This section contains two diagnostic tests, one for the AP Physics 1 exam and one for the

AP Physics
2 exam. The purpose of these diagnostic exams is for you to identify those conceptual areas most in
need of review. The relevant sections of the book (indicated in the answer keys) should be reviewed
thoroughly before attempting one of the full-length practice exams at the end of this book.
 Diagnostic Test

T E ST
AP Physics 1

D I AGN O STI C
SECTION I: MULTIPLE-CHOICE

DIRECTIONS: Select the best answer (or two best answers when indicated) on each
of the following 26 multiple-choice questions as well as the 2 free-response ques-
tions. The detailed answer explanations will direct you to a specific chapter for
further review on the specific subject matter in that question. You may use a cal-
culator and make use of the formula sheet provided in the appendix.

1. A mass is suspended from the ceiling by one rope at an angle as indicated. The mass is
held in place by a second, horizontal rope. Without knowing the exact angle from the
ceiling, except that it is greater than 45 degrees, which statement best represents the
possible value for tension in the horizontal line?
(A) T > mg
(B) T = mg
(C) T < mg
(D) T = mg 2

2. Pushing on a mass of 15 kg with a sideways force of 120 N is not enough to get the
mass to start sliding across the floor. Which of the following best describes the
coefficient of static friction between the floor and the mass?
(A) µ = 0.8
(B) 0.8 < µ < 1.25
(C) µ < 0.8
(D) µ = 1.25

DIAGNOSTIC TEST 17
 3. While standing on an elevator and experiencing a downward acceleration of 4.9 m/s2,
what is the force between the floor and your feet?
(A) mg
(B) 0.5 mg
(C) 1.5 mg
T E ST

(D) 4.9 mg

4. After throwing a ball at an upward angle, the reason the ball continues to go
horizontally while falling due to gravity is that
(A) the ball’s inertia keeps it going
D I AGN O ST I C

(B) the force of the throw keeps it going

(C) the energy from gravitation potential energy keeps replenishing the lost energy
(D) air pressure keeps the ball from falling too quickly

5. Consider the situation in which your hand is pushing a book across a rough desktop
with lots of friction. Of the many forces involved, consider only these two individual
forces: the force on your hand from the book and the force the book is experiencing
from your hand. While the book is accelerating from rest to its final velocity, which
statement best compares the force experienced by your hand compared with that
experienced by the book?
(A) Force on book > force on hand
(B) Force on hand > force on book
(C) Force on hand = force on book
(D) The relationship between these two forces depends on the frictional force

6. A puck comes to a stop in 20 meters after an initial speed of 10 m/s. What is the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the puck and the floor?
(A) The mass is required to calculate this answer.
(B) 0.25
(C) 0.5
(D) 0.025

7. A rock is dropped from an extremely high cliff and experiences free-fall conditions.
Which of the following statements is NOT true about the rock’s velocity, acceleration,
or displacement between the 3rd and 4th seconds of falling?
(A) The rock will fall an additional 4.9 meters.
(B) The rock will speed up by 9.8 m/s.
(C) The rock’s acceleration will remain 9.8 m/s2.
(D) The rock’s displacement, velocity, and acceleration vectors are all directed
downward.

8. When using the kinematics equation x = x0 + vx0t + ½ axt2, which of the following is
always assumed to be true?
(A) ax = zero
(B) x > xo
(C) Vx0 is positive.
(D) ax is constant.

18 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2
 9. Consider a projectile launched at 30 degrees above a flat surface. The projectile
experiences no air resistance and lands at the same height from which it was launched.
Compare the initial and final conditions of the following vector components:

Vx Vy ax ay

T E ST
(A) They are all the same at both instances.
(B) They are all different.
(C) Vx and Vy have changed, but ax ay are constant.
(D) They are all the same except for Vy.

D I AGN O ST I C
10. A physics teacher is swirling a bucket around in a vertical circle. If the bucket slips out
of his hand when it is directly overhead, the bucket will
(A) fly upward initially
(B) drop straight down
(C) fly out horizontally initially
(D) fly out up and at an angle initially

11. If the Moon was twice as far from the center of Earth as it is currently, how would its
orbital period change?
(A) The Moon’s orbital period would double.
(B) The Moon’s orbital period would increase by a factor of 4.
(C) The Moon’s orbital period would increase by a factor of 2 2 .
(D) The Moon’s orbital period would decrease by a factor of 2.

12. If you went to another planet, which of the following would be true?
(A) Your mass would be the same, but your weight would change.
(B) Your mass would change, but your weight would be the same.
(C) Your mass would be the same, and your weight would be the same.
(D) Your mass would change, and your weight would change.

13. You lift a heavy suitcase twice. Each time you lift it to the same height, but the second
time you do it in half the time. Compare the work done to and power delivered to the
suitcase.
(A) Same work, same power
(B) Twice the work, twice the power
(C) Twice the work, same power
(D) Same work, twice the power

14. A constant horizontal force of 12 N is applied for 5 meters to move an initially

stationary mass of 5 kg. The friction between the floor and the mass does a total of −40
joules of work to the mass. The final speed (in m/s) of the object is
(A) 2(6) ½
(B) 2(2) ½
(C) 2(10)½
(D) 4

DIAGNOSTIC TEST 19
 15. A skier begins a downhill run at a height of 9 meters and a speed of 2 m/s. If you
ignore friction, what will be her speed when she is 3 meters from the bottom of the
slope?
(A) 6.0 m/s
(B) 12.8 m/s
T E ST

(C) 11.1 m/s

(D) 7.7 m/s

16. A rubber ball (m = 0.250 kg) strikes a wall horizontally at 3.50 m/s and rebounds
elastically. What is the magnitude of impulse delivered to the wall in N · s?
D I AGN O ST I C

(A) 0.875
(B) 1.75
(C) 2.50
(D) 8.75

17. A running back (m = 85 kg) running at 1.5 m/s is tackled from the side by another
player (m = 75 kg) running perpendicularly to the running back’s original heading at
1.75 m/s). What is the resulting speed of the two entangled players just after the
tackle?
(A) 2.2 m/s
(B) 0.25 m/s
(C) 1.6 m/s
(D) 1.1 m/s

18. Which of the following ranks the torques applied by the three equal forces A, B, and C
to the long thin rod about its fixed axis as indicated?
(A) τC > τB > τA
(B) τA = τB > τC
(C) τB = τC > τA
(D) τB > τA > τC

19. A large spherical cloud of dust in deep space that is spinning slowly collapses under its
own gravitational force into a spherical cloud 10 times smaller in diameter. How does
its rotational rate change?
(A) The rotational rate does not change.
(B) The rotational rate increases by a factor of 10.
(C) The rotational rate decreases by a factor of 10.
(D) The rotational rate increases by a factor of 100.

20 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2
20. A single resistor attached to a constant voltage source has an additional, identical
resistor inserted between one end of the resistor and the voltage supply. Which of these
is the correct description of what will happen to the voltage drop across (V) and the
current running through the original resistor (I) as a result?
(A) I and V will remain unchanged.

T E ST
(B) I and V will both be halved.
(C) I will be halved; V will remain unchanged.
(D) V will be halved; I will remain unchanged.

21. A single resistor attached to a constant voltage source has an additional, identical

D I AGN O ST I C
resistor inserted beside it, forming its own connection across the voltage supply. Which
of these is the correct description of what will happen to the voltage drop across (V)
and the current running through the original resistor (I) as a result?
(A) I and V will remain unchanged.
(B) I and V will both be halved.
(C) I will be halved; V will remain unchanged.
(D) V will be halved; I will remain unchanged.

22. A simple circuit consisting of a battery, switch, and a lightbulb in series is constructed.
Which is the best explanation of what happens when the switch is closed for the first
time?
(A) The lightbulb goes out immediately.
(B) Electrons are allowed to flow through the switch from the battery. When they reach
the bulb, it lights.
(C) Electrons are allowed to flow through the switch. When those electrons already
within the bulb move, the lightbulb lights.
(D) Electrons on the negative side of the switch are allowed to first flow. When they
reach the bulb, it lights.

23. As two sine waves run into each other on a single rope under tension, as shown above,
what is the resulting sequence of events?
(A) Initial constructive interference following by unchanged waves emerging on
opposite sides
(B) Initial constructive interference following by waves bouncing backward
(C) Initial partial destructive interference followed by constructive interference
followed by unchanged waves emerging on opposite sides
(D) Initial partial destructive interference followed by constructive interference
followed by waves bouncing backward

DIAGNOSTIC TEST 21
 24. As you stand on the side of the road, an ambulance approaches your position at high
speed. Which option best describes the sound of the siren as observed by you as
compared with the driver’s perception?

Frequency Wavelength Wave Speed

T E ST

(A) Higher Lower Same

(B) Higher Same Same

(C) Higher Same Higher

(D) Lower Higher Higher

D I AGN O ST I C

25. Two cars approach an intersection at right angles, as pictured above. What is their
relative speed to each other?
(A) 10 mph
(B) 45 mph
(C) 57 mph
(D) 80 mph

26. Which of the following statements are true regarding collisions? Select two answers.
(A) An elastic collision conserves both net momentum and net kinetic energy.
(B) An inelastic collision conserves mechanical energy but not net momentum.
(C) An elastic collision between two objects has equal but opposite impulses delivered.
(D) An inelastic collision between two objects is one in which both objects come to
rest during the collision.

22 AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2
SECTION II: FREE-RESPONSE

1. A static, nonuniform wedge-shaped mass, M, (with center of mass x as indicated) with

a base length of L (shown below) is supported at two points. The first support point is
at the bottom left corner of the wedge. The second support point is located at a point

T E ST
¾ of the length of the wedge away from that corner.

D I AGN O ST I C
(a) Using as givens M, L, and g (the gravitational field strength), solve for the two
unknown contact forces at the points of support (F1 and F2).
(b) Support #2 is removed. The wedge begins to fall by rotating around support #1
with an angular acceleration of 2 rad/s2. If the mass of the wedge is 3.8 kg and
L = 75 cm, determine the moment of inertia of the nonuniform wedge about the
top of support #1.
(c) As the wedge continues to rotate clockwise but remains in contact with support #1:
(i) Does the angular acceleration increase, decrease, or remain the same? Why?
(ii) Does the moment of inertia of the wedge increase, decrease, or remain the
same? Why?

2. An object of unknown mass is fired at an unknown angle with an initial speed of

25 m/s. Ignore frictional effects. If only 45 percent of its initial kinetic energy is still
present as kinetic energy at the projectile’s highest point, determine the time in flight
for the projectile.

DIAGNOSTIC TEST 23