential V as functions of r, the
distance from the center of sphere, when r > R ?
E V
(A) kQ/R2 kQ/R
(B) kQ/R kQ/R
(C) kQ/R kQ/r
(D) kQ/r2 kQ/r
(E) kQ/r2 kQ/r2

58. If R is 1 ohm and L is 1 henry, then L/R is

(A) 1 volt (B) 1 farad (C) 1 ampere (D) 1 coulomb (E) 1 second

59. A negatively charged particle in a uniform magnetic field B moves with constant speed v in a circular path of
radius r, as shown above. Which of of following graphs best represents the radius r as a function of the
magnitude of B, if the speed v is constant?

60. In the circuit shown above, the capacitor is initially uncharged. At time t = 0, switch S is closed. The natural
logarithmic base is e. Which of the following is true at time t = RC?
(A) The current is /eR . (B) The current is /R (C) The voltage across the capacitor is .
(D) The voltage across the capacitor is /e . (E) The voltages across the capacitor and resistor are equal.
61. Which of the following equations implies that it is impossible to isolate a magnetic pole?
 (A)  E  dA  q /  (B)  E  dl   d / dt (C)  B  dA  0
0 E

(D)  B  dl   i    d / dt (E) None of the above

0 0 0 E

Questions 62-63 refer to the diagram below of two conducting loops having a common axis.

62. After the switch S is closed, the current through resistor R2 is

(A) from point X to point Y (B) from point Y to point X (C) zero at all times
(D) oscillating with decreasing amplitude (E) oscillating with constant amplitude

63. After the switch S has been closed for a very long time, the currents in the two circuits are
(A) zero in both circuits (B) zero in circuit 1 and V/R2 in circuit 2
(C) V/R1 in circuit 1 and zero in circuit 2 (D) V/R1 in circuit I and V/R2 in circuit 2
(E) oscillating with constant amplitude in both circuits

Questions 64-65 relate to the two long parallel wires shown below. Initially the wires arc a distance d apart and each
has a current i directed into the page. The force per unit length on each wire has magnitude Fo

64. The direction of the force on the right-hand wire due to the current in the left-hand wire is
(A) to the right (B) to the left (C) upward in the plane of the page
(D) downward in the plane of the page (E) into the page

65. The wires are moved apart to a separation 2d and the current in each wire is increased to 2i. The new force per
unit length on each wire is
(A) F0/4 (B) Fo/2 (C) Fo (D) 2Fo (E) 4Fo
Questions 66-67

Positive charge Q is uniformly distributed over a thin ring of radius a that lies in a plane perpendicular to the x-axis.
with its center at the origin 0, as shown above.

66. The potential V at points on the x-axis is represented by which of the following functions?
kQ kQ kQ kQ
(A) V (x )  (B) V (x )  (C) V (x )  (D) V (x )  ( E)
x  a2
2
a x
2 2 x2 x
kQ
V (x ) 
ax
67. Which of the following graphs best represents the electric field along the positive x-axis?

68. In the circuit shown above, the emf's of the batteries are given, as well as the currents in the outside branches
and the resistance in the middle branch. What is the magnitude of the potential difference between X and Y ?
(A) 4 V (B) 8 V (C) 10 V (D) 12 V (E) 16 V
69. Two identical parallel conducting rings have a common axis and are separated by a distance a, as shown above.
The two rings each carry a current I, but in opposite directions. At point P, the center of the ring on the left the
magnetic field due to these currents is
(A) zero (B) in the plane perpendicular to the x-axis (C) directed in the positive x-direction
(D) directed in the negative x-direction (E) none of the above

70. A sheet of mica is inserted between the plates of an isolated charged parallel-plate capacitor. Which of the
following statements is true?
(A) The capacitance decreases. (B) The potential difference across the capacitor decreases.
(C) The energy of the capacitor does not change. (D) The charge on the capacitor plates decreases
(E) The electric field between the capacitor plates increases.