v

θ
Derivation Practice
with Solutions
Michael Freeman
Physics Teacher
Somerville High School
www.afreeparticle.com
Some diagrams created with the help of Tom Walsh’s Mechanics Drawing Tools on www.ophysics.com
 About
From Marc Reif:

There will likely be one or two places on the AP Exam Free Response
Questions where the command “Derive” is given. The process:
● Find one or more (usually two) equations from the AP Equation
Table that apply
● Substitute in any variables given in the problem (and constants)
● Solve the equations for what is asked for
● Simplify your answer (usually helpful to you and the exam reader,
but not absolutely necessary to get the points)
 Problem 1
A block of mass m, initially compressed by a distance x, is launched horizontally from an ideal linear spring with force
constant k on a smooth table. After it separates from the spring, it collides elastically with an identical block of mass m.

Derive an expression for the horizontal displacement from the edge of the table for the block on the right in terms of h,
k, x, m, and any fundamental constants.

Follow-up questions:
m m
1) If the blocks stuck together, would
the horizontal displacement
increase, decrease, or stay the
h same? Why?

2) If the experiment were repeated

with a spring with spring force
constant 4k, by what factor will the
horizontal displacement from the
edge of the table change?
 Solution 1
1. Start by determining the speed of the block after leaving the spring using conservation of
energy.

2. Only way for this two identical block system to conserve both momentum and kinetic
energy is for the blocks to switch velocities, so the right block is now moving with this
speed.

3. Next, determine the time it takes to hit the ground from this height. (Take down to be
positive).

4. Projectiles move with a constant horizontal velocity.

Follow-up answers:
1) Decrease due to a smaller initial velocity.
2) The horizontal displacement would double, due to the square root relationship.
 Problem 2
A block slides with negligible friction down a ramp, leaving with an initial angle θ measured above the horizontal.
Derive an expression for the maximum height h of the block above the launch point in terms of H, θ, and fundamental
constants.

H
h

θ
Follow-up questions:

1) If the experiment were repeated with a ball that rolled without slipping on a ramp with friction, would the maximum height be
higher, lower, or the same?
2) If the original experiment were repeated on the moon, would the maximum height be higher, lower, or the same? Use your
expression to explain.
 Solution 2
Idea: One can use conservation of energy to find the final height, but the speed at
that height is needed. The velocity there is just the horizontal component of the
initial velocity.

1. Start by determining the speed of the block as it leaves the ramp using
conservation of energy.

2. Find the speed at the top, which the horizontal component of the initial
velocity.

3. Use conservation of energy to find the final height. Here, the initial point is
the very beginning, and the final is the peak of the trajectory.

Follow-up answers:
1) The maximum height would be lower because the speed at the bottom of the ramp
would be lower. Can be explain with friction OR less translational kinetic energy.
2) The same! Not in the final expression. Less force making it get faster on the way down
but less force making it slower on the way up!
 Problem 3
A projectile of mass m is shot at speed v at an angle θ above horizontal. At the instant it reaches the peak of its
trajectory, it collides and sticks to a block of equal mass m, and the combined mass slides on the table with coefficient
of kinetic friction μ, coming to rest on the table. Derive an expression for the distance that the combined mass slides on
the table in terms of m, v, θ, μ and fundamental constants.

v
θ

Follow-up questions:
1) If the ball bounced backwards instead of sticking, would the distance be greater, less, or the same?
2) The table’s height is increased so that the experiment can be repeated with an initial projectile speed of 3v. Assuming the collision
still happens at the peak of the projectile’s trajectory and the blocks stay on the table, by what factor will the distance traveled on
the table change?
 Solution 3
1. Start by finding the speed of the projectile as it reaches the block. Too little
info to use conservation of energy, but at the peak, the velocity is just the
horizontal component of the initial velocity.

2. Use conservation of momentum for a perfectly inelastic collision.

3. Use energy to determine the distance traveled on the table.

m here refers to the

combined mass, which
divides out anyway.

Follow-up answers:

1) The distance would be greater, more momentum would be transferred from the ball to
the block, so initial speed of the block would be higher (mass divides out).
2) The blocks would go 9x as far due to the square relationship.
 Problem 4
Two carts, one mass m, the other mass 2m, are compressed the same distance d against identical springs with spring
constant k and released from rest. They separate from the springs and collide and stick together. Derive an expression
for the speed they will be moving just after the collision in terms of m, d, k, and fundamental constants.

Follow-up questions:

1) Are the carts moving left or right after the collision?

2) If the mass m were decreased, would the final speed of the carts increase, decrease, or stay the same?
3) If the distance d were doubled to 2d, by what factor would the final speed of the carts change?
4) If the springs were replaced with one with ¼ the spring constant, by what factor would the final speed of the carts change?
 Solution 4
1. Start by finding the speed of each cart after leaving the
spring.

2. Assume rightward is positive. Find the velocity of the two

carts together using conservation of momentum. The number
is negative, so the blocks are moving left, and the speed is the
absolute value of this.

Follow-up answers:
1) Left, velocity is in the negative direction
2) The final speed would increase, mass is in denominator. Initial speeds would be
higher coming off the springs.
3) Final speed would double as these are directly proportional.
4) The final speed would be half, due to the square root relationship.
 Problem 5
A sphere of mass m is attached to a light rod of length L, which is attached to a central pivot so that it can freely swing
in a vertical circle. The rod is held so that it is nearly vertical with the sphere on top and released. Derive an expression
for the magnitude of the force of the rod on the sphere at the sphere’s lowest point in terms of L, m, and fundamental
constants.

sphere

rod

pivot

Follow-up questions:

1) If the length L were increased, would the magnitude of the

force of the rod on the sphere increase, decrease, or stay the
same?
2) If the mass of the sphere tripled to 3m, by what factor would
the upwards force of the rod on the sphere change?
 Solution 5
1. Start by finding the speed at the bottom using conservation of
energy.

2. Use Newton’s Second Law to determine the upwards force on

the sphere. Free Body Diagram is force from rod upwards and
gravitational force downwards. Take inwards/upwards to be
positive.

Follow-up answers:

1) It would stay the same.

2) It would also triple as these are directly proportional.
 Problem 6
A sphere of mass m is attached to a light rod of length L, which is attached to a central pivot so that it can freely swing
in a vertical circle. The rod is held so that it is nearly vertical with the sphere on top and released. The sphere detaches
from the rod at its lowest point and then falls a vertical displacement L. Derive an expression for the horizontal
displacement of the sphere in the air in terms of L, m, and fundamental constants.
sphere

rod

pivot

Follow-up questions:

1) If the length L were increased, would the horizontal

displacement in the air increase, decrease, or stay the same?
2) If the mass of the sphere tripled to 3m, by what factor would
the horizontal displacement in the air of the sphere change?
 Solution 6
1. Start by finding the speed at the bottom using conservation of
energy.

2. Next, determine the time it takes to hit the ground from this
height. (Take down to be positive).

3. Projectiles move with a constant horizontal velocity.

Follow-up answers:

1) It would increase. According to the expression these are directly proportional.

2) It would stay the same, factor of 1.
 Problem 7
Planet X which has a mass m orbits a star of mass M with a speed v in with a circular orbit. Derive an expression for the
radius of the orbit in terms of m, M, v, and fundamental constants.

Planet X

star
Follow-up questions:

1) Planet Y has the same mass as Planet X and is moving in a

circular orbit around the same star with a speed of 5v. What is
the ratio of Planet Y’s orbital radius to Planet X’s?
2) If Planet Z moves at the same speed in a circular orbit around a
star with twice the mass. What is the ratio of Planet Z’s orbital
radius to Planet X’s?
3) A satellite with a much smaller mass than Planet X is put into
circular orbit around the star at the same speed as Planet X,
but far away from Planet X. Will its orbital radius be larger
smaller or the same as Planet X? Use your expression.
 Solution 7
1. Start by writing out Newton’s Second Law for the planet (thus
m not M is placed in for the inertial mass).

2. Fill in the for the gravitational force with the expression for
the universal gravitational force.

Follow-up answers:

1) 1/25, due to inverse square relationship.

2) Double the radius, as these are directly proportional.
3) The same, as the gravitational and inertial masses divide out of
the equation.
 Problem 8
A solid cylinder of mass M, radius R, and rotational inertia I = ½MR2 is released from rest and rolls without slipping
down a ramp, starting from a height H from where the cylinder leaves the ramp as shown. Assuming no loss to thermal
energy, derive an expression for ∆y, the highest point that the cylinder reaches in the air above the point where it leave
the ramp in terms of M, R, H, and fundamental constants.

Follow-up questions:

1) If the cylinder were replaced with a

H
∆y hollow cylinder with the same mass
and radius, would the maximum height
increase, decrease, or stay the same?
2) If the experiment were repeated on the
moon, would the maximum height
increase, decrease, or stay the same?
3) If the cylinder started from a height
H/2, by what factor would the
maximum height in the air change?
 Solution 8
1. Use conservation of energy to find the translational speed of
the cylinder as it is leaving the ramp.

2. Use a uniformly acceleration motion equation to find the

maximum height reached.

Follow-up answers:
1) The rotational inertia increases, but the gravitational force stays the same, so the
translational speed leaving the ramp will decrease, so the height will decrease.
2) The same! Not in the final expression. Less force making it get faster on the way
down but less force making it slower on the way up!
3) Half, due to the directly proportional relationship.
 Problem 9
A solid cylinder with mass M, radius R, rotational inertia I = ½MR2, and a centered hole of negligible radius, is placed
over a rod securely attached to a smooth table so that it spins without friction. A light string is wrapped around the
cylinder, over a pulley and attached to a block of mass M/2, located a height h above the floor. The system is released
from rest, and after the block reaches the floor, the cylinder continues spinning. Derive an expression for the time that
the cylinder takes to complete one revolution after the block hits the floor.

side view top view

Follow-up questions:
1) If the cylinder were replaced a cylinder of equal mass but larger radius, would the time for one revolution increase, decrease, or
stay the same.
2) If the experiment were repeated with the block dropping 4 times the distance (4h), by what factor would the time for one
revolution change?
 Solution 9 (Energy)
1. Can use conservation of energy for the cylinder-block system,
given the no-slip condition of v = ω*R.

2. Using equation relating period and angular frequency:

T = 2π/ω

Follow-up answers:
1) The time for one revolution would increase due to the increase in rotational inertia
overcoming the increase in torque (see the final expression).
2) The time for one revolution would be half due to the inverse square root relationship.
 Solution 9 (Torque)
1. Write Translational Newton’s Second Law for the hanging mass.
m here is the mass of
2. Write Rotational Newton’s Second Law for the cylinder. the block: M/2

3. Find the angular acceleration, given the no-slip condition of a =

alpha*R

4. Use uniform angular acceleration equation to find final angular

velocity of the cylinder.

5. Using equation relating period and angular frequency:

T = 2π/ω

Follow-up answers:
1) The time for one revolution would increase due to the increase in rotational inertia
overcoming the increase in torque (see final expression).
2) The time for one revolution would be half due to the inverse square root relationship.
 Problem 10
A solid cylinder mass M, radius R, rotational inertia I = ½MR2 , and a centered hole of negligible radius, is placed over a
rod securely attached to a smooth table so that it spins without friction. A launcher of negligible mass is fixed at a
radius r on the cylinder. Starting at rest, the launcher shoots a projectile with mass m at speed v, causing the cylinder
to spin. Derive an expression for the speed of the launcher after it shoots the projectile in terms of M, R, m, r, v, and
fundamental constants.

top view top view

before after

solid cylinder
Follow-up questions:
1) If the projectile’s mass m were
R increased (but shot at the same
pivot
speed), would the launcher’s
r
final speed increase, decrease,
projectile or stay the same?
launcher 2) If the radius of the launcher r is
decreased to r/4, by what factor
would the launcher’s final speed
change?
 Solution 10
1. Use conservation of angular momentum to find the angular
velocity of the launcher/cylinder.

2. Use v = ω*r to the find the speed of the launcher.

Follow-up answers:
1) Increase because mass is in the numerator. The launcher would apply
a greater impulse to the projectile, which would apply a greater
impulse back on the launcher.
2) The final speed would become 1/16 as great due to the square
relationship.