AP PHYSICS 2 Test Booklet

Unit 9 Progress Check: FRQ

1. Show all your work for each part of the the question. The parts within the question may not have equal weight.

One mole of an ideal gas is initially in State at pressure and volume , as shown in the pressure-volume
diagram. The gas is taken to State , which is at a pressure of and volume , by the process shown. The gas
is then taken to State (not shown) and then back to State as follows.

• In process , the gas undergoes an isovolumetric process to return to pressure .

(a)

i. On Figure , do the following.

Draw an arrow to represent process .

Label State .

Draw an arrow to represent process .

(a)

ii. Derive an expression for the energy transferred into or out of the gas by heating or cooling during process
in terms of , , and physical constants, as appropriate.

(b) For the complete cycle , is energy transferred into the gas by heating, out of the gas by
cooling, or neither? Justify your answer.

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 Test Booklet

Unit 9 Progress Check: FRQ

2. Show all your work for each part of the the question. The parts within the question may not have equal weight.

A sample of an ideal gas is enclosed in a cylinder with a piston that is free to move with negligible friction. The
piston, which is initially at rest, has mass and radius , as shown in Figure . The air outside the cylinder is at
pressure .

(a) On the dot in Figure , which represents the piston, draw and label the forces (not components) that are
exerted on the piston while the piston is at rest. Each force must be represented by a distinct arrow starting on, and
pointing away from, the dot. The lengths of the vectors should represent the relative magnitude of the forces.

(b) In Process , an external heat source slowly increases the temperature of the gas, causing the piston to move a
distance and then come to rest. Derive an expression for the work done by the gas on the piston during Process
as the piston moves a distance . Express your answers in terms of , , , , and physical constants, as
appropriate.

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 Test Booklet

Unit 9 Progress Check: FRQ

(c) In Process , which occurs after Process , the gas continues to be heated, but the piston is now held in place
by pins, as shown in Figure . On the axes in Figure , do the following.

Sketch and label a curve or line starting on the dot (which represents the initial state of the gas) to represent
Process .

Sketch and label a curve or line to represent Process .

(d) Indicate whether the graph of Process in part (c) is consistent with the derivation for the work done by the
gas on the piston during Process from part (b). Briefly justify your answer by referencing both your derivation
from part (b) and the graph in part (c).

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 Test Booklet

Unit 9 Progress Check: FRQ

3. Show all your work for each part of the the question. The parts within the question may not have equal weight.

A group of students are asked to design a lab to identify an unknown metal by determining the metal’s specific
heat from a graph. They have access to a beaker, a hot plate, a thermometer, and a scale. The beaker can be
insulated. The specific heat of water is known.

(a) Design an experimental procedure that the students could use to collect the data needed to determine the
specific heat of the unknown metal. Provide enough detail so another student could replicate the experiment,
including any steps necessary to reduce experimental uncertainty.

(b) Describe how the students could analyze the collected data to determine the specific heat of the unknown
metal.

In a second experiment, the students have an uninsulated cylinder of gas that is sealed by a moveable piston. There
is a pressure sensor inside the cylinder and friction between the piston and the cylinder is negligible. The students
place the cylinder of gas in a water bath that is held at a constant temperature of . They add objects of
various mass to the top of the cylinder to slowly compress the gas. The students record the pressure and the
volume of the gas. Table shows their collected data.

(c)

i. Indicate what measured and/or calculated quantities could be graphed to yield a straight line that could be
used to calculate the number of moles of gas in the cylinder. Use the blank columns in the table to list any
calculated quantities you will graph other than the data provided.

Horizontal Axis:__________ Vertical Axis:__________

ii. Plot the data points for the quantities indicated in part (c)(i) on the graph provided. Clearly scale and label
all axes, including units. Draw a straight line that best represents the data.

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 Test Booklet

Unit 9 Progress Check: FRQ

(d) Using the best-fit line calculate the number of moles of gas in the cylinder.

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Unit 9 Progress Check: FRQ

4. Show all your work for each part of the the question. The parts within the question may not have equal weight.

A cylinder with cross-sectional area and height has a lid with mass on top, as shown in Figure . There are
atoms of an ideal gas inside the cylinder. The lid rests on top of the cylinder and is not attached to the cylinder.
The pressure outside the cylinder is .

(a) The gas in the cylinder is slowly heated and it increases in temperature. When it reaches a certain temperature,
the lid accelerates upward and loses contact with the cylinder. Indicate why this happens. Justify your reasoning
in terms of the interaction between the atoms of gas and the lid.

(b) Derive an expression for the minimum temperature of the gas that would result in the lid accelerating upward
in terms of , , , , , and physical constants, as appropriate.

(c) Immediately after the lid loses contact with the cylinder, a small gap exists between the lid and the cylinder.
Very shortly after the lid loses contact with the cylinder, the lid falls back to its original position. Indicate the
process that is responsible for this. Justify your response by referring to the equation derived in part (b).

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