The APsolute RecAP: Physics 1 Edition

The APsolute RecAP: Physics 1 Edition - Testing Tips #3 - FRQs

Episode Summary

You will have 90 minutes to answer 5 free-response questions. Easiest strategy to implement is to grab the low hanging fruit.

Episode Notes

You will have 90 minutes to answer 5 free-response questions. Easiest strategy to implement is to grab the low hanging fruit (0:56). The FRQ questions come in a few varieties: experimental design, qualitative/quantitative translation,(4:02) paragraph argument,(5:14) and two short answer questions.(6:00)

Question of the Day (7:20) Which is a good strategy for answering the paragraph length response FRQ?

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Episode Transcription

Hi and welcome to the APsolute RecAP: Physics 1 Edition. Today’s episode will focus on test taking tips and strategies related to the free response questions.

Let’s Zoom out

First of all, your teacher may have referred to free-response questions as FRQs.  These are questions that require you to write your answers.  The good news is that you can receive partial credit for your responses in this section.  The bad news is that unlike multiple choice questions, the FRQ answers need to come entirely from your brain.

Let’s Zoom in: 

After completing the 90 minute multiple choice portion of the AP Physics 1 exam, you will now be given an additional 90 minutes to complete 5 FRQs.  Each 90 minute portion is worth 50% of the final exam grade. Some FRQs can and will have sub parts to them for example 1a), 1b), and 1c).  The FRQ questions come in a few varieties:  experimental design, qualitative/quantitative translation, paragraph argument, and two short answer questions.  The experimental design question is expecting you to design a viable experiment to test a relationship suggested in the question, and the final episode of this season’s Physics 1 podcast will focus specifically on this question type.

One thing you can bet on when answering AP Physics 1 free-response questions is that you will need to pull from content in more than one unit of the course.  These will ask a question that starts as a conservation of energy problem like the ramp example, but then ask you something from another unit like projectile motion.  If the height of the ramp were doubled, and the ball then rolls horizontally off of a table, then how will the horizontal displacement and time in the air be effected?  See what I mean?  So, your goal is to be an expert in as many units as is humanly possible.  Also, I tell my students, “Don’t miss the low hanging fruit.”  Which means after carefully reading the question, state the portion that feels obvious to you. For example, ”I know the ball starts at the top of the ramp with gravitational potential energy, and energy is conserved so it must be equal to the energy at the bottom in the form of translational kinetic energy and rotational kinetic energy.  That is usually enough to get you a point.  If it is a force question taking place on Earth, your FBD will likely have a force of gravity on it.  Low… hanging… fruit. 

The quantitative/qualitative translation problem will be worth 12 points and will take approximately 25 minutes to answer if you are working at a good pace.  This question will present a scenario and expect you to both explain what is going on with words and numbers.  More often than not, this is the question that will ask you to solve for something in particular or to derive an equation in terms of a specific set of variables.  For example, you could be asked to derive an equation for the velocity of a solid sphere that has rolled down a ramp.  It would sound something like, “derive an equation for “v” in terms of the height of the ramp “h” and any physical constants.”  The term physical constants means the constants on the equation sheet, and for units 1-7 of AP Physics, that is little “g” and big “G”.  Other sub parts of this question could ask you if a change is made, to use the equation you derived to predict something about the other variables involved.  “If the height of the ramp were doubled, how would the velocity be effected?” for example.  You could also be asked to create a graph or to use data from a graph to aid in answering other sub parts to the question.

The paragraph length argument questions will present a scenario and is looking for your thought process regarding the scenario.  Your goal here is to answer the question asked in as clear a way as possible without rambling or contradicting yourself.  Get to the point.  These questions are worth 7 points and those points can be all for the paragraph or can be split between the paragraph and an introductory sub part to get your head wrapped around the scenario a bit.  An example for this type of question could ask you to explain how the angular velocity of a horizontal rotating cylinder is altered when another cylinder with no rotation is dropped onto the rotating cylinder.

Then there are two short answers questions that take a variety of forms and are each worth 7 points and should take about 13 minutes each.  Each of these questions will also possibly have up to 3 sub parts.  There are not a ton of specifics on these questions, but they try to test other skills and content that the other questions did not hit upon.

Then there is the experimental design question.  Again, this question type is focused on in more detail in the final episode of this season, but you can plan for this question to be a 25 min, 12 point question with between 3 and 5 parts to it.  This is the question that some practice can really help you out, so it is worth being prepared and knowing the tips and tricks.

To Recap…

You will have 90 minutes to answer 5 free-response questions. Keep an eye on the time.  It is often much easier for students to pace themselves on these questions.  Read the questions carefully while taking notes, and then reread any unclear portions a 2nd time to be sure you fully understand what you are being asked to do.  Good luck, and GET STUDYING!

Coming up next on the APsolute RecAP Physics 1 Edition, we take a closer look at the experimental design FRQ.  I will give you as many tips as I can think of.

Today’s Question of the Day focuses on a test taking tip outlined in this week’s episode.

Question:  

Which is a good strategy for answering the paragraph length response FRQ?

  1. be clear and concise
  2. more words equals better score
  3. argue both outcomes even if contradictory