P.S.

/PHYSICS
The University of the State of New York
REGENTS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION

PHYSICAL SETTING
PHYSICS
Thursday, June 15, 2017 — 1:15 to 4:15 p.m., only

The possession or use of any communications device is strictly prohibited when taking this
examination. If you have or use any communications device, no matter how briefly, your
examination will be invalidated and no score will be calculated for you.

Answer all questions in all parts of this examination according to the directions
provided in the examination booklet.

A separate answer sheet for Part A and Part B–1 has been provided to you.
Follow the instructions from the proctor for completing the student information on
your answer sheet. Record your answers to the Part A and Part B–1 multiple-choice
questions on this separate answer sheet. Record your answers for the questions in
Part B–2 and Part C in your separate answer booklet. Be sure to fill in the heading on
the front of your answer booklet.

All answers in your answer booklet should be written in pen, except for graphs
and drawings, which should be done in pencil. You may use scrap paper to work out
the answers to the questions, but be sure to record all your answers on your separate
answer sheet or in your answer booklet as directed.

When you have completed the examination, you must sign the statement printed
on your separate answer sheet, indicating that you had no unlawful knowledge of the
questions or answers prior to the examination and that you have neither given nor
received assistance in answering any of the questions during the examination. Your
answer sheet and answer booklet cannot be accepted if you fail to sign this
declaration.

Notice. . .
A scientific or graphing calculator, a centimeter ruler, a protractor, and a copy of the 2006
Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics, which you may need to answer some
questions in this examination, must be available for your use while taking this examination.

DO NOT OPEN THIS EXAMINATION BOOKLET UNTIL THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN.

P.S./PHYSICS
 Part A
Answer all questions in this part.

Directions (1–35): For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, best
completes the statement or answers the question. Some questions may require the use of the 2006 Edition
Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.

1 A unit used for a vector quantity is 7 An object starts from rest and falls freely for
(1) watt (3) kilogram 40. meters near the surface of planet P. If the
(2) newton (4) second time of fall is 4.0 seconds, what is the magnitude
of the acceleration due to gravity on planet P?
(1) 0 m/s2 (3) 5.0 m/s2
2 A displacement vector with a magnitude of
(2) 1.3 m/s2 (4) 10. m/s2
20. meters could have perpendicular components
with magnitudes of
(1) 10. m and 10. m (3) 12 m and 16 m 8 If a block is in equilibrium, the magnitude of the
(2) 12 m and 8.0 m (4) 16 m and 8.0 m block’s acceleration is
(1) zero
(2) decreasing
3 A hiker travels 1.0 kilometer south, turns and
(3) increasing
travels 3.0 kilometers west, and then turns and
(4) constant, but not zero
travels 3.0 kilometers north. What is the total
distance traveled by the hiker?
(1) 3.2 km (3) 5.0 km 9 The diagram below shows a light ray striking a
(2) 3.6 km (4) 7.0 km plane mirror.

Light ray
4 A car with an initial velocity of 16.0 meters per
second east slows uniformly to 6.0 meters per
second east in 4.0 seconds. What is the
acceleration of the car during this 4.0-second
interval? Mirror
(1) 2.5 m/s2 west (3) 4.0 m/s2 west
2
(2) 2.5 m/s east (4) 4.0 m/s2 east

5 On the surface of planet X, a body with a mass of

10. kilograms weighs 40. newtons. The magnitude Normal
of the acceleration due to gravity on the surface
of planet X is What is the angle of reflection?
(1) 4.0 × 103 m/s2 (3) 9.8 m/s2 (1) 30.° (3) 90.°
(2) 4.0 × 10 m/s
2 2 (4) 4.0 m/s2 (2) 60.° (4) 120.°

6 A car traveling in a straight line at an initial speed 10 An electric field exerts an electrostatic force of
of 8.0 meters per second accelerates uniformly magnitude 1.5 × 10−14 newton on an electron
to a speed of 14 meters per second over a distance within the field. What is the magnitude of the
of 44 meters. What is the magnitude of the electric field strength at the location of the
acceleration of the car? electron?
(1) 0.41 m/s2 (3) 3.0 m/s2 (1) 2.4 × 10−33 N/C (3) 9.4 × 104 N/C
(2) 1.5 m/s2 (4) 2.2 m/s2 −5
(2) 1.1 × 10 N/C (4) 1.6 × 1016 N/C
P.S./Physics–June ’17 [2]
 11 A 7.0-kilogram cart, A, and a 3.0-kilogram cart, B, 14 Which statement describes the gravitational
are initially held together at rest on a horizontal, force and the electrostatic force between two
frictionless surface. When a compressed spring charged particles?
attached to one of the carts is released, the carts (1) The gravitational force may be either
are pushed apart. After the spring is released, the attractive or repulsive, whereas the
speed of cart B is 6.0 meters per second, as electrostatic force must be attractive.
represented in the diagram below. (2) The gravitational force must be attractive,
whereas the electrostatic force may be either
B attractive or repulsive.
A
3.0 kg 6.0 m/s (3) Both forces may be either attractive or
7.0 kg repulsive.
(4) Both forces must be attractive.
Frictionless surface
15 An electrostatic force exists between two
What is the speed of cart A after the spring is +3.20 × 10−19-coulomb point charges separated
released? by a distance of 0.030 meter. As the distance
(1) 14 m/s (3) 3.0 m/s between the two point charges is decreased, the
(2) 6.0 m/s (4) 2.6 m/s electrostatic force of
(1) attraction between the two charges decreases
12 An electron in a magnetic field travels at (2) attraction between the two charges increases
constant speed in the circular path represented (3) repulsion between the two charges decreases
in the diagram below. (4) repulsion between the two charges increases

Path of electron 16 What is the energy of the photon emitted when

an electron in a mercury atom drops from energy
level f to energy level b?
A
(1) 8.42 eV (3) 3.06 eV
(2) 5.74 eV (4) 2.68 eV

17 An observer counts 4 complete water waves

Which arrow represents the direction of the net passing by the end of a dock every 10. seconds.
force acting on the electron when the electron is What is the frequency of the waves?
at position A? (1) 0.40 Hz (3) 40. Hz
(2) 2.5 Hz (4) 4.0 Hz

18 Copper is a metal commonly used for electrical

wiring in houses. Which metal conducts
(1) (2) (3) (4) electricity better than copper at 20°C?
(1) aluminum (3) nichrome
(2) gold (4) silver
13 The potential difference between two points,
A and B, in an electric field is 2.00 volts. The
energy required to move a charge of 8.00 × 10−19
coulomb from point A to point B is
(1) 4.00 × 10−19 J (3) 6.25 × 1017 J
−18
(2) 1.60 × 10 J (4) 2.50 × 1018 J

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [3] [OVER]

 19 A motor does 20. joules of work on a block, 24 Glass may shatter when exposed to sound of a
accelerating the block vertically upward. particular frequency. This phenomenon is an
Neglecting friction, if the gravitational potential example of
energy of the block increases by 15 joules, its (1) refraction (3) resonance
kinetic energy (2) diffraction (4) the Doppler effect
(1) decreases by 5 J (3) decreases by 35 J
(2) increases by 5 J (4) increases by 35 J
25 Which waves require a material medium for
transmission?
20 When only one lightbulb blows out, an entire (1) light waves (3) sound waves
string of decorative lights goes out. The lights in (2) radio waves (4) microwaves
this string must be connected in
(1) parallel with one current pathway
26 Which type of oscillation would most likely
(2) parallel with multiple current pathways
produce an electromagnetic wave?
(3) series with one current pathway
(4) series with multiple current pathways (1) a vibrating tuning fork
(2) a washing machine agitator at work
(3) a swinging pendulum
21 An electric toaster is rated 1200 watts at (4) an electron traveling back and forth in a wire
120 volts. What is the total electrical energy used
to operate the toaster for 30. seconds?
27 If monochromatic light passes from water into
(1) 1.8 × 103 J (3) 1.8 × 104 J
air with an angle of incidence of 35°, which
(2) 3.6 × 10 J
3 (4) 3.6 × 104 J
characteristic of the light will remain the same?
(1) frequency (3) speed
22 What is the rate at which work is done in lifting (2) wavelength (4) direction
a 35-kilogram object vertically at a constant
speed of 5.0 meters per second?
28 The absolute index of refraction of medium Y is
(1) 1700 W (3) 180 W
twice as great as the absolute index of refraction
(2) 340 W (4) 7.0 W
of medium X. As a light ray travels from medium X
into medium Y, the speed of the light ray is
23 When a wave travels through a medium, the (1) halved (3) quartered
wave transfers (2) doubled (4) quadrupled
(1) mass, only
(2) energy, only
(3) both mass and energy
(4) neither mass nor energy

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [4]

 29 The diagram below shows a transverse wave 32 A rubber block weighing 60. newtons is resting
moving toward the right along a rope. on a horizontal surface of dry asphalt. What is
the magnitude of the minimum force needed to
v start the rubber block moving across the dry
asphalt?
(1) 32 N (3) 51 N
(2) 40. N (4) 60. N
P

At the instant shown, point P on the rope is 33 The data table below lists the mass and speed of
moving toward the four different objects.
(1) bottom of the page (3) left
(2) top of the page (4) right
Object Mass (kg) Speed (m/s)

30 When an isolated conductor is placed in the A 2.0 6.0

vicinity of a positive charge, the conductor is
B 4.0 5.0
attracted to the charge. The charge of the
conductor C 6.0 4.0
(1) must be positive D 8.0 2.0
(2) must be negative
(3) could be neutral or positive
(4) could be neutral or negative Which object has the greatest inertia?
(1) A (3) C
(2) B (4) D
31 The quarks that compose a baryon may have
charges of
2 2 _1e
(1) + e, + e, and
3 3 3

(2) + e, _ e, and + e
1 1 2
3 3 3
(3) −1e, −1e, and 0
2 2
(4) + e, + e, and 0
3 3

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [5] [OVER]

 34 The electroscope shown in the diagram below is made completely of metal and consists of a knob, a stem,
and leaves. A positively charged rod is brought near the knob of the electroscope and then removed.

Knob Knob + + +
Rod
Stem

Leaves

The motion of the leaves results from electrons moving from the
(1) leaves to the knob, only
(2) knob to the leaves, only
(3) leaves to the knob and then back to the leaves
(4) knob to the leaves and then back to the knob

35 Which circuit diagram represents the correct way to measure the current in a resistor?

(1) (3)

(2) (4)

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [6]

 Part B–1
Answer all questions in this part.

Directions (36–50): For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, best
completes the statement or answers the question. Some questions may require the use of the 2006 Edition
Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.

36 The height of a typical kitchen table is Base your answers to questions 40 and 41 on the
approximately information below and on your knowledge of physics.
(1) 10−2 m (3) 101 m
0
(2) 10 m (4) 102 m A cannonball with a mass of 1.0 kilogram is
fired horizontally from a 500.-kilogram cannon,
initially at rest, on a horizontal, frictionless
37 A ball is thrown with a velocity of 35 meters per surface. The cannonball is acted on by an average
second at an angle of 30.° above the horizontal. force of 8.0 × 103 newtons for 1.0 × 10−1 second.
Which quantity has a magnitude of zero when
the ball is at the highest point in its trajectory?
(1) the acceleration of the ball 40 What is the magnitude of the change in
(2) the momentum of the ball momentum of the cannonball during firing?
(3) the horizontal component of the ball’s velocity (1) 0 kg•m/s (3) 8.0 × 103 kg•m/s
(4) the vertical component of the ball’s velocity 2
(2) 8.0 × 10 kg•m/s (4) 8.0 × 104 kg•m/s

38 The graph below represents the relationship 41 What is the magnitude of the average net force
between velocity and time of travel for a toy car acting on the cannon?
moving in a straight line. (1) 1.6 N (3) 8.0 × 103 N
(2) 16 N (4) 4.0 × 106 N
Velocity

42 A metal sphere, X, has an initial net charge of

−6 × 10−6 coulomb and an identical sphere, Y, has
an initial net charge of +2 × 10−6 coulomb. The
spheres touch each other and then separate.
What is the net charge on sphere X after the
Time
spheres have separated?
The shaded area under the line represents the (1) 0 C (3) −4 × 10−6 C
toy car’s (2) −2 × 10 C−6 (4) −6 × 10−6 C
(1) displacement (3) acceleration
(2) momentum (4) speed 43 A constant eastward horizontal force of
70. newtons is applied to a 20.-kilogram crate
39 A spring stores 10. joules of elastic potential moving toward the east on a level floor. If the
energy when it is compressed 0.20 meter. What frictional force on the crate has a magnitude of
is the spring constant of the spring? 10. newtons, what is the magnitude of the crate’s
acceleration?
(1) 5.0 × 101 N/m (3) 2.5 × 102 N/m
2
(2) 1.0 × 10 N/m (4) 5.0 × 102 N/m (1) 0.50 m/s2 (3) 3.0 m/s2
(2) 3.5 m/s 2 (4) 4.0 m/s2

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [7] [OVER]

44 Which graph represents the relationship between the energy of photons and the wavelengths of photons in
a vacuum?
Energy

Energy
Energy

Energy
Wavelength Wavelength Wavelength Wavelength

(1) (2) (3) (4)

Base your answers to questions 45 and 46 on the 47 The diagrams below represent four pieces of
information and diagram below and on your copper wire at 20.°C. For each piece of wire,
knowledge of physics. ℓ represents a unit of length and A represents a
unit of cross-sectional area.

One end of a long spring is attached to a wall.

Wire 1
A student vibrates the other end of the spring
A
vertically, creating a wave that moves to the wall
and reflects back toward the student, resulting in
a standing wave in the spring, as represented
below. Wire 2
A
2

P Wire 3
2A

45 What is the phase difference between the Wire 4

incident wave and the reflected wave at point P?
2A
(1) 0° (3) 180°
2
(2) 90° (4) 270°
The piece of wire that has the greatest resistance is
46 What is the total number of antinodes on the (1) wire 1 (3) wire 3
standing wave in the diagram? (2) wire 2 (4) wire 4
(1) 6 (3) 3
(2) 2 (4) 4

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [8]

 Base your answers to questions 48 and 49 on the diagram below, which represents two charged, identical
metal spheres, and on your knowledge of physics.

A B
2.0 m

 4.0 X 10-6 C  3.0 X 10-6 C

48 The number of excess elementary charges on sphere A is

(1) 6.4 × 10−25 (3) 2.5 × 1013
(2) 6.4 × 10−19 (4) 5.0 × 1013

49 What is the magnitude of the electric force between the two spheres?
(1) 3.0 × 10−12 N (3) 2.7 × 10−2 N
−6
(2) 1.0 × 10 N (4) 5.4 × 10−2 N

50 The diagram below represents the wave fronts produced by a point source moving to the right in a uniform
medium. Observers are located at points A and B.

vsource

A B

Compared to the wave frequency and wavelength observed at point A, the wave observed at point B has a
(1) higher frequency and a shorter wavelength
(2) higher frequency and a longer wavelength
(3) lower frequency and a shorter wavelength
(4) lower frequency and a longer wavelength

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [9] [OVER]

 Part B–2
Answer all questions in this part.

Directions (51–65): Record your answers in the spaces provided in your answer booklet. Some questions
may require the use of the 2006 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics.

51 On the diagram in your answer booklet, sketch at least four magnetic field lines of force around a bar
magnet. [Include arrows to show the direction of each field line.] [1]

Base your answers to questions 52 through 54 on the information below and on your knowledge of physics.

Tritium is a radioactive form of the element hydrogen. A tritium nucleus is composed of

one proton and two neutrons. When a tritium nucleus decays, it emits a beta particle (an electron)
and an antineutrino to create a stable form of helium. During beta decay, a neutron is
spontaneously transformed into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino.

52 What is the total number of quarks in a tritium nucleus? [1]

53 What is the total charge, in elementary charges, of a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino? [1]

54 What fundamental interaction is responsible for binding together the protons and neutrons in a
helium nucleus? [1]

55 The diagram below represents a ball projected horizontally from a cliff at a speed of 10. meters per
second. The ball travels the path shown and lands at time t and distance d from the base of the cliff.
[Neglect friction.]

v = 10. m/s

Time = t seconds

d
Level ground

A second, identical ball is projected horizontally from the cliff at 20. meters per second. Determine
the distance the second ball lands from the base of the cliff in terms of d. [1]

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [10]

 56–57 An operating television set draws 0.71 ampere of current when connected to a 120-volt outlet.
Calculate the time it takes the television to consume 3.0 × 105 joules of electric energy. [Show all
work, including the equation and substitution with units.] [2]

58–59 On the centimeter grid in your booklet, draw at least one cycle of a periodic transverse wave with an
amplitude of 2.0 centimeters and a wavelength of 6.0 centimeters. [2]

60 The diagram below represents a 35-newton block hanging from a vertical spring, causing the spring
to elongate from its original length.

Unstretched spring Stretched spring

0.15 m

0.25 m

35 N

Determine the spring constant of the spring. [1]

61 Determine the amount of matter, in kilograms, that must be converted to energy to yield
1.0 gigajoule. [1]

62 Thunder results from the expansion of air as lightning passes through it. The distance between an
observer and a lightning strike may be determined if the time that elapses between the observer
seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder is known. Explain why the lightning strike is seen before
the thunder is heard. [1]

63–64 A bolt of lightning transfers 28 coulombs of charge through an electric potential difference of
3.2 × 107 volts between a cloud and the ground in 1.5 × 10−3 second. Calculate the average electric
current between the cloud and the ground during this transfer of charge. [Show all work, including
the equation and substitution with units.] [2]

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [11] [OVER]

 65 The diagram below represents two pulses traveling toward each other in a uniform medium.

1.60

1.20
Displacement (m)

0.80

0.40

0.0
A B
–0.40

–0.80

–1.20

–1.60

On the grid in your answer booklet, draw the resultant displacement of the medium when both pulses
are located between points A and B. [1]

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [12]

 Part C
Answer all questions in this part.

Directions (66–85): Record your answers in the spaces provided in your answer booklet. Some questions
may require the use of the 2006 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics.

Base your answers to questions 66 through 70 on the information and diagram below and on your knowledge
of physics.

As represented in the diagram, a ski area rope-tow pulls a 72.0-kilogram skier from the bottom
to the top of a 40.0-meter-high hill. The rope-tow exerts a force of magnitude 158 newtons to move
the skier a total distance of 230. meters up the side of the hill at constant speed.

230. m

Rope

40.0 m 72.0-kg skier

Horizontal

(Not to scale)

66 Determine the total amount of work done by the rope on the skier. [1]

67–68 Calculate the total amount of gravitational potential energy gained by the skier while moving up the
hill. [Show all work, including the equation and substitution with units] [2]

69 Describe what happens to the internal energy of the skier-hill system as the skier is pulled up the
hill. [1]

70 Describe what happens to the total mechanical energy of the skier-hill system as the skier is pulled
up the hill. [1]

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [13] [OVER]

 Base your answers to questions 71 through 76 on the diagram and information below and on your knowledge
of physics.

A 15-ohm resistor, 30.-ohm resistor, and an ammeter are connected as shown with a 60.-volt
battery.

60. V
R1 = 15 Ω R2 = 30. Ω

71–72 Calculate the equivalent resistance of R1 and R2. [Show all work, including the equation and
substitution with units.] [2]

73 Determine the current measured by the ammeter. [1]

74–75 Calculate the rate at which the battery supplies energy to the circuit. [Show all work, including the
equation and substitution with units.] [2]

76 If another resistor were added in parallel to the original circuit, what effect would this have on the
current through resistor R1? [1]

Base your answers to questions 77 through 80 on the information below and on your knowledge of physics.

A gas-powered model airplane has a mass of 2.50 kilograms. A student exerts a force on a cord
to keep the airplane flying around her at a constant speed of 18.0 meters per second in a horizontal,
circular path with a radius of 25.0 meters.

77–78 Calculate the kinetic energy of the moving airplane. [Show all work, including the equation and
substitution with units.] [2]

79–80 Calculate the magnitude of the centripetal force exerted on the airplane to keep it moving in this
circular path. [Show all work, including the equation and substitution with units.] [2]

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [14]

 Base your answers to questions 81 through 85 on the information and diagram below and on your knowledge
of physics.

A ray of light with a frequency of 5.09 × 1014 hertz traveling in medium X is refracted at point P.
The angle of refraction is 90.°, as represented in the diagram.

Normal

Air

P Refracted ray

ray
e nt
cid
In Medium X

f = 5.09 x 1014 Hz

81–82 Calculate the wavelength of the light ray in air. [Show all work, including the equation and
substitution with units.] [2]

83 Measure the angle of incidence for the light ray incident at point P and record the value in your
answer booklet. [1]

84–85 Calculate the absolute index of refraction for medium X. [Show all work, including the equation and
substitution with units.] [2]

P.S./Physics–June ’17 [15] [OVER]

PS/PHYSICS

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P.S./PHYSICS