AP Physics 1 3.3: Potential Energy

Describe potential energy as a property of a system’s configuration when its internal objects interact through conservative forces.

[Maximum number: 2]

A block of mass M is released from rest at position x=0 near the top of a ramp. The ramp

makes an angle of $\theta$ with the horizontal. The block slides down the ramp with negligible

friction. At x=8 D the block makes contact with an uncompressed spring with spring

constant k. The spring is then compressed and the block momentarily comes to rest at x=12 D.

Figure 1 shows the instants when the block is at x=0, x=6 D, and x=10 D, respectively.

Figure for Question 3.3.A—Describe the potential energy of a system question 1 — AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Figure 6 shows a graph of the energy of the system as a function of the position of the block

from x=8 D to x=12 D. The spring potential energy $U_{s}$ of the block-spring-Earth system is

shown on the graph.

On the axes shown in Figure 6, do the following.

Sketch and label a line or curve that represents the gravitational potential energy $U_{g}$ for

the block-spring-Earth system as a function of the position of the block from x=8 D

to x=12 D.

Figure 6

(ii) For sketching a straight line that is decreasing with a label that indicates gravitational

Point C2

potential energy

For starting the line that represents gravitational potential energy at the point ( $8 D, 4 E_{0}$ )

Point C3

Example Response

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3.3.A—Describe the potential energy of a system question 1