AP PHYSICS 1 Scoring Guide
Unit 7 Progress Check: FRQ 4
1. Show all your work for each part of the question. The parts within the question may not have equal weight.
A simple pendulum consists of a string of negligible mass and a small sphere, as shown in the figure. The sphere
has mass and its center of mass is located a distance from where the top end of the string is attached to the
ceiling. The diameter of the sphere is negligible relative to the length of the string. The sphere is released from rest
with the string having an initial angle from the vertical, as indicated.
In a second pendulum, an identical small sphere is attached to a longer string than the string used in the original
pendulum. The sphere in the second pendulum is released from rest with the string having the same initial angle
from the vertical as in the original pendulum.
(a) Indicate how the maximum speed of the sphere in the second pendulum compares to the maximum speed
of the sphere in the original pendulum.
_____ _____ _____
Justify your selection using qualitative reasoning beyond referencing equations.
Consider the original pendulum and the case where the string makes an initial angle from the vertical.
(b) Starting with the conservation of energy, derive an equation for the magnitude of the sphere’s acceleration
at the instant the string is vertical. Express your answer in terms of , , , and physical constants, as
appropriate. Begin your derivation by writing either a fundamental physics principal or an equation from the
reference book.
(c) Using the equation you derived in part (b), indicate whether the sphere’s acceleration at the instant the string is
vertical is greater for the original pendulum, greater for the second pendulum, or the same for both pendulums.
Describe how the equation justifies your claim.
Part A
Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.
AP Physics 1 Page 1 of 4
Scoring Guide
Unit 7 Progress Check: FRQ 4
0 1 2 3
The response accurately includes all of the following criteria.
1 point is earned for selecting “ ” with an attempt at a relevant justification.
1 point is earned for using conservation of energy to correctly relate the sphere’s maximum speed OR
maximum kinetic energy to either the change in height of the sphere or the change in gravitational
potential energy of the sphere-Earth system.
1 point is earned for indicating that, for the second pendulum, there is either a greater change in height of
the sphere OR a greater change in gravitational potential energy of the sphere-Earth system.
Example Response
Selection:
When the string angle changes from to zero (vertical string), there is a drop in potential energy for the sphere-Earth
system. The sphere’s kinetic energy increases by an equal amount since total energy is constant, so the maximum kinetic
energy and speed of the sphere is greater for a greater change in vertical position of the sphere. For the same change in
angle, this change is greater for longer strings, so the maximum speed is greater for the second pendulum
Part B
Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.
0 1 2 3
The response accurately includes all of the following criteria.
1 point is earned for a multi-step derivation that uses conservation of energy.
1 point is earned for
◦ correctly relating the change in the sphere’s height to and ,
AND
◦ using the relation to substitute for the change in the sphere’s height in a multi-step derivation.
1 point is earned for
◦ using the centripetal acceleration equation to eliminate the speed from an equation in a
multi-step derivation,
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Scoring Guide
Unit 7 Progress Check: FRQ 4
◦ correctly solving the resulting equation for the acceleration,
AND
◦ expressing the acceleration in terms of the indicated quantities and physical constants, as
appropriate.
Example Response
Energy conservation:
Part C
Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.
0 1 2
The response accurately includes both of the following criteria.
1 point is earned for a claim and justification that addresses the functional dependence between and
in the equation derived in part (b).
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Scoring Guide
Unit 7 Progress Check: FRQ 4
Scoring Note: To earn this point it is not necessary to use the functional dependence correctly.
1 point is earned for a claim and a justification that are both consistent with the equation from part (b).
Scoring Note: Parts (b) need not be correct to earn this point. The claim and justification should relate to
the answer as written in part (b).
Example Response
The equation derived in part (b) shows that the acceleration depends only on the acceleration due to gravity and the
angle . Since both of those quantities are the same for each pendulum, the acceleration of each pendulum is the same.
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