AP CALCULUS BC Test Booklet
Unit 9
A particle moving along a curve in the xy-plane has position (x(t),y(t)) , at time t > 0 , where
and .
At time t = 3, the particle is at the point (5,4).
1. Is there a time t at which the particle is farthest to the right? If yes, explain why and give the value of t and the
x-coordinate of the position of the particle at that time. If no, explain why not.
2. Find the speed of the particle at time t = 3.
3. Write an equation for the line tangent to the path of the particle at time t = 3.
A planetary rover travels on a flat surface. The path of the rover for the time interval hours is shown in the
rectangular coordinate system above. The rover starts at the point with coordinates (6,5) at time t = 0. The coordinates
(x(t), y(t)) of the position of the rover change at rates given by
where x(t) and y(t) are measured in meters and t is measured in hours.
AP Calculus BC Page 1 of 9
Test Booklet
Unit 9
4. The rover receives a signal at each point where the line tangent to its path has slope . At what times t, for
, does the rover receive a signal?
5. Find the y-coordinate of the position of the rover at time t = 1.
6. Find the total distance that the rover travels over the time interval .
For t ≥ 0, a particle is moving along a curve so that its position at time t is (x(t), y(t)). At time t = 2, the particle is at
position (1, 5). It is known that and .
7. Find the distance traveled by the particle from time t = 2 to t = 4.
8. Find the x-coordinate of the particle’s position at time t = 4.
9. Find the speed of the particle at time t = 4. Find the acceleration vector of the particle at time t = 4.
A toy train moves along a straight set up on a table. The position x(t) of the train at the time t seconds is measured in
centimeters from the center of the track. At time t=1 , the train is 6 centimeters to the left of the center, so x(1)=−6 . For
0≤t≤4 , the velocity of the train at the time t is given by v(t)=3t2−12, where v(t) is measured in centimeters per second.
10. A toy bus moving on the same table has the same position given by (x(t),y(t)) . Here, x(t) is the function found in
part (a), and y(t)=2+12 sin (t/4) is the distance from the bus to the train track, in centimeters. Write, but do not
evaluate, an integral equation that gives the total distance traveled by the bus during the time interval 0≤t≤4 .
Page 2 of 9 AP Calculus BC
Test Booklet
Unit 9
A GRAPHING CALCULATOR IS REQUIRED FOR THIS QUESTION.
You are permitted to use your calculator to solve an equation, find the derivative of a function at a point, or calculate the
value of a definite integral. However, you must clearly indicate the setup of your question, namely the equation, function,
or integral you are using. If you use other built-in features or programs, you must show the mathematical steps necessary
to produce your results. Your work must be expressed in standard mathematical notation rather than calculator syntax.
Show all of your work, even though the question may not explicitly remind you to do so. Clearly label any functions,
graphs, tables, or other objects that you use. Justifications require that you give mathematical reasons, and that you verify
the needed conditions under which relevant theorems, properties, definitions, or tests are applied. Your work will be
scored on the correctness and completeness of your methods as well as your answers. Answers without supporting work
will usually not receive credit.
Unless otherwise specified, answers (numeric or algebraic) need not be simplified. If your answer is given as a decimal
approximation, it should be correct to three places after the decimal point.
Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function is assumed to be the set of all real numbers for which is a
real number.
A laser is a device that produces a beam of light. A design, shown above, is etched onto a flat piece of metal using a
moving laser. The position of the laser at time seconds is represented by in the -plane. Both and are
measured in centimeters, and is measured in seconds. The laser starts at position at time , and the design
ⅆ ⅆ
takes seconds to complete. For , ⅆ
and ⅆ
.
AP Calculus BC Page 3 of 9
Test Booklet
Unit 9
11. (a) Find the speed of the laser at time seconds.
(b) Find the total distance traveled by the laser from time to time seconds.
(c) The laser is farthest to the right at time seconds. Find the -coordinate of the laser’s rightmost
position.
(d) What is the difference between the -coordinates of the laser’s highest position and lowest position for
? Justify your answer.
Page 4 of 9 AP Calculus BC
Test Booklet
Unit 9
12. A GRAPHING CALCULATOR IS REQUIRED FOR THIS QUESTION.
You are permitted to use your calculator to solve an equation, find the derivative of a function at a point, or
calculate the value of a definite integral. However, you must clearly indicate the setup of your question, namely
the equation, function, or integral you are using. If you use other built-in features or programs, you must show the
mathematical steps necessary to produce your results. Your work must be expressed in standard mathematical
notation rather than calculator syntax.
Show all of your work, even though the question may not explicitly remind you to do so. Clearly label any
functions, graphs, tables, or other objects that you use. Justifications require that you give mathematical reasons,
and that you verify the needed conditions under which relevant theorems, properties, definitions, or tests are
applied. Your work will be scored on the correctness and completeness of your methods as well as your answers.
Answers without supporting work will usually not receive credit.
Unless otherwise specified, answers (numeric or algebraic) need not be simplified. If your answer is given as a
decimal approximation, it should be correct to three places after the decimal point.
Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function is assumed to be the set of all real numbers for which
is a real number.
For time , a drone flies in an -plane at a constant altitude over level ground. The position of the
ⅆ
drone in the -plane is modeled by the parametric functions , where ⅆ . Both
and are measured in meters, and is measured in seconds. The graph of , consisting of three line
segments, is shown in the figure above. At time , the drone is at position .
AP Calculus BC Page 5 of 9
Test Booklet
Unit 9
ⅆ
(a) Find the rate of change of ⅆ
at time .
(b) Find the position of the drone in the -plane at time .
(c) Is there a time , for , at which the drone’s -direction changes? Give a reason for your answer.
(d) For , find the time at which the line tangent to the path of the drone in the -plane has slope .
13. A GRAPHING CALCULATOR IS REQUIRED FOR THIS QUESTION.
You are permitted to use your calculator to solve an equation, find the derivative of a function at a point, or
calculate the value of a definite integral. However, you must clearly indicate the setup of your question, namely
the equation, function, or integral you are using. If you use other built-in features or programs, you must show the
mathematical steps necessary to produce your results. Your work must be expressed in standard mathematical
notation rather than calculator syntax.
Show all of your work, even though the question may not explicitly remind you to do so. Clearly label any
functions, graphs, tables, or other objects that you use. Justifications require that you give mathematical reasons,
and that you verify the needed conditions under which relevant theorems, properties, definitions, or tests are
applied. Your work will be scored on the correctness and completeness of your methods as well as your answers.
Answers without supporting work will usually not receive credit.
Unless otherwise specified, answers (numeric or algebraic) need not be simplified. If your answer is given as a
decimal approximation, it should be correct to three places after the decimal point.
Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function is assumed to be the set of all real numbers for which
is a real number.
For time , a particle moves in the -plane with position , where and
. At time , .
(a) Find the speed of the particle at time . Show the setup for your calculations.
(b) Find the total distance traveled by the particle over the time interval . Show the setup for your
calculations.
(c) Write an equation for the line tangent to the path of the particle at time .
(d) Find the position of the particle at time . Show the setup for your calculations.
Page 6 of 9 AP Calculus BC
Test Booklet
Unit 9
14. A GRAPHING CALCULATOR IS REQUIRED FOR THIS QUESTION.
You are permitted to use your calculator to solve an equation, find the derivative of a function at a point, or
calculate the value of a definite integral. However, you must clearly indicate the setup of your question, namely
the equation, function, or integral you are using. If you use other built-in features or programs, you must show the
mathematical steps necessary to produce your results. Your work must be expressed in standard mathematical
notation rather than calculator syntax.
Show all of your work, even though the question may not explicitly remind you to do so. Clearly label any
functions, graphs, tables, or other objects that you use. Justifications require that you give mathematical reasons,
and that you verify the needed conditions under which relevant theorems, properties, definitions, or tests are
applied. Your work will be scored on the correctness and completeness of your methods as well as your answers.
Answers without supporting work will usually not receive credit.
Unless otherwise specified, answers (numeric or algebraic) need not be simplified. If your answer is given as a
decimal approximation, it should be correct to three places after the decimal point.
Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function is assumed to be the set of all real numbers for which
is a real number.
For , a particle is moving along the curve shown so that its position at time is , where
is not explicitly given and . It is known that . At time , the particle is at
position .
(a) Find the acceleration vector of the particle at time . Show the setup for your calculations.
(b) For , find the first time at which the speed of the particle is . Show the work that leads to your
answer.
(c) Find the slope of the line tangent to the path of the particle at time . Find the -coordinate of the position
of the particle at time . Show the work that leads to your answers.
(d) Find the total distance traveled by the particle over the time interval . Show the setup for your
calculations.
AP Calculus BC Page 7 of 9
Test Booklet
Unit 9
15. For t ≥ 0, a particle is moving along a curve so that its position at time t is (x(t), y(t)). At time t = 2, the
particle is at position (1, 5). It is known that and .
(a) Is the horizontal movement of the particle to the left or to the right at time t = 2 ? Explain your answer. Find
the slope of the path of the particle at time t = 2.
(b) Find the x-coordinate of the particle’s position at time t = 4.
(c) Find the speed of the particle at time t = 4. Find the acceleration vector of the particle at time t = 4.
(d) Find the distance traveled by the particle from time t = 2 to t = 4.
Page 8 of 9 AP Calculus BC
Test Booklet
Unit 9
16.
A planetary rover travels on a flat surface. The path of the rover for the time interval hours is
shown in the rectangular coordinate system above. The rover starts at the point with coordinates (6,5) at time t = 0.
The coordinates (x(t), y(t)) of the position of the rover change at rates given by
where x(t) and y(t) are measured in meters and t is measured in hours.
(a) Find the acceleration vector of the rover at time t = 1. Find the speed of the rover at time t = 1.
(b) Find the total distance that the rover travels over the time interval .
(c) Find the y-coordinate of the position of the rover at time t = 1.
(d) The rover receives a signal at each point where the line tangent to its path has slope . At what times t, for
, does the rover receive a signal?
AP Calculus BC Page 9 of 9
