LOL Charts - Questions

The LOL Charts Concept Builder is comprised of 40 questions. The questions are divided into 20 different question groups and spread across three levels of difficulty. Questions in the same group are rather similar to one another in one way or another. The Concept Builder is coded to select at random a question from each group until a student is successful with that group of questions.

There are three different difficulty levels in the Concept Builder. Those three levels are described as follows:
 

• Apprentice Difficulty Level: Question Groups 1-4. The easiest (so we think) four situations ... a great warm-up
• Master Difficulty Level: Question Groups 5-12. Includes eight situations to analyze, all unique from those in the Apprentice level and (in general) slightly more complicated.
• Wizard Difficulty Level: Question Groups 13-20. The eight most difficult situations to analyze.

The questions from each group are shown below. Teachers are encouraged to view the questions in order to judge which difficulty levels are most appropriate for their classes. All levels can be done without any redundancy; we recommend starting with the Apprentice. At the same time, any of the levels can be done at the exclusion of the others. 

The Physics Classroom grants teachers and other users the right to print these questions for private use. Users are also granted the right to copy the text and modify it for their own use. However, this document should not be uploaded to other servers for distribution to and/or display by others. The Physics Classroom website should remain the only website or server from which the document is distributed or displayed. We also provide a PDF that teachers can use under the same conditions. We have included a link to the PDF near the bottom of this page.

 

   
Apprentice Difficulty Level
Question Group 1
Question 1
Initial State:  Car at rest at top of a hill.
Final State:  Car in motion at bottom of the hill.
Notes: The system includes the car and earth. Resistance forces are negligible. The car coasts while in neutral.
System: Car-Earth
   
 
Question 2
Initial State:  Ball at rest at top of a ramp.
Final State:  Ball in motion at bottom of the ramp.
Notes: The system includes the ball and earth. Resistance forces are negligible.
System: Ball-Earth
 
Question Group 2
Question 3
Initial State:  A book is moving along the classroom floor.
Final State:  A book is at rest on the classroom floor.
Notes: The system includes the book. Friction brings the book to a stop.
System: Book-Floor  
 
 
Question 4
Initial State:  A hockey puck is moving at high speed along a frozen pond.
Final State:  The hockey puck is at rest on the frozen pond.
Notes: The system includes the hockey puck. Friction brings the puck to a stop.
System: Puck-Ice  
 

 
Question Group 3
Question 5
Initial State:  A mountain climber stands at the bottom of a tall cliff.
Final State:  A mountain climber stands at the top of the tall cliff.
Notes: The system includes the mountain climber and earth. The mountain climber uses the rock outcroppings to slowly climb the cliff.
System: Climber-Earth  
 
 
Question 6
Initial State:  An 8-month old child is at rest at the bottom of a staircase.
Final State:  The 8-month old child is at rest at the top of the staircase.
Notes: The system includes the child and earth. The child uses the steps to slowly crawl up the staircase.
System: Child-Earth  
 

 
Question Group 4
Question 7
Initial State:  A bucket of construction tools (attached to a rope) is at rest on the ground.
Final State:  The bucket of tools is at rest on the third floor of a construction site.
Notes: The system includes the bucket and earth.
System: Bucket-Earth  
 
Question 8
Initial State:  An elevator rider is at rest on the first floor of a shopping mall.
Final State:  The rider is at rest on the third floor of the shopping mall.
Notes: The system includes rider and the earth. A cable/motor system lifts the elevator between floors.
System: Rider-Earth  
 

 
Master Difficulty Level
Question Group 5
Question 9
Initial State:  Car at rest at top of a hill.
Final State:  Car in motion at about the half-way point to the bottom of the hill.
Notes: The system includes the car and earth. Resistance forces are negligible. The car coasts while in neutral.
System: Car-Earth  
 
Question 10
Initial State:  Ball at rest at top of a ramp.
Final State:  Ball in motion at about the half-way point to the bottom of the ramp.
Notes: The system includes the ball and earth. Resistance forces are negligible.
System: Ball-Earth  

 
Question Group 6
Question 11
Initial State:  A child on a sled is in motion at the bottom of a small hill.
Final State:  The child is in motion at the top of the small hill.
Notes: The system includes the child and the Earth. Resistance forces are negligible. The child glides between initial and final state without any effort.
System: Child-Earth  
 
Question 12
Initial State:  A cross-country skier is in motion at the bottom of a small hill.
Final State:  The skier is in motion at the top of the small hill.
Notes: The system includes the skier and the Earth. Resistance forces are negligible. The skier glides between initial and final state without any effort.
System: Skier-Earth  

 
Question Group 7
Question 13
Initial State:  A pendulum bob is in motion at the lowest point along its arc.
Final State:  A pendulum bob has reached the highest point along its arc.
Notes: The system includes the pendulum bob and Earth. Resistance forces are negligible.
System: Pendulum-Earth  

 
Question 14
Initial State:  A child in a swing is in motion at the lowest point along its arc.
Final State:  The child has reached the highest point along its arc..
Notes: The system includes the child and the Earth. Resistance forces are negligible.
System: Child-Earth  

 
Question Group 8
Question 15
Initial State:  A softball is at rest in the hand of a softball player.
Final State:  Shortly after being thrown, the softball is in motion at the highest point along its trajectory.
Notes: The system includes the ball and Earth. Air resistance is negligible. The player threw the ball upward at an angle.
System: Ball-Earth


 
Question 16
Initial State:  A baseball is at rest in the hand of a baseball player.
Final State:  Shortly after being thrown, the baseball is in motion at the highest point along its trajectory.
Notes: The system includes the ball and Earth. Air resistance is negligible. The player threw the ball upward at an angle.
System: Ball-Earth  


 
Question Group 9
Question 17
Initial State:  A bobsled and its team are at rest at the top of the track.
Final State:  Several seconds after having pushed the bobsled, the sled and team are at a low point along the track.
Notes: The system includes the bobsled, the team, and the Earth. There is friction acting upon the bobsled.
System: Sled-Team-Earth  

 
Question 18
Initial State:  A ski jumper is at rest at the top of a ski run.
Final State:  A few seconds after using the poles to propel herself forward, she is at the low point preparing to launch into her jump
Notes: The system includes the skis, the jumper, and the Earth. There is friction acting between the ski jumper and the ski slope.
System: Skis-Jumper-Earth  


 
Question Group 10
Question 19
Initial State:  A glass vase is at rest on the edge of a table.
Final State:  After a few bounces on the carpet, the vase is at rest (and unbroken).
Notes: The system includes vase and the Earth. Air resistance is negligible. A gentle bump of the table caused the vase to fall.
System: Vase-Earth  

 
Question 20
Initial State:  A coffee mug is a rest on the edge of a table.
Final State:  After a few bounces on the carpet, the coffee mug is at rest (and unbroken).
Notes: The system includes the coffee mug and the Earth. Air resistance is negligible. A gentle bump of the table caused the mug to fall.
System: Mug-Earth  

 
Question Group 11
Question 21
Initial State:  A sled and child are in motion halfway down a hill.
Final State:  The sled and child are at rest at the bottom of the hill..
Notes: The system includes the sled, the child, and the Earth. The sled glides freely until finally stopped by a rough patch of snow.
System: Sled-Child-Earth  

 
Question 22
Initial State:  A person on skis is in motion about halfway down a ski hill..
Final State:  The person is at rest at the bottom of the ski hill.
Notes: The system includes person, the skis, and the Earth. The skier glides freely until she finally brakes near the bottom.
System: Person-Skis-Earth  

 
Question Group 12
Question 23
Initial State:  A softball is at rest in the hand of a softball player.
Final State:  Shortly after being thrown, the softball is in motion at the highest point along its trajectory.
Notes: The system includes the player, ball and Earth. Air resistance is negligible. The player threw the ball upward at an angle.
System: Player-Ball-Earth  

 
Question 24
Initial State:  A baseball is at rest in the hand of a baseball player.
Final State:  Shortly after being thrown, the baseball is in motion at the highest point along its trajectory.
Notes: The system includes the player, ball and Earth. Air resistance is negligible. The player threw the ball upward at an angle.
System: Player-Ball-Earth  

 
Wizard Difficulty Level
Question Group 13
Question 25
Initial State:  A softball is at rest in the hand of a softball player.
Final State:  Shortly after being thrown, the softball is in motion at the highest point along its trajectory.
Notes: The system includes the player, ball and Earth. Air resistance is negligible. The player threw the ball upward at an angle.
System: Player-Ball-Earth  

 
Question 26
Initial State:  A baseball is at rest in the hand of a baseball player.
Final State:  Shortly after being thrown, the baseball is in motion at the highest point along its trajectory.
Notes: The system includes the player, ball and Earth. Air resistance is negligible. The player threw the ball upward at an angle.
System: Player-Ball-Earth  


 
Question Group 14
Question 27
Initial State:  A cross-country runner is in motion half-way up a steep hill.
Final State:  The runner is in motion at the top of the hill.
Notes: The system includes the runner and the earth. Ignore air resistance.
System: Runner-Earth  

 
Question 28
Initial State:  An athlete is running and located half-way up a stair case.
Final State:  The athlete is still in motion at the top of the stair case.
Notes: The system includes the athlete and the earth. Ignore air resistance.
System: Athlete-Earth  

 
Question Group 15
Question 29
Initial State:  A crate is in motion near the bottom of a ramp of a loading dock.
Final State:  The crate is in motion at the same speed near the top of the ramp of a loading dock
Notes: The system includes the crate and Earth. Friction is negligible. A worker is pushing the crate up the ramp.
System: Crate-Earth  

 
Question 30
Initial State:  A cart is in motion near the bottom of an inclined plane.
Final State:  The cart is in motion at the same speed near the top of the inclined plane.
Notes: The system includes the cart and Earth. Friction is negligible. A student is pulling the cart.
System:  Cart-Earth  


 
Question Group 16
Question 31
Initial State:  A crate is in motion near the bottom of a ramp of a loading dock.
Final State:  The crate, being pushed by a worker, is in motion at the same speed near the top of the ramp of a loading dock.
Notes: The system includes the crate, the worker, and Earth. Friction is negligible. A worker is pushing the crate up the ramp.
System:  Crate-Worker-Earth  

 
Question 32
Initial State:  A cart is in motion near the bottom of an inclined plane.
Final State:  The cart, being pulled by a student, is in motion at the same speed near the top of the inclined plane.
Notes: A student is pulling the cart. The system includes the cart, the student, and Earth. Friction is negligible.
System:  Cart-Student-Earth  


 
Question Group 17
Question 33
Initial State:  A barbell is at rest on the floor of the weight room.
Final State:  The barbell is held 3-meters above the floor by a weight lifter.
Notes: The system includes the barbell and Earth.
System: Barbell-Earth  

 
Question 34
Initial State:  A sack of groceries is at rest on the kitchen floor.
Final State:  The sack of groceries is 1-meter above the floor on the kitchen table.
Notes: The system includes the groceries and Earth. The sack of groceries was lifted upward by a person.
System:  Groceries-Earth  

 
Question Group 18
Question 35
Initial State:  A barbell is at rest on the floor of the weight room.
Final State:  A barbell is held 3-meters above the floor by a weight lifter.
Notes: The system includes the barbell, the weight lifter and Earth.
System: Barbell-Weight lifter-Earth  

 
Question 36
Initial State:  A sack of groceries is at rest on the kitchen floor.
Final State:  The sack of groceries is 1-meter above the floor on the kitchen table, being lifted to that location by a person.
Notes: The system includes the groceries, the person, and Earth. The sack of groceries was lifted upward by a person.
System:  Groceries-Person-Earth  



 
Question Group 19
Question 37
Initial State:  A baseball is in motion at high speed, having just left the pitcher’s hand..
Final State:  The baseball is at rest in the catcher’s mitt.
Notes: The system includes the baseball and Earth. Assume a negligible change in height.
System: Baseball-Earth  

 
Question 38
Initial State:  A softball is in motion at high speed, having just left the pitcher’s hand..
Final State:  The softball is at rest in the catcher’s mitt.
Notes: The system includes the softball and Earth. Assume a negligible change in height.
System: Softball-Earth  


 
Question Group 20
Question 39
Initial State:  A roller coaster car is in motion on the crest of a large hill.
Final State:  A roller coaster car is in motion at a faster speed on the crest of a second, smaller hill.
Notes: The system includes the roller coaster car, the track, and Earth. During the motion, the car undergoes significant bouncing and wobbling on the track.
System: Car-Track-Earth  

 
 
Question 40
Initial State:  A roller coaster car is in motion on the crest of a small hill.
Final State:  A roller coaster car is in motion on the crest of a second, higher hill.
Notes: The system includes the roller coaster car, the track, and Earth. During the motion, the car undergoes significant bouncing and wobbling on the track.
System: Car-Track-Earth