3 min read•june 18, 2024
👋 Welcome to the AP Physics 1 Unit 6 FRQ (Simple Harmonic Motion). These are longer questions, so grab some paper and a pencil, or open up a blank page on your computer. After you finish, you can see how you did with Unit 6 FRQ (Simple Harmonic Motion) Answers.
⏱ The AP Physics 1 exam has 5 free-response questions, and you will be given 90 minutes to complete the FRQ section. (This means you should give yourself ~18 minutes to go through each practice FRQ.)
A group of students must determine the spring constant k of a spring that hangs vertically from a ring stand. The students attach a block to the bottom of the vertical spring, as shown in Figure 1. The students then pull the block-spring system 0.5 m below the system’s equilibrium position and release the system so that it . The students record the mass M of the block and the period of oscillation T for several trials, as shown in Table 1.
M (kg) | T (s) |
0.3 | 0.77 |
0.6 | 1.07 |
0.9 | 1.29 |
1.2 | 1.50 |
The students want to determine the spring constant of the spring.
(i) Indicate below which quantities could be graphed to determine the spring constant of the spring by using a . You may use the remaining columns in the table above, as needed, to record any quantities (including units) that are not already in the table.
Vertical Axis: _____ Horizontal Axis: _____
(ii) On the grid below, plot the appropriate quantities to determine the spring constant of the spring by using a best-fit line. Clearly scale and label all axes, including units as appropriate.
(iii) Use the graph above to estimate a value for the spring constant of the spring.
Another group of students performs a similar experiment in which the same block-spring system from trial 1 oscillates, but in the horizontal direction, as shown in Figure 2. between the block and the surface are considered to be negligible. Furthermore, the students pull the block-spring system 0.8 m from the system’s equilibrium before they release the system so that it oscillates.
(i) Will this change in the experiment affect the value of the period of oscillation T for the block-spring system compared to the situation from part (a)? Briefly state your reasoning.
Yes _____ No _____
(i) Describe an to determine whether or not the period of oscillation T for the block-spring system is different compared to the situation from part (a). Include any steps necessary to reduce . Give enough detail so that another student could replicate the experiment. As needed, include a diagram of the experimental setup. Assume equipment usually found in a school physics laboratory is available.
💯 Ready to see how you did? Take a look at the Unit 6 FRQ (Simple Harmonic Motion) Answers.