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AP Physics 1 Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum — practice questions

Explore 21 free Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum questions in AP Physics 1 Physics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–21 of 21.

Angular acceleration is defined as the rate of change of:Read the answer and worked solution →Linear acceleration in circular motion, which changes the size of the velocity, is called:Read the answer and worked solution →Centripetal acceleration changes which aspect of the velocity?Read the answer and worked solution →The rotational analogue of force in Newton's second law is:Read the answer and worked solution →The rotational analogue of mass is called the:Read the answer and worked solution →Torque depends on force magnitude, point of application and:Read the answer and worked solution →The moment of inertia of a hoop about its axis is its total mass multiplied by:Read the answer and worked solution →The moment of inertia of an object depends on which choice made by the observer?Read the answer and worked solution →In rotational motion, the cause of angular acceleration is:Read the answer and worked solution →The total moment of inertia of a merry-go-round with a child on it is found by:Read the answer and worked solution →Rotational kinematics relates to translational kinematics in what way?Read the answer and worked solution →Converting an angular velocity from revolutions per minute to standard units means converting to:Read the answer and worked solution →A bicycle turned upside down and spun does not travel, but on its wheels the same angular acceleration would first produce:Read the answer and worked solution →A helicopter's engine cannot both lift the craft and quickly restore the blades' rotational kinetic energy because of:Read the answer and worked solution →A flywheel on a bus is useful because its stored energy can be used to:Read the answer and worked solution →Adding a child at the rim of a merry-go-round changes the angular acceleration because it changes the:Read the answer and worked solution →Match rotational to translationalRead the answer and worked solution →Tangential or centripetal?Read the answer and worked solution →True or false: rotationRead the answer and worked solution →Complete the rotational second lawRead the answer and worked solution →Which quantity is it?Read the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

Angular acceleration is defined as the rate of change of:

  1. Angular velocity
  2. Angular position
  3. Linear momentum
  4. Rotational inertia
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Correct answer: A. Angular velocity

1. Every rotational quantity mirrors a translational one. 2. Linear acceleration is the rate of change of linear velocity. 3. Angular acceleration is defined as the rate of change of angular velocity. 4. Angular position, velocity and acceleration are the three rotational quantities defined in turn. _Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP(R) Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 'Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum', sections 10.1-10.7_

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Linear acceleration in circular motion, which changes the size of the velocity, is called:

  1. Gravitational acceleration
  2. Tangential acceleration
  3. Centripetal acceleration
  4. Angular acceleration
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Correct answer: B. Tangential acceleration

1. Two different accelerations act in circular motion. 2. Linear acceleration in that setting is called tangential acceleration. 3. Linear or tangential acceleration refers to changes in the magnitude of velocity but not its direction. 4. Centripetal acceleration does the opposite job. _Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP(R) Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 'Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum', sections 10.1-10.7_

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Centripetal acceleration changes which aspect of the velocity?

  1. Both at the same time
  2. Neither of the two
  3. Its direction only
  4. Its magnitude only
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Correct answer: C. Its direction only

1. The two accelerations in circular motion divide the work between them. 2. In circular motion, centripetal acceleration refers to changes in the direction of the velocity but not its magnitude. 3. Tangential acceleration changes the magnitude but not the direction. 4. Together they can change both, but each on its own changes only one. _Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP(R) Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 'Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum', sections 10.1-10.7_

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