Understanding kinematics in AP Physics 1 is crucial for success on the exam. Many students struggle with concepts like displacement, velocity, acceleration, and motion graphs. To make learning easier, we’ve compiled frequently asked questions. Plus, you can download a free PDF with detailed solutions to help with your studies!
What is Kinematics in AP Physics 1?
Kinematics is the branch of physics that describes the motion of objects without considering the forces causing them. It includes:
- Displacement (change in position)
- Velocity (speed with direction)
- Acceleration (rate of velocity change)
- Equations of Motion
- Motion Graphs (position-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time)
Key Kinematics Equations
AP Physics 1 Kinematics Exam Questions
1. A car accelerates uniformly from rest to a velocity of 25 m/s in 5 seconds. What is its acceleration?
2. A ball is dropped from a height of 50 meters. How long does it take to reach the ground?
3. A car moving at 20 m/s slows down uniformly to a stop in 4 seconds. What is its acceleration?
4. A projectile is launched with an initial velocity of 30 m/s at an angle of 45°. What is its time of flight?
5. What is the displacement of a car that moves with an initial velocity of 10 m/s, accelerates at 2 m/s² for 6 seconds?
6. A runner starts from rest and reaches a speed of 8 m/s in 4 seconds. What is the acceleration?
7. A rock is thrown straight up with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. How high will it go before stopping?
8. A cyclist moves with an initial speed of 5 m/s and accelerates at 1.5 m/s² for 10 seconds. What is the final velocity?
9. A car covers 100 m in 5 seconds, starting from rest with uniform acceleration. What is the acceleration?
10. A plane needs to reach 80 m/s to take off and has a runway of 400 m. What minimum acceleration is required?
11. Two cars start from the same point, one moving with a constant velocity of 20 m/s and the other accelerating at 2 m/s² from rest. When will they meet?
12. A ball is thrown horizontally from a 45m high cliff with a speed of 10 m/s. How long does it take to hit the ground?
13. A boat crosses a river 200m wide with a current of 3 m/s. If the boat moves at 4 m/s relative to the water, what is the time taken to cross?
14. A train starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 1.5 m/s². How long does it take to travel 200m?
16. A ball is thrown upwards with a velocity of 15 m/s. How long will it take to reach its maximum height?
17. A rocket moves vertically upward with an acceleration of 20 m/s². What is its velocity after 8 seconds?
18. A car moving at 30 m/s suddenly applies brakes and stops in 5 seconds. What is the stopping distance?
19. A cyclist moving with a speed of 12 m/s decelerates at 2 m/s². How far does it travel before coming to rest?
20. A stone is dropped into a well, and the sound of the splash is heard 3 seconds later. Find the depth of the well.
21. A bullet is fired straight up with an initial velocity of 50 m/s. How long does it take to reach the highest point?
22. A child throws a ball upward with an initial speed of 10 m/s. What is the total time for the ball to return to the child’s hand?
23. A runner accelerates uniformly from rest at 3 m/s². How far has the runner traveled after 4 seconds?
24. A bird flies 100 m east, then 75 m north. What is the bird’s displacement?
25. A jet accelerates from 100 m/s to 250 m/s over 5 seconds. What is its acceleration?
26. A train decelerates from 40 m/s to rest in 10 seconds. How far does it travel during this time?
27. A person walks 3 km east, then 4 km north. What is the total displacement?
28. A motorbike moving at 15 m/s accelerates at 3 m/s² for 4 seconds. What is the final velocity?
29. A stone is thrown downward from a 30m high building with an initial velocity of 5 m/s. How long does it take to hit the ground?
30. A tennis ball is hit at 20 m/s at a 30° angle. How long is it in the air?
31. A spaceship moves 5000 km in 10 seconds. What is its average velocity?
32. A satellite orbits the Earth at a constant speed of 8000 m/s. What is its acceleration?
33. A skier accelerates at 2.5 m/s² down a slope for 6 seconds. What is the final velocity?
34. A parachutist falls freely for 3 seconds before opening the parachute. What is the velocity before opening?
35. A cyclist rides at 5 m/s, then accelerates at 1 m/s² for 10 seconds. How far does the cyclist travel?
36. A bus moving at 20 m/s decelerates at 4 m/s² to a stop. What is the stopping distance?
37. A sprinter running at 8 m/s slows down to rest in 2 seconds. What is the deceleration?
38. A car covers a distance of 500m in 20 seconds with uniform acceleration. Find the acceleration.
39. A projectile reaches a maximum height of 80m. What was its initial vertical velocity?
40. A car accelerates from 0 to 30 m/s in 10 seconds. How far does it travel?
Download the free PDF to get detailed solutions
To help you revise efficiently, download our free AP Physics 1 Kinematics PDF with all formulas, solved examples, and detailed solutions to practice questions.
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