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Formative assessment questions for teaching physics

A2L Item 035

  • Description: Determine the presence of forces in addition to friction from a strobe diagram of the objects' motion.
  • Goal: Interpreting strobe diagrams in conjunction with verbal information.
  • Source: UMPERG
  • Keywords: Forces, Friction, Graphing, Mechanics

The question for students:

Below is shown a strobe diagram indicating the position of four objects at successive time intervals. The objects move from left to right.

Item035_fig1.gif

Each of the objects shown experiences a constant friction force as they slide across the floor. Which of the objects definitely experiences a force in addition to sliding friction?

  1. Object A only
  2. Object B only
  3. Object C only
  4. Object D only
  5. Objects A and B
  6. Objects B and C
  7. Objects A and C
  8. None of the above
  9. Cannot be determined

Commentary for teachers:

Answers

(8); Object (C) slows down and this could be due to a sliding friction force acting to the left. Given that there is a friction force, the objects moving with constant velocity (B and D) must have an additional force. Likewise (A), which accelerates duting the first part of its motion, must have an additional force to the right.