Problem Bank Make File Physics121 Solns

Wayne Hackers Problem Bank Solutions
College Physics
Version 1.0 (Draft)
Wayne Hacker
Copyright Wayne Hacker 2011. All rights reserved.
July 11, 2011
Physics Problem Bank Solutions Copyright Wayne Hacker 2009. All rights reserved. 1
Contents
0 About the mathematical prerequisites material 11
0.1 What is a College Physics Course? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
0.2 What are the math-prerequise topics for college physics? . . . . . . . . . 11
0.3 What is a University Physics course? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
0.4 What is a college physics course in the state of Arizona? . . . . . . . . . 12
I Mathematical Prerequisites 13
1 Geometry 14
1.1 Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.1.1 Letter-based problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.1.2 Non-calculator-based problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.1.3 Calculator-based problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
1.2 Rectangles and rectangular solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1.3 Right triangles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
1.4 Right triangle word problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2 Algebra 43
2.1 Evaluating functions with numerical arguments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
2.1.1 Non-calculator based problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
2.2 Evaluating functions with variable-expression arguments . . . . . . . . . 49
2.3 Evaluating functions of multiple variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
2.3.1 Functions of two variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
2.3.2 Functions of three variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
2.4 Solving linear equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
2.4.1 Linear equations with numerical solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
2.4.2 Linear equations with variable-expression solutions . . . . . . . . 64
2.5 Solving systems of linear equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
2.6 Solving quadratic equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
2.6.1 Factoring quadratic equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
2.6.2 Quadratic formula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
2.7 Algebra word problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
3 Graphs 88
3.1 Single points on graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
3.2 Matching graphs and equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
II Mathematical Preliminaries 107
4 Basic Trigonometry 108
4.1 Arc-Length Problems using s = r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
4.1.1 Degrees to radians: formula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
4.1.2 Radians to degrees: formula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
4.1.3 Degrees to radians: calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
4.1.4 Radians to degrees: calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
4.1.5 Arc length to radians: pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
4.1.6 Arc length to radians: descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
4.1.7 Radians to arc length: pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
4.1.8 Radians to arc length: descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
4.1.9 Word problems: arc length and radians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
4.2 Basic Right-Triangle Trigonometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
4.2.1 Basic trig functions: nding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
4.2.2 Basic trig functions: identifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
4.2.3 Basic trig functions: calculator; radians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
4.2.4 Basic trig functions: calculator; degrees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
4.2.5 Using basic trig functions: formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
4.2.6 Using basic trig functions: calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
4.2.7 Reference angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
4.2.8 Arc functions: denition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
4.2.9 Arc functions: denition; diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
4.2.10 Arc functions: calculator; radians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
4.2.11 Arc function: calculator; degrees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
4.2.12 Arc functions: calculator; diagram; radians . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
4.2.13 Arc functions: calculator; diagram; degrees . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
4.2.14 Word problems: basic trig functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
4.2.15 Word problems: arc functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
5 Introduction to measurement: dimensions, units, scientic notation,
and signicant gures 166
5.1 Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
5.1.1 Dimension or unit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
5.1.2 Dimensional consistency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
5.1.3 Practical questions involving dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
5.2 Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
5.2.1 Converting between dierent sets of units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
5.3 Scientic Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
5.4 Signicant gures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
5.5 Determining derived units from equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
6 Introduction to Vectors 196
6.1 Identifying Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
6.1.1 Given vector, identify on gure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
6.1.2 Given vector on gure, identify formula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
6.1.3 Given direction, identify on gure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
6.1.4 Given vectors on gure, name quadrant of sum/dierence . . . . . 212
6.1.5 Mixing it up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
6.2 Geometric Vector Addition and Subtraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
6.3 Position vs. Displacement Vector Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
6.4 Finding Components of Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
6.5 Algebraic Vector Addition and Subtraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
6.6 Concept vector and scalar questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
6.7 Applications of Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
6.7.1 Breaking vectors into components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
6.7.2 Introduction to force vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
III Kinematics 254
7 One-dimensional linear kinematics 255
7.1 Concept questions: kinematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
7.2 Qualitative kinematics: descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
7.3 Qualitative kinematics: from graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
7.4 Introducing the fundamental one-dimensional kinematic equations . . . . 271
7.4.1 Dimensional consistency of the fundamental equations . . . . . . 272
7.5 Quantitative kinematics: horizontal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
7.6 Quantitative kinematics: vertical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
7.6.1 The dierence between average speed and average velocity in one-
dimension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
7.7 Similarity problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
7.8 Lab-application problems: One-Dimensional Kinematics . . . . . . . . . . 300
7.8.1 Ball-drop apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
7.8.2 Spring-cannon apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
7.9 Mixing It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
8 One-dimensional rotational kinematics 310
8.1 Angular speed, period, and frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
8.2 Fundamental equation 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
9 Two-dimensional kinematics 328
9.1 The basics of velocity and acceleration in two dimensions . . . . . . . . . 328
9.1.1 The dierence between average speed and average velocity in a plane328
9.1.2 Average acceleration in a plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
9.1.3 Relative velocity in a plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
9.1.4 Graphical interpretation of velocity and acceleration . . . . . . . . 330
9.2 Uniform circular motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
9.2.1 Similarity problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
9.3 Projectile motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
9.3.1 General equations for projectile motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
9.3.2 Velocity and acceleration of a projectile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
9.3.3 Special Case I: The Half-Parabola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
9.3.4 Special Case II: The Full Parabola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
9.4 Lab application problems: Two-Dimensional Kinematics . . . . . . . . . 359
9.4.1 Spring-cannon apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
9.5 Advanced-Level Problems (Kinematics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
IV Newtons Laws 372
10 Introduction to Newtons Laws 373
10.1 Concept questions involving Newtons three laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
10.2 Free-body diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
10.3 Pushing and pulling objects on horizontal frictionless surfaces . . . . . . 380
11 Applications of Newtons Laws to Linear Motion 381
11.1 Newtons laws in one-dimension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
11.1.1 One-dimensional kinematics and Newtons second law . . . . . . . 381
11.1.2 Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
11.1.3 Apparent weight problems (The Elevator Equation) . . . . . . . . 395
11.1.4 Spring Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
11.2 Newtons laws in two-dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
11.2.1 Static equilibrium problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
11.2.2 Block and pulley frictionless systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420
11.2.3 Accelerometers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434
11.2.4 Static and kinetic friction problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
11.2.5 Stopping distance problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 446
12 Applications of Newtons Laws to Uniform Circular Motion 449
12.1 Centripetal force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
12.1.1 Conceptual questions: centripetal force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
12.1.2 Horizontal Motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 453
12.1.3 Vertical Motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461
12.2 Gravitation and circular orbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
12.2.1 Gravation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
12.2.2 Orbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
13 Applications of Newtons Laws to Rotating Bodies 484
13.1 Torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484
13.2 Angular acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496
13.3 Moment of inertia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503
V Work, Energy, and Momentum 509
14 Work and mechanical energy 510
14.1 Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510
14.2 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
14.3 Kinetic energy (K.E.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514
14.4 Potential energy (P.E.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517
14.5 Work-Mechanical-Energy Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519
14.5.1 Work-Kinetic-Energy Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519
14.5.2 Work-Potential-Energy Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522
14.6 Conservation of mechanical energy (M.E.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 529
15 Conservation of Linear Momentum 543
15.1 Computing Linear Momentum p = mv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 543
15.2 Applying conservation of momentum to isolated systems . . . . . . . . . 544
15.3 Impulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 548
15.4 Collisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 553
16 Rotational kinetic energy and angular momentum 568
VI Applications of Mechanics 578
17 Applications of Mechanics 579
17.1 Harmonic Motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579
17.2 Mechanical waves and sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 581
17.3 Elasticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 584
17.4 Static Fluids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587
17.4.1 Pascals Law and Archimedess principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587
17.4.2 Density, specic volume, specic weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587
17.4.3 Static Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 589
18 Introduction to Thermodynamics 593
18.1 Introductory Concepts and Denitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 593
18.1.1 What is the study of thermodynamics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 593
18.1.2 Dening Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 593
18.1.3 Closed systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 594
18.1.4 Control volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 594
18.1.5 Property, state, and process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595
18.1.6 Extensive and intensive properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595
18.1.7 Equilibrium, quasi-equilibrium, and processes . . . . . . . . . . . 595
18.1.8 Base SI units for mass, length, time, Force, energy, and pressure . 596
18.2 Temperature Scales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 598
Physics Problem Bank Solutions Copyright Wayne Hacker 2009. All rights reserved.10
List of Figures
1 A car is being driven erratically along a straight stretch of highway. The
graph shows its position x as a function of the time t. . . . . . . . . . . 266
2 A car is being driven erratically along a straight stretch of highway. The
graph shows its position x as a function of the time t. . . . . . . . . . . 268
3 Spring cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
4 Spring cannon and bucket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
5 Spring cannon and bucket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
6 Side view of the spring cannon ring ball into a bucket mounted on top of
a glider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
7 Earth-mass system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528
8 Ball in the bucket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540
9 The loop-the-loop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
10 Block sliding o a hemispherical piece of ice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
11 Bullet-wooden-block collision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 559
12 Ballistic Pendulum found in lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 566
13 Ballistic Pendulum: Stage 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 566
16 Vertical glass tube attached to horizontal water pipe. . . . . . . . . . . . 592
0 About the mathematical prerequisites material
0.1 What is a College Physics Course?
Typically, in the United States a college physics course is a physics course that is taught
without the use of calculus. The prerequisites are high school algebra (a.k.a. Algebra
II from high school, or equivalently intermediate algebra from a community college) and
trigonometry. It is also assumed that the student has had an introduction to dimensions,
units, and signicant gures.
0.2 What are the math-prerequise topics for college physics?
College Physics Prerequisite Topics:
Geometry section 1 and all subsections therein
Algebra section 2 and all subsections therein
Graphing section 3 and all subsections therein
Basic Trigonometry section 4 and all subsections therein (except identities)
An introduction to vectors section 6 and all subsections therein (except the dot and
cross-product)
Introduction to measurement and all subsections therein
0.3 What is a University Physics course?
Typically, in the United States a university physics course is a calculus-based physics
course taken by engineering, physics, and math majors. The prerequisites are a high-
school physics course and a minimum mathematical background of Calculus I from high
school, or equivalently from a college, or university. Remember, this is an absolute
minimum! A background of calculus II and a strong grasp of trigonometry will make the
course more bearable.
University Physics Prerequisite Topics:
Geometry section 1 and all subsections therein
Algebra section 2 and all subsections therein
Graphing section 3 and all subsections therein
Basic Trigonometry section 4 and all subsections therein
Calculus section ?? and all subsections therein
An introduction to vectors section 6 and all subsections therein
Introduction to measurement and all subsections therein
0.4 What is a college physics course in the state of Arizona?
Unfortunately, the University of Arizona and Pima community college only require high-
school algebra as a prerequisite for college physics. As such, the physics 121 course taught
at Pima presupposes no trigonometry background what-so-ever. However, a background
in basic trigonometry will make the rst few weeks of the course more bearable. College
algebra is also a required co-requisite for this course.
13
Part I
Mathematical Prerequisites
14
1 Geometry
1.1 Circles
1.1.1 Letter-based problems
Problem 1. If the radius of a circle is R, what is its diameter?
(a) R/2 *(b) 2R
(c) R/2 (d) 2R
(e) None of these
Solution: You should know this by memory.
Problem 2. If the radius of a circle is R, what is its circumference?
(a) R/2 (b) 2R
(c) R/2 *(d) 2R
(e) None of these
Problem 3. If the radius of a circle is R, what is its area?
(a) R (b) 2R
*(c) R
2
(d) 2R
2
(e) None of these
Problem 4. If the diameter of a circle is D, what is its radius?
(a) D
2
/2 (b) 2D
2
*(c) D/2 (d) 2D
(e) None of these
Solution: D = 2R R = D/2
Problem 5. If the diameter of a circle is D, what is its circumference?
*(a) D (b) 2D
(c) D/2 (d) D/4
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R and D = 2R; so C = 2(D/2) = D
Problem 6. If the diameter of a circle is D, what is its area?
(a) D (b) 2D
(c) D
2
/2 *(d) D
2
/4
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
and D = 2R; so A = (D/2)
2
= D
2
/4.
15
Problem 7. If the area of a circle is A, what is its radius?
(a)
A
2
(b)
_
2A
(c)
*(d)
_
A
(e) None of these

Solution: A = R
2
R =
_
A
Problem 8. If the area of a circle is A, what is its diameter?

*(a) 2
_
A
(b)
_
2A
(c)
2
(d)
2A
(e) None of these

Solution: A = R
2
and D = 2R; so R =
_
A
D = 2
_
A
Problem 9. If the area of a circle is A, what is its circumference?

(a) 2
A *(b) 2
A
(c)
_
A
(d)
_
2A
(e) None of these

Solution: A = R
2
and C = 2R; so R =
_
A
C = 2
_
A
= 2
A
Problem 10. If the circumference of a circle is C, what is its radius?
(a)
2C
(b)
2C
(c)
C
2
*(d)
C
2
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R R =
C
2
16
Problem 11. If the circumference of a circle is C, what is its diameter?
(a)
C
2
(b)
_
2C
(c)
C
2
*(d)
C
(e) None of these

Solution: C = 2R and D = 2R; so R =
C
2
D =
C
Problem 12. If the circumference of a circle is C, what is its area?

(a)
2C
*(b)
C
2
4
(c)
_
2C
(d)
C
2
4
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R and A = R
2
; so R =
C
2
A =
_
C
2
_
2
=
C
2
4
1.1.2 Non-calculator-based problems
Problem 13. What is the circumference of a circle with radius 6 cm?
(a) 6 cm (b) 9 cm
*(c) 12 cm (d) 36 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R = 2(6 cm) = 12 cm
Problem 14. What is the circumference of a circle with diameter 3 m?
*(a) 3 m (b) 6 m
(c) 9 m (d) 36 m
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R and D = 2R; so C = D = 3 m
Problem 15. What is the area of a circle with diameter 5 m?
(a)
5
2
m
2
*(b)
25
4
m
2
(c) 5
2
m
2
(d) 10
2
m
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
and D = 2R; so A =
_
D
2
_
2
=
_
5 m
2
_
2
=
25
4
m
2
17
Problem 16. What is the area of a circle with radius 3 cm?
(a)
3
4
cm
2
(b)
9
4
cm
2
(c)
9
2
cm
2
*(d) 9 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
= (3 cm)
2
= 9 cm
2
Problem 17. What is the circumference of a circle with diameter 10 cm?
(a) 5 cm *(b) 10 cm
(c) 25 cm (d) 100 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R and D = 2R; so C = D = 10 m
Problem 18. What is the area of a circle with diameter 10 m?
(a) 5 m
2
(b) 10 m
2
(c)
25
4
cm
2
*(d) 25 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
and D = 2R; so A = (D/2)
2
= (5 cm)
2
= 25 cm
2
Problem 19. What is the circumference of a circle with radius 4 cm?
(a) 2 cm (b) 4 cm
*(c) 8 cm (d) 16 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R = 2(4 cm) = 8 cm
Problem 20. What is the area of a circle with radius 6 cm?
(a) 3 cm
2
(b) 6 cm
2
(c) 9 cm
2
*(d) 36 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
= (6 cm)
2
= 36 cm
2
18
Problem 21. If the circumference of a circle is 5 cm, what is its area?
*(a)
25
4
cm
2
(b) 50 cm
2
(c)
25
2
cm
2
(d)
25
2
cm
2
(e) None of these
2
; so
R =
C
2
A =
_
C
2
_
2
=
C
2
4
=
25
4
Problem 22. If the area of a circle is 9 cm
2
, what is its radius?
(a) 3 cm
2
(b) 3
cm
(c)
3
cm *(d)
3
cm
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
R =
_
A
=
_
9
=
3
Problem 23. If the circumference of a circle is 4 cm, what is its diameter?

*(a)
4
cm (b) 8 cm
(c)
8
cm (d)
2
cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R and D = 2R; so R =
C
2
D =
C
=
4
Problem 24. If the area of a circle is 4 m

2
, what is its diameter?
(a)
2
m *(b)
4
m
(c) 16 m (d)
16
m
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
and D = 2R; so
R =
_
A
D = 2
_
A
= 2
_
4
=
4
19
Problem 25. If the circumference of a circle is 10 m, what is its radius?
(a)
10
m (b)
_
10
m
*(c)
5
m (d)
_
5
m
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2R R =
C
2
=
10
2
=
5
Problem 26. If the area of a circle is 3 m

2
, what is its circumference?
(a)
2
m *(b) 2
3 m
(c)
_
3
2
m (d)
_
6
m
(e) None of these
Solution: A = R
2
and C = 2R; so
R =
_
A
C = 2
_
A
= 2
A = 2
3
1.1.3 Calculator-based problems
Problem 27. What is the circumference of a circle with radius 11.9 cm? Round your
answer to the nearest 0.1 cm.
*(a) 74.8 cm (b) 82.2 cm
(c) 90.5 cm (d) 99.5 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2r = 2(11.9 cm) = 74.8 cm
Problem 28. What is the circumference of a circle with radius 8.3 cm? Round your
answer to the nearest centimeter.
(a) 38 cm (b) 42 cm
(c) 47 cm *(d) 52 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2r = 2(8.3 cm) = 52 cm
20
Problem 29. What is the circumference of a circle with diameter 5.6 cm? Round your
*(a) 18 cm (b) 19 cm
(c) 21 cm (d) 23 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2r and d = 2r; so C = d = (5.6 cm) = 18 cm
Problem 30. What is the circumference of a circle with diameter 6.9 cm? Round your
(a) 16 cm (b) 18 cm
(c) 20 cm *(d) 22 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: C = 2r and d = 2r; so C = d = (6.9 cm) = 22 cm
Problem 31. What is the area of a circle with radius 1.1 cm? Round your answer to
the nearest 0.1 cm
2
.
*(a) 3.8 cm
2
(b) 4.2 cm
2
(c) 4.6 cm
2
(d) 5.1 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = r
2
= (1.1 cm)
2
= 3.8 cm
2
Problem 32. What is the area of a circle with radius 6.1 cm? Round your answer to
the nearest 10 cm
2
.
(a) 90 cm
2
(b) 100 cm
2
(c) 110 cm
2
*(d) 120 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = r
2
= (6.1 cm)
2
= 120 cm
2
Problem 33. What is the area of a circle with diameter 4.4 cm? Round your answer to
the nearest cm
2
.
(a) 12 cm
2
(b) 14 cm
2
*(c) 15 cm
2
(d) 17 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = r
2
and d = 2r; so A =
_
d
2
_
2
=
d
2
4
=
(4.4 cm)
2
4
= 15 cm
2
21
Problem 34. What is the area of a circle with diameter 7.8 cm? Round your answer to
the nearest cm
2
.
(a) 39 cm
2
(b) 43 cm
2
*(c) 48 cm
2
(d) 53 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = r
2
and d = 2r; so A =
_
d
2
_
2
=
d
2
4
=
(7.8 cm)
2
4
= 48 cm
2
Problem 35. If the circumference of a circle is 4 cm, what is its area?
(a) 4 cm
2
(b) 16 cm
2
*(c)
4
cm
2
(d)
16
cm
2
(e) None of these
2
; so
R =
C
2
A =
_
C
2
_
2
=
C
2
4
=
4
2
4
=
4
1.2 Rectangles and rectangular solids

Problem 36. What is the area of a square with sides of length s?
(a) 4s (b) 2s
*(c) s
2
(d) 4s
2
(e) None of these
Problem 37. What is the area of a rectangle with length l and width w?
(a) 2l + 2w *(b) lw
(c)
l
2
+w
2
(d) l
2
+w
2
(e) None of these
Problem 38. What is the volume of a cube with sides of length s?
(a) 8s (b) 6s
2
*(c) s
3
(d)
3 s
(e) None of these
22
Problem 39. What is the volume of a rectangular solid with length l, width w, and
height h?
(a) 2l + 2w + 2h *(b) lwh
(c)
l
2
+w
2
+h
2
(d) l
3
+w
3
+h
3
(e) None of these
Problem 40. What is the area of a square tabletop measuring 3 feet on a side?
*(a) 9 ft
2
(b) 3 ft
2
(c) 12 ft
2
(d) 6 ft
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = s
2
= (3 ft)
2
= 9 ft
2
Problem 41. What is the area of a rectangular sheet of paper measuring 10 inches long
by 8 inches wide?
(a) 40 in
2
*(b) 80 in
2
(c) 40 in
2
(d) 80 in
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = lw = (10 in)(8 in) = 80 in
2
Problem 42. What is the volume of a cube measuring 2 inches on a side?
(a) 4 in
3
(b) 4 in
3
*(c) 8 in
3
(d) 8 in
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = s
3
= (2 in)
3
= 8 in
3
Problem 43. What is the volume of a rectangular box measuring 2 cm long by 3 cm
wide by 5 cm high?
(a) 10 cm
3
(b) 20 cm
3
*(c) 30 cm
3
(d) 60 cm
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = lwh = (2 cm)(3 cm)(5 cm) = 30 cm
3
23
Problem 44. What is the area of a square room measuring 5 m on a side?
(a) 5 m
2
(b) 25 m
2
(c)
25
2
m
2
*(d) 25 m
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = s
2
= (5 m)
2
= 25 m
2
Problem 45. What is the volume of a rectangular room measuring 4 m long by 5 m
wide by 3 m high?
(a) 12 m
3
(b) 24 m
3
(c) 30 m
3
*(d) 60 m
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = lwh = (4 m)(5 m)(3 m) = 60 m
3
Problem 46. What is the volume of a cube measuring 10 cm on a side?
(a)
1000
3
cm
3
(b) 500 cm
3
*(c) 1000 cm
3
(d) 2000 cm
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = s
3
= (10 cm)
3
= 1000 cm
3
Problem 47. What is the area of a rectangle measuring 6 m long by 2 m wide?
*(a) 12 m
2
(b) 24 m
2
(c) 48 m
2
(d) 6 m
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = lw = (6 m)(2 m) = 12 m
2
Problem 48. What is the area of a square tabletop measuring 3 feet on a side?
*(a) 9 ft
2
(b) 3 ft
2
(c) 12 ft
2
(d) 6 ft
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = s
2
= (3 ft)
2
= 9 ft
2
24
Problem 49. What is the area of a square piece of ground whose sides are each 62 ft
long? Round your answer to the nearest 100 ft
2
.
(a) 3100 ft
2
(b) 3500 ft
2
*(c) 3800 ft
2
(d) 4200 ft
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = s
2
= (62 ft)
2
= 3800 ft
2
Problem 50. What is the area of a square tabletop whose sides are each 2.7 ft long?
Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 ft
2
.
*(a) 7.3 ft
2
(b) 8.0 ft
2
(c) 8.8 ft
2
(d) 9.7 ft
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = s
2
= (2.7 ft)
2
= 7.3 ft
2
Problem 51. What is the area of a rectangular carpet measuring 2.4 m long by 1.7 m
wide? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m
2
.
(a) 3.7 m
2
*(b) 4.1 m
2
(c) 4.5 m
2
(d) 4.9 m
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = lw = (2.4 m)(1.7 m) = 4.1 m
2
Problem 52. What is the area of a rectangular windowpane measuring 21 cm wide by
27 cm high? Round your answer to the nearest 10 cm
2
.
(a) 510 cm
2
*(b) 570 cm
2
(c) 620 cm
2
(d) 690 cm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: A = lw = (21 cm)(27 cm) = 570 m
2
Problem 53. What is the volume of a cube measuring 13.4 cm on a side? Round your
answer to the nearest 10 cm
3
.
(a) 2170 cm
3
*(b) 2410 cm
3
(c) 2650 cm
3
(d) 2910 cm
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = s
3
= (13.4 cm)
3
= 2410 cm
3
25
Problem 54. What is the volume of a cube measuring 0.88 ft on a side? Round your
answer to the nearest 0.01 ft
3
.
(a) 0.50 ft
3
(b) 0.55 ft
3
(c) 0.61 ft
3
*(d) 0.68 ft
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = s
3
= (0.88 ft)
3
= 0.68 ft
3
Problem 55. A rectangular sh-tank is 53 cm long, 22 cm wide, and 24 cm high. What
is its volume? Round your answer to the nearest 1000 cm
3
(a) 20, 000 cm
3
(b) 23, 000 cm
3
(c) 25, 000 cm
3
*(d) 28, 000 cm
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = lwh = (53 cm)(22 cm)(24 cm) = 28, 000 cm
3
Problem 56. A room is 5.7 m long, 4.8 m wide, and 2.4 m high. What is its volume?
Round your answer to the nearest cubic meter.
*(a) 66 m
3
(b) 72 m
3
(c) 79 m
3
(d) 87 m
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = lwh = (5.7 m)(4.8 m)(2.4 m) = 66 m
3
26
1.3 Right triangles
Problem 57. In the right triangle at right, which of the
following equations is true?
(a) r = x +y (b) r =
1
2
(x +y)
*(c) r
2
= x
2
+y
2
(d) r =
1
2
(x y)
(e) None of these
x
y
r
(a) a
2
= b
2
+c
2
(b) b
2
= a
2
+c
2
*(c) c
2
= a
2
+b
2
(d) a
2
+b
2
+c
2
= 1
(e) None of these
a
b
c
(a) x
2
= r
2
+y
2
*(b) x
2
= r
2
y
2
(c) x
2
=
1
2
(r
2
+y
2
) (d) x
2
=
1
2
(r
2
y
2
)
(e) None of these
Solution: r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x
y
r
(a) a
2
=
1
2
(c b)
2
(b) a
2
=
1
2
(c
2
b
2
)
(c) a
2
= (c b)
2
*(d) a
2
= c
2
b
2
(e) None of these
Solution: c
2
= a
2
+b
2
a
2
= c
2
b
2
a
b
c
*(a) y
2
= r
2
x
2
(b) y
2
= x
2
r
2
(c) y
2
=
1
2
(x
2
+r
2
) (d) y
2
=
1
2
(x
2
r
2
)
(e) None of these
Solution: r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
x
y
r
27
(a) b
2
=
1
2
(c a)
2
(b) b
2
=
1
2
(c +a)
2
*(c) b
2
= c
2
a
2
(d) b
2
= c
2
+a
2
(e) None of these
Solution: c
2
= a
2
+b
2
b
2
= c
2
a
2
a
b
c
*(a) r =
_
x
2
+y
2
(b) r = x
2
+y
2
(c) r =
_
(x +y)
2
(d) r =
1
2
(x +y)
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Solution: Lengths like x, y, and r are not negative. Hence
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
(a) c =
1
2
(a
2
+b
2
) (b) c =
1
2
a
2
+b
2
(c) c = a
2
+b
2
*(d) c =
a
2
+b
2
(e) None of these

a
b
c
Solution: Lengths like a, b, and c are not negative. Hence
c
2
= a
2
+b
2
c =
a
2
+b
2
(a) x =
_
(r y)
2
(b) x =
_
(r +y)
2
*(c) x =
_
r
2
y
2
(d) x =
_
r
2
+y
2
(e) None of these

x
y
r
Solution: Lengths like x, y, and r are not negative. Hence
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
28
(a) a =
bc
2
(b) a =
2c
b
(c) a =
c
2
b
2
2
*(d) a =
c
2
b
2
(e) None of these
a
b
c
Solution: Lengths like a, b, and c are not negative. Hence
c
2
= a
2
+b
2
b
2
a
2
= c
2
b
2
a =
c
2
b
2
Problem 67. Find r in the right triangle at right.
(a)
7 *(b) 5
(c) 7 (d) 25
(e) None of these
4
3
r
Solution: r is a length, so it must be positive. Hence
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(4)
2
+ (3)
2
=
16 + 9 =
25 = 5
(a) 3 (b)
9
(c) 9 *(d)
41
(e) None of these
5
4
r
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(5)
2
+ (4)
2
=
25 + 16 =
41
(a)
8 (b)
15
(c) 4 *(d)
34
(e) None of these
5
3
r
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(5)
2
+ (3)
2
=
25 + 9 =
34
29
Problem 70. Find x in the right triangle at right.
(a) 1 (b)
2
*(c)
3 (d)
5
(e) None of these
x
1
2
Solution: x is a length, so it must be positive. Hence
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(2)
2
(1)
2
=
4 1 =
3
Problem 71. Find x in the right triangle at right.
(a) 2 (b)
8
*(c) 4 (d)
34
(e) None of these
x
3
5
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(5)
2
(3)
2
=
25 9 =
16 = 4
Problem 72. Find y in the right triangle at right.
*(a) 3 (b) 9
(c)
21 (d)
34
(e) None of these
4
y
5
Solution: y is a length, so it must be positive. Hence
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(5)
2
(4)
2
=
25 16 =
9 = 3
30
(a) 1 *(b)
7
(c) 5 (d) 7
(e) None of these
3
y
4
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(4)
2
(3)
2
=
16 9 =
7
(a) 9 (b)
17
(c)
30 *(d)
51
(e) None of these
7
y
10
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(10)
2
(7)
2
=
100 49 =
51
Problem 75. Find r in the right triangle at right. Round
your answer to one decimal place.
(a) 6.0 (b) 6.6
(c) 7.4 *(d) 8.2
(e) None of these

6.3
5.2
r
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(6.3)
2
+ (5.2)
2
= 8.2
31
your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 29 *(b) 32
(c) 35 (d) 39
(e) None of these

26
19
r
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(26)
2
+ (19)
2
= 32
your answer to two decimal places.
(a) 0.46 *(b) 0.51
(c) 0.56 (d) 0.62
(e) None of these

0.43
0.28
r
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(0.43)
2
+ (0.28)
2
= 0.51
Problem 78. Find x in the right triangle at right. Round
(a) 2.2 (b) 2.4
(c) 2.7 *(d) 3.0
(e) None of these

x
1.8
3.5
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(3.5)
2
(1.8)
2
= 3.0
(a) 33 (b) 36
*(c) 40 (d) 44
(e) None of these

x
62
74
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(74)
2
(62)
2
= 40
32
(a) 0.69 (b) 0.77
(c) 0.85 *(d) 0.95
(e) None of these

x
0.20
0.97
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(0.97)
2
(0.20)
2
= 0.95
Problem 81. Find y in the right triangle at right. Round
(a) 0.10 (b) 0.11
(c) 0.13 *(d) 0.14
(e) None of these

0.31
y
0.34
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(0.34)
2
(0.41)
2
= 0.14
(a) 5.2 (b) 5.8
*(c) 6.4 (d) 7.0
(e) None of these

4.1
y
7.6
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(7.6)
2
(4.1)
2
= 6.4
33
(a) 25 (b) 28
(c) 31 *(d) 34
(e) None of these

39
y
52
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(52)
2
(39)
2
= 34
1.4 Right triangle word problems
Problem 84. Pirates have buried their treasure in the desert, and you have obtained
a copy of the directions to it. They tell you to begin at the entrance of the physics
lab and go 2 km east, then to go north for another 5 km to the treasure. What is the
straight-line distance from the physics lab to the treasure site?
(a) 4 km (b) 7 km
(c)
21 km *(d)
29 km
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a diagram, as at right. The route forms
a right triangle, with the legs from the physics lab east to the
turning point, and from the turning point north to the treasure.
The straight line from the physics lab to the treasure is the
hypotenuse. Use the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(2 km)
2
+ (5 km)
2
=
29 km
r
lab
r
r
treasure
2 km
5 km
r
34
Problem 85. Pirates have buried their treasure in the desert, and you have obtained
a copy of the directions to it. They tell you to begin at the entrance of the physics
lab and go 3 km south, then to go west for another 4 km to the treasure. What is the
straight-line distance from the physics lab to the treasure site?
*(a) 5 km (b)
7 km
(c)
12 km (d) 7 km
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a diagram, as at right. The route forms
a right triangle, with the legs from the physics lab east to the
turning point, and from the turning point north to the treasure.
The straight line from the physics lab to the treasure is the
hypotenuse. Use the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(4 km)
2
+ (3 km)
2
= 5 km
r
treasure
r
r
lab
4 km
3 km
r
Problem 86. Your house is 5 km from the Pima Community College Missile Test Site.
A missile is red from the test site; it goes 3 km straight up, then explodes. How far is
the missile from your house when it explodes?
(a) 4 km (b)
8 km
(c)
15 km *(d)
34 km
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a diagram, as at right. Your house, the
test site, and the missile form a right triangle, with a horizontal
leg from the house to the test site,and a vertical leg from the
test site to the missile. The straight line from the house to the
missile is the hypotenuse. Use the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(5 km)
2
+ (3 km)
2
=
34 km
r
house
r
site
r
missile
5 km
3 km
r
35
Problem 87. Your house is 7 miles from the Pima Community College Missile Test
Site. A missile is red from the test site; it goes 1 mile straight up, then explodes. How
far is the missile from your house when it explodes?
(a) 7.5 mi (b) 8 mi
*(c)
50 mi (d) 10 mi
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a diagram, as at right. Your house, the
test site, and the missile form a right triangle, with a horizontal
leg from the house to the test site,and a vertical leg from the
test site to the missile. The straight line from the house to the
missile is the hypotenuse. Use the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(7 mi)
2
+ (1 mi)
2
=
50 mi
r
house
r
site
r
missile
7 mi
1 mi
r
Problem 88. A vertical telephone pole is stabilized by a
diagonal guy wire anchored in the ground, as shown at right.
The wire is 10 m long; it is attached to the pole 7 m above
ground level. How far from the base of the pole does the wire
meet the ground?
(a) 9 m *(b)
51 m
(c)
93 m (d)
149 m
(e) None of these
10 m
7 m
x
Solution: We have a sketch already; we can label the sides that we know and the
side that we want to nd. This is a right triangle where the hypotenuse is 34 ft and the
vertical side is 21 ft; we want to know the horizontal side x. Use Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(10 m)
2
(7 m)
2
=
100 49 m =
51 m
36
Problem 89. A physics instructor has locked himself out of his oce, and tries to climb
in through an upper window. He leans a 5-meter ladder against the side of the building
so that the top of the ladder is 3 m above the ground. How far from the building is the
bottom of the ladder?
*(a) 4 m (b) 8 m
(c)
34 m (d)
44 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a diagram, as at right. The ground, the
building, and the ladder form a right triangle whose vertical
side is 3 m and whose hypotenuse is 5 m. We want to know the
horizontal side x. Use the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(5 m)
2
(3 m)
2
=
16 m = 4 m
x
3 m
5 m
Problem 90. A blimp is attached to a cable 3 km
long. The other end of the cable is fastened to the
ground. The wind is strong enough to pull the cable
into a straight line. When you are standing directly
below the blimp, you are 2 km from the place where
the cable is anchored in the ground. How high above
ground level is the blimp?
(a) 1 km *(b)
5 km
(c) 5 km (d)
13 km
(e) None of these
2 km
y
3 km
side that we want to nd. The system is a right triangle whose hypotenuse is 3 km and
whose horizontal side is 2 km; we want to know the vertical side y. Use Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(3 km)
2
(2 km)
2
=
5 km
37
Problem 91. An airplane ies a route involving three cities. From Rio Cordaro, it ies
210 miles straight east to Hackerville. From Hackerville, it ies 140 miles straight north
to San Pitucco. How far does it y from San Pitucco to Rio Cordaro? Round your
answer to the nearest 10 miles.
*(a) 250 miles (b) 280 miles
(c) 310 miles (d) 340 miles
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a diagram, as at right. The route forms a
right triangle, with the legs from Rio Cordaro to Hackerville and
from Hackerville to San Pitucco on either side of the right angle.
The leg from San Pitucco to Rio Cordaro is the hypotenuse. Use
the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(210 mi)
2
+ (140 mi)
2
= 250 mi
r
RM
r
HV
r
SP
210 mi
140 mi
r
Problem 92. An airplane ies a route involving three cities. From Rio Cordaro, it ies
140 miles straight east to Hackerville. From Hackerville, it ies 320 miles straight north
to San Pitucco. How far does it y from San Pitucco to Rio Cordaro? Round your
answer to the nearest 10 miles.
(a) 330 miles *(b) 350 miles
(e) None of these
right triangle, with the legs from Rio Cordaro to Hackerville and
from Hackerville to San Pitucco on either side of the right angle.
The leg from San Pitucco to Rio Cordaro is the hypotenuse. Use
the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(140 mi)
2
+ (320 mi)
2
= 350 mi
r
RM
r
HV
r
SP
140 mi
320 mi
r
38
Problem 93. A ship sails 58 miles straight south. It then sails another 44 miles straight
west. At this point, what is its straight-line distance from its starting point? Round
your answer to the nearest mile.
*(a) 73 miles (b) 80 miles
(e) None of these
right triangle, with the southward and the westward legs on ei-
ther side of the right angle. The nal distance from the starting
point is the hypotenuse. Use the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(58 mi)
2
+ (44 mi)
2
= 73 mi
r
nish
r
start
44 mi
58 mi
r
Problem 94. A ship sails 79 miles straight south. It then sails another 34 miles straight
west. At this point, what is its straight-line distance from its starting point? Round
your answer to the nearest mile.
(a) 80 miles (b) 83 miles
*(c) 86 miles (d) 89 miles
(e) None of these
right triangle, with the southward and the westward legs on ei-
ther side of the right angle. The nal distance from the starting
point is the hypotenuse. Use the theorem of Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
r =
_
x
2
+y
2
=
_
(79 mi)
2
+ (34 mi)
2
= 86 mi
r
nish
r
start
34 mi
79 mi
r
39
The wire is 34 feet long; it is attached to the pole 21 feet above
meet the ground? Round your answer to the nearest foot.
(a) 24 ft *(b) 27 ft
(c) 29 ft (d) 32 ft
(e) None of these
21 ft
34 ft
x
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(34 ft)
2
(21 ft)
2
= 27 ft
The wire is 47 feet long; it is attached to the pole 28 feet above
meet the ground? Round your answer to the nearest foot.
(a) 31 ft (b) 34 ft
*(c) 38 ft (d) 42 ft
(e) None of these
28 ft
47 ft
x
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(47 ft)
2
(28 ft)
2
= 38 ft
40
in through an upper window. He leans a 21-foot ladder against the side of the building
so that the top of the ladder is 18 feet above the ground. How far from the building is
the bottom of the ladder? Round your answer to the nearest foot.
*(a) 11 ft (b) 12 ft
(c) 13 ft (d) 14 ft
(e) None of these
building, and the ladder form a right triangle whose vertical side
is 18 ft and whose hypotenuse is 21 ft. We want to know the
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(21 ft)
2
(18 ft)
2
= 11 ft
x
18 ft
21 ft
in through an upper window. He leans a 13-foot ladder against the side of the building
so that the top of the ladder is 9 feet above the ground. How far from the building is the
bottom of the ladder? Round your answer to the nearest foot.
(a) 6 ft (b) 7 ft
(c) 8 ft *(d) 9 ft
(e) None of these
building, and the ladder form a right triangle whose vertical
side is 9 ft and whose hypotenuse is 13 ft. We want to know the
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
y
2
x
2
= r
2
y
2
x =
_
r
2
y
2
=
_
(13 ft)
2
(9 ft)
2
= 9 ft
x
9 ft
13 ft
41
Problem 99. A blimp is attached to a cable 890
meters long. The other end of the cable is fastened
to the ground. The wind is strong enough to pull the
cable into a straight line. When you are standing
directly below the blimp, you are 660 meters from
the place where the cable is anchored in the ground.
How high above ground level is the blimp? Round
your answer to the nearest 10 m.
(a) 540 m *(b) 600 m
(c) 660 m (d) 720 m
(e) None of these
660 m
y
890 m
side that we want to nd. The system is a right triangle whose hypotenuse is 890 m and
whose horizontal side is 660 m; we want to know the vertical side y. Use Pythagoras:
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(890 m)
2
(660 m)
2
= 600 m
Problem 100. A blimp is attached to a cable 820
meters long. The other end of the cable is fastened
to the ground. The wind is strong enough to pull the
cable into a straight line. When you are standing
directly below the blimp, you are 640 meters from
the place where the cable is anchored in the ground.
How high above ground level is the blimp? Round
(a) 420 m (b) 460 m
*(c) 510 m (d) 560 m
(e) None of these
640 m
y
820 m
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(820 m)
2
(640 m)
2
= 510 m
42
Problem 101. A kite is attached to a string 310 ft
long. The wind is strong enough to stretch the string
under the kite, you are 270 ft from the person
holding the string. How high above the ground is
the kite? Round your answer to the nearest 10 ft.
(a) 110 ft (b) 120 ft
(c) 140 ft *(d) 150 ft
(e) None of these
270 m
y
310 m
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(310 m)
2
(270 m)
2
= 150 m
Problem 102. A kite is attached to a string 560 ft
long. The wind is strong enough to stretch the string
under the kite, you are 330 ft from the person
holding the string. How high above the ground is
the kite? Round your answer to the nearest 10 ft.
(a) 370 ft (b) 410 ft
*(c) 450 ft (d) 500 ft
(e) None of these
330 m
y
560 m
r
2
= x
2
+y
2
x
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
y =
r
2
x
2
=
_
(560 m)
2
(330 m)
2
= 450 m
43
2 Algebra
2.1 Evaluating functions with numerical arguments
2.1.1 Non-calculator based problems
Problem 103. If f(x) = x
2
5, nd f(5).
(a) 5 (b) 0
(c) 9 *(d) 20
(e) None of these
Solution: f(5) = 5
2
5 = 25 5 = 20
Problem 104. If f(x) =
x + 3
7
, nd f(2).
*(a)
5
7
(b)
10
7
(c)
17
7
(d)
23
7
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) =
2 + 3
7
=
5
7
x + 2
3
, nd f(4).
(a)
5
7
(b)
2
3
*(c) 2 (d)
10
3
(e) None of these
Solution: f(4) =
4 + 2
3
=
6
3
= 2
x + 1
2
, nd f(2).
(a)
3
4
(b) 1
(c)
5
4
*(d)
3
2
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) =
2 + 1
2
=
3
2
44
x
2
+ 1
3
, nd f(2).
(a)
5
9
(b) 1
*(c)
5
3
(d) 3
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) =
2
2
+ 1
3
=
4 + 1
3
=
5
3
x
2
1
3
, nd f(2).
(a)
1
9
(b)
4
9
(c)
5
3
*(d) 1
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) =
2
2
1
3
=
4 1
3
=
3
3
= 1
x
2
3
3
, nd f(3).
(a) 0 (b)
1
9
(c)
1
3
*(d) 2
(e) None of these
Solution: f(3) =
3
2
3
3
=
9 3
3
=
6
3
= 2
x
2
5, nd f(1).
(a) 2 (b) 2
(c)
6 *(d) No real value

(e) None of these
Solution: f(1) =
1
2
5 =
1 5 =
4.
Since the quantity under the square root sign is negative, there is no real value.
45
x
2
+ 2, nd f(3).
*(a)
11 (b) 5
(c) 25 (d) No real value
(e) None of these
Solution: f(3) =
3
2
+ 2 =
9 + 2 =
11
x
2
3, nd f(2).
(a) 1 *(b) 1
(c)
5 (d) No real value

(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) =
2
2
3 =
4 3 =
1 = 1
Problem 113. If f(x) = 3x + 2, nd f(4).
(a) 12 *(b) 14
(c) 16 (d) 18
(e) None of these
Solution: f(4) = 3(4) + 2 = 12 + 2 = 14
Problem 114. If f(x) = 3x + 2, nd f(7).
(a) 15 (b) 21
*(c) 23 (d) 27
(e) None of these
Solution: f(7) = 3(7) + 2 = 21 + 2 = 23
2
5, nd f(5).
(a) 5 (b) 0
(c) 9 *(d) 20
(e) None of these
Solution: f(5) = 5
2
5 = 25 5 = 20
2
5, nd f(2).
*(a) 1 (b) 1
(c) 9 (d) 49
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) = 2
2
5 = 4 5 = 1
46
Problem 117. If f(x) = 6.3x 4.4, nd f(3.9).
(a) 14.70 (b) 16.34
(c) 18.15 *(d) 20.17
(e) None of these
Solution: f(3.9) = (6.3)(3.9) 4.4 = 20.17
Problem 118. If f(x) = 6.3x 4.4, nd f(2.1).
(a) 7.15 (b) 7.95
*(c) 8.83 (d) 9.71
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2.1) = (6.3)(2.1) 4.4 = 8.83
Problem 119. If f(x) = 2.3x + 7.5, nd f(1.1).
*(a) 4.97 (b) 5.47
(c) 6.01 (d) 6.62
(e) None of these
Solution: f(1.1) = (2.3)(1.1) + 7.5 = 4.97
Problem 120. If f(x) = 2.3x + 7.5, nd f(4.6).
(a) 2.77 *(b) 3.08
(c) 3.39 (d) 3.73
(e) None of these
Solution: f(4.6) = (2.3)(4.6) + 7.5 = 3.08
x + 3
7
, nd f(5). Round your answer to one decimal place.
*(a) 1.1 (b) 3.7
(c) 4.0 (d) 5.4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(5) =
5 + 3
7
=
8
7
= 1.1
x + 3
7
, nd f(9). Round your answer to one decimal place.
(a) 0.9 *(b) 1.7
(c) 4.3 (d) 9.4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(9) =
9 + 3
7
=
12
7
= 1.7
47
x
2
5
4
, nd f(5).
(a) 0 (b) 1.25
*(c) 5 (d) 23.75
(e) None of these
Solution: f(5) =
5
2
5
4
= 5
x
2
5
4
, nd f(9).
(a) 4 (b) 15.25
*(c) 19 (d) 79.75
(e) None of these
Solution: f(9) =
9
2
5
4
= 19
(x 5)
2
4
, nd f(2).
(a) 5.75 (b) 4.25
(c) 0.25 *(d) 2.25
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) =
(2 5)
2
4
= 2.25
(x 5)
2
4
, nd f(7).
(a) 4.5 (b) 0.75
*(c) 1 (d) 11
(e) None of these
Solution: f(7) =
(7 5)
2
4
= 1
x
2
5, nd f(7). Round your answer to one decimal place.
(a) 4.0 (b) 4.8
*(c) 6.6 (d) No real value
(e) None of these
Solution: f(7) =
7
2
5 = 6.6
48
x
2
(a) 4.0 (b) 6.8
*(c) 8.7 (d) No real value
(e) None of these
Solution: f(9) =
9
2
5 = 8.7
x
2
(a) 6.2 *(b) 3.3
(c) 9.0 (d) No real value
(e) None of these
Solution: f(4) =
_
(4)
2
5 = 3.3
x
2
(a) 0.2 (b) 3.0
(c) 9.0 *(d) No real value
(e) None of these
Solution: f(2) =
2
2
5. Since the quantity under the square root sign is negative,
there is no real value.
49
2.2 Evaluating functions with variable-expression arguments
Problem 131. If f(x) = 3x + 2, nd f(a + 1).
(a) 3a + 1 (b) 3a + 2
(c) 3a + 3 *(d) 3a + 5
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a + 1) = 3(a + 1) + 2 = 3a + 3 + 2 = 3a + 5
Problem 132. If f(x) = 3x + 2, nd f(a 5).
(a) 3a 3 (b) 3a 7
*(c) 3a 13 (d) 3a 15
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a 5) = 3(a 5) + 2 = 3a 15 + 2 = 3a 13
2
, nd f(a + 4).
(a) a
2
+ 4 (b) a
2
+ 4a + 4
(c) a
2
+ 16 *(d) a
2
+ 8a + 16
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a + 4) = (a + 4)
2
= a
2
+ 8a + 16
2
, nd f(a 3).
(a) a
2
+ 3 (b) a
2
3
(c) a
2
+ 9 *(d) a
2
6a + 9
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a 3) = (a 3)
2
= a
2
6a + 9
2
, nd f(a 2).
(a) a
2
2 (b) a
2
+ 4
*(c) a
2
4a + 4 (d) a
2
2a 4
(e) None of these
2
= a
2
4a + 4
2
2, nd f(a + 3).
*(a) a
2
+ 6a + 7 (b) a
2
+ 7
(c) a
2
+ 2a + 1 (d) a
2
10a + 25
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a + 3) = (a + 3)
2
2 = a
2
+ 6a + 9 2 = a
2
+ 6a + 7
50
2
2, nd f(a 1).
*(a) a
2
2a 1 (b) a
2
2a + 1
(c) a
2
6a 9 (d) a
2
6a + 9
(e) None of these
2
2 = a
2
2a + 1 2 = a
2
2a 1
2
2, nd f(a + 2).
(a) a
2
(b) a
2
+ 4
*(c) a
2
+ 4a + 2 (d) a
2
2a + 4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a + 2) = (a + 2)
2
2 = a
2
+ 4a + 4 2 = a
2
+ 4a + 2
x 3
4
, nd f(a + 3).
*(a)
a
4
(b)
4a + 9
4
(c)
a + 9
4
(d)
4a 9
4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a + 3) =
(a + 3) 3
4
=
a
4
x 3
4
, nd f(a 1).
(a)
a 1
4
*(b)
a 4
4
(c)
a + 1
4
(d)
a + 4
4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a 1) =
(a 1) 3
4
=
a 4
4
x 3
4
, nd f(a 5).
(a)
a 23
4
*(b)
a 8
4
(c)
a + 23
4
(d)
a + 8
4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a 5) =
(a 5) 3
4
=
a 8
4
51
Problem 142. If f(x) = (x 2)
2
, nd f(a + 2).
*(a) a
2
(b) a
2
+ 4
(c) a
2
+ 4a + 2 (d) a
2
2a + 4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a + 2) = ((a + 2) 2)
2
= (a)
2
= a
2
2
, nd f(a 1).
(a) a
2
2a 1 *(b) a
2
6a + 9
(c) a
2
4a + 3 (d) a
2
+ 4a + 4
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a 1) = ((a 1) 2)
2
= (a 3)
2
= a
2
6a + 9
2
, nd f(a 2).
(a) a
2
(b) a
2
4a + 2
(c) a
2
4a 6 *(d) a
2
8a + 16
(e) None of these
Solution: f(a 2) = ((a 2) 2)
2
= (a 4)
2
= a
2
8a + 16
52
2.3 Evaluating functions of multiple variables
2.3.1 Functions of two variables
Non-calculator based problems
Problem 145. The formula for the volume of a cylinder is: V = r
2
l, where r is the
radius of the cylinder and l is its length. If a cylinder has radius 3 cm and length 2 cm,
what is its volume?
(a) 9 cm
3
(b) 12 cm
3
*(c) 18 cm
3
(d) 36 cm
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = r
2
l = (3 cm)
2
(2 cm) = 18 cm
3
2
l, where r is the
what is its volume?
(a) 9 cm
3
*(b) 12 cm
3
(c) 18 cm
3
(d) 36 cm
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = r
2
l = (2 cm)
2
(3 cm) = 12 cm
3
2
l, where r is the
what is its volume?
(a) 9 cm
3
(b) 12 cm
3
(c) 18 cm
3
*(d) 36 cm
3
(e) None of these
Solution: V = r
2
l = (3 cm)
2
(4 cm) = 36 cm
3
Problem 148. The formula for the centripetal acceleration of an object moving in a
circle is: a = v
2
/r, where v is the objects speed and r is the radius of the circle. (If
youve never heard of centripetal acceleration, dont worry; youll learn about it during
this course.) If an object is moving in a circle with radius 6 at a speed of 9, what is its
centripetal acceleration?
(a)
9
4
(b) 4
*(c)
27
2
(d) 54
(e) None of these
Solution: a =
v
2
r
=
9
2
6
=
81
6
=
27
2
.
53
circle is: a = v
2
(a)
4
9
(b)
9
4
(c)
8
3
*(d) 9
(e) None of these
Solution: a =
v
2
r
=
6
2
4
=
36
4
= 9.
circle is: a = v
2
(a)
4
9
(b)
9
4
*(c)
8
3
(d) 9
(e) None of these
Solution: a =
v
2
r
=
4
2
6
=
16
6
=
8
3
.
Problem 151. If an object is dropped from a height h, the speed with which it hits the
ground is: v =
2gh, where g is the gravitational acceleration. (If you dont know what
gravitational acceleration is, dont worry; youll learn about it during this course.) If an
object is dropped from a height of 5, and the gravitational acceleration is 10, what is the
speed with which the object hits the ground? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 5 (b)
50
*(c) 10 (d)
200
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
2gh =
2 10 5 =
100 = 10
54
ground is: v =
(a)
12 (b) 3
*(c)
24 (d) 9
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
2gh =
2 2 6 =
24
ground is: v =
*(a)
30 (b) 30
(c)
60 (d) 60
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
2gh =
2 5 3 =
30
Calculator-based problems
2
l, where r is the
radius of the cylinder and l is its length. If a cylinder has radius 5.22 and length 7.80,
what is its volume? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 487 (b) 541
(c) 601 *(d) 668
(e) None of these
Solution: V = r
2
l = (5.22)
2
(7.80) = 668
2
l, where r is the
(a) 116 (b) 129
(c) 143 *(d) 159
(e) None of these
Solution: V = r
2
l = (3.03)
2
(5.51) = 159
55
2
l, where r is the
*(a) 373 (b) 410
(c) 451 (d) 496
(e) None of these
Solution: V = r
2
l = (6.99)
2
(2.43) = 373
circle is: a = v
2
this course.) If an object is moving in a circle with radius 4.8 at a speed of 13, what is
its centripetal acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 32 *(b) 35
(c) 39 (d) 43
(e) None of these
Solution: a =
v
2
r
=
(13)
2
4.8
= 35
circle is: a = v
2
this course.) If an object is moving in a circle with radius 4.4 at a speed of 19, what is
its centripetal acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 60 (b) 66
(c) 74 *(d) 82
(e) None of these
Solution: a =
v
2
r
=
(19)
2
4.4
= 82
circle is: a = v
2
/r, where v is the objects speed and r is the radius of the circle. (If you
dont know what centripetal acceleration is, dont worry; youll learn about it during this
course.) If an object is moving in a circle with radius 8.2 at a speed of 27, what is its
centripetal acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 70 (b) 82
*(c) 89 (d) 98
(e) None of these
Solution: a =
v
2
r
=
(27)
2
8.2
= 89
56
ground is: v =
gravitational acceleration is, dont worry; youll learn about it during this course.) If
an object is dropped from a height of 23, and the gravitational acceleration is 32, what
is the speed with which the object hits the ground? Round your answer to the nearest
integer.
(a) 31 (b) 35
*(c) 38 (d) 42
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
_
2gh =
_
2(32)(23) = 38
ground is: v =
an object is dropped from a height of 39, and the gravitational acceleration is 9.8, what
integer.
(a) 20 (b) 22
(c) 25 *(d) 28
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
_
2gh =
_
2(9.8)(39) = 28
ground is: v =
object is dropped from a height of 120, and the gravitational acceleration is 32, what
integer.
(a) 71 (b) 79
*(c) 88 (d) 96
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
_
2gh =
_
2(32)(120) = 88
57
ground is: v =
an object is dropped from a height of 56, and the gravitational acceleration is 9.8, what
integer.
*(a) 33 (b) 36
(c) 40 (d) 44
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
_
2gh =
_
2(9.8)(56) = 33
2.3.2 Functions of three variables
Non-calculator based problems
Problem 164. The speed of an object is given by the formula: v = v
0
+at, where v
0
is
the initial speed, a is the acceleration, and t is the time. What is the speed of an object
if v
0
= 3, a = 2, and t = 5?
(a) 10 *(b) 13
(c) 25 (d) 30
(e) None of these
Solution: v = v
0
+at = 3 + (2)(5) = 3 + 10 = 13
0
+at, where v
0
is
if v
0
= 2, a = 3, and t = 5?
*(a) 17 (b) 19
(c) 25 (d) 27
(e) None of these
Solution: v = v
0
+at = 2 + (3)(5) = 2 + 15 = 17
0
+at, where v
0
is
if v
0
= 5, a = 2, and t = 3?
*(a) 11 (b) 21
(c) 25 (d) 30
(e) None of these
Solution: v = v
0
+at = 5 + (2)(3) = 5 + 6 = 11
58
Problem 167. The force exerted by a stretched spring is given by the formula: F =
k(x x
0
), where k is the spring constant, x is the stretched length of the spring, and x
0
is its unstretched length. (You will learn about forces and spring constants during this
course.) What is the force F if k = 10, x = 5, and x
0
= 4?
*(a) 10 (b) 45
(c) 46 (d) 90
(e) None of these
Solution: F = k(x x
0
) = 10(5 4) = 10 1 = 10
k(x x
0
0
0
= 4?
(a) 10 *(b) 30
(c) 46 (d) 60
(e) None of these
Solution: F = k(x x
0
) = 5(10 4) = 5 6 = 30
k(x x
0
0
0
= 5?
(a) 10 *(b) 20
(c) 35 (d) 40
(e) None of these
Solution: F = k(x x
0
) = 4(10 5) = 4 5 = 20
Problem 170. The mass of a cylindrical weight is given by the formula: m = r
2
l,
where r is the weights radius, l is its length, and is its density. (You will learn about
mass and density in this course. You will also learn a number of Greek letters, including
, which is rho.) What is the mass of such a weight if its radius is 2, its length is 3,
and its density is 5?
(a) 10 (b) 30
*(c) 60 (d) 90
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l = (2
2
)(3)(5) = (4)(3)(5) = 60
59
2
l,
(a) 10 (b) 30
(c) 60 *(d) 90
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l = (3
2
)(2)(5) = (9)(2)(5) = 90
2
l,
(a) 10 (b) 30
(c) 60 *(d) 90
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l = (3
2
)(5)(2) = (9)(5)(2) = 90
Calculator-based problems
0
+at, where v
0
is
if v
0
= 12, a = 1.8, and t = 14? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 30 (b) 33
*(c) 37 (d) 41
(e) None of these
Solution: v = v
0
+at = 12 + (1.8)(14) = 37
0
+at, where v
0
is
if v
0
= 45, a = 2.9, and t = 8.3? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 62 *(b) 69
(c) 76 (d) 84
(e) None of these
Solution: v = v
0
+at = 45 + (2.9)(8.3) = 69
60
0
+at, where v
0
is
if v
0
= 28, a = 2.1, and t = 5.6? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 15 *(b) 16
(c) 18 (d) 20
(e) None of these
Solution: v = v
0
+at = 28 + (2.1)(5.6) = 16
k(x x
0
0
0
= 12? Round your answer to the
nearest integer.
(a) 143 (b) 159
(c) 176 *(d) 196
(e) None of these
Solution: F = k(x x
0
) = (28)(19 12) = 196
k(x x
0
0
course.) What is the force F if k = 1700, x = 0.23, and x
0
= 0.19? Round your answer
to the nearest integer.
*(a) 68 (b) 75
(c) 82 (d) 91
(e) None of these
Solution: F = k(x x
0
) = (1700)(0.23 0.19) = 68
k(x x
0
0
course.) What is the force F if k = 2700, x = 0.41, and x
0
= 0.34? Round your answer
to the nearest integer.
(a) 153 (b) 170
*(c) 189 (d) 208
(e) None of these
Solution: F = k(x x
0
) = (2700)(0.41 0.34) = 189
61
2
l,
, which is rho.) What is the mass of such a weight if its radius is 1.7, its length is
5.1, and its density is 7.9? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
(a) 296 (b) 329
*(c) 366 (d) 402
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l = (1.7)
2
(5.1)(7.9) = 366
2
l,
1.1, and its density is 8.8? Round your answer to one decimal place.
*(a) 3.1 (b) 3.5
(c) 3.8 (d) 4.2
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l = (0.32)
2
(1.1)(8.8) = 3.1
2
l,
1.8, and its density is 19.3? Round your answer to the nearest integer.
*(a) 33 (b) 36
(c) 40 (d) 44
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l = (0.55)
2
(1.8)(19.3) = 33
62
2.4 Solving linear equations
2.4.1 Linear equations with numerical solutions
Problem 182. If 7x + 11 = 8, nd x. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) x < 1 *(b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 (d) x 1
(e) None of these
Solution: 7x + 11 = 8
11
7x = 3
7
x =
3
7
Hence 1 x < 0
Problem 183. If 9x 11 = 7, nd x. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 *(d) x 1
(e) None of these
Solution: 9x 11 = 7
+11
9x = 18
9
x =
18
9
= 2
Hence x 1
(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 *(d) x 1
(e) None of these
3
5x = 7
5
x =
7
5
Hence x 1
Problem 185. If 3x 2 = 9, nd x. Which of the following statements is true?
*(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 (d) x 1
(e) None of these
Solution: 3x 2 = 9
+2
3x = 7
3
x =
7
3
Hence x < 1
63
(a) x < 1 *(b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 (d) x 1
(e) None of these
5
4x = 3
(4)
x =
3
4
Hence 1 x < 0
Problem 187. If 5x 7 = 3x + 8, nd x. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 *(d) x 1
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to collect all the terms with x on one side of the equation, and
all of the terms with no x on the other.
5x 7 = 3x + 8
3x
2x 7 = 8
+7
2x = 15
2
x =
15
2
Hence x 1
*(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 (d) x 1
(e) None of these
2x 4 = 5x + 7
5x
3x 4 = 7
+4
3x = 11
(3)
x =
11
3
Hence x < 1
Problem 189. If 3x 8 = x 11, nd x. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
*(c) 0 x < 1 (d) x 1
(e) None of these
3x 8 = x 11
x
4x 8 = 11
+8
4x = 3
(4)
x =
3
4
Hence 0 x < 1
64
*(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
(c) 0 x < 1 (d) x 1
(e) None of these
3x 4 = 2x + 7
2x
5x 4 = 7
+4
5x = 11
(5)
x =
11
5
Hence x < 1
Problem 191. If x + 7 = 4x + 9, nd x. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) x < 1 (b) 1 x < 0
*(c) 0 x < 1 (d) x 1
(e) None of these
x + 7 = 4x + 9
+4x
5x + 7 = 9
7
5x = 2
5
x =
2
5
Hence 0 x < 1
2.4.2 Linear equations with variable-expression solutions
Problem 192. If PV = nRT, nd P.
(a) P =
V
nRT
*(b) P =
nRT
V
(c) P = V nRT (d) P = nRT V
(e) None of these
Solution: PV = nRT
V
P =
nRT
V
Problem 193. If PV = nRT, nd T.
*(a) T =
PV
nR
(b) T =
nR
PV
(c) T = PV nR (d) T = nR PV
(e) None of these
Solution: PV = nRT
switch sides
nRT = PV
nR
T =
PV
nR
65
Problem 194. If m = r
2
l, nd .
(a) = mr
2
l (b) = r
2
l m
*(c) =
m
r
2
l
(d) =
r
2
l
m
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l
switch sides
r
2
l = m
r
2
l
=
m
r
2
l
Problem 195. If m = r
2
l, nd l.
(a) l = mr
2
(b) l = r
2
m
*(c) l =
m
r
2
(d) l =
r
2
m
(e) None of these
Solution: m = r
2
l
switch sides
r
2
l = m
r
2
l =
m
r
2
Problem 196. If v = v
0
+at, nd v
0
.
(a) v
0
=
v
at
(b) v
0
=
v
at
(c) v
0
= v +at *(d) v
0
= v at
(e) None of these
Solution: v = v
0
+at
switch sides
v
0
+at = v
at
v
0
= v at
0
+at, nd a.
*(a) a =
v v
0
t
(b) a =
v
t
v
0
(c) a =
vt v
0
t
(d) a = v
v
0
t
(e) None of these
Solution: v
0
+at = v
v
0
at = v v
0
t
a =
v v
0
t
0
+at, nd t.
(a) t =
v
a
v
0
(b) t =
va v
0
a
(c) t = v
v
0
a
*(d) t =
v v
0
a
(e) None of these
Solution: v
0
+at = v
v
0
at = v v
0
a
t =
v v
0
a
66
Problem 199. If F = k(x x
0
), nd k.
(a) k =
x
0
x
F
(b) k =
x x
0
F
(c) k =
F
x
0
x
*(d) k =
F
x x
0
(e) None of these
Solution: k(x x
0
) = F
(xx
0
)
k =
F
x x
0
0
), nd x.
(a) x =
k F
x
0
*(b) x =
F +kx
0
k
(c) x = F kx
0
(d) x = F +kx
0
(e) None of these
Solution: Here, its a good idea to start by expanding the expression to get rid of
the parentheses.
F = k(x x
0
) = kx kx
0
+kx
0
kx = F +kx
0
k
x =
F +kx
0
k
0
), nd x
0
.
*(a) x
0
=
kx F
k
(b) x
0
=
F +kx
k
(c) x
0
=
F x
k
(d) x
0
=
F +x
k
(e) None of these
Solution: Here, its a good idea to start by expanding the expression to get rid of
the parentheses.
F = k(x x
0
) = kx kx
0
kx
kx
0
= F kx
(k)
x
0
=
F kx
k
=
kx F
k
67
2.5 Solving systems of linear equations
Problem 202. For the following pair of equations, nd x and y:
5x 2y = 1
2x +y = 2
What is the product xy?
(a) xy = 48 (b) xy = 60
(c) xy = 48 *(d) xy = 60
(e) None of these
Solution: There are two dierent approaches that we can use to solve this. Well go
through both.
The rst approach is to solve one of the equations for one of the variables, then to
substitute that expression into the other equation. In this case, since y has a coecient
of 1 in the second equation, its easy to solve it for y:
2x +y = 2
+2x
y = 2x + 2
Now substitute this into the rst equation:
5x 2y = 1
y=2x+2
5x 2(2x + 2) = 1
simplify
x 4 = 1
+4
x = 5
Now that we know x, we can substitute into the expression for y:
y = 2x + 2 = 2(5) + 2 = 12
Its always a good idea to check your solutions in the original equations:
5x 2y = 5(5) 2(12) = 25 24 = 1 2x +y = 2(5) + 12 = 10 + 12 = 2
Then xy = (5)(12) = 60.
68
The second approach is to multiply one or both of the equations by constants so that the
coecient of one of the variables is the same in both equations (up to sign); then add
or subtract the two equations to eliminate that variable. In this case, if we multiply the
second equation by 2, we can eliminate y.
5x 2y = 1 5x 2y = 1
2x +y = 2
2
4x + 2y = 4
add
x + 0y = 5 x = 5
Now we can substitute this value into either of the original two equations and solve for
y. Since the coecient of y in the second equation is 1, its easiest to use that one:
2x +y = 2
+2x
y = 2x + 2 = 2(5) + 2 = 12
2x +y = 4
3x + 2y = 12
*(a) xy = 48 (b) xy = 60
(c) xy = 48 (d) xy = 60
(e) None of these
69
through both.
of 1 in the rst equation, its easy to solve it for y:
2x +y = 4
2x
y = 2x + 4
Now substitute this into the second equation:
3x + 2y = 12
y=2x+4
3x + 2(2x + 4) = 12
simplify
x + 8 = 12
8
x = 4
(1)
x = 4
y = 2x + 4 = 2(4) + 4 = 12
2x +y = 2(4) + 12 = 4 3x + 2y = 3(4) + 2(12) = 12
Then xy = (4)(12) = 48.
rst equation by 2, we can eliminate y.
2x +y = 4
2
4x + 2y = 8
3x + 2y = 12 3x + 2y = 12
subtract
x + 0y = 4 x = 4
y. Since the coecient of y in the rst equation is 1, its easiest to use that one:
2x +y = 4
2x
y = 2x + 4 = 2(4) + 4 = 12
70
6x +y = 2
x y = 23
(a) xy = 48 *(b) xy = 60
(c) xy = 48 (d) xy = 60
(e) None of these
through both.
substitute that expression into the other equation. In this case, its easy to solve the
second equation for x:
x y = 23
+y
x = y + 23
6x +y = 2
x=y+23
6(y + 23) +y = 2
simplify
7y + 138 = 2
138
7y = 140
7
y = 20
Now that we know y, we can substitute into the expression for x:
x = y + 23 = 20 + 23 = 3
6x +y = 6(3) + (20) = 18 20 = 2 x y = 3 (20) = 3 + 20 = 23
Then xy = (3)(20) = 60.
or subtract the two equations to eliminate that variable. In this case, we dont have to
multiply by constants: we can add the two equations and eliminate y.
6x +y = 2
x y = 23
add
7x + 0y = 21 7x = 21
7
x = 3
6x +y = 2
6x
y = 6x 2 = 6(3) 2 = 18 2 = 20
71
x +y = 2
3x 2y = 2
(a) xy = 48 (b) xy = 60
*(c) xy = 48 (d) xy = 60
(e) None of these
through both.
x +y = 2
+x
y = x + 2
3x 2y = 2
y=x+2
3x 2(x + 2) = 2
simplify
x 4 = 2
+4
x = 6
y = x + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8
x +y = 6 + 8 = 2 3x 2y = 3(6) 2(8) = 18 16 = 2
Then xy = (6)(8) = 48.
rst equation by 2, we can eliminate y.
x +y = 2
2
2x + 2y = 4
3x 2y = 2 3x 2y = 2
add
x + 0y = 6 x = 6
x +y = 2
+x
y = x + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8
72
x +y = 15
2x + 3y = 0
*(a) xy = 54 (b) xy = 56
(c) xy = 54 (d) xy = 56
(e) None of these
through both.
x +y = 15
+x
y = x + 15
2x + 3y = 0
y=x+15
2x + 3(x + 15) = 0
simplify
5x + 45 = 0
45
5x = 45
5
x = 9
y = x + 15 = 9 + 15 = 6
x +y = (9) + 6 = 9 + 6 = 15 2x + 3y = 2(9) + 3(6) = 18 + 18 = 0
Then xy = (9)(6) = 54.
73
rst equation by 2, we can eliminate x.
x +y = 15
2
2x + 2y = 30
2x + 3y = 0 2x + 3y = 0
add
0x + 5y = 30 5y = 30
5
y = 6
y. Well choose the second equation, because of the zero on the right:
2x + 3y = 0
3y
2x = 3y
2
x =
3y
2
=
3(6)
2
= 9
x + 3y = 2
2x + 5y = 8
(a) xy = 54 *(b) xy = 56
(c) xy = 54 (d) xy = 56
(e) None of these
74
through both.
substitute that expression into the other equation. In this case, since x has a coecient
of 1 in the rst equation, its easy to solve it for x:
x + 3y = 2
3y
x = 3y + 2
2x + 5y = 8
x=3y+2
2(3y + 2) + 5y = 8
simplify
y + 4 = 8
4
y = 4
(1)
y = 4
x = 3y + 2 = 3(4) + 2 = 12 + 2 = 14
x + 3y = 14 + 3(4) = 14 12 = 2 2x + 5y = 2(14) + 5(4) = 28 20 = 8
Then xy = (14)(4) = 56.
rst equation by 2, we can eliminate x.
x + 3y = 2
2
2x + 6y = 4
2x + 5y = 8 2x + 5y = 8
subtract
0x +y = 4 y = 4
y. Since the coecient of x in the rst equation is 1, its easiest to use that one:
x + 3y = 2
3y
x = 3y + 2 = 3(4) + 2 = 12 + 2 = 14
75
5x y = 3
3x +y = 9
(a) xy = 54 (b) xy = 56
*(c) xy = 54 (d) xy = 56
(e) None of these
through both.
of 1 in the second equation, its easy to solve it for y:
3x +y = 9
+3x
y = 3x + 9
5x y = 3
y=3x+9
5x (3x + 9) = 3
simplify
2x 9 = 3
+9
2x = 6
2
x = 3
y = 3x + 9 = 3(3) + 9 = 18
5x y = 5(3) 18 = 15 18 = 3 3x +y = 3(3) + 18 = 9 + 18 = 9
Then xy = (3)(18) = 54.
76
5x y = 3
3x +y = 9
add
2x + 0y = 6 2x = 6
2
x = 3
y. Since the coecient of y in the second equation is 1, its easiest to use that one:
3x +y = 9
+3x
y = 3x + 9 = 3(3) + 9 = 9 + 9 = 18
x +y = 15
x y = 1
(a) xy = 54 (b) xy = 56
(c) xy = 54 *(d) xy = 56
(e) None of these
through both.
substitute that expression into the other equation. Well solve the second equation for x:
x y = 1
+y
x = y + 1
x +y = 15
x=y+1
(y + 1) +y = 15
simplify
2y + 1 = 15
1
2y = 14
2
y = 7
x = y + 1 = 7 + 1 = 8
x +y = 8 + 7 = 15 x y = 8 7 = 1
Then xy = (8)(7) = 56.
77
x +y = 15
x y = 1
add
2x + 0y = 16 2x = 16
2
x = 8
y. Well use the rst equation:
x +y = 15
x
y = x + 15 = 8 + 15 = 7
78
2.6 Solving quadratic equations
2.6.1 Factoring quadratic equations
Problem 210. Solve the equation: x
2
2bx + b
2
= 0. There are two solutions, x
1
and
x
2
, with x
1
x
2
. (It is possible that x
1
= x
2
.) What is the dierence x
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 (b) x
1
x
2
= 2b
(c) x
1
x
2
= 2b (d) x
1
x
2
= 1
(e) None of these
Solution: We can solve this by factoring, then by setting each factor equal to zero.
x
2
2bx +b
2
= 0
Factor: (x b)(x b) = (x b)
2
= 0 (a perfect square)
Set factors equal to zero: x b = 0 (a double root)
Solve: x
1
= b and x
2
= b
Answer: x
1
x
2
= b b = 0
2
11x + 28 = 0. There are two solutions, x
1
and
x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 *(b) x
1
x
2
= 3
(c) x
1
x
2
= 8 (d) x
1
x
2
= 11
(e) None of these
x
2
11x + 28 = 0
Factor: (x 7)(x 4) = 0
Set factors equal to zero: x 7 = 0 or x 4 = 0
Solve: x
1
= 7 and x
2
= 4
Answer: x
1
x
2
= 7 4 = 3
79
2
+ 4x 21 = 0. There are two solutions, x
1
and
x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 (b) x
1
x
2
= 4
*(c) x
1
x
2
= 10 (d) x
1
x
2
= 17
(e) None of these
x
2
+ 4x 21 = 0
Factor: (x 3)(x + 7) = 0
Set factors equal to zero: x 3 = 0 or x + 7 = 0
Solve: x
1
= 3 and x
2
= 7
Answer: x
1
x
2
= 3 (7) = 10
2
3x 18 = 0. There are two solutions, x
1
and
x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 (b) x
1
x
2
= 3
(c) x
1
x
2
= 6 *(d) x
1
x
2
= 9
(e) None of these
x
2
3x 18 = 0
Factor: (x 6)(x + 3) = 0
Solve: x
1
= 6 and x
2
= 3
Answer: x
1
x
2
= 6 (3) = 9
2
+ 8x + 15 = 0. There are two solutions, x
1
and
x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 *(b) x
1
x
2
= 2
(c) x
1
x
2
= 7 (d) x
1
x
2
= 8
(e) None of these
x
2
+ 8x + 15 = 0
Factor: (x + 3)(x + 5) = 0
Set factors equal to zero: x + 3 = 0 or x + 5 = 0
Solve: x
1
= 3 and x
2
= 5
Answer: x
1
x
2
= 3 (5) = 2
80
Problem 215. Solve the equation: 2x
2
5x + 3 = 0. There are two solutions, x
1
and
x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 *(b) x
1
x
2
=
1
2
(c) x
1
x
2
=
3
2
(d) x
1
x
2
=
5
2
(e) None of these
2x
2
5x + 3 = 0
Factor: (2x 3)(x 1) = 0
Set factors equal to zero: 2x 3 = 0 or x 1 = 0
Solve: x
1
=
3
2
and x
2
= 1
Answer: x
1
x
2
=
3
2
1 =
3
2

2
2
=
1
2
Problem 216. Solve the equation: 2x
2
+ 11x + 5 = 0. There are two solutions, x
1
and
x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 (b) x
1
x
2
=
5
2
(c) x
1
x
2
= 3 *(d) x
1
x
2
=
9
2
(e) None of these
2x
2
+ 11x + 5 = 0
Factor: (2x + 1)(x + 5) = 0
Set factors equal to zero: 2x + 1 = 0 or x + 5 = 0
Solve: x
1
=
1
2
and x
2
= 5
Answer: x
1
x
2
=
1
2
(5) =
1
2
+
10
2
=
9
2
81
2
4x = 5. There are two solutions, x
1
and x
2
,
with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 (b) x
1
x
2
= 1
(c) x
1
x
2
= 4 *(d) x
1
x
2
= 6
(e) None of these
Solution: First, we need an equation with zero on one side. We can then solve by
factoring, then by setting each factor equal to zero.
x
2
4x = 5
5
x
2
4x 5 = 0
Factor: (x 5)(x + 1) = 0
Solve: x
1
= 5 and x
2
= 1
Answer: x
1
x
2
= 5 (1) = 6
2
+ 7x = 10. There are two solutions, x
1
and x
2
,
with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
1
x
2
?
(a) x
1
x
2
= 0 *(b) x
1
x
2
= 3
(c) x
1
x
2
= 5 (d) x
1
x
2
= 7
(e) None of these
Solution: First, we need an equation with zero on one side. We can then solve by
factoring, then by setting each factor equal to zero.
x
2
+ 7x = 10
+10
x
2
+ 7x + 10 = 0
Factor: (x + 2)(x + 5) = 0
Set factors equal to zero: x + 2 = 0 or x + 5 = 0
Solve: x
1
= 2 and x
2
= 5
Answer: x
1
x
2
= 2 (5) = 2 + 5 = 3
82
2.6.2 Quadratic formula
Problem 219. Use a calculator or equivalent to solve the equation:
1.1x
2
+ 3.4x 5.5 = 0
There are two solutions, x
1
and x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
.) Which
of the following statements is true of the larger solution x
1
?
(a) x
1
< 1 *(b) 1 x
1
< 1.5
(c) 1.5 x
1
< 2 (d) 2 x
1
(e) No real solution
Solution: We will need the quadratic formula to solve this equation:
x =
b
b
2
4ac
2a
Since
b
2
4ac 0, if its not imaginary, and a > 0, the larger solution is
x
1
=
b +
b
2
4ac
2a
=
3.4 +
_
(3.4)
2
4(1.1)(5.5)
2(1.1)
1.2 1 x
1
< 1.5
2.4x
2
+ 3.7x 0.61 = 0
1
and x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
.) Which
1
?
(a) x
1
< 1 (b) 1 x
1
< 0
*(c) 0 x
1
< 1 (d) 1 x
1
x =
b
b
2
4ac
2a
Since
b
2
x
1
=
b +
b
2
4ac
2a
=
3.7 +
_
(3.7)
2
4(2.4)(0.61)
2(2.4)
0.15 0 x
1
< 1
83
0.82x
2
2.9x + 0.32 = 0
1
and x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
.) Which
1
?
(a) x
1
< 1 (b) 1 x
1
< 0.5
(c) 0.5 x
1
< 0 *(d) 0 x
1
x =
b
b
2
4ac
2a
Since
b
2
x
1
=
b +
b
2
4ac
2a
=
2.9 +
_
(2.9)
2
4(0.82)(0.32)
2(0.82)
3.4 0 x
1
1.7x
2
+ 8.9x 0.77 = 0
1
and x
2
, with x
1
x
2
1
= x
2
.) Which
1
?
(a) x
1
< 2 (b) 2 x
1
< 0
*(c) 0 x
1
< 2 (d) 2 x
1
x =
b
b
2
4ac
2a
Since
b
2
4ac 0, if its not imaginary, the larger solution is
x
1
=
b +
b
2
4ac
2a
=
8.9 +
_
(8.9)
2
4(1.7)(0.77)
2(1.7)
0.085 0 x
1
< 2
84
2.7 Algebra word problems
Problem 223. The length of a carpet is 3 feet greater than its width. The area of the
carpet is 80 square feet. Which of the following equations describes the carpets width?
*(a) w
2
+ 3w 80 = 0 (b) w
2
3w + 80 = 0
(c) w
2
20 = 0 (d) w
2
+ 20 = 0
(e) None of these
Solution: If w is the carpets width, then the length is l = w + 3. Then
A = lw = w(w + 3) = w
2
+ 3w = 80 w
2
+ 3w 80 = 0
Problem 224. A window is twice as long as it is wide. The area of the window is 40
square feet. Which of the following equations describes the windows length?
(a) 3l
2
40 = 0 (b) l
2
20 = 0
(c) l
2
120 = 0 *(d) l
2
80 = 0
(e) None of these
Solution: Let l be the windows length and w its width. Since l = 2w, we know that
w = l/2. Hence
A = lw = l
l
2
=
l
2
2
= 40 l
2
= 80 l
2
80 = 0
Problem 225. In the physics lab, you nd two circular pieces of sheet metal. The radius
of one of the circles is 3 centimeters greater than the radius of the other. The area of
the larger circle is twice the area of the smaller one. Which of the following equations
describes the radius of the smaller circle?
*(a) r
2
6r 9 = 0 (b) r
2
3r 9 = 0
(c) r
2
+ 6r + 9 = 0 (d) r
2
+ 3r + 9 = 0
(e) None of these
Solution: Let r be the radius of the smaller circle. Then r + 3 is the radius of the
larger one. The area of the small circle is r
2
; the area of the large circle is (r + 3)
2
.
Since the area of the large circle is twice the area of the small one,
(r + 3)
2
= 2r
2
(r + 3)
2
= 2r
2
r
2
+ 6r + 9 = 2r
2
r
2
6r 9 = 0
85
Problem 226. A rectangular window is twice as long as it is wide. If its length were
increased by 3 feet and its width were decreased by 1 foot, it would have the same area.
Which of the following equations describes the windows width?
(a) w
2
w + 3 = 0 *(b) w 3 = 0
(c) w
2
+w 3 = 0 (d) w
2
w 3 = 0
(e) None of these
Solution: Let w be the windows width. Then its length is l = 2w. Its area is
lw = (2w)w = 2w
2
. Decreasing the width by 1 and increasing the length by 3 gives an
area of (w 1)(2w + 3). Hence
2w
2
= (w 1)(2w + 3) = 2w
2
+w 3 w 3 = 0
Problem 227. The distance from Tucson to Phoenix is 120 miles. You want to drive
there and back at an average speed of 60 miles per hour. Because of trac congestion,
your average speed from Tucson to Phoenix is 40 mph. How fast do you have to drive
on the return trip?
(a) 60 miles per hour (b) 80 miles per hour
(c) 90 miles per hour *(d) 120 miles per hour
(e) None of these
Solution: The round-trip distance is 240 miles. If you drive that distance at an
average speed of 60 miles per hour, then the time that it will take is 240/60 = 4 hours.
If your average speed from Tucson to Phoenix is 40 mph, then the time for that leg of
the trip is 120/40 = 3 hours. Hence you have 4 3 = 1 hour for the return trip. This
means you will have to cover 120 miles in 1 hour, so your speed must be 120 miles per
hour.
Problem 228. You drive 40 miles at 60 miles per hour, then bicycle an additional 10
miles at 12 miles per hour. What is your average speed for the entire trip?
*(a) 33
1
3
miles per hour (b) 36 miles per hour
(c) 50 miles per hour (d) 50.4 miles per hour
(e) None of these
Solution: Your average speed for the trip is the total distance divided by the total
time. The total distance is 40 + 10 = 50 miles. The total time is
40 miles
60 miles/hr
+
10 miles
12 miles/hr
=
2
3
+
5
6
=
9
6
=
3
2
hours
Hence the average speed is
50 miles
3
2
hours
= 50
2
3
=
100
3
= 33
1
3
miles per hour
86
Problem 229. A boat moves at 5 miles per hour in still water. It is launched in a river
that ows at 3 miles per hour. From its launch point, it goes downstream for 4 miles,
then turns around and comes back upstream to the launch point. How long does the
round trip take?
(a)
4
5
hours (b)
8
5
hours
(c) 2 hours *(d)
5
2
hours
(e) None of these
Solution: The time for the round trip is the time that it takes to go downstream at
5 +3 = 8 miles per hour, plus the time that it takes to come back upstream at 5 3 = 2
miles per hour. Thus
t =
4 miles
8 miles/hour
+
4 miles
2 miles/hour
=
1
2
+ 2 =
5
2
hours
Problem 230. An airplane ies at a speed of 80 miles per hour in still air. On a day
when the wind is blowing from the north at 20 miles per hour, the airplane ies 200 miles
straight north, then turns around and returns to its starting point. What is its average
speed on the round trip?
(a) 64 miles per hour (b) 66
2
3
miles per hour
*(c) 75 miles per hour (d) 80 miles per hour
(e) None of these
Solution: The average speed for the round trip is the total distance divided by the
total time. The total distance is 2 200 = 400 miles. The total time is
200
80 20
+
200
80 + 20
=
200
60
+
200
100
=
10
3
+ 2 =
16
3
hours
Hence the average speed is
400 miles
16
3
hours
= 400
3
16
= 75 miles/hour
87
Problem 231. A runner and a bicyclist start from the same point at the same time,
with the runner going straight north and the bicyclist going straight south. The bicyclist
is 7 miles per hour faster than the runner. At the end of two hours, the two are 60 miles
apart. What is the bicyclists speed?
(a) 11
1
2
miles per hour (b) 14 miles per hour
*(c) 18
1
2
miles per hour (d) 23 miles per hour
(e) None of these
Solution: Let b be the bicyclists speed. Then the runners speed is b 7. Since the
two are going in opposite directions, after two hours the distance between them is
2b + 2(b 7) = 4b 14 = 60 miles b =
60 + 14
4
=
37
2
= 18
1
2
miles/hour
Problem 232. You drive from Smithtown to Jonesville at a speed of v, making the
trip in time t. On the return trip, you are able to drive 10 miles per hour faster, which
shortens your travel time by one hour. Which of the following equations is true?
(a) (v 10)t = v(t + 1) (b) (v + 10)t = v(t 1)
(c) (v 10)(t + 1) = vt *(d) (v + 10)(t 1) = vt
(e) None of these
Solution: On the rst leg of the trip, your speed is v and your time is t. On the
return leg, your speed is v + 10 and your time is t 1. The distance is the same in each
direction; so
vt = (v + 10)(t 1)
88
3 Graphs
3.1 Single points on graphs
Problem 233. The graph at right shows four points
labelled with letters. The points are
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
Which of the four points is (3, 3)?
(a) A *(b) B
(c) C (d) D
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
Solution: Each of the four points is in a dierent quadrant, so we can use that to
identify them. Point A is in the second quadrant, with a negative x-coordinate and a
positive y-coordinate. It must be (6, 5). Point B is in the rst quadrant; its x- and
y-coordinates are both positive. It must be (3, 3). Point C is in the third quadrant; its
x- and y-coordinates are both negative. It must be (4, 2). Point D is in the fourth
quadrant; it has a positive x-coordinate and a negative y-coordinate. It must be (2, 5).
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
(a) A (b) B
(c) C *(d) D
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
89
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
*(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
(a) A (b) B
*(c) C (d) D
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
90
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
Which of the four points is A?
(a) (3, 3) (b) (2, 5)
*(c) (6, 5) (d) (4, 2)
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
Which of the four points is B?
*(a) (3, 3) (b) (2, 5)
(c) (6, 5) (d) (4, 2)
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
91
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
Which of the four points is C?
(a) (3, 3) (b) (2, 5)
(c) (6, 5) *(d) (4, 2)
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
(3, 3), (2, 5), (6, 5), and (4, 2).
Which of the four points is D?
(a) (3, 3) *(b) (2, 5)
(c) (6, 5) (d) (4, 2)
`
y
x
r
B
r
A
r
C
r
D
92
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
Which of the four points is A?
(a) (2, 2) *(b) (3, 9)
(c) (7, 2) (d) (8, 8)
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
Solution: The point (3, 9) is the only one where the x-coordinate is small and the y-
coordinate is large. That must correspond to A. The point (7, 2) has a large x-coordinate
and a small y-coordinate, so it must correspond to D. For the point (2, 2) the x- and
y-coordinates are both small; that point must be C. For the point (8, 8), the x- and
y-coordinates are both large; that point must be B.
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
Which of the four points is B?
(a) (2, 2) (b) (3, 9)
(c) (7, 2) *(d) (8, 8)
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
93
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
Which of the four points is C?
*(a) (2, 2) (b) (3, 9)
(c) (7, 2) (d) (8, 8)
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
Which of the four points is D?
(a) (2, 2) (b) (3, 9)
*(c) (7, 2) (d) (8, 8)
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
94
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
(a) A (b) B
*(c) C (d) D
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
*(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
95
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
(a) A (b) B
(c) C *(d) D
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
(2, 2), (3, 9), (7, 2), and (8, 8).
(a) A *(b) B
(c) C (d) D
`
y
x
r
C
r
A
r
B
r
D
96
3.2 Matching graphs and equations
Problem 249. Which equation is shown on the
graph at right?
(a) y = 2x
*(b) y = 2x + 1
(c) y = 2x
(d) y = 2x 1
Solution: If the equation of a line is written in
the form: y = mx + b, then m is the slope and b is
the y-intercept.
`
y
The line in the gure has a positive slope (as x increases, y increases) and a positive
y-intercept (when x = 0, y > 0). Of the answers given, only y = 2x + 1 has m > 0 and
b > 0.
graph at right?
*(a) y = 2x
(b) y = 2x + 1
(c) y = 2x
(d) y = 2x 1
the y-intercept.
`
y
The line in the gure has a positive slope (as x increases, y increases) and a y-intercept
of 0 (when x = 0, y = 0). Of the answers given, only y = 2x has m > 0 and b = 0.
graph at right?
(a) y = 2x
(b) y = 2x + 1
*(c) y = 2x
(d) y = 2x 1
the y-intercept.
`
y
x
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
The line in the gure has a negative slope (as x increases, y decreases) and a y-intercept
of 0 (when x = 0, y = 0). Of the answers given, only y = 2x has m < 0 and b = 0.
97
graph at right?
(a) y = 2x
(b) y = 2x + 1
(c) y = 2x
*(d) y = 2x 1
the y-intercept.
`
y
x
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
The line in the gure has a negative slope (as x increases, y increases) and a negative
y-intercept (when x = 0, y < 0). Of the answers given, only y = 2x 1 has m < 0 and
b < 0.
graph at right? (The scale is the same for the x- and
y-axes.)
(a) y = 3x
(b) y = 3x
*(c) y =
x
3
(d) y =
x
3
`
y
Solution: If the equation of a line is written in the form: y = mx + b, then m is the

slope and b is the y-intercept. In this case, all of the possible answers have b = 0, so we
must focus on the slope m.
The line in the gure has a positive slope (as x increases, y increases), so it must be
m = 3 or m = 1/3. Since the value of y increases more slowly than the value of x, m < 1.
Hence m = 1/3; so y = x/3.
98
y-axes.)
*(a) y = 3x
(b) y = 3x
(c) y =
x
3
(d) y =
x
3
`
y
x
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
The line in the gure has a positive slope (as x increases, y increases), so it must be
m = 3 or m = 1/3. Since the value of y increases more rapidly than the value of x,
m > 1. Hence m = 3; so y = 3x.
y-axes.)
(a) y = 3x
(b) y = 3x
(c) y =
x
3
*(d) y =
x
3
`
y

The line in the gure has a negative slope (as x increases, y decreases), so it must be
m = 3 or m = 1/3. Since the value of y decreases more slowly than the value of x
increases, m > 1. Hence m = 1/3; so y = x/3.
99
y-axes.)
(a) y = 3x
*(b) y = 3x
(c) y =
x
3
(d) y =
x
3
`
y
x
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
The line in the gure has a negative slope (as x increases, y decreases), so it must be
m = 3 or m = 1/3. Since the value of y decreases more rapidly than the value of x
increases, m < 1. Hence m = 3; so y = 3x.
Problem 257. The four graphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) below represent four dierent
equations:
y = x + 1 y = x 1 y = x + 1 y = x 1
Which of the four graphs represents y = x + 1?
(a) `
y
(b) `
y
(c) `
y
*(d) `
y
Solution: The equation y = x+1 is written in the form: y = mx+b. Here m = 1 > 0
and b = 1 > 0. Since m > 0, the graph should have a positive slope (as x increases, y
increases). Since b > 0, the graph should have a positive y-intercept (when x = 0, y > 0).
Only graph (d) slopes upward and crosses the y-axis above the x-axis.
100
equations:
y = x + 1 y = x 1 y = x + 1 y = x 1
Which of the four graphs represents y = x 1?
(a) `
y
(b) `
y
*(c) `
y
(d) `
y
Solution: The equation y = x1 is written in the form: y = mx+b. Here m = 1 > 0

and b = 1 < 0. Since m > 0, the graph should have a positive slope (as x increases,
y increases). Since b < 0, the graph should have a negative y-intercept (when x = 0,
y < 0). Only graph (c) slopes upward and crosses the y-axis below the x-axis.
equations:
y = x + 1 y = x 1 y = x + 1 y = x 1
Which of the four graphs represents y = x + 1?
*(a) `
y
(b) `
y
(c) `
y
(d) `
y
Solution: The equation y = x + 1 is written in the form: y = mx + b. Here

m = 1 < 0 and b = 1 > 0. Since m < 0, the graph should have a negative slope (as x
increases, y decreases). Since b > 0, the graph should have a positive y-intercept (when
x = 0, y > 0). Only graph (a) slopes downward and crosses the y-axis above the x-axis.
101
equations:
y = x + 1 y = x 1 y = x + 1 y = x 1
Which of the four graphs represents y = x 1?
(a) `
y
*(b) `
y
(c) `
y
(d) `
y
Solution: The equation y = x 1 is written in the form: y = mx + b. Here

m = 1 < 0 and b = 1 < 0. Since m < 0, the graph should have a negative slope (as x
increases, y decreases). Since b < 0, the graph should have a negative y-intercept (when
x = 0, y < 0). Only graph (b) slopes downward and crosses the y-axis below the x-axis.
graph at right?
(a) y = x
2
+ 1
*(b) y = x
2
1
(c) y = x
2
+ 1
(d) y = x
2
1
`
y
x
Solution: The graph has a negative y-intercept: it crosses the y-axis below the x-axis.
This means that when x = 0, y < 0. That allows us to rule out equations (a) and (c).
In the graph, when x has large absolute values, y > 0. This is consistent with (b), where
the coecient of x
2
is positive; but not with (d), where the coecient of x
2
is negative.
102
graph at right?
(a) y = x
2
+ 1
(b) y = x
2
1
*(c) y = x
2
+ 1
(d) y = x
2
1
`
y
x
Solution: The graph has a positive y-intercept: it crosses the y-axis above the x-axis.
This means that when x = 0, y > 0. That allows us to rule out equations (b) and (d).
In the graph, when x has large absolute values, y < 0. This is consistent with (c), where
the coecient of x
2
is negative, but not with (a), where the coecient of x
2
is positive.
graph at right?
*(a) y = x
2
+ 1
(b) y = x
2
1
(c) y = x
2
+ 1
(d) y = x
2
1
`
y
x
Solution: The graph has a positive y-intercept: it crosses the y-axis above the x-axis.
This means that when x = 0, y > 0. That allows us to rule out equations (b) and (d).
In the graph, when x has large absolute values, y > 0. This is consistent with (a), where
the coecient of x
2
is positive, but not with (c), where the coecient of x
2
is negative.
graph at right?
(a) y = x
2
+ 1
(b) y = x
2
1
(c) y = x
2
+ 1
*(d) y = x
2
1
`
y
x
Solution: The graph has a negative y-intercept: it crosses the y-axis below the x-axis.
This means that when x = 0, y < 0. That allows us to rule out equations (a) and (c).
In the graph, when x has large absolute values, y < 0. This is consistent with (d), where
the coecient of x
2
is negative, but not with (b), where the coecient of x
2
is positive.
103
Problem 265. The four graphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) below are all drawn on the same
scale. They represent four dierent equations:
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
Which of the four graphs represents y = 2x
2
?
(a) `
y
x
(b) `
y
x
(c) `
y
x
*(d) `
y
x
Solution: All four equations have y-intercepts of zero, so that wont help us. In
graphs (a) and (b), y 0 for all values of x. They must represent the two equations
where the coecient of x
2
is negative. That leaves us with graphs (c) and (d), which
must represent the two equations with positive coecients of x
2
. Of these two equations,
the curve of y = 2x
2
will rise faster than the curve of y = x
2
/2: for example, the rst of
these includes the point (1, 2), whereas the second includes the point (1,
1
2
). Hence the
graph of y = 2x
2
is (d).
104
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
Which of the four graphs represents y =
x
2
2
?
(a) `
y
x
(b) `
y
x
*(c) `
y
x
(d) `
y
x
graphs (a) and (b), y 0 for all values of x. They must represent the two equations
2
is negative. That leaves us with graphs (c) and (d), which
must represent the two equations with positive coecients of x
2
. Of these two equations,
the curve of y = 2x
2
will rise faster than the curve of y = x
2
1
2
). Hence the
graph of y = x
2
/2 is (c).
105
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
Which of the four graphs represents y = 2x
2
?
(a) `
y
x
*(b) `
y
x
(c) `
y
x
(d) `
y
x
graphs (c) and (d), y 0 for all values of x. They must represent the two equations
2
is positive. That leaves us with graphs (a) and (b), which must
represent the two equations with negative coecients of x
2
. Of these two equations, the
curve of y = 2x
2
will fall faster than the curve of y = x
2
1
2
). Hence
the graph of y = 2x
2
is (b).
106
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
y = 2x
2
y =
x
2
2
Which of the four graphs represents y =
x
2
2
?
*(a) `
y
x
(b) `
y
x
(c) `
y
x
(d) `
y
x
graphs (c) and (d), y 0 for all values of x. They must represent the two equations
2
is positive. That leaves us with graphs (a) and (b), which must
represent the two equations with negative coecients of x
2
. Of these two equations, the
curve of y = 2x
2
will fall faster than the curve of y = x
2
1
2
). Hence
the graph of y = x
2
/2 is (a).
107
Part II
Mathematical Preliminaries
108
4 Basic Trigonometry
4.1 Arc-Length Problems using s = r
4.1.1 Degrees to radians: formula
Problem 269. An angle measures 29
. What is its measurement in radians?

(a)
29
360
rad *(b)
29
180
rad
(c)
29 360
rad (d)
29 180
rad
(e) None of these

*(a)
47
180
rad (b)
47
360
rad
(c)
47
180
rad (d)
47
2
rad
(e) None of these

*(a)
61
180
rad (b)
61
90
rad
(c)
61
rad (d)
61 360
rad
(e) None of these

(a)
83
rad *(b)
83
180
rad
(c)
83 360
rad (d)
83
2
rad
(e) None of these
109

(a)
19
rad *(b)
19
180
rad
(c)
19 360
rad (d)
19
90
rad
(e) None of these

(a)
53 360
rad (b)
53
2
rad
*(c)
53
180
rad (d)
53
360
rad
(e) None of these

(a)
7 90
rad (b)
7 180
rad
*(c)
7
180
rad (d)
7
2
rad
(e) None of these

(a)
73 180
rad *(b)
73
180
rad
(c)
73 360
rad (d)
73
360
rad
(e) None of these

*(a)
43
180
rad (b)
43 90
rad
(c)
43
360
rad (d)
43
rad
(e) None of these
110

(a)
59 180
rad (b)
59
rad
*(c)
59
180
rad (d)
59
360
rad
(e) None of these
4.1.2 Radians to degrees: formula
Problem 279. An angle measures 0.40 radians. What is its measurement in degrees?
(a)
0.40
360
degrees (b)
0.40
180
degrees
(c)
(0.40)(360)
degrees *(d)
(0.40)(180)
degrees
(e) None of these
(a)
1.06
180
degrees (b)
(1.06)(90)
degrees
(c)
1.06
2
degrees *(d)
(1.06)(180)
degrees
(e) None of these
*(a)
(0.88)(180)
degrees (b)
(0.88)(360)
degrees
(c)
(0.88)(90)
degrees (d)
(0.88)
2
degrees
(e) None of these
(a)
(0.04)(360)
degrees (b)
0.04
360
degrees
(c)
0.04
90
degrees *(d)
(0.04)(180)
degrees
(e) None of these
111
(a)
0.15
degrees (b)
0.15
90
degrees
(c)
0.15
2
degrees *(d)
(0.15)(180)
degrees
(e) None of these
*(a)
(1.34)(180)
degrees (b)
1.34
degrees
(c)
1.34
180
degrees (d)
(1.34)(90)
degrees
(e) None of these
(a)
0.77
2
degrees (b)
0.77
360
degrees
(c)
0.77
degrees *(d)
(0.77)(180)
degrees
(e) None of these
*(a)
(0.12)(180)
degrees (b)
0.12
2
degrees
(c)
(0.12)(360)
degrees (d)
0.12
360
degrees
(e) None of these
(a)
(0.85)(360)
degrees (b)
0.85
degrees
*(c)
(0.85)(180)
degrees (d)
0.85
90
degrees
(e) None of these
(a)
0.34
360
degrees *(b)
(0.34)(180)
degrees
(c)
(0.34)(360)
degrees (d)
0.34
180
degrees
(e) None of these
112
4.1.3 Degrees to radians: calculator
. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

surement in radians. Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 rad.
(a) 1.51 rad *(b) 0.66 rad
(c) 2.65 rad (d) 0.33 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
38
180
= 0.66 rad

(a) 3.04 rad (b) 0.38 rad
*(c) 1.52 rad (d) 6.07 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
87
180
= 1.52 rad

(a) 0.03 rad *(b) 0.12 rad
(c) 0.24 rad (d) 0.49 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
7
180
= 0.12 rad

(a) 0.38 rad (b) 5.03 rad
*(c) 1.26 rad (d) 0.80 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
72
180
= 1.26 rad

(a) 4.77 rad (b) 0.05 rad
*(c) 0.21 rad (d) 0.42 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
12
180
= 0.21 rad
113

(a) 2.93 rad *(b) 1.47 rad
(c) 0.73 rad (d) 0.37 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
84
180
= 1.47 rad

(a) 2.73 rad (b) 0.18 rad
(c) 1.47 rad *(d) 0.37 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
21
180
= 0.37 rad

*(a) 1.31 rad (b) 2.63 rad
(c) 0.65 rad (d) 0.76 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
75
180
= 1.31 rad

(a) 0.55 rad *(b) 1.10 rad
(c) 0.91 rad (d) 3.09 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
63
180
= 1.10 rad

*(a) 0.73 rad (b) 1.36 rad
(c) 1.47 rad (d) 3.10 rad
(e) None of these
Solution:
42
180
= 0.73 rad
114
4.1.4 Radians to degrees: calculator
Problem 299. An angle measures 0.52 rad. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its
measurement in degrees. Round your answer to the nearest degree.
*(a) 30
(b) 7
(c) 119
(d) 15
(e) None of these

Solution:
(0.52)(180)
= 30
(a) 131
(b) 16
(c) 7
*(d) 65
(e) None of these

Solution:
(1.14)(180)
= 65
(a) 57
*(b) 6
(c) 1
(d) 13
(e) None of these

Solution:
(0.11)(180)
= 6
(a) 348
(b) 4
*(c) 87
(d) 10
(e) None of these

Solution:
(1.52)(180)
= 87
(a) 5
*(b) 21
(c) 42
(d) 11
(e) None of these

Solution:
(0.37)(180)
= 21
115
*(a) 51
(b) 7
(c) 102
(d) 13
(e) None of these

Solution:
(0.89)(180)
= 51
(a) 286
(b) 143
*(c) 72
(d) 5
(e) None of these

Solution:
(1.25)(180)
= 72
(a) 151
(b) 4
*(c) 38
(d) 19
(e) None of these

Solution:
(0.66)(180)
= 38
(a) 4
*(b) 99
(c) 50
(d) 36
(e) None of these

Solution:
(1.73)(180)
= 99
(a) 13
(b) 6
(c) 14
*(d) 25
(e) None of these

Solution:
(0.44)(180)
= 25
116
4.1.5 Arc length to radians: pictures
Problem 309. In the gure at right, what is the
measure of the angle ?
(a)
41 rad (b) 3 rad

*(c) 5/4 rad (d) 4/5 rad
(e) None of these
/
/
/
/
/
4
5
(a) 10/9 rad (b)
19 rad
(c) 9/10 rad *(d) 10/9 rad
(e) None of these
9
10
(a) 5/3 rad *(b) 3/5 rad
(c) 4 rad (d) 4 rad
(e) None of these
5
3
*(a) 1 rad (b)
2 rad
(c) 3 rad (d) rad
(e) None of these
9
9
(a)
14 rad (b) 5/7 rad

(c) 5/7 rad *(d) 7/5 rad
(e) None of these
'
'
'
'
'
5
7
117
*(a) 1/3 rad (b)
10 rad
(c) 3 rad (d) /3 rad
(e) None of these
3
1
*(a) 4/9 rad (b) 9/4 rad
(c)
65 rad (d)
97 rad
(e) None of these
>
>
>
>
>
9
4
(a) 4/7 rad *(b) 7/4 rad
(c) 4/7 rad (d)
33 rad
(e) None of these
`
`
`
`
`
4
7
4.1.6 Arc length to radians: descriptions
Problem 317. A circle has a radius of 5 cm. A central angle intercepts an arc whose
length is 4 cm. What is the measure of ?
(a) 3 rad (b) 4/5 rad
(c)
41 rad *(d) 4/5 rad

(e) None of these
*(a) 5/13 rad (b) 5/13 rad
(c)
194 rad (d) 13/5 rad

(e) None of these
118
(a)
34 rad *(b) 5/3 rad

(c) 4 rad (d)
34 rad
(e) None of these
*(a) 7/6 rad (b)
85 rad
(c)
85 rad (d)
13 rad
(e) None of these
*(a) 2/3 rad (b) 3/2 rad
(c) 2/3 rad (d) 2
13 rad
(e) None of these
(a) 1/2 rad *(b) /2 rad
(c) 2 rad (d) 2 rad
(e) None of these
(a) 3 rad *(b) /3 rad
(c) 3 rad (d) 1/3 rad
(e) None of these
Problem 324. A circle has a radius of 15 cm. A central angle intercepts an arc
whose length is 3 cm. What is the measure of ?
(a) /5 rad (b) 5 rad
*(c) 1/5 rad (d) 5 rad
(e) None of these
(a) 2/3 rad (b) 2/3 rad
(c) 3/2 rad *(d) 3/2 rad
(e) None of these
119
(a) 2/3 rad (b) 3 rad
*(c) 1/3 rad (d) 3/2 rad
(e) None of these
4.1.7 Radians to arc length: pictures
Problem 327. In the gure at right, if = 1.4 rad,
what is the arc length s?
*(a) 9.8 cm (b) 5 cm
(c) /5 cm (d) 10 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (7 cm)(1.4) = 9.8 cm
'
'
'
'
'
7 cm
s
Problem 328. In the gure at right, if = 1.2 rad,
(a) 5 cm *(b) 7.2 cm
(c) /5 cm (d) 14.4 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (6 cm)(1.2) = 7.2 cm
/
/
/
/
/
6 cm
s
Problem 329. In the gure at right, if = 4/9 rad,
(a) 27/2 cm *(b) 8/3 cm
(c) 27 cm (d) 2/27 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (6 cm)(4/9) = 8/3 cm
>
>
>
>
>
6 cm
s
(a) 15 cm *(b) 10/3 cm
(c) 15/2 cm (d) 2/15 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (5 cm)(2/3) = 10/3 cm
5 cm
s
120
(a) 9/10 cm (b) 18/5 cm
*(c) 18/5 cm (d) 20/9 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (2 cm)(9/5) = 18/5 cm
\
\
\
\
\
2 cm
s
(a) 5/8 cm (b) 15/4 cm
(c) 12/5 cm *(d) 15/4 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (3 cm)(5/4) = 15/4 cm
/
/
/
/
/
3 cm
s
4.1.8 Radians to arc length: descriptions
Problem 333. A circle has a radius of 10 cm. A central angle has measure = 3/5 rad.
What is the length of the arc intercepted by the angle?
(a) 6/50 cm *(b) 6 cm
(c) 12 cm (d) 6 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (10 cm)(3/5) = 6 cm
(a) /4 cm *(b) 2 cm
(c) 2 cm (d) 4 cm
(e) None of these
Problem 335. A circle has a radius of 5 cm. A central angle has measure = /3 rad.
(a) 2/15 cm *(b) 5/3 cm
(c) 5/3 cm (d) 10/3 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (5 cm)(/3) = 5/3 cm
121
*(a) 3/2 cm (b) 3/2 cm
(c) /24 cm (d) /12 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (6 cm)(/4) = 3/2 cm
(a) 6 cm (b) 3 cm
(c) 2/3 cm *(d) 16/3 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (4 cm)(4/3) = 16/3 cm
*(a) 2 cm (b)
2
/25 cm
(c) 50 cm (d) 2 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: (10 cm)(/5) = 2 cm
(a) /8 cm *(b) 18 cm
(c) 8 cm (d) 1/8 cm
(e) None of these
Problem 340. A circle has a radius of 10 cm. A central angle has measure = 2/5
rad. What is the length of the arc intercepted by the angle?
(a) 2/50 cm (b) 2/25 cm
(c) 25/ cm *(d) 4 cm
(e) None of these
122
4.1.9 Word problems: arc length and radians
Problem 341. A wheel has a radius of 28 inches. It turns through an angle of 1.2 rad.
How far does a point on the rim travel during the turn? Round your answer to the
nearest inch.
(a) 11 in *(b) 34 in
(c) 53 in (d) 106 in
(e) None of these
Solution: s = r = (28 in)(1.2) = 34 in
Problem 342. A wheel has a radius of 71 cm. It turns through an angle of 0.6 rad. How
far does a point on the rim travel during the turn? Round your answer to the nearest
cm.
(a) 7 cm (b) 14 cm
(c) 27 cm *(d) 43 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: s = r = (71 cm)(0.6) = 43 cm
Problem 343. A pizza has a radius of 8.2 inches. A slice cut from the pizza has a central
angle of 0.39 rad. What is the length of the crust on the slice? Round your answer to
the nearest 0.1 in.
(a) 0.5 in (b) 1.0 in
(c) 2.0 in *(d) 3.2 in
(e) None of these
Solution: s = r = (8.2 in)(0.39) = 3.2 in
Problem 344. A pie has a radius of 13 cm. A slice cut from the pie has a central angle
of 0.29 rad. What is the length of the crust on the slice? Round your answer to the
nearest 0.1 cm.
(a) 1.2 cm (b) 2.7 cm
*(c) 3.8 cm (d) 4.1 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: s = r = (13 cm)(0.29) = 3.8 cm
Problem 345. A door measures 34 in from the hinge to the outer edge. It swings
through an angle of 1.4 rad. How far does the outer edge travel? Round your answer to
the nearest inch.
(a) 45 in *(b) 48 in
(c) 51 in (d) 54 in
(e) None of these
Solution: s = r = (34 in)(1.4) = 48 in
123
Problem 346. A wheel has a radius of 63 cm. Two adjacent spokes meet at the center
at an angle of 0.51 rad. How long is the rim between the two spokes? Round your answer
to the nearest cm.
*(a) 32 cm (b) 34 cm
(c) 36 cm (d) 38 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: s = r = (63 cm)(0.51) = 32 cm
Problem 347. A bicycle wheel has a radius of 27 inches. It turns so that a point on the
rim travels 11 inches. What angle has the wheel turned through? Round your answer to
the nearest 0.01 rad.
(a) 0.31 rad (b) 0.35 rad
(c) 0.38 rad *(d) 0.41 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: = s/r = (11 in)/(27 in) = 0.41 rad
Problem 348. A pizza has a radius of 13 cm. A slice cut from the pizza has 10 cm of
crust on the outside. What is the angle of the slice? Round your answer to the nearest
0.01 rad.
(a) 0.70 rad (b) 0.74 rad
*(c) 0.77 rad (d) 0.81 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: = s/r = (10 cm)/(13 cm) = 0.77 rad
124
4.2 Basic Right-Triangle Trigonometry
4.2.1 Basic trig functions: nding
Problem 349. In the gure at right, sin = ?
(a) x/y (b) y/x
*(c) y/r (d) x/r
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 350. In the gure at right, cos = ?

(a) r/y *(b) x/r
(c) r/x (d) y/x
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 351. In the gure at right, tan = ?

*(a) y/x (b) y/r
(c) r/x (d) r/y
(e) None of these
x
y
r

*(a) x/r (b) r/x
(c) y/r (d) y/x
(e) None of these
x
y
r

*(a) y/r (b) r/x
(c) x/r (d) x/y
(e) None of these
x
y
r

(a) y/r (b) r/x
*(c) x/y (d) y/x
(e) None of these
x
y
r
125
(a) 4/3 (b) 3/5
(c) 4/5 *(d) 3/4
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) 5/4 (b) 4/3
(c) 3/5 *(d) 4/5
(e) None of these
4
3
5

*(a) 4/5 (b) 5/3
(c) 3/4 (d) 4/3
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) 5/4 (b) 4/5
(c) 4/3 *(d) 3/5
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) 5/3 (b) 3/5
*(c) 4/3 (d) 5/4
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) 5/3 (b) 5/4
(c) 4/3 *(d) 3/5
(e) None of these
4
3
5
Problem 361. In the gure at right, tan B = ?

(a) c/b *(b) b/c
(c) b/a (d) a/c
(e) None of these
b
c
a
C
B
126
Problem 362. In the gure at right, sin B = ?
(a) c/b *(b) b/a
(c) b/c (d) a/c
(e) None of these
b
c
a
C
B
Problem 363. In the gure at right, cos B = ?
(a) b/c *(b) c/a
(c) a/b (d) b/a
(e) None of these
b
c
a
C
B
Problem 364. In the gure at right, sin C = ?
(a) a/b (b) c/b
*(c) c/a (d) a/c
(e) None of these
b
c
a
C
B
Problem 365. In the gure at right, cos C = ?
(a) a/c (b) a/b
*(c) b/a (d) c/b
(e) None of these
b
c
a
C
B
Problem 366. In the gure at right, tan C = ?
(a) a/b (b) b/c
(c) c/a *(d) c/b
(e) None of these
b
c
a
C
B
(a) u/v (b) w/u
*(c) w/v (d) v/u
(e) None of these
u
w
v

(a) v/w *(b) u/w
(c) u/v (d) w/v
(e) None of these
u
w
v
127
(a) u/w (b) v/w
*(c) w/v (d) w/u
(e) None of these
u
w
v

(a) w/u (b) w/v
*(c) u/v (d) v/w
(e) None of these
u
w
v

(a) v/w *(b) u/v
(c) v/u (d) w/v
(e) None of these
u
w
v

*(a) w/u (b) v/w
(c) u/v (d) v/u
(e) None of these
u
w
v
4.2.2 Basic trig functions: identifying

Problem 373. In the gure at right, y/x = ?
(a) cos (b) 1/ cos
(c) sin *(d) tan
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 374. In the gure at right, y/r = ?

(a) 1/ sin *(b) sin
(c) 1/ tan (d) cos
(e) None of these
x
y
r
128
Problem 375. In the gure at right, x/r = ?
(a) 1/ tan (b) 1/ cos
(c) sin *(d) cos
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 376. In the gure at right, r/x = ?

*(a) 1/ cos (b) 1/ sin
(c) sin (d) 1/ tan
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 377. In the gure at right, r/y = ?

(a) sin *(b) 1/ sin
(c) tan (d) 1/ tan
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 378. In the gure at right, x/y = ?

*(a) 1/ tan (b) 1/ sin
(c) 1/ cos (d) sin
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 379. In the gure at right, y/r = ?

(a) 1/ sin (b) 1/ cos
(c) tan *(d) cos
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 380. In the gure at right, r/x = ?

(a) 1/ cos *(b) 1/ sin
(c) tan (d) sin
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 381. In the gure at right, x/y = ?

(a) 1/ tan (b) 1/ sin
*(c) tan (d) sin
(e) None of these
x
y
r
129
Problem 382. In the gure at right, x/r = ?
(a) 1/ tan *(b) sin
(c) cos (d) 1/ cos
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 383. In the gure at right, r/y = ?

(a) tan (b) sin
(c) 1/ tan *(d) 1/ cos
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 384. In the gure at right, y/x = ?

(a) 1/ cos (b) cos
(c) 1/ sin *(d) 1/ tan
(e) None of these
x
y
r
Problem 385. In the gure at right, 3/4 = ?

(a) 1/ cos *(b) tan
(c) 1/ sin (d) sin
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) sin *(b) 1/ tan
(c) 1/ cos (d) cos
(e) None of these
4
3
5

*(a) 1/ cos (b) cos
(c) 1/ tan (d) sin
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) tan (b) cos
(c) 1/ sin *(d) sin
(e) None of these
4
3
5
130
(a) sin (b) 1/ tan
(c) 1/ cos *(d) 1/ sin
(e) None of these
4
3
5

*(a) cos (b) 1/ sin
(c) 1/ tan (d) 1/ cos
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) 1/ cos *(b) tan
(c) cos (d) sin
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) sin (b) 1/ cos
*(c) cos (d) tan
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) cos (b) tan
(c) 1/ tan *(d) 1/ cos
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) 1/ tan (b) 1/ cos
*(c) 1/ sin (d) tan
(e) None of these
4
3
5

(a) tan (b) 1/ sin
(c) cos *(d) sin
(e) None of these
4
3
5
131
*(a) 1/ tan (b) tan
(c) 1/ cos (d) 1/ sin
(e) None of these
4
3
5
Problem 397. In the gure at right, a/c = ?

*(a) sin A (b) tan A
(c) cos A (d) 1/ cos A
(e) None of these
b
a
c
A
B
Problem 398. In the gure at right, c/b = ?
*(a) 1/ sin B (b) 1/ tan B
(c) cos B (d) sin B
(e) None of these
b
a
c
A
B
Problem 399. In the gure at right, a/b = ?
*(a) tan A (b) cos A
(c) 1/ cos A (d) 1/ sin A
(e) None of these
b
a
c
A
B
Problem 400. In the gure at right, c/a = ?
(a) 1/ tan B (b) sin B
(c) 1/ sin B *(d) 1/ cos B
(e) None of these
b
a
c
A
B
Problem 401. In the gure at right, b/c = ?
(a) tan B *(b) sin B
(c) 1/ cos B (d) 1/ sin B
(e) None of these
b
a
c
A
B
Problem 402. In the gure at right, b/a = ?
(a) 1/ tan B *(b) tan B
(c) 1/ sin B (d) cos B
(e) None of these
b
a
c
A
B
132
Problem 403. In the gure at right, u/v = ?
(a) 1/ tan (b) sin
(c) 1/ cos *(d) 1/ sin
(e) None of these
w
v
u
Problem 404. In the gure at right, w/v = ?

(a) cos *(b) 1/ tan
(c) 1/ cos (d) 1/ sin
(e) None of these
w
v
u
Problem 405. In the gure at right, v/w = ?

(a) sin *(b) 1/ tan
(c) 1/ sin (d) cos
(e) None of these
w
v
u
Problem 406. In the gure at right, w/u = ?

(a) cos *(b) sin
(c) tan (d) 1/ cos
(e) None of these
w
v
u
Problem 407. In the gure at right, u/w = ?

*(a) 1/ sin (b) 1/ tan
(c) cos (d) tan
(e) None of these
w
v
u
Problem 408. In the gure at right, v/u = ?

(a) 1/ sin (b) tan
(c) 1/ tan *(d) sin
(e) None of these
w
v
u
133
4.2.3 Basic trig functions: calculator; radians
Problem 409. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd sin(0.35 rad). Round your answer
to three decimal places.
*(a) 0.343 (b) 1.071
(c) 2.603 (d) 0.359
(e) None of these
Problem 410. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd cos(1.08 rad). Round your answer
(a) 1.871 (b) 0.534
(c) 0.815 *(d) 0.471
(e) None of these
Problem 411. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd tan(0.89 rad). Round your answer
(a) 1.589 (b) 0.629
(c) 1.339 *(d) 1.235
(e) None of these
(a) 0.353 (b) 2.833
(c) 0.211 *(d) 0.936
(e) None of these
*(a) 0.842 (b) 1.853
(c) 0.322 (d) 1.188
(e) None of these
(a) 0.892 *(b) 5.471
(c) 0.507 (d) 1.971
(e) None of these
134
*(a) 0.674 (b) 0.013
(c) 1.354 (d) 0.913
(e) None of these
(a) 1.569 (b) 0.988
*(c) 0.637 (d) 0.771
(e) None of these
(a) 0.565 (b) 0.685
*(c) 1.459 (d) 1.211
(e) None of these
*(a) 0.179 (b) 5.495
(c) 1.288 (d) 0.984
(e) None of these
(a) 0.058 *(b) 0.946
(c) 0.998 (d) 3.086
(e) None of these
(a) 0.399 (b) 0.071
*(c) 0.435 (d) 0.998
(e) None of these
135
4.2.4 Basic trig functions: calculator; degrees
Problem 421. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd sin 37
. Round your answer to

three decimal places.
(a) 0.754 (b) 0.644
*(c) 0.602 (d) 1.327
(e) None of these
Problem 422. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd cos 81

(a) 1.233 (b) 0.630
*(c) 0.156 (d) 0.158
(e) None of these
Problem 423. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd tan 52

(a) 0.163 *(b) 1.280
(c) 0.781 (d) 0.616
(e) None of these

(a) 1.026 (b) 0.031
(c) 0.331 *(d) 0.974
(e) None of these

*(a) 0.875 (b) 1.127
(c) 0.263 (d) 1.143
(e) None of these

(a) 0.846 (b) 0.391
*(c) 0.424 (d) 1.877
(e) None of these
136

*(a) 0.656 (b) 0.869
(c) 1.524 (d) 0.159
(e) None of these

(a) 0.788 *(b) 0.616
(c) 0.624 (d) 1.269
(e) None of these

(a) 2.790 (b) 0.654
(c) 1.071 *(d) 2.605
(e) None of these

(a) 0.958 (b) 0.288
*(c) 0.276 (d) 0.301
(e) None of these

(a) 0.367 (b) 0.555
(c) 0.498 *(d) 0.731
(e) None of these

(a) 6.304 (b) 0.656
(c) 0.987 *(d) 0.869
(e) None of these
137
4.2.5 Using basic trig functions: formulas
Problem 433. In the gure at right, y = ?
(a) r cos *(b) r sin
(c) r/ sin (d) r/ tan
(e) None of these
Solution: y/r = sin ; so y = r sin .
y
r
Problem 434. In the gure at right, x = ?

(a) r sin *(b) r cos
(c) r/ cos (d) r tan
(e) None of these
Solution: x/r = cos ; so x = r cos .
x
r
Problem 435. In the gure at right, x = ?

(a) y cos (b) y tan
(c) y sin *(d) y/ tan
(e) None of these
Solution: y/x = tan ; so x = y/ tan .
x
y
Problem 436. In the gure at right, r = ?

(a) x tan (b) x/ sin
(c) x sin *(d) x/ cos
(e) None of these
Solution: x/r = cos ; so r = x/ cos
x
r
Problem 437. In the gure at right, r = ?

*(a) y/ sin (b) y/ cos
(c) y tan (d) y/ tan
(e) None of these
Solution: y/r = sin ; so r = y/ sin .
y
r
Problem 438. In the gure at right, y = ?

(a) x cos *(b) x tan
(c) x sin (d) x/ sin
(e) None of these
Solution: y/x = tan ; so y = x tan .
x
y
138
Problem 439. In the gure at right, s = ?
(a) 5/ cos (b) 5/ tan
*(c) 5 sin (d) 5/ sin
(e) None of these
Solution: s/5 = sin ; so s = 5 sin .
s
5

*(a) 3/ sin (b) 3/ tan
(c) 3 tan (d) 3 cos
(e) None of these
Solution: 3/s = sin ; so s = 3/ sin .
3
s
Problem 441. In the gure at right, t = ?

(a) 13 tan (b) 13/ tan
(c) (cos )/13 *(d) 13/ cos
(e) None of these
Solution: 13/t = cos ; so t = 13/ cos .
13
t

(a) 8 sin (b) 8/ cos
(c) 8/ tan *(d) 8 cos
(e) None of these
Solution: t/8 = cos ; so t = 8 cos .
t
8
Problem 443. In the gure at right, u = ?

(a) (cos )/9 *(b) 9/ tan
(c) 9 tan (d) (tan )/9
(e) None of these
Solution: 9/u = tan ; so u = 9/ tan .
u
9

(a) (cos )/5 (b) 5/ sin
*(c) 5 tan (d) 5/ cos
(e) None of these
Solution: u/5 = tan ; so u = 5 tan .
5
u

(a) 5 tan (b) (sin )/5
(c) 5/ tan *(d) 5/ cos
(e) None of these
Solution: 5/u = cos ; so u = 5/ cos .
5
u

139
*(a) 9 cos (b) 9/ cos
(c) (sin )/9 (d) 9/ sin
(e) None of these
Solution: s/9 = cos ; so s = 9 cos .
s
9

(a) (sin )/3 *(b) 3/ tan
(c) 3 cos (d) (tan )/3
(e) None of these
Solution: 3/t = tan ; so t = 3/ tan .
3
t

*(a) 8 sin (b) 8/ cos
(c) 8/ sin (d) (tan )/8
(e) None of these
Solution: u/8 = sin ; so u = 8 sin .
u
8

(a) (cos )/3 *(b) 3 tan
(c) (sin )/3 (d) 3 cos
(e) None of these
Solution: s/3 = tan ; so s = 3 tan .
s
3

(a) (cos )/13 (b) (tan )/13
*(c) 13/ sin (d) 13/ cos
(e) None of these
Solution: 13/u = sin ; so u = 13/ sin .
13
u

4.2.6 Using basic trig functions: calculator
Problem 451. In the gure at right, use a calculator
or equivalent to nd s. Round your answer to two
decimal places. (The gure is not necessarily drawn
to scale.)
(a) 11.02 (b) 2.62
*(c) 3.27 (d) 5.40
(e) None of these
Solution: s/6 = cos 57
; so s = 6 cos 57
= 3.27
s
6
57
140
or equivalent to nd t. Round your answer to two
to scale.)
(a) 4.23 *(b) 11.78
(c) 4.60 (d) 12.80
(e) None of these
Solution: 5/t = tan 23
; so t = 5/ tan 23
=
11.78.
t
5
23

or equivalent to nd w. Round your answer to two
to scale.)
(a) 6.79 *(b) 6.63
(c) 4.23 (d) 5.40
(e) None of these
Solution: w/8 = cos 34
; so w = 8 cos 34
= 6.63.
w
8
34

or equivalent to nd u. Round your answer to two
to scale.)
(a) 4.47 (b) 14.31
*(c) 7.79 (d) 4.23
(e) None of these
Solution: 7/u = sin 64
; so u = 7/ sin 64
= 7.79
7
u
64

to scale.)
(a) 4.23 *(b) 10.24
(c) 4.60 (d) 12.80
(e) None of these
Solution: w/8 = tan 52
; so w = 8 tan 52
=
10.24
w
8
52
141
to scale.)
(a) 1.87 *(b) 3.62
(c) 2.49 (d) 4.02
(e) None of these
Solution: 3/s = cos 34
; so s = 3/ cos 34
= 3.62
3
s
34

to scale.)
(a) 8.83 *(b) 7.25
(c) 17.16 (d) 3.38
(e) None of these
Solution: s/8 = sin 65
; so s = 8 sin 65
= 7.25.
s
8
65

or equivalent to nd a. Round your answer to two
to scale.)
(a) 20.02 *(b) 7.08
(c) 8.44 (d) 10.90
(e) None of these
Solution: a/13 = sin 33
; so a = 13 sin 33
= 7.08.
a
13
33

to scale.)
(a) 2.67 *(b) 6.22
(c) 3.06 (d) 2.98
(e) None of these
Solution: 4/a = sin 40
; so a = 4/ sin 40
= 6.22.
4
a
40
142
to scale.)
(a) 11.12 (b) 15.31
*(c) 6.54 (d) 5.29
(e) None of these
Solution: t/9 = tan 36
; so t = 9 tan 36
= 6.54.
9
t
36

to scale.)
(a) 5.75 (b) 4.77
(c) 3.77 *(d) 3.28
(e) None of these
Solution: w/5 = cos 49
; so w = 5 cos 49
= 3.28
w
5
49

to scale.)
(a) 11.26 (b) 4.16
*(c) 7.51 (d) 15.01
(e) None of these
Solution: 13/a = tan 60
; so a = 13/ tan 60
=
7.51
13
a
60

to scale.)
*(a) 14.95 (b) 11.25
(c) 17.23 (d) 9.81
(e) None of these
; so t = 13 tan 49
=
14.95
t
13
49
143
to scale.)
(a) 5.60 *(b) 13.95
(c) 12.59 (d) 9.77
(e) None of these
Solution: 8/a = cos 55
; so a = 8/ cos 55
= 13.95
8
a
55

to scale.)
(a) 7.64 (b) 4.18
*(c) 1.92 (d) 2.36
(e) None of these
; so t = 5 tan 21
= 1.92
5
t
21

to scale.)
(a) 1.75 (b) 1.83
(c) 4.42 *(d) 5.74
(e) None of these
Solution: s/6 = sin 73
; so s = 6 sin 73
= 5.74
s
6
73

to scale.)
*(a) 3.76 (b) 4.25
(c) 7.04 (d) 5.05
(e) None of these
Solution: a/8 = sin 28
; so a = 8 sin 28
= 3.76
a
8
28
144
to scale.)
*(a) 4.60 (b) 3.86
(c) 4.00 (d) 7.15
(e) None of these
Solution: a/6 = cos 40
; so a = 6 cos 40
= 4.60
a
6
40
4.2.7 Reference angles

Problem 469. If = 320
, which quadrant is it in?

(a) Quadrant I (b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III *(d) Quadrant IV
(e) None of these
Solution: 270
< < 360
; so is in quadrant IV.

(a) Quadrant I *(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III (d) Quadrant IV
(e) None of these
Solution: 90
< < 180
; so is in quadrant II.

*(c) Quadrant III (d) Quadrant IV
(e) None of these
Solution: 180
< < 270
; so is in quadrant III.

*(a) Quadrant I (b) Quadrant II
(e) None of these
Solution: 0
< < 90
; so is in quadrant I.
Problem 473. If = 5.91 rad, which quadrant is it in?
(c) Quadrant III *(d) Quadrant IV
(e) None of these
Solution: 3/2 < < 2; so is in quadrant IV.
145
*(a) Quadrant I (b) Quadrant II
(e) None of these
Solution: 0 < < /2; so is in quadrant I.
(a) Quadrant I *(b) Quadrant II
(e) None of these
Solution: /2 < < ; so is in quadrant II.
*(c) Quadrant III (d) Quadrant IV
(e) None of these
Solution: < < 3/2; so is in quadrant III.
Problem 477. An angle with measure degrees is in quadrant II. What is the reference
angle
ref
?
(a) 180
*(b) 180
(c) 360
(d) 360
(e) None of these

Problem 478. An angle with measure degrees is in quadrant IV. What is the reference
angle
ref
?
(a) 180
(b) 180
(c) 360
*(d) 360
(e) None of these

Problem 479. An angle with measure degrees is in quadrant III. What is the
reference angle
ref
?
*(a) 180
(b) 180
(c) 360
(d) 360
(e) None of these

Problem 480. An angle with measure radians is in quadrant III. What is the
reference angle
ref
?
(a) 2 (b) 2
(c) *(d)
(e) None of these
146
Problem 481. An angle with measure radians is in quadrant II. What is the reference
angle
ref
?
(a) 2 (b) 2
*(c) (d)
(e) None of these
Problem 482. An angle with measure radians is in quadrant IV. What is the reference
angle
ref
?
*(a) 2 (b) 2
(c) (d)
(e) None of these
, what is
ref
?
(a) 31
(b) 39
(c) 41
*(d) 49
(e) None of these

Solution: 270
< < 360
; so is in quadrant IV; so
ref
= 360
= 49
.
, what is
ref
?
(a) 32
(b) 42
*(c) 58
(d) 68
(e) None of these

Solution: 90
< < 180
; so is in quadrant II; so
ref
= 180
= 58
.
, what is
ref
?
*(a) 15
(b) 25
(c) 65
(d) 75
(e) None of these

Solution: 180
< < 270
; so is in quadrant III; so
ref
= 180
= 15
.
, what is
ref
?
(a) 2
(b) 28
(c) 72
*(d) 88
(e) None of these

Solution: 270
< < 360
; so is in quadrant IV; so
ref
= 360
= 88
.
, what is
ref
?
*(a) 17
(b) 27
(c) 63
(d) 73
(e) None of these

Solution: 90
< < 180
; so is in quadrant II; so
ref
= 180
= 17
.
147
, what is
ref
?
(a) 10
*(b) 30
(c) 40
(d) 60
(e) None of these

Solution: 180
< < 270
; so is in quadrant III; so
ref
= 180
= 30
.
Problem 489. If is in the rst quadrant, which of the following is true?
(a) sin 0 and cos 0 (b) sin 0 and cos 0
(c) sin 0 and cos 0 *(d) sin 0 and cos 0
(e) None of these
Problem 490. If is in the second quadrant, which of the following is true?
(a) sin 0 and cos 0 (b) sin 0 and cos 0
*(c) sin 0 and cos 0 (d) sin 0 and cos 0
(e) None of these
Problem 491. If is in the third quadrant, which of the following is true?
*(a) sin 0 and cos 0 (b) sin 0 and cos 0
(c) sin 0 and cos 0 (d) sin 0 and cos 0
(e) None of these
Problem 492. If is in the fourth quadrant, which of the following is true?
(a) sin 0 and cos 0 *(b) sin 0 and cos 0
(c) sin 0 and cos 0 (d) sin 0 and cos 0
(e) None of these
Problem 493. An angle with measure degrees is in the third quadrant. What is sin ?
(a) sin( 180
) (b) sin(360
)
*(c) sin( 180
) (d) sin( 360
)
(e) None of these
Solution: Since is in the third quadrant, the reference angle is
ref
= 180
; and
sin 0. Hence sin = sin
ref
= sin( 180
).
Problem 494. An angle with measure degrees is in the fourth quadrant. What is
sin ?
(a) sin( 180
) (b) sin(360
)
(c) sin( + 180
) *(d) sin(360
)
(e) None of these
Solution: Since is in the fourth quadrant, the reference angle is
ref
= 360
; and
sin 0. Hence sin = sin
ref
= sin(360
).
148
Problem 495. An angle with measure degrees is in the second quadrant. What is
sin ?
*(a) sin(180
) (b) sin(180
+)
(c) sin(360
) (d) sin(360
+)
(e) None of these
Solution: Since is in the second quadrant, the reference angle is
ref
= 180
;
and sin 0. Hence sin = sin
ref
= sin(180
).
Problem 496. An angle with measure degrees is in the second quadrant. What is
cos ?
(a) cos(180
) *(b) cos(180
)
(c) cos( 180
) (d) cos(360
+)
(e) None of these
Solution: Since is in the second quadrant, the reference angle is
ref
= 180
;
and cos 0. Hence cos = cos
ref
= cos(180
).
Problem 497. An angle with measure degrees is in the third quadrant. What is cos ?
(a) cos( 180
) (b) cos(180
)
*(c) cos( 180
) (d) cos(180
+)
(e) None of these
Solution: Since is in the third quadrant, the reference angle is
ref
= 180
; and
cos 0. Hence cos = cos
ref
= cos( 180
).
Problem 498. An angle with measure degrees is in the fourth quadrant. What is
cos ?
(a) cos( 180
) (b) cos(180
)
(c) cos( + 180
) *(d) cos(360
)
(e) None of these
Solution: Since is in the fourth quadrant, the reference angle is
ref
= 360
; and
cos 0. Hence cos = cos
ref
= cos(360
).
4.2.8 Arc functions: denition
Problem 499. Complete the statement: If is an acute angle and sin = 0.3, then
(a) = sin 0.3 (b) = cos 0.3
*(c) = arcsin 0.3 (d) = 0.3/ sin
(e) None of these
Problem 500. Complete the statement: If is an acute angle and cos = 0.4, then
(a) = 1/ cos 0.4 (b) = cos 0.4
*(c) = cos
1
0.4 (d) = sin 0.4
(e) None of these
149
Problem 501. Complete the statement: If is an acute angle and tan = 3.1, then
*(a) = tan
1
3.1 (b) = 3.1/ tan
(c) = 1/ tan 3.1 (d) = tan(1/3.1)
(e) None of these
Problem 502. Complete the statement: If is an acute angle and sin = 0.9, then
*(a) = sin
1
0.9 (b) = sin(1/0.9)
(c) = cos 0.9 (d) = 1/ sin 0.9
(e) None of these
Problem 503. Complete the statement: If is an acute angle and cos = 0.2, then
*(a) = arccos 0.2 (b) = cos 0.2
(c) = sin 0.2 (d) = cos(5)
(e) None of these
Problem 504. Complete the statement: If is an acute angle and tan = 0.5, then
*(a) = arctan 0.5 (b) = tan 2
(c) = 1/ tan 0.5 (d) = 0.5/ tan
(e) None of these
Problem 505. Complete the statement: If = arcsin 0.5, then
(a) sin = 2 *(b) sin = 0.5
(c) = sin 2 (d) cos = 2
(e) None of these
Problem 506. Complete the statement: If = arccos 0.2, then
(a) cos = 5 (b) = cos 5
*(c) cos = 0.2 (d) = cos 0.2
(e) None of these
Problem 507. Complete the statement: If = arctan 2, then
(a) tan = 0.5 (b) = tan 0.5
(c) = 2/ tan *(d) tan = 2
(e) None of these
Problem 508. Complete the statement: If = sin
1
0.4, then
(a) sin = 2.5 (b) 1/ sin = 0.4
*(c) sin = 0.4 (d) = 2.5
(e) None of these
150
Problem 509. Complete the statement: If = cos
1
(1/3), then
(a) cos = 3 (b) 3 = cos
*(c) cos = 1/3 (d) sin = 3
(e) None of these
Problem 510. Complete the statement: If = tan
1
(2/3), then
(a) tan = 3/2 (b) = 1/ tan(2/3)
*(c) tan = 2/3 (d) = tan(3/2)
(e) None of these
4.2.9 Arc functions: denition; diagrams
Problem 511. Which statement is true of the gure
at right?
(a) = sin(5/3) (b) = sin(3/5)
(c) = arcsin(5/3) *(d) = arcsin(3/5)
(e) None of these

4
3
5

at right?
(a) = cos(5/4) (b) = arccos(5/4)
(c) = cos(4/5) *(d) = arccos(4/5)
(e) None of these

4
3
5

at right?
(a) = tan(3/4) (b) = tan(4/3)
*(c) = arctan(3/4) (d) = arctan(4/3)
(e) None of these

4
3
5

at right?
*(a) = sin
1
(4/5) (b) = sin(4/5)
(c) = sin
1
(5/4) (d) = sin(5/4)
(e) None of these

4
3
5
151
at right?
(a) = cos(4/5) (b) = cos
1
(4/5)
(c) = cos(3/5) *(d) = cos
1
(3/5)
(e) None of these

4
3
5

at right?
(a) = tan
1
(3/4) *(b) = tan
1
(4/3)
(c) = tan(3/4) (d) = tan(4/3)
(e) None of these

4
3
5
4.2.10 Arc functions: calculator; radians

Problem 517. Use a calculator or equivalent to determine the value of if is an acute
angle and cos = 0.41. Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 radian.
(a) 0.39 rad (b) 36.83 rad
*(c) 1.15 rad (d) No such angle
(e) None of these
Solution: = cos
1
0.41 = 1.15 rad
angle and sin = 0.83. Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 radian.
(a) 1.48 rad (b) 0.59 rad
*(c) 0.98 rad (d) No such angle
(e) None of these
Solution: = sin
1
0.83 = 0.98 rad
angle and tan = 1.03. Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 radian.
(a) 0.86 rad *(b) 0.80 rad
(c) 0.51 rad (d) No such angle
(e) None of these
Solution: = tan
1
1.03 = 0.80 rad
(a) 0.65 rad *(b) 0.69 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: = cos
1
0.77 = 0.69 rad
152
(a) 0.39 rad (b) 36.83 rad
(c) 1.15 rad *(d) No such angle
(e) None of these
Solution: No such angle; sin > 1 is impossible.
*(a) 0.22 rad (b) 0.29 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: = tan
1
0.22 = 0.22 rad
(a) 1.17 rad (b) 1.67 rad
(c) 0.86 rad *(d) No such angle
(e) None of these
Solution: No such angle; cos > 1 is impossible.
(a) 1.91 rad *(b) 0.58 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: = sin
1
0.55 = 0.58 rad
*(a) 1.04 rad (b) 0.14 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: = tan
1
1.71 = 1.04 rad
153
4.2.11 Arc function: calculator; degrees
angle and sin = 0.63. Round your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 46
*(b) 39
(c) 32
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = sin
1
0.63 = 39

angle and cos = 1.19. Round your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 21
(b) 50
(c) 53
*(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: No such angle; cos > 1 is impossible.
angle and tan = 1.30. Round your answer to the nearest degree.
*(a) 52
(b) 34
(c) 15
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = tan
1
1.30 = 52

*(a) 36
(b) 39
(c) 77
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = cos
1
0.81 = 36

(a) 39
*(b) 25
(c) 1
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = tan
1
0.46 = 25
154
(a) 3
*(b) 19
(c) 27
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = sin
1
0.32 = 19

*(a) 42
(b) 48
(c) 45
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = sin
1
0.67 = 42

(a) 1
(b) 2
*(c) 16
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = cos
1
0.96 = 16

(a) 57
*(b) 1
(c) 66
(d) No such angle

(e) None of these
Solution: = tan
1
0.02 = 1
4.2.12 Arc functions: calculator; diagram; radians

or equivalent to nd . Round your answer to 0.01
rad. (The gure is not necessarily drawn to scale.)
*(a) 0.78 rad (b) 1.32 rad
(c) 1.53 rad (d) 1.81 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: cos = 5/7; so = cos
1
(5/7) = 0.78
rad
5
7
155
*(a) 0.41 rad (b) 1.16 rad
(c) 1.57 rad (d) 0.31 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: sin = 4/10; so = sin
1
(4/10) = 0.41
rad
4
10

(a) 0.32 rad (b) 0.34 rad
*(c) 0.63 rad (d) 1.34 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: tan = 8/11; so = tan
1
(8/11) =
0.63 rad
11
8

(a) 0.90 rad (b) 0.32 rad
*(c) 0.56 rad (d) 0.68 rad
(e) None of these
1
(5/8) = 0.56
rad
8
5

(a) 0.91 rad (b) 0.24 rad
*(c) 0.68 rad (d) 0.49 rad
(e) None of these
1
(12/19) =
0.68 rad
12
19
156
(a) 0.46 rad *(b) 0.69 rad
(c) 0.66 rad (d) 0.48 rad
(e) None of these
1
(7/11) = 0.69
rad
7
11

*(a) 1.03 rad (b) 1.07 rad
(c) 1.09 rad (d) 1.18 rad
(e) None of these
1
(10/6) =
1.03 rad
10
6

(a) 1.04 rad (b) 0.84 rad
*(c) 0.87 rad (d) 1.13 rad
(e) None of these
1
(9/14) =
0.87 rad
9
14

(a) 0.91 rad *(b) 1.06 rad
(c) 1.40 rad (d) 0.85 rad
(e) None of these
1
(9/5) = 1.06
rad
9
5
157
*(a) 1.42 rad (b) 1.29 rad
(c) 1.63 rad (d) 1.15 rad
(e) None of these
1
(3/20) =
1.42 rad
3
20
4.2.13 Arc functions: calculator; diagram; degrees

or equivalent to nd . Round your answer to the
nearest degree. (The gure is not necessarily drawn
to scale.)
(a) 59
*(b) 53
(c) 40
(d) 47
(e) None of these

1
(4/5) = 53
4
5

to scale.)
(a) 24
(b) 36
*(c) 49
(d) 57
(e) None of these

1
(8/7) = 49
8
7

to scale.)
(a) 52
(b) 65
*(c) 54
(d) 67
(e) None of these

1
(7/12) = 54
7
12
158
to scale.)
(a) 50
*(b) 52
(c) 54
(d) 56
(e) None of these

1
(9/7) = 52
9
7

to scale.)
(a) 60
(b) 63
*(c) 66
(d) 69
(e) None of these

1
(11/12) =
66
11
12

to scale.)
(a) 76
*(b) 78
(c) 80
(d) 82
(e) None of these

1
(1/5) = 78
1
5

to scale.)
(a) 47
*(b) 50
(c) 53
(d) 56
(e) None of these

1
(10/13) =
50
10
13
159
to scale.)
(a) 21
*(b) 23
(c) 25
(d) 27
(e) None of these

1
(12/13) =
23
12
13

to scale.)
*(a) 40
(b) 42
(c) 44
(d) 46
(e) None of these

1
(17/20) =
40
20
17

to scale.)
(a) 23
(b) 25
*(c) 27
(d) 29
(e) None of these

1
(8/9) = 27
8
9

to scale.)
(a) 6
*(b) 8
(c) 10
(d) 12
(e) None of these

1
(1/7) = 8
7
1
160
to scale.)
(a) 15
*(b) 17
(c) 19
(d) 21
(e) None of these

1
(2/7) = 17
2
7
4.2.14 Word problems: basic trig functions

Problem 557. A tree casts a shadow 53 ft
long. The sun is = 49
above the horizon.

How tall is the tree? Round your answer to the
nearest foot.
(a) 46 ft (b) 51 ft
(c) 56 ft *(d) 61 ft
(e) None of these
Solution: Let h be the height. Then h/53 =
tan 49
; so h = 53 tan 49
= 61 ft.
Problem 558. You want to know the width of
a river. You begin by standing directly across
from a tree on the opposite bank. You then
walk 400 ft straight downstream. From this
new point, the tree is at an angle of = 67
to
the upstream direction. How wide is the river?
Round your answer to the nearest foot.
(a) 170 ft *(b) 942 ft
(c) 1070 ft (d) 1413 ft
(e) None of these
Solution: Let w be the width of the river.
Then w/400 = tan 67
; so w = 400 tan 67
=
942 ft.
161
Problem 559. A prisoner is trying to escape
by digging a tunnel under a wall 147 ft away.
Unfortunately, his compass is inaccurate, and
his tunnel is o course by = 19
. How long
does the tunnel have to be to reach the wall?
Round your answer to the nearest foot.
(a) 149 ft (b) 151 ft
(c) 153 ft *(d) 155 ft
(e) None of these
Solution: Let t be the length of the tunnel.
Then 147/t = cos 19
; so t = 147/ cos 19
= 155
ft.
Problem 560. A highway runs directly east
and west. An airplane ies across the highway
in a direction = 34
north of east. What

is the total distance that the airplane will y
before it is 21 miles north of the highway?
Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a
mile.
(a) 25.3 miles (b) 29.4 miles
(c) 33.5 miles *(d) 37.6 miles
(e) None of these
Solution: Let t be the total distance own
by the airplane. Then 21/t = sin 34
; so t =
21/ sin 34
= 37.6 miles.
Problem 561. A car is driving up a mountain
road with a slope of = 4.5
. It goes 9000 ft
along the road by the odometer. At the end
of this time, how high is it above its starting
point? Round your answer to the nearest 10 ft.
(a) 680 ft *(b) 710 ft
(c) 740 ft (d) 770 ft
(e) None of these
Solution: Let h be the height above the
starting point. Then h/9000 = sin 4.5
; so h =
9000 sin 4.5
= 710 ft.
162
Problem 562. From where you stand, a
mountain peak has an elevation of = 12.5
.
On a map, the horizontal distance between you
and the peak is 4.11 miles. How high above
you is the peak? Round your answer to the
nearest 0.01 miles.
(a) 0.83 miles (b) 0.87 miles
*(c) 0.91 miles (d) 0.95 miles
(e) None of these
Solution: Let h be the height of the
peak. Then h/4.11 = tan 12.5
; so h =
4.11 tan 12.5
= 0.91 miles.
Problem 563. You and a friend are trying to
nd out how high airplanes y over his house.
He phones you when a plane is directly over-
head. At that moment, the airplane is at an
elevation of = 36.2
, as seen from your house.

If your house is 4100 ft from your friends house,
how high is the airplane? Round your answer
to the nearest 100 ft.
*(a) 3000 ft (b) 3300 ft
(c) 3600 ft (d) 3900 ft
(e) None of these
Solution: Let h be the height of the
airplane. Then h/4100 = tan 36.2
; so h =
4100 tan 36.2
= 3000 ft.
Problem 564. A pole is supported by a di-
agonal guy wire. The wire is anchored in the
ground 13.8 m from the base of the pole, and
meets the ground at an angle of = 59
. How
long is the wire? Round your answer to the
nearest 0.1 m.
(a) 25.8 m (b) 26.3 m
*(c) 26.8 m (d) 27.3 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Let w be the length of the wire.
Then 13.8/w = cos 59
; so w = 13.8/ cos 59
=
26.8 m.
163
Problem 565. You are ying a kite in a
wind strong enough to stretch the string into
a straight line. The string is 71 m long, and
makes an angle of = 51
with the horizontal.

How high above the ground is the kite? Round
your answer to the nearest meter.
*(a) 55 m (b) 57 m
(c) 59 m (d) 61 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Let h be the height of the kite.
Then h/71 = sin 51
; so h = 71 sin 51
= 55 m.
4.2.15 Word problems: arc functions
Problem 566. A tree is 73 ft tall. It casts a
shadow 93 ft long. What is the suns angle of
elevation ? Round your answer to the nearest
degree.
*(a) 38
(b) 40
(c) 42
(d) 44
(e) None of these

Solution: 73/93 = tan ;
so = tan
1
(73/93) = 38
.
Problem 567. A prisoner is trying to escape
by digging a tunnel under a wall 113 ft away.
Unfortunately, his compass is inaccurate, and
the tunnel is o course by an angle of . He
does not reach the wall until the tunnel is 128
ft long. What is the value of ? Round your
answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 26
*(b) 28
(c) 30
(d) 32
(e) None of these

Solution: 113/128 = cos ;
so = cos
1
(113/128) = 28
.
164
Problem 568. A highway runs directly east
and west. An airplane ies across the highway
in a direction north of east. When the air-
plane has own a total distance of 19 miles, it
is 5 miles north of the highway. What is ?
Round your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 13
*(b) 15
(c) 17
(d) 19
(e) None of these

Solution: 5/19 = sin ;
so = sin
1
(5/19) = 15
.
Problem 569. A car is driving up a moun-
tain road with a slope of . It goes 12,000 ft
along the road by the odometer. At the end of
this time, it is 1800 ft above its starting point.
What is ? Round your answer to the nearest
0.1
.
(a) 8.0
(b) 8.3
*(c) 8.6
(d) 8.9
(e) None of these

Solution: 1800/12, 000 = sin ;
so = sin
1
(1800/12, 000) = 8.6
.
Problem 570. A mountain peak is 7200 ft
higher than your house. On the map, there is a
horizontal distance of 53,000 ft from the house
to the peak. What is the peaks elevation as
seen from the house? Round your answer to
the nearest 0.1
.
(a) 7.1
(b) 7.4
*(c) 7.7
(d) 8.0
(e) None of these

Solution: 7200/53, 000 = tan ;
so = tan
1
(7200/53, 000) = 7.7
.
165
Problem 571. Your house is 3800 ft from
your friends house. An airplane ies over the
friends house at a height of 960 ft. When
the plane is directly above your friends house,
what is its elevation as seen from your house?
*(a) 14
(b) 15
(c) 16
(d) 17
(e) None of these

Solution: 960/3800 = tan ;
so = tan
1
(960/3800) = 14
.
Problem 572. A pole is supported by a diag-
onal guy wire. The wire is 19.9 m long, and is
anchored in the ground 15.2 m from the base of
the pole. At what angle does the wire meet
the ground? Round your answer to the nearest
degree.
(a) 36
(b) 38
*(c) 40
(d) 42
(e) None of these

Solution: 15.2/19.9 = cos ;
so = cos
1
(15.2/19.9) = 40
.
Problem 573. You are ying a kite in a
wind strong enough to stretch the string into
a straight line. The string is 94 m long, and
the kite is 75 m above the ground. What angle
does the string make with the ground? Round
your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 49
(b) 51
*(c) 53
(d) 55
(e) None of these

Solution: 75/94 = sin ;
so = sin
1
(75/94) = 53
.
166
5 Introduction to measurement: dimensions, units,
scientic notation, and signicant gures
5.1 Dimensions
5.1.1 Dimension or unit?
Problem 574. What are the three fundamental dimensions?
Solution: length L, mass M, and time T.
Problem 575. Whats the dierence between dimensions of the fundamental physical
quantities:
length, mass, time and the base units: meter, kilogram, second?
Solution: Any physical quantity can be characterized by dimensions. You can
think of a dimension as a measurable extent of some kind, such as length. The arbitrary
magnitudes that we assign to assign to dimensions are called units. For example, in order
to give a precise quantitative measurement of the length (a dimension) of a particular
object, we need a standard reference length from which to compare our objects length.
Problem 576. For the given physical quantities, identify the three fundamental physical
quantities:
(a) mass (c) time (e) force
(b) volume (d) density (f) length
Solution: (a), (c) and (f). The others are known as secondary dimensions or derived
quantities.
167
5.1.2 Dimensional consistency
In the following problems, determine which of the formulas could not be correct because
it violates the consistency-of-dimensions principle discussed in class. Do not worry about
the origin or application of the formulas: just focus on the issue of consistency of units.
That is, based solely on consistency of units in an equation, could the given formula be
correct?
Denition: The Dimensionator [ ] is the take the fundamental dimensions of op-
erator.
Warning: Do not let the subscripts confuse you. The subscripts are only used to label
variables, they are dimensionless numbers and letters and do not aect the outcome of
dimensionator one bit.
The dimensions of the fundamental quantities: Length L, Mass M, Time T are
d = distance; [d] = L
x = distance; [x] = L
R = radius; [R] = L
h = height; [h] = L
m = mass; [m] = M
t = time; [t] = T
The dimensions of the derived quantities (i.e., the quantities derived from the fundamen-
tal quantities) are
r = rate (speed); [r] = L/T
v = velocity; [v] = L/T
a = acceleration; [a] = L/T
2
A = area; [A] = L
2
V = volume; [V ] = L
3
Problem 577. d = rt
168
Solution: Look at the units. d has units of (length); r has units of (length/time);
and t has units of (time). In units, the formula looks like:
(length) =
_
length
time
_
(time)
Since the units of time on the right-hand side cancel, the two sides of the equation match,
and the formula is dimensionally correct. In fact, this is the ubiquitous formula:
distance = rate time.
Problem 578. v = x +t
Solution: Look at the units. v has units of length/time ([v] =
L
T
); x has units of
length ([x] = L); and t has units of time ([t] = T). In units, the formula looks like:
L
T
= L +T .
Since the units on the two sides of the equation dont match, the formula cant be correct.
In fact, every term is dierent!
Problem 579. V =
4
3
R
2
Solution: Here V has units of (length)
3
; R has units of (length); and
4
3
and are
pure numbers, which dont have units. In units, the formula looks like:
(length)
3
= (length)
2
Problem 580. V = R
2
h
3
; R has units of (length); h has units of
(length); and is a pure number, which doesnt have units. In units, the formula looks
like:
(length)
3
= (length)
2
(length)
Since the units of time on the right-hand side cancel, the two sides of the equation match,
and the formula is dimensionally correct. In fact, this is the formula for the volume of a
cylinder.
Problem 581. V = Ad
3
; A has units of (length)
2
; and d has units of
(length). In units, the formula looks like:
(length)
3
= (length)
2
(length)
We get units of (length)
3
on both sides of the equation. From the standpoint of consis-
tency of units, this formula could be correct.
169
Problem 582. V = Ah
3
2
; and h has units of
(length)
3
= (length)
2
(length)
3
on both sides of the equation. From the standpoint of consis-
tency of units, this formula could be correct.
Problem 583. V = Ax
2
3
2
; and x has units of
(length)
3
= (length)
2
(length)
2
= (length)
4
Problem 584. v =
x
t
Solution: Here v has units of
length
time
; x has units of (length); and t has units of (time).
In units, the formula looks like:
length
time
=
length
time
From the standpoint of consistency of units, this formula could be correct.
Problem 585. v
2
2
= v
2
1
+x
2
Solution: Here v
2
and v
1
have units of
length
time
; x has units of (length). In units, the
formula looks like:
(length)
2
(time)
2
=
(length)
2
(time)
2
+ (length)
2
We cant even say what the units are on the right-hand side of the equation, since were
trying to add two quantities measured in dierent kinds of units. This formula doesnt
make any sense.
Problem 586. v
2
2
= v
2
1
+
x
2
t
2
170
Solution: Here v
2
and v
1
have units of
length
time
; x has units of (length); and t has units
of (time). In units, the formula looks like:
(length)
2
(time)
2
=
(length)
2
(time)
2
+
(length)
2
(time)
2
We can deal with the right-hand side, since were adding two quantities measured in the
same units. Both sides of the formula have units of
(length)
2
(time)
2
. From the standpoint of
consistency of units, this formula could be correct.
Problem 587. Determine whether equations (i) and (ii) below are dimensionally con-
sistent.
(i) v =
x x
0
t
(ii) x = a(t +v)
2
,
where x = distance, v = velocity, t = time, and a = acceleration.
*(a) (i) is dimensionally consistent; (ii) is dimensionally inconsistent
(b) (i) is dimensionally inconsistent; (ii) is dimensionally consistent
(c) (i) and (ii) are both dimensionally consistent
(d) (i) and (ii) are both dimensionally inconsistent
Solution: Cant add velocity and time since they are dimensionally inconsistent.
Problem 588. Consider the formulas (i) and (ii). Are the formulas dimensionally con-
sistent? Here x = distance, v = velocity, V = volume, and A = area.
(i) V = Ax (ii) v
2
2
= v
2
1
+x
2
Solution: In (i), V has units of (length)
3
2
; and x has units
of (length). In units, the formula looks like:
(length)
3
= (length)
2
(length)
3
on both sides of the equation. Hence (i) is dimensionally
consistent.
In (ii), v
2
and v
1
have units of
length
time
; x has units of (length). In units, the formula looks
like:
(length)
2
(time)
2
=
(length)
2
(time)
2
+ (length)
2
Since the two terms on the right-hand side have dierent units, (ii) is not dimensionally
consistent.
171
Problem 589. Consider the formulas (i) and (ii). Are the formulas dimensionally con-
sistent? Here V = volume, r = distance, x = distance, and t = time.
(i) V = xr
2
(ii) t =
x t
0
2
Solution: In (i), V has units of (length)
3
; is dimensionless; and x and r both have
dimensions of (length). In units, the formula looks like
(length)
3
= (length)(length)
2
= (length)
3
Hence (i) is dimensionally consistent.
In (ii), t and t
0
both have units of (time); x has units of (length); and 2 is dimensionless.
In units, the formula looks like
(time) = (length) (time)
The two terms on the right side are not dimensionally consistent; so the formula as a
whole is not dimensionally consistent.
sistent.
(i) a =
x x
0
t
2
(ii) x
2
= at
2
+ (x +vt)
2
,
where x = distance, v = velocity, t = time, and a = acceleration.
Solution: Equation (i) is dimensional consistent. Equation (ii) is dimensionally
inconsistent. To see this apply the dimensionator.
[x]
2
= [a][t]
2
+ ([x] + [vt])
2
L
2
=
L
T
2
T
2
+
_
L +
L
T
T
_
2
= L +L
2
The rst term on the right-hand side of the equation is dierent from the other two.
172
sistent.
(i) x = at
2
+ (1 + (vt)/x)
2
(ii) v
2
f
= v
2
i
+ 2ax
2
,
where x = distance, v = velocity, t = time, a = acceleration, r = distance, g = magnitude
of gravity and
s
is the coecient of static friction.
(a) (i) is dimensionally consistent; (ii) is dimensionally inconsistent
*(d) (i) and (ii) are both dimensionally inconsistent
Solution: (i) Dimensionally inconsistent. [x] = [a][t
2
] + (1 + [(vt)/x])
2
becomes
L =
L
T
2
T
2
+ (1 +
([vt]=L)
L
)
2
= L + 1, where weve used the fact that [vt] = distance =
L. Since L and 1 are dimensional inconsistent, the RHS of the equation is dimensional
inconsistant.
(ii) Dimensionally inconsistent. [v
2
f
] = [v
2
i
] = L
2
/T
2
, but [2ax
2
] = (L/T
2
)(L
2
) = L
3
/T
2
Problem 592. (Using dimensional analysis to get statistical-partial credit)
Consider the following test question and multiple-choice answers. Without knowing how
to solve the problem, can you identify the answer that cannot be a solution based solely
on dimensional analysis?
You are towing a crate of physics books down the hallway, using a rope that makes an
angle of to the horizontal. The crate has a mass of m; the coecient of kinetic friction
between the crate and the oor is
k
. As you go down the hallway, you are giving the
crate a forward acceleration of a. What is the tension T in the rope, expressed in terms
of the mass m, the acceleration a, the angle (dimensionless),
k
(dimensionless), and
the gravitational constant of acceration g? Note: Tension has units of force.
*(a) (mg
k
+a) cos (b)
m(g
k
+a)
cos +
k
sin
(c)
m(g
k
+a)
cos
(d) (mg
k
+a)(cos +
k
sin )
Solution: The answer is (a). Gravity g has units of acceleration, so each term in the
factor (g
k
+ a) has units of acceleration and is therefore dimensionally consistent with
acceleration. The factor (cos +
k
sin ) is composed of non-dimensional terms, so its
dimensionless. Thus, the equation in (a) has units of acceleration. The equation in (b)
is mass times acceleration (a.k.a force), which is consistent. Similarly, the equations in
(c) and (d) have units of force.
173
5.1.3 Practical questions involving dimensions
Problem 593. In the construction business, concrete is often sold by the yard. What is
the precise meaning of a yard of concrete?
Solution: It wouldnt make sense to sell something like concrete, which has volume,
by units of length. A yard of concrete is actually a cubic yard.
Problem 594. In the carpet business, carpet is sold by the yard. What do they really
mean by a yard of carpet?
Solution: It wouldnt make sense to sell something like carpet, which has area, by
units of length. A yard of carpet is actually a square yard.
Problem 595. Name some physical phenomena that could be used as crude timing
devices.
Solution: There are lots of examples. The movement of shadows; the oscillations of
a pendulum (a weight suspended from a string would do); the lling of a glass left under
a dripping tap; the burning down of a candle... Youve probably thought of dierent
examples, and theyre probably just as good as these.
Problem 596. Suppose your lab partner tells you that the volume of a cylinder is
V = r
3
h. Could this formula be correct?
Solution: In a cylinder, r is the radius, which has units of length; h is the height,
which also has units of length; and is a pure number, which has no units. On the right
side of your lab partners formula, the units are
(length)
3
(length) = (length)
4
However, volume has units of (length)
3
. The two sides of the formula dont match.
Clearly, your lab partner is trying to use you to bring down the curve so that hell get
a better grade in the course. This, he hopes, will allow him to get into medical school,
become a wealthy plastic surgeon, retire early, and pass the time relaxing in a gold-plated
hot tub full of Scotch while you are still spending eight hours a day asking people if they
want fries with that. You should consider asking for a new lab partner.
174
5.2 Units
Problem 597. What are the units of the number ?
Solution: Pure numbers are dimensionless. One way you can see this for in
particular is this: is dened as the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter,
and both of these are lengths. Suppose the circumference and the diameter are both
measured in cm. Then
=
circumference
diameter
=
cm
cm
The cm in the numerator and denominator cancel, leaving no units.
Problem 598. What are the units of the number e?
Solution: e is a pure number, and has no units.
Problem 599. What are the units of the number 5?
Solution: 5 is a pure number, and has no units.
Problem 600. Give an example from everyday life of something thats about 1 m long.
Solution: Find a tape measure and go looking for examples. Try the height of a low
bookshelf, or the width of a wide door, or the length of your great-great grandfathers
cavalry saber, or...
Problem 601. Give an example from everyday life of something that has a mass of
about 1 kg.
Solution: Check stu in the kitchen. Your instructors local grocery store yielded a
quart jar of mayo that weighed 946 g, which is pretty close.
Problem 602. Give an example from everyday life of something that weighs about 1 N.
Solution: You wont nd weights expressed in newtons on packages. Look for
something that weighs about 100 g, or about 3
1
2
oz. The easiest way to remember what
1 newton feels like is to imagine holding a small apple, and then to remember the story
of Newton and the apple falling on his head.
Problem 603. Give an example from everyday life of something with a volume of about
1 l.
Solution: This is easier, since soft drinks are often sold in 2 l bottles. Get one of
those and pour out half. Some convenience stores sell 1 liter bottles.
175
Problem 604. Give an example from everyday life of a distance thats about 1 km.
Solution: The mile markers on Interstate 19 are actually kilometer markers. That is,
the distance between markers is kilometers. If your neighborhood highways are marked
in miles, youll have to nd something else. A kilometer is about 0.6 miles.
Problem 605. How much do you weigh in pounds? Round your answer to the nearest
pound. Guess if you dont have a scale handy. If thats your weight in pounds, what is
your mass in kg? Round to the nearest kg.
Solution: This will depend on your actual weight. Suppose you weigh 150 lbs. Use
the conversion factor 0.454 kg/lb. Then your weight is
(150 lb)
_
0.454
kg
lb
_
= 68 kg
Notice how the units work. Were multiplying (lb) by (kg/lb). The pounds in the
numerator and denominator cancel, leaving only kg.
Problem 606. What is your height in inches? Round your answer to the nearest inch.
Guess if you dont have a tape measure handy. If thats your height in inches, what is
your height in cm? Round to the nearest cm.
Solution: This will depend on your actual height. Suppose your height is 65 inches
(5 ft 5 in). Use the conversion factor 2.54 cm/in. Then your height is
(65 in)
_
2.54
cm
in
_
= 165 cm
If we ignore the numbers and write this in terms of units alone, its
(in)
cm
in
= cm
The inches in the numerator and the denominator cancel, leaving only cm in the numer-
ator.
Problem 607. How far is it in miles from where you live to your physics classroom?
Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 mile. Guess if you havent measured it. If thats
the distance in miles, what is the distance in km? Round to the nearest 0.1 km.
Solution: Your answer will depend on the distance from you to your classroom.
Suppose its 2.3 miles. Use the conversion factor 1.61 km/mi. Then the distance in
kilometers is
(2.3 mi)
_
1.61
km
mi
_
= 3.7 km
Again, look at the units:
mi
km
mi
= km
The miles in the numerator and the denominator cancel, leaving only km.
176
5.2.1 Converting between dierent sets of units
Problem 608. A box is 13 inches tall. What is its height in centimeters? Round to the
nearest cm.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 2.54 cm/in. The height of the box is
(13 in)
_
2.54
cm
in
_
= 33 cm
Notice that inches in the numerator and denominator cancel, leaving only cm.
Problem 609. A bookshelf is 2.3 m tall. How tall is it in feet? Round to the nearest
0.1 ft.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 3.28 ft/m. The height of the bookshelf is
(2.3 m)
_
3.28
ft
m
_
= 7.5 ft
Notice that meters in the numerator and denominator cancel, leaving only ft.
Problem 610. Two towns are 37 miles apart. How far apart are they in kilometers?
Round your answer to the nearest km.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 1.61 km/mi. The distance is
(37 mi)
_
1.61
km
mi
_
= 60 km
Notice that miles in the numerator and denominator cancel, leaving only km.
Problem 611. Two other towns are 113 km apart. How far apart are they in miles?
Round your answer to the nearest mile.
Solution: Again, use the conversion factor 1.61 km/mi. To make the units come
out, we have to divide by the conversion factor. Equivalently, we have to multiply by the
reciprocal:
km
km
mi
= km
_
km
mi
_
1
= km
mi
km
= mi
The distance is
(113 km)
_
1
1.61
mi
km
_
= 70 mi
Notice that we manipulated the given conversion factor in such a way that the unwanted
units (km) cancelled out from the problem.
177
Problem 612. A house sits on a lot of 7260 square feet. What is the size of the lot in
square meters? Round your answer to the nearest m
2
.
Solution: Well use the conversion factor 3.28 ft/m. Lets look at the units to see
what we need to do with the conversion factor. We have a measurement in ft
2
. We want
to convert it to m
2
. Our conversion factor is in ft/m. If we divide by the square of the
conversion factor, we get what we want:
ft
2
_
ft
m
_
2
= ft
2
_
ft
m
_
2
= ft
2
m
2
ft
2
= m
2
Hence the size of the lot is
7260 ft
2
_
1
3.28
m
ft
_
2
= 675 m
2
Notice that we are using the one-factor here:
1 m = 3.28 ft 1 =
_
1
3.28
m
ft
_
=
_
3.28
1
ft
m
_
.
Problem 613. A pond has a surface area of 3900 m
2
. What is its surface area in square
feet? Round to the nearest 100 ft
2
.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 3.28 ft/m. We need to multiply by the square of
the conversion factor to make the units turn out right:
m
2
ft
2
m
2
= ft
2
The surface area of the pond is
3900 m
2
_
3.28
ft
m
_
2
= 42, 000 ft
2
Problem 614. You are given a ticket for driving at 38 miles per hour in a school zone.
What is your speed in meters per second? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 15 m/s *(b) 17 m/s
(c) 19 m/s (d) 20 m/s
(e) None of these
178
Solution: Use the conversion factors: 1610 m/mi and 3600 s/hr. To make the units
work out, we need to multiply by the rst and the reciprocal of the second:
mi
hr

m
mi

_
s
hr
_
1
=
mi
hr

m
mi

hr
s
=
m
s
The speed for which you got the ticket is
38
mi
hr

_
1610
m
mi
_
_
1
3600
hr
s
_
= 17
m
s
Problem 615. You are given a ticket for driving at 37 miles per hour in a school zone.
What was your speed in m/s? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
Solution: Use the conversion factors: 1610 m/mi and 3600 s/hr. To make the units
work out, we need to multiply by the rst and the reciprocal of the second:
mi
hr

m
mi

_
s
hr
_
1
=
mi
hr

m
mi

hr
s
=
m
s
The speed for which you got the ticket is
37
mi
hr

_
1610
m
mi
_
_
1
3600
hr
s
_
= 16.5
m
s
Problem 616. A water-balloon dropped from a tenth-oor window hits the ground at
24.5 m/s. What is its speed in miles per hour? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1
mile/hour.
Solution: Well need to use two conversion factors: 1.61 km/mi = 1610 m/mi, and
3600 s/hr. Well proceed in steps. In the rst step well convert m/s to m/hr. Then in
the second step well convert m/hr to miles/hr. If we look at the units, well see that
we need to multiply by the reciprocal of the rst conversion factor and multiply by the
second:
Step 1:
m
s

s
hr
=
m
hr
Step 2:
_
m
s

s
hr
__
m
mi
_
1
=
m
hr

mi
m
=
mi
hr
The speed of the balloon at impact is
24.5
m
s

_
3600
s
hr
_
_
1
1610
mi
m
_
= 54.8
mi
hr
Problem 617. A water-balloon dropped from a 38th-oor window hits the ground at
86 m/s. What is its speed in ft/s? Round your answer to the nearest ft/s.
(a) 26 ft/s (b) 29 ft/s
(c) 257 ft/s *(d) 282 ft/s
(e) None of these
179
Solution: Convert from SI system to British system: (86 m/s)(3.28 ft/m) = 282 ft/s.
Problem 618. An evil scientist grows a giant carrot with a mass of 60 kg. What is the
carrots weight in pounds? Round your answer to the nearest pound.
(a) 17 lb (b) 27 lb
*(c) 132 lb (d) 207 lb
(e) None of these
Solution: (60 kg)(2.2 lb/kg) = 132 lb
Problem 619. A can of beer has a volume of 355 cm
3
. What is its volume in cubic
inches? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 in
3
.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 2.54 cm/in. To get the units to work out, we
need to multiple by the cube of the reciprocal of the conversion factor:
cm
3
_
in
cm
_
3
= cm
3
in
3
cm
3
= in
3
The volume of the beer-can is
355 cm
3
_
1 in
2.54 cm
_
3
= 21.7 in
3
Problem 620. A pond has a volume of 325,000 ft
3
. What is its volume in m
3
? Round
your answer to the nearest 100 cubic meters.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 3.28 ft/m. To get the units to work, we have to
multiple by the cube of the reciprocal of the conversion factor:
ft
3
_
ft
m
_
3
= ft
3
m
3
ft
3
= m
3
The volume of the pond is
325, 000 ft
3
_
1 m
3.28 ft
_
3
= 9200 m
3
Problem 621. A river is owing at 46,500 cubic feet per second. What is the rivers
ow rate in cubic meters per second? Round your answer to the nearest 10 m
3
/s.
180
Solution: Use the conversion factor 3.28 ft/m. To make the units work, we need to
divide by the cube of the conversion factor:
ft
3
s

_
ft
m
_
3
=
ft
3
s

m
3
ft
3
=
m
3
s
From the previous problem it is clear that dividing by the conversion factor yields the
same result as multiplying by the reciprocal. The ow rate of the river is
46, 500
ft
3
s

_
1 m
3.28 ft
_
3
= 1320
m
3
s
Mass and weight. In the English system, the pound is a unit of force. In the metric
system, the newton is a unit of force; the kilogram is a unit of mass. However, we often
use grams and kilograms as units of weight instead of mass. For example, a one-pound
box of crackers will inform you that it weighs 454 g, not 4.45 N. You should be able
to convert between pounds and kilograms for everyday use; and between pounds and
newtons for physics applications.
Problem 622. A piano is pushed with a force of 450 N. What is the equivalent force in
pounds? Round your answer to the nearest 10 lb.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 4.45 N/lb. To make the units work, we need to
divide by the conversion factor:
N
N
lb
= N
lb
N
= lb
The force on the piano is
450 N
_
1 lb
4.45 N
_
= 100 lb
Problem 623. A box weighs 46 lb. What is the equivalent weight in newtons? Round
your answer to the nearest N.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 4.45 N/lb. To make the units work, we multiply
by the conversion factor:
lb
N
lb
= N
The weight of the box is
46 lb
_
4.45
N
lb
_
= 205 N
Problem 624. A sack of potatoes has a mass of 12 kg. What is the weight of the
potatoes in pounds? Round your answer to the nearest lb.
181
Solution: Use the conversion factor 2.2 lb/kg. To make the units work, multiply by
the conversion factor:
kg
lb
kg
= lb
The weight of the potatoes is
12 kg
_
2.2
lb
kg
_
= 26 lb
Problem 625. A sack of potatoes has a mass of 20 kg. What is the weight of the
potatoes in pounds? Round your answer to the nearest lb.
Solution: F
w
= (20 kg)(2.2 lb/kg) = 44 lb.
Problem 626. A German shepherd weighs 72 lb. What is the dogs mass in kg? Round
your answer to the nearest kg.
Solution: Use the conversion factor 2.2 lb/kg. To make the units work, divide by the
conversion factor:
lb
lb
kg
= lb
kg
lb
= kg
The mass of the dog is
72 lb
_
1 N
2.2 lb
_
= 33 kg
Problem 627. A cable weighs 5.2 lb/ft. What is the cables mass in kg/m? Round your
answer to the nearest 0.1 kg/m.
Solution: We need to convert lb to kg, and ft to m. Use the conversion factors
2.2 lb/kg and 3.28 ft/m. To make the units work, we have to multiply by the second
conversion factor and to multiple by the reciprocal of the rst:
lb
ft

ft
m

_
lb
kg
_
1
=
lb
ft

ft
m

kg
lb
=
kg
m
The linear density of the cable is
5.2
lb
ft

_
3.28
ft
m
__
1 kg
2.2 lb
_
= 7.8
kg
m
Problem 628. The pressure at the bottom of a swimming pool is 18 lb/in
2
. What is
the pressure in N/cm
2
? Round your answer to the nearest N/cm
2
.
182
Solution: We need to convert pounds to newtons, and inches to centimeters. Use the
conversion factors: 4.45 N/lb and 2.54 cm/in. To make the units work, multiply by the
rst conversion factor, and divide by the square of the second:
lb
in
2

N
lb

_
cm
in
_
2
=
lb
in
2

N
lb

in
2
cm
2
=
N
cm
2
The pressure is
18
lb
in
2

_
4.45
N
lb
__
1 in
2.54 cm
_
2
= 12
N
cm
2
Problem 629. An engine burns fuel at a rate of 11.2 g/s. What is the consumption rate
in kg/hr? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 kg/hr.
Solution: Use the conversion factors: 1000 g/kg and 3600 s/hr. To make the units
work, multiply by the second factor and the reciprocal of the rst:
g
s

s
hr

_
g
kg
_
1
=
g
s

s
hr

kg
g
=
kg
hr
The engine consumes fuel at a rate of
11.2
g
s

_
3600
s
hr
_
_
1 kg
1000 g
_
= 40.3
kg
hr
Problem 630. You have just discovered the new element explodium. It has a density of
9.70 g/cm
3
. The USA Today reporter says that their readers dont understand all that
centi-whatsis stu, and wants the density in pounds per cubic foot. Round your answer
to the nearest lb/ft
3
.
Solution: We need to convert grams to pounds, and cubic centimeters to cubic feet.
For the former, well use the conversion factor 454 g/lb. For the latter, well combine
two conversion factors:
2.54
cm
in
12
in
ft
= 30.48
cm
ft
To make the units work, we need to multiply by the cube of the second conversion factor,
and divide by the rst one:
g
cm
3

_
cm
ft
_
3
g
lb
=
g
cm
3

cm
3
ft
3

lb
g
=
lb
ft
3
The density of explodium is
9.70
g
cm
3

_
30.48
cm
ft
_
3
454
g
lb
= 605
lb
ft
3
.
183
For pedagogical purposes, we write the conversion out in one long string out products:
9.70
g
cm
3
= 9.70
g
cm
3
1 1 1
= 9.70
g
cm
3

_
2.54 cm
1 in
_
3
_
12 in
1 ft
_
3
_
1 lb
454 g
_
=
9.70 (2.54)
3
12
3
454
lb
ft
3
= 605
lb
ft
3
Notice that the second equality follows from the one-factor.
Problem 631. Your male friend is trying to impress a pretty German girl at your local
pub. He says to her I can bench press 330lbs. She then asks How much is that in
kilograms?. He is dumbfounded. Can you save him by converting 330 lbs to kgs, so
that she can be properly impressed?
Solution: We need to convert lb to kg. Use the conversion factor 2.2 lb/kg. The
weight in kilograms is
330 lb
_
1 kg
2.2 lb
_
= 150 kg .
Problem 632. You have a measuring stick that has centimeters and inches on it. You
notice that 1.00 in = 2.54 cm. Using only this information together with the relationship
1 mile = 5,280 ft., nd a relationship between miles and kilometers. That is, 1 mile =
how many kilometers?
Solution: We will use a total of 5 conversion factors. That is, we will apply the
one-factor 5 times (via multiplication).
1 mile = 1 mile 1 1 1 1 1
= 1 mile
_
5280ft
1mile
__
12in
1ft
__
2.54cm
1in
__
1m
100cm
__
1km
1000m
_
=
5280 12 2.54
10
5
km
= 1.61 km
where the second equality follows from the one-factor. Thus, 1 mile = 1.61 km. Crudely,
1 mile
3
2
km.
Problem 633. Use the relationship 1.00 in = 2.54 cm to nd a relationship between a
yard and a meter. Your answer should show that a yard is close in length to a meter.
184
Solution: Using the relationship 1.00 in = 2.54 cm and a number of conversion factors
we have
1 yd = 1 yd 1 1 1 1 1
= 1 yd
_
3ft
1yd
__
12in
1ft
__
2.54cm
1in
__
1m
100cm
_
=
3 12 2.54
100
m
= 0.914 m
Thus, 1m 1.09yd. So, 100 m is longer than a 1 football eld.
5.3 Scientic Notation
For the following problems express the following numbers in scientic notation without
using a calculator. Assume 3 signicant gures in each number with more than 3 trailing
zeros.
Problem 634. 1 = 1 10
0
Problem 635. 12 = 1.2 10
1
Problem 636. 123 = 1.23 10
2
Problem 637. 1234 = 1.234 10
3
Problem 638. 12345 = 1.2345 10
4
Problem 639. 0.1 = 1. 10
1
Problem 640. 0.12 = 1.2 10
1
Problem 641. 0.012 = 1.2 10
2
Problem 642. 0.0012 = 1.2 10
3
Problem 643. 0.00012 = 1.2 10
4
Problem 644. 395 = 3.95 10
2
Problem 645. 97, 000 = 9.70 10
4
Problem 646. .0000345 = 3.45 10
5
Problem 647. 10, 000, 000 = 1.00 10
7
Problem 648. .00000000500 = 5.00 10
9
185
For the following problems convert the expressions that are given in scientic notation
into standard form without using a calculator.
Problem 649. 1 10
0
= 1
Problem 650. 1.2 10
1
= 12
Problem 651. 1.23 10
2
= 123
Problem 652. 1.234 10
3
= 1234
Problem 653. 1.2345 10
4
= 12345
Problem 654. 1 10
1
= 0.1
Problem 655. 1.2 10
1
= 0.12
Problem 656. 1.2 10
2
= 0.012
Problem 657. 1.2 10
3
= 0.0012
Problem 658. 1.2 10
4
= 0.00012
Problem 659. 3.95 10
2
= 395
Problem 660. 9.70 10
4
= 97, 000
Problem 661. 3.45 10
5
= .0000345
Problem 662. 1.00 10
7
= 10, 000, 000
Problem 663. 5.00 10
9
= .00000000500
Problem 664. Convert the number 6.210
3
from scientic notation to standard form.
(a) 0.00062 (b) 6200
*(c) 0.0062 (d) 62, 000
(e) None of these
Solution: Move the decimal 3 places to the left.
Problem 665. Convert the number 9.70 10
4
to standard form.
(a) 0.000097 (b) 0.00097
(c) 0.0000970 *(d) 0.000970
(e) None of these
Solution: Since 9.70 10
4
has three signicant gures, the standard-form number
must also have three. By rule 4, the nal zero in (d) is signicant.
186
Problem 666. Convert the number 97,000 to scientic notation. Your answer should
have three signicant gures.
(a) 9.70 10
3
*(b) 9.70 10
4
(c) 9.7 10
3
(d) 9.7 10
4
(e) None of these
Solution: Answers (b) and (d) are both equal to 97,000, but (d) only has two
signicant gures.
For the following problems perform the following arithmetic without using a calculator.
Problem 667.
(1.0 10
3
) (9.0 10
8
)
3.0 10
7
= 3.0 10
4
Problem 668.
(4.67 10
7
) (1.01 10
2
)
6.24 10
3
= 7.56 10
5
Problem 669.
(7.3 10
2
) (2.23 10
5
)
2.45 10
4
= 6.6 10
3
Problem 670. (3.4 10
7
) (3.0 10
6
) = (3.4 10
7
) (0.30 10
7
) = 3.1 10
7
.
Problem 671. (3.4 10
3
) + (3.0 10
4
) = (.34 10
4
) + (3.0 10
4
) = 3.3 10
4
.
187
5.4 Signicant gures
Problem 672. A useful approximation for the number of seconds in a year is 10
7
s. Determine the number of signicant gures in this approximation given that there are
365.25 days in a year.
Solution: Lets start by using conversion factors to calculate how many seconds there
are in a year.
1 year = 1 year 1 1 1 1
= 1 year
_
365.25 days
1 year
__
24 hours
1 day
__
60 minutes
1 hour
__
60 seconds
1 minute
_
= 365.25 24 3600 s
= 31, 557, 600 s
Lets compare this to 10
7
= 31415926.59 s. The approximation is only accurate to 2
signicant gures.
Problem 673. A common approximation for = 3.141592659 . . . is
22
7
. That is,
22
7
.
To how many signicant gures is this approximation accurate?
Solution: To 8 decimal places
22
7
3.142857143. The two expressions agree to the
hundreds place, and if we round o they agree to three decimal places (the thousands
place), hence they agree to 4 signicant gures.
Problem 674. A common approximation for = 3.141592659 . . . is
355
113
. That is,

355
113
. To how many signicant gures is this approximation accurate?
Solution: To 8 decimal places
355
113
3.14159292. The two expressions agree to the
6th decimal place. Hence they agree to 7 signicant gures.
For the following problems preform the indicated operations. Assume that all of the
numbers come from real data with the correct number of signicant gures. Be sure to
express your answer in the correct number of signicant gures. Please refer to rules 1-11
in the lecture notes.
Problem 675. 566.3 + 32.50 + 2.197 = ?
Solution: 566.3 + 32.50 + 2.197 = 600.997
round o to one decimal place
Answer =
601.0 . The last zero is signicant. Notice that we used rule 10 for addition and/or
subtraction.
Problem 676. 261.72 90.715 = ?
Solution: 261.72 90.715 = 171.005
round o: rule 9
Answer = 171.00
188
Problem 677. 523.498 32.907527 + 0.52 = ?
Solution: 523.498 32.907527 + 0.52 = 491.110473
round o: 2 dec.
Answer =
491.11
Problem 678. 225 + 1.087 45.3975 = ?
Solution: There are two possible answers (even though I said all numbers come from
measurements) If the number 225 is exact, then
225 + 1.087 45.3975 = 180.6895
round o: 3 dec.
Answer = 180.690
since the number 225 is exact so it does not aect the accuracy of the calculation. If 225
is a measured number, then it has 3 signicant gures and zero decimal digits. Thus the
sum must be rounded to 3 signicant gures: 225 + 1.087 45.3975 = 181
Problem 679. 596.9/3.986 = ?
Solution: 596.9/3.986 = 149.7491...
round o: 4 sig gs.
Answer = 149.7
Problem 680. 505 0.0065
Solution: 505 0.0065 = 3.2825
round o: 2 sig gs.
Answer = 3.3
Since the second factor in the product only has 2 signicant gures, namely 65, the
answer can only have two signicant gures.
Problem 681. 2.00 107 + 3.5 332 = ?
Hint: First compute the exact numerical result, then express it the correct number of
signicant gures.
Solution: 2.00 107 + 3.5 332 = 1376. The weakest link is 3.5, it is only know to
2 signicant gures. Thus the answer = 1400.
Problem 682. (3.7)
3
= ?
Solution: (3.7)
3
= 50.653 Answer = 51. Since x
3
= x x x, the expression
(3.7)
3
is really just a multiplication. From rule 11, we must treat this as a multiplication.
Problem 683. What is the average of 2.5212, 2.5214, 2.5213, 2.5212, and 2.5220?
Solution: Average =
2.5212 + 2.5214 + 2.5213 + 2.5212 + 2.5220
5
= 2.52142 Can
only keep 5 signicant gures, so Answer = 2.5214.
189
Problem 684. Calculate 2.00 1.07 + 3.5 332. Your answer should have the correct
number of signicant gures.
*(a) 1200 (b) 1160
(c) 1164 (d) 1164.14
(e) None of these
Solution: Begin by calculating the products. 2.00 1.07 = 2.14; since both factors
have 3 signicant gures, so does the product. 3.5 332 = 1162; since 3.5 has only two
signicant gures, so does the product. That means that the 1162 is only accurate to the
hundreds place. We add 2.14 (accurate to the one-hundredth place) to 1162 (accurate
only to the hundreds place) and get 2.14+1162 = 1164.14. Since the sum is only accurate
to the decimal place of the least accurate term, its only accurate to the hundreds place;
so we round it to 1200.
Problem 685. Evaluate the following expression. Round your answer to the correct
number of signicant gures: 1.24 + 24.038 + 6.925
(a) 32 (b) 32.2
*(c) 32.20 (d) 32.203
(e) None of these
Solution: Keep 2 decimal places (the weakest link).
Problem 686.
(7.3 10
2
) (2.23 10
5
)
2.45 10
4
Solution: 6.6 10
3
. The rst factor in the numerator has 2 signicant digits; the
other factor in the numerator, and the denominator, have 3. By rule 11, our answer
should be rounded to 2 signicant digits.
Problem 687. How many signicant digits are there in: m = 0.0507 kg?
Solution: There are three signicant digits. Starting from the left, the rst two zeros
are place holders. The rst signicant digit is 5, after that all of the digits are signicant.
Problem 688. How many signicant digits are there in: m = 28.350 g?
Solution: The last zero is signicant, since it is to the right of the decimal point, and
also to the right of a nonzero digit. Thus there are ve signicant digits.
Problem 689. How many signicant digits are there in: v = 1.022 m/s?
190
Solution: The zero is signicant, since it comes between two nonzero digits. Thus
there are four signicant digits.
Problem 690. How many signicant digits are there in: r = 0.028 cm?
Solution: Neither of the zeros is signicant, since there are no nonzero digits to the
left of them. The zeros are there only to give place value to the 2 and the 8. Thus there
are two signicant digits.
Problem 691. How many signicant digits are there in: h = 0.08 cm?
Solution: one
Solution: 4
Solution: 5
Problem 694. How many signicant digits are there in: V = 44, 000 ft
3
?
Problem 695. How many signicant digits are there in: r = 0.0307 m?
(a) 2 *(b) 3
(c) 4 (d) 5
(e) None of these
Solution: The zeros to the left of the nonzero digits are placeholders, and are not
signicant digits.
Problem 696. How many signicant digits are there in: v = 1.022 m/s?
(a) 2 (b) 3
*(c) 4 (d) 5
(e) None of these
Solution: The zero is signicant because its between two nonzero digits.
(a) 2 (b) 3
*(c) 4 (d) 5
(e) None of these
Solution: The zeros to the left of the nonzero digits are not signicant since they are
placeholders. There are 4 signicant gures.
191
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 *(d) 4
(e) None of these
Solution: The zeros to the left of the rst nonzero digit are not signicant since they
are placeholders. All of the zeros after the nonzero digit are signicant gures. There
are 4 signicant gures.
Problem 699. Use a calculator to determine the decimal value of 1/7. Round your
answer to 3 signicant digits.
(a) 0.14 (b) 0.15
(c) 0.142 *(d) 0.143
(e) None of these
Solution: The calculator should give 1/7 = 0.142857 . . . The initial zero is not
signicant, so you need to round to three decimal places. Since the 2 is followed by an
8, round it up to 3: 1/7 = 0.143.
Solution: The zeros are not signicant, since they do not follow a decimal point or
precede a nonzero digit. They are there only to give place value to the two 4s. Thus
there are two signicant digits.
Solution: A calculator gives 3.142857... To get three signicant digits, we round this
to 3.14. Recall that 22/7 is a rational number approximation to .
Problem 701. Use a calculator to determine the decimal value of . Round your answer
to 3 signicant digits. How does this answer compare to the previous answer for 22/7?
Solution: A calculator gives 3.1415926... To get three signicant digits, we round
this to 0.143. Notice that the zero before the decimal point is not signicant.
Solution: A calculator gives 0.0042194... To get three signicant digits, we round
this to 0.00422. Notice that the three leading zeros are not signicant.
Problem 703. You have calculated the volume of a pond as 83,512.338 ft
3
. Round this
192
Solution: The rst two digits are nonzero, so rounding to the thousands place is what
we want: 84,000 ft
3
. Notice that we dont have a decimal point with zeros after it, since
this would indicate that all of the zeros were signicant.
Problem 704. You have taken several measurements of the size of a very small particle.
The mean of your measurements is 0.00013722 cm. Round this answer to 2 signicant
digits.
Solution: The three zeros after the decimal point are not signicant, since theres no
nonzero digit before them. We round to two digits after the string of zeros: 0.0014 cm.
Problem 705. (Signicant Figures and Conversion) If you were to convert the measured
length 7.923 ft into yards by multiplying by the conversion factor (1 yd/3 ft), how many
signicant gures should the answer contain. Justify your answer.
Solution: The answer should contain 4 signicant gures since the original measured
number contains 4 signicant gures and we are multiplying it by the conversion, which
is an exact number.
number of signicant gures:
(7.3 10
2
) (2.23 10
5
)
2.45 10
4
(a) 6.64 10
3
*(b) 6.6 10
3
(c) 6.6 10
2
(d) 6.64 10
(e) None of these
Solution: 6.64449 10
3
6.6 10
3
. The rst factor in the numerator has 2
signicant digits; the other factor in the numerator, and the denominator, have 3. By
rule 11, our answer should be rounded to 2 signicant digits.
number of signicant gures.
(3.021 10
2
)(8.446 10
11
)
1.9 10
3
Solution: 1.3 10
7
. Doing this on a calculator yields 1.34291 10
7
. Since the
denominator only has two signicant gures, we must round the result likewise.
193
5.5 Determining derived units from equations
In the following problems use the given physical governing equation to determine the
dimensions of the given derived quantity in terms of the fundamental dimensions of
length, time, and mass, or in terms of other derived quantities as specied in the problem.
Use the SI units when expressing the dimensions.
Problem 708. Determine the expression for the unit of work (dened as a Joule J) in
terms of the fundamental units from the denition of work (in one spacial dimension by
a constant force) as force times distance W = Fd, where W is the symbol for work (a
method of transferring energy), F is the force exerted on the object and d is the distance
that the force acts on the object.
Solution: Using our take-the-dimensions-of-the-quantity operator [ ] on the mathe-
matical expression for work gives
[W] = [Fd] = [F][d] = N m 1 Joule = 1N m = 1J
A Joule is pronounced a Newton-meter.
Problem 709. Determine the expression for the unit of kinetic energy (K.E.) in terms
of the fundamental units from the denition of K.E. as K =
1
2
mv
2
where K is the symbol
for kinetic energy, m is the mass of the object, v is the speed of the object.
matical expression for K.E. gives
[K] =
_
1
2
mv
2
_
= [m][v]
2
= kg
m
2
s
2
[K] = 1 kg
m
2
s
2
= 1
_
kg
m
s
2
_
m = 1N m = 1J
Problem 710. Determine the expression for the unit of gravitational potential energy
(P.E.) in terms of the fundamental units from the denition of P.E. as U = mgh, where
U is the symbol for potential energy, m is the mass of the object, g is the magnitude of
acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of an object above some reference level.
matical expression for gravitational P.E. gives
[U] = [mgh] = [m][g][h] = kg
_
m
s
2
_
m [U] = 1N m = 1J
Problem 711. Determine the expression for the unit of elastic potential energy (P.E.)
stored in a spring in terms of the fundamental units from the denition of P.E. as U =
1
2
kx
2
, where U is the symbol for potential energy, k is the spring constant, and and x is
the displacement from the equilibrium position.
194
Problem 712. Compare your results from the four previous expressions for work, kinetic,
and potential energy. What do you conclude about the relation between the various units?
Solution: All four expressions have the same units, namely Joules. The Joule is the
SI unit for energy. This result says that work, kinetic energy, and potential all have units
of energy. As well discover later in the course, by the principle of conservation of energy:
energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but energy can transform from one form to
another via the mechanism of work.
Problem 713. Determine the fundamental dimensions for density = mass/volume, de-
noted by .
Solution: Start by writing = density =
mass
volume
=
m
V
, where m is mass and V is
volume. Using the dimensionator: [] =
[m]
[V ]
=
M
L
3
.
Problem 714. Express pressure, denoted by P, in terms of the fundamental dimensions.
For now, just take pressure to be force/area. Note: In a later chapter we will use the
mathematical expression for Newtons second law to show that the dimensions of force
are [F] = M
L
T
2
. For now, just take this as a fact.
Solution: Start by writing P = pressure =
force
area
=
F
A
, where F is force and A is area.
Using the dimensionator: [P] =
[F]
[A]
=
[F]
L
2
= M
L
T
2

1
L
2
Problem 715. Determine the expression for the unit of pressure (the Pascal Pa) in
terms of the SI units for pressure and area from the equation dening pressure P =
F
A
,
where F is force and A is area.
matical expression for pressure gives
[P] =
_
F
A
_
=
[F]
[A]
=
N
m
2
1 Pascal =
N
m
2
Problem 716. Determine the units of the universal gas constant R from the equation
for the ideal gas law: PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is moles (denoted
mol), and T is temperature (with SI units of absolute temperature the kelvin K).
Solution: Using our take-the-dimensions-of-the-quantity operator [ ] on the equation
for the ideal gas law gives
[PV ] = [nRT] = [n][R][T]
[n][T]
[R] =
[P][V ]
[n][T]
=
J
(mol) (K)
195
Problem 717. In the study of thermodynamics one of the common expressions that you
encounter is pressure P times volume V . It turns out that this term has the dimensions
of work = force distance. To see this we write volume = area length, then using the
denitions of pressure and work we have
pressure volume = (force/area) (area length) = force length = work.
Verify our word equation using the fundamental dimensions for the product of pressure
and volume: pressure volume = PV and work as work = Fd, where d is the distance
that the force acts over.
Solution: [PV ] = [P][V ] =
[F]
L
2
L
3
= [F] L. Thus, PV has units of force times
distance. Later in the course we will learn that this is the units of work.
Using our take-the-dimensions-of-the-quantity operator [ ] on the mathematical expres-
sion for PV gives
[PV ] = [P][V ] =
[F]
[A]
[V ] =
N
m
2
m
3
[PV ] = N m = J
196
6 Introduction to Vectors
Unless stated otherwise, the direction of a vector in xy-space is the counterclockwise
angle that it makes with the x-axis; 0 < 360
or 0 < 2 rad., and angle mea-

surements in your answers should be in the same units as in the statement of the problem.
6.1 Identifying Vectors
6.1.1 Given vector, identify on gure
Problem 718. Which of the vectors in
the graph corresponds to 10 5?
(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C *(d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

D has a negative x-
component and a negative y-component.
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
the graph corresponds to 6 + 2?
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

B and

C have a
negative x-component and a positive y-
component. In 6 + 2, the magnitude
of the x-component (6) is greater than the
magnitude of the y-component (2). This
is true of

C but not of

B.
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
197
the graph corresponds to 4 + 4?
*(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

A has a positive x-
component and a positive y-component.
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
the graph corresponds to + 2?
(a)

A *(b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

B and

C have a
component. In + 2, the magnitude of
the x-component (1) is smaller than the
is true of

B but not of

C.
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
the graph corresponds to 3 +?
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

C has a negative x-
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

D
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/

B
198
the graph corresponds to 2 +?
*(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

A and

B have a
positive x-component and a positive y-
component. In 2 +, the magnitude of
the x-component (2) is greater than the
is true of

A but not of

B.
`
x
y
.
.
.
.

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

D
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/

B
the graph corresponds to + 2?
(a)

A *(b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

A and

B have a
positive x-component and a positive y-
component. In + 2, the magnitude of
is true of

B but not of

A.
`
x
y
.
.
.
.

A
`
`
`
`
`
``
C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

D
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/

B
(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C *(d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

D has a positive x-
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
199
the graph corresponds to 3, 1)?
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

B and

C have a
component. In 3, 1), the magnitude of
the x-component (3) is greater than the
is true of

C but not of

B.
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
*(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

A has a positive x-
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
(a)

A *(b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

B and

C have a
component. In 1, 2), the magnitude of
is true of

B but not of

C.
`
x
y

A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
200
(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C *(d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

D has a negative x-
`
x
y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`*

A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
*(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

A has a positive x-
`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/
//

A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
~
~
~
~
~
~
C

D
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

C has a negative x-
`
x
y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`*

D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
.
.
.
.
.
.

A
201
(a)

A *(b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

A and

B have a
positive x-component and a negative y-
component. In 10, 5), the magnitude
of the x-component (10) is greater than
the magnitude of the y-component (5).
This is true of

B but not of

A.
`
x
y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`*

A

B
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
*(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

A has a positive x-
`
x
y
`
`
`
`

A
Z
Z
Z
Z

B
`
`
`
``
C
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
6.1.2 Given vector on gure, identify formula
Problem 734. Which of the vectors
below corresponds to

A on the graph at
right?
(a) + (b) +
*(c) (d)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a positive x-
component and a negative y-component;
so (c).
`
x
y
`
`
`
`

A
Z
Z
Z
Z

B
`
`
`
``
C
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
202

B on the graph at
right?
*(a) + (b) +
(c) (d)
(e) None of these
Solution:

B has a positive x-
component and a positive y-component;
so (a).
`
x
y
`
`
`
`

A
Z
Z
Z
Z

B
`
`
`
``
C
Z
Z
Z
Z
D

C on the graph at
right?
(a) + *(b) +
(c) (d)
(e) None of these
Solution:

C has a negative x-
so (b).
`
x
y
`
`
`
`

A
Z
Z
Z
Z

B
`
`
`
``
C
Z
Z
Z
Z
D

D on the graph at
right?
(a) + (b) +
(c) *(d)
(e) None of these
Solution:

D has a negative x-
so (d).
`
x
y
`
`
`
`

A
Z
Z
Z
Z

B
`
`
`
``
C
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
203

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 3 + (b) 3 +
*(c) 2 (d) 3
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a positive x-
so (c).
`
x
y

A

A on the graph at
right?
*(a) 2 + 6 (b) 3 +
(c) 2 (d) 3
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a positive x-
so (a) or (b).

A has a small x-component
and a large y-component; so (a).
`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/
//

A

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 2 (b) 2
(c) 2 + *(d) + 2
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a negative x-
so (c) or (d).

and a large y-component; so (d).
`
x
y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
204

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 6 3 (b) 3 + 6
*(c) 6 + 3 (d) 3 6
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a negative x-
so (b) or (c).

A has a large x-component
and a small y-component; so (c).
`
x
y
A

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 1, 2) (b) 2, 1)
(c) 1, 2) *(d) 2, 1)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a negative x-
so (d).
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
A

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 1, 2) *(b) 1, 2)
(c) 2, 1) (d) 2, 1)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a positive x-
so (b) or (d).

and a large y-component; so (b).
`
x
y
`
`
`
`
`
`*

A
205

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 6, 3) *(b) 3, 6)
(c) 6, 3) (d) 3, 6)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a negative x-
so (a) or (b).

`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/
/
A

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 5, 10) (b) 5, 10)
*(c) 10, 5) (d) 10, 5)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a negative x-
so (c).
`
x
y
A

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 2, 4) *(b) 2, 4)
(c) 4, 2) (d) 4, 2)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a positive x-
so (b) or (d).

`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/
/

A
206

A on the graph at
right?
*(a) 1, 2) (b) 2, 1)
(c) 1, 2) (d) 2, 1)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a negative x-
so (a) or (b).

and a large y-component; so (a).
`
x
y
`
`
`
`
`
`
A

A on the graph at
right?
*(a) 2, 1) (b) 1, 2)
(c) 2, 1) (d) 1, 2)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a positive x-
so (a) or (b).

and a small y-component; so (a).
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.

A

A on the graph at
right?
(a) 2, 1) (b) 1, 2)
*(c) 2, 1) (d) 1, 2)
(e) None of these
Solution:

A has a positive x-
so (c) or (d).

and a small y-component; so (c).
`
x
y

A
207
6.1.3 Given direction, identify on gure
the graph corresponds to the direction
20
east of north?
(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C *(d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want east of
north, we take the north direction as the
reference line. Going 20
east of north
puts us in the rst quadrant; so

D.
`
E
N
/
/
/
/
/
/

D
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
/
/
/
/
/
/
B
`
`
`
`
`
`*

C
20
east of south?
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want east of
south, we take the south direction as the
east of south
puts us in the fourth quadrant; so

C.
`
E
N
/
/
/
/
/
/

D
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
/
/
/
/
/
/
B
`
`
`
`
`
`*

C
20
west of north?
*(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want west of
north, we take the north direction as the
west of north
puts us in the second quadrant; so

A.
`
E
N
/
/
/
/
/
/

D
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
/
/
/
/
/
/
B
`
`
`
`
`
`*

C
208
20
west of south?
(a)

A *(b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want west of
south, we take the south direction as the
west of south
puts us in the third quadrant; so

B.
`
E
N
/
/
/
/
/
/

D
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
/
/
/
/
/
/
B
`
`
`
`
`
`*

C
30
south of west?
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want south of
west, we take the west direction as the
south of west

C or
D. Since 30
< 45
, our vector should be

closer to the west direction than to the
south direction; so

C. (
D would be more
like 60
south of west.)
`
E
N
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
.
.
.
.
.
.
C
/
/
/
/
/
/
D
30
north of west?
(a)

A *(b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want north of
north of west

A or
B. Since 30
< 45

closer to the west direction than to the
north direction; so

B. (
A would be more
like 60
north of west.)
`
E
N
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
.
.
.
.
.
.
C
/
/
/
/
/
/
D
209
60
south of west?
(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C *(d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want south of
south of west

C or
D. Since 60
> 45

closer to the south direction than to the
west direction; so

D. (
C would be more
like 30
south of west.)
`
E
N
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
.
.
.
.
.
.
C
/
/
/
/
/
/
D
60
north of west?
*(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we want north of
north of west

A or
B. Since 60
> 45

closer to the north direction than to the
west direction; so

A. (
B would be more
like 30
north of west.)
`
E
N
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
.
.
.
.
.
.
C
/
/
/
/
/
/
D
Problem 758. What is the direction of
vector

A in the graph at right?
(a) 30
north of east
*(b) 30
south of east
(c) 30
north of west
(d) 30
south of west
(e) None of these
Solution: Of the solutions, only 30
south of east is in the fourth quadrant.
`
E
N

A
210
vector

*(a) 30
north of east
(b) 30
south of east
(c) 30
north of west
(d) 30
south of west
(e) None of these
north of east is in the rst quadrant.
`
E
N
.
.
.
.
.
.

A
vector

(a) 30
north of east
(b) 30
south of east
(c) 30
north of west
*(d) 30
south of west
(e) None of these
south of west is in the third quadrant.
`
E
N
.
.
.
.
.
.
A
vector

(a) 30
north of east
(b) 30
south of east
*(c) 30
north of west
(d) 30
south of west
(e) None of these
north of west is in the second quadrant.
`
E
N
A
211
vector

(a) 30
east of north
(b) 60
east of north
(c) 30
west of north
*(d) 60
west of north
(e) None of these
Solution: 30
west of north and 60
west of north are both in the second quad-

rant. However, 30
west of north would

be closer to the north direction than to
the west direction. Hence: 60
west of
north.
`
E
N
A
vector

(a) 30
east of north
(b) 60
east of north
*(c) 30
west of north
(d) 60
west of north
(e) None of these
Solution: 30
west of north and 60
west of north are both in the second quad-

rant. However, 60
west of north would

be closer to the west direction than to
the north direction. Hence: 30
west of
north.
`
E
N
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
vector

(a) 30
east of north
*(b) 60
east of north
(c) 30
west of north
(d) 60
west of north
(e) None of these
Solution: 30
east of north and 60
east of north are both in the rst quad-

rant. However, 30
east of north would be

closer to the north direction than to the
east direction. Hence: 60
east of north.
`
E
N
.
.
.
.
.
.

A
212
vector

*(a) 30
east of north
(b) 60
east of north
(c) 30
west of north
(d) 60
west of north
(e) None of these
Solution: 30
east of north and 60
east of north are both in the rst quad-

rant. However, 60
east of north would

be closer to the east direction than to the
north direction. Hence: 30
east of north.
`
E
N
/
/
/
/
/
/

A
6.1.4 Given vectors on gure, name quadrant of sum/dierence
Problem 766. The vectors

A and

B are
labelled on the gure at right. Sketch and
label the vector

A

B. What quadrant
does

A

B lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
*(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV
(e) It lies on the x- or y-axis
Solution: Sketch a copy of
B, la-
belled
, with its tail at the head of

A.
Then

A

B has its tail at the tail of

A
and its head at the head of
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
. .,
A
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z

B

A

B
213

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B. What quadrant
does

A +

B lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
*(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.z
A
/
/
/
/
/
//

B
/
/
/
/
/
// `
A +

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B. What quadrant
does

A

B lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
*(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.z
A
/
/
/
/
/
//

B
/
/
/
/
/
// -

A

B

A and

B are
label the vector

B

A. What quadrant
does

B

A lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
*(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV
A, la-
belled

B.
Then

B

A has its tail at the tail of

B
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.z
A
/
/
/
/
/
//

B
B

A
214

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B. What quadrant
does

A +

B lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV
*(e) It lies on the x- or y-axis

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
: on the negative
x-axis
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.z
A
~
~
~
~
~
~
A +

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B. What quadrant
does

A +

B lie in?
*(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
A
/
/
/
/
/
//

B
/
/
/
/
/
// `
A +

B

A and

B are
label the vector

B

A. What quadrant
does

B

A lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
*(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV
A, la-
belled

B.
Then

B


B
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
A
/
/
/
/
/
//

B
B

A
215

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B. What quadrant
does

A

B lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
*(d) Quadrant IV
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
A
/
/
/
/
/
//

B
/
/
/
/
/
// -
A

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B. What quadrant
does

A

B lie in?
*(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
A
\
\
\
\
\
\\ 1

B
`
`
`
`
`
`` `
A

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B. What quadrant
does

A +

B lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
*(d) Quadrant IV

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
A
\
\
\
\
\
\\ 1

B
`
`
`
`
`
`` -
A +

B
216

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B. What quadrant
does

A

B lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
*(d) Quadrant IV
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
~
~
~
~
~
~

A
\
\
\
\
\
\\ "
B
`
`
`
`
`
`` -
A

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B. What quadrant
does

A +

B lie in?
*(a) Quadrant I
(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
~
~
~
~
~
~

A
\
\
\
\
\
\\ "
B
`
`
`
`
`
`` `
A +

B

A and

B are
label the vector

B

A. What quadrant
does

B

A lie in?
(a) Quadrant I
*(b) Quadrant II
(c) Quadrant III
(d) Quadrant IV
A, la-
belled

B.
Then

B


B
`
x
y
~
~
~
~
~
~

A
\
\
\
\
\
\\ "
B

A
217
6.1.5 Mixing it up
Problem 779. Five vectors are graphed
on the diagram at right and described be-
low. Write the letter of each vector beside
its description.
E 3
B 4 + 2
D 2 3
A + 4
C 3 3
`
x
y
~
~
~
~
~
~

E
B
`
`
`
`
`
` `

D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|*

A
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
C
its description.
A 2, 2)
C 3, 1)
E 3, 4)
D 2, 1)
B 2, 4)
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

E
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
Problem 781. Five velocity vectors are
graphed on the diagram at right and de-
scribed below. Write the letter of each
vector beside its magnitude and direction.
E 14 m/s; 0.79 rad south of east
D 45 m/s; 1.11 rad south of east
C 41 m/s; 1.33 rad south of west
A 45 m/s; 0.46 rad north of west
B 36 m/s; 0.59 rad south of west
`
E
N
`
`

E
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`*

D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|r
A
.
.
.
.
.
.
B
218
Problem 782. Five velocity vectors are
graphed on the diagram at right and de-
scribed below. Write the letter of each
vector beside its magnitude and direction.
E 22 mph; 64
north of east
C 50 mph; 37
south of east
A 36 mph; 34
south of west
D 32 mph; 18
north of east
B 28 mph; 45
south of east
`
E
N
/
/
/
/
E
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
C
.
.
.
.
.
.
A
.
.
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
B
Problem 783. The vector

A is labelled
on the gure at right. Sketch and label
the vector
A.
Solution:
A should be the same

length as

A, in exactly the opposite di-
rection.

`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/
/

A
/
/
/
/
/
/ r
A

A is labelled
on the gure at right. Sketch and label
the vector
A.
Solution:
A should be the same

length as

A, in exactly the opposite di-
rection.

`
x
y
~
~
~
~
~
A
~
~
~
~
~
A
219
the graph corresponds to 3?
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the tail is at the ori-
gin, the tip must be at the point (1, 3)
(the 3
rd
quadrant). The magnitude of
the y-component is greater than the x-
component, so the answer must be C.
`
x
y
\
\
\
\
\
\\ 1

C
~
~
~
~
~
~
A
~
~
~
~
~
~
D
/
/
/
/
/
// r
B
its description.
A = 2, 2)
C = 3, 1)
E = 3, 4)
D = 2, 1)
B = 2, 4)
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

E
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
(a)

A (b)

B
(c)

C *(d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: Only

D has negative x- and
y-components.
`
x
y
Z
Z
Z
Z

A
~
~
~
~
~
~
C
.
.
.
.
D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
B
220
6.2 Geometric Vector Addition and Subtraction

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B.

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
_
A
'
/
/
/
/
/
/
A +

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B.
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
_
A
'
`
`
`
`
`
`
A

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B.
`
x
y
_
A
'
/
/
/
/
/
/ r
A

B
221

X,

Y , and
Z are labelled on the gure at right.

Which of the following equations is true?
(a)

Z =

X
Y *(b)

Z =

Y

X
(c)

Z =

X +

Y (d)

Z =
Y
(e) None of these
Solution: Notice that

Y +(
X) =

Z.
`
x
y
_
Y
'
X
`
`
`
`
`
` "
Z

X,

Y , and

Z
are labelled on the gure at right. Con-
sider the vector
Z. From the gure it is

clear that
Z =

X

Y .
Which of the following equations is true?
(a)
Z =
X +

Y (b)
Z =

X +

Y
(c)
Z =
Y (d)
Z =

X
Y
(e) None of these
Solution:

X + (
Y ) =
Z.
`
x
y
_
Y
'
X
`
`
`
`
`
` "
Z

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B.

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.

A
'
A +

B
222

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B.
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/
A
`
`
`
`
`
A

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B.

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/
/

A
.
.
.
.
.
. .z
`
`
`
``
A +

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B.
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
~
~
~
~
~
~

A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

B
'
A

B
223

A and

B are
label the vector

A +

B.

B, labelled

A. Then
A+


A and its
head at the head of

B
`
x
y
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\1
A
Z
Z
Z
`
`
`
`
`

A +

B

A and

B are
label the vector

A

B.
B, la-
belled

A.
Then

A


A
`
x
y
.
.
.
.
.
. .,
A
`
`
`
`
``
/
/
/
/
/
// r
A

B

A,

B, and

C
are labelled on the gure at right. Sketch
and label the vector

A +

B +

C.

B, labelled

A. Sketch
a copy of

C, labelled

C
, with its tail at

the head of

B
. Then

A+

B+

C will have
its tail at the tail of

A and its head at the
head of

C
`
x
y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
'
B
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\"
/
/
/
/
/
//
A +

B +

C
224

A,

B, and

C
are labelled on the gure at right. Sketch
and label the vector

A +

B

C.

B, labelled

A. Sketch
a copy of
C, labelled
, with its tail

at the head of

B
. Then

A +

B

C will
have its tail at the tail of

A and its head
at the head of
`
x
y
/
/
/
/
/

A
`
`
`
``
A +

B

C
225
6.3 Position vs. Displacement Vector Problems
Problem 801. On the graph below, draw and label the position vectors r
1
and r
2
corre-
sponding to the points P
1
and P
2
on the graph, and the displacement vector r = r
2
r
1
.
`
x
y
r
P
1
r
P
2
r
1
`
`
`
`
`
``
r
2
-
-
-
-
-
- --
r
Problem 802. At exactly 12:00, a spi-
der climbs onto the tip of a clocks minute
hand, where it remains for the next hour.
On the axes at right, sketch and label the
spiders displacement vectors:
A at 12:15
B at 12:30
C at 12:45
D at 1:00
Solution: Dont forget that youre
measuring displacement from the 12:00
position, not from the center of the clock.
`
x
y
`
`
`
`

A
'
B
Z
Z
Z
Z
D =
0
r
226
Problem 803. At exactly 12:00, a
spider climbs onto the tip of a clocks
minute hand, where it remains for the
next hour. Which of the vectors on the
gure at right is in the direction of the
spiders displacement vector at 12:15?
(a)

C *(b)

D
(c)

G (d)

H
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
next hour. Which of the vectors on
the gure at right is in the direction of
the spiders displacement vector at 12:30?
(a) The zero vector

0 (b)

A
(c)

B *(d)

E
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
(a)

B *(b)

F
(c)

G (d)

H
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
227
*(a) The zero vector

0 (b)

A
(c)

B (d)

E
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
next hour. If the origin is at the center
of the clock, which of the vectors on the
gure at right is the spiders position
vector at 12:15?
(a)

B *(b)

C
(c)

G (d)

H
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
vector at 12:30?
(a) The zero vector

0 (b)

A
*(c)

E (d)

F
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
228
vector at 12:45?
(a)

B (b)

F
*(c)

G (d)

H
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
vector at 1:00?
(a) The zero vector

0 *(b)

A
(c)

B (d)

E
(e) None of these
`
x
y
0
'
A
_

C
'
E
_
G
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
B
`
`
`
`
``
H
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
D
`
`
`
`
`
F
229
6.4 Finding Components of Vectors

A has magnitude 5.9 and direction = 0.34 rad. Find the x-
and y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = (5.9)(cos 0.34 rad) = 5.6

A
y
= |
A| sin = (5.9)(sin 0.34 rad) = 2.0


A has magnitude 83 and direction = 1.98 rad. Find the x-
and y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = (83)(cos 1.98 rad) = 33

A
y
= |
A| sin = (83)(sin 1.98 rad) = 76


A has magnitude 41 and direction = 3.51 rad. Find the x-
and y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = (41)(cos 3.51 rad) = 38

A
y
= |
A| sin = (41)(sin 3.51 rad) = 15


A has magnitude 7.7 and direction = 5.66 rad. Find the x-
and y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = (7.7)(cos 5.66 rad) = 6.3

A
y
= |
A| sin = (7.7)(sin 5.66 rad) = 4.5


A has magnitude 0.88 and direction 37
. Find the x- and

y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = 0.88 cos 37
= 0.70
A
y
= |
A| sin = 0.88 sin 37
= 0.53

. Find the x- and

y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = 1.28 cos 98
= 0.18
A
y
= |
A| sin = 1.28 sin 98
= 1.27

A has magnitude 110 and direction 219
. Find the x- and

y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = 110 cos 219
= 85
A
y
= |
A| sin = 110 sin 219
= 69

. Find the x- and

y-components of

A.
Solution: A
x
= |
A| cos = 37 cos 304
= 21
A
y
= |
A| sin = 37 sin 304
= 31
230
Problem 819.

A = 5.1, 8.8). Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the direction
in radians.
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
5.1
2
+ 8.8
2
= 10.2
Since A
x
> 0 and A
y
> 0, is in the rst quadrant. Hence:
= tan
1
A
y
A
x
= tan
1
8.8
5.1
= 1.05 rad
Problem 820.

A = 16, 41). Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the
direction in radians.
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
_
16
2
+ (41)
2
= 44
Since A
x
> 0 and A
y
< 0, is in the fourth quadrant. Hence:
= 2 tan
1
A
y
A
x
= 2 tan
1
41
16
= 5.08 rad
Problem 821.

A = 0.81, 1.13). Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the
direction in degrees.
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
_
(0.81)
2
+ (1.13)
2
= 1.39
Since A
x
< 0 and A
y
< 0, is in the third quadrant. Hence:
= 180
+ tan
1
A
y
A
x
= 180
+ tan
1
1.13
0.81
= 234
Problem 822.

A = 216, 82). Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
_
(216)
2
+ 82
2
= 231
Since A
x
< 0 and A
y
> 0, is in the second quadrant. Hence:
= 180
tan
1
A
y
A
x
= 180
tan
1
82
216
= 159
Problem 823.

A = 4.8 + 7.0. Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
4.8
2
+ 7.0
2
= 8.5
Since A
x
> 0 and A
y
> 0, is in the rst quadrant. Hence:
= tan
1
A
y
A
x
= tan
1
7.0
4.8
= 0.97 rad
Problem 824.

A = 120 220. Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
_
(120)
2
+ (220)
2
= 251
Since A
x
< 0 and A
y
< 0, is in the third quadrant. Hence:
= + tan
1
A
y
A
x
= + tan
1
220
120
= 4.21 rad
231
Problem 825.

A = 29 + 12. Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
_
(29)
2
+ 12
2
= 31
Since A
x
< 0 and A
y
> 0, is in the second quadrant. Hence:
= 180
tan
1
A
y
A
x
= 180
tan
1
12
29
= 158
Problem 826.

A = 0.16 0.23. Find the magnitude and direction of

A. Give the
Solution: |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
=
_
0.16
2
+ (0.23)
2
= 0.28
Since A
x
> 0 and A
y
< 0, is in the fourth quadrant. Hence:
= 360
tan
1
A
y
A
x
= 360
tan
1
0.23
0.16
= 305
6.5 Algebraic Vector Addition and Subtraction

Problem 827.

A = 3 2 and

B = 4 + 5. Find

A +

B.
Solution:

A +

B = (3 + 4) + (2 + 5) = 7 + 3
Problem 828.

A = + 7 and

B = 2 + 3. Find

A

B.
Solution:

A

B = (1 2) + (7 3) = 3 + 4
Problem 829.

A = 8, 3) and

B = 1, 2). Find

A +

B.
Solution:

A +

B = 8 + 1, 3 + 2) = 9, 5)
Problem 830.

A = 2, 6) and

B = 4, 5). Find

A

B.
Solution:

A

B = 2 (4), 6 5) = 6, 1)
Problem 831.

A = 4, 1) and

B = 5, 3). Find

A +

B.
(a) 9, 4) (b) 1, 2)
(c) 3, 8) *(d) 1, 4)
(e) None of these
Solution: 4, 1) +5, 3) = 4 + (5), 1 + (3)) = 1, 4)
Problem 832.

A = 2, 5) and

B = 3, 3). Find

A +

B.
(a) 5, 8) *(b) 1, 2)
(c) 5, 8) (d) 6, 15)
(e) None of these
Solution: Add like components:

A+

B = 2, 5)+3, 3) = 2 + 3, 5 3) = 1, 2).
232
Problem 833.

A = 2, 5) and

B = 7, 3). Find

A

B.
(a) 5, 2) (b) 9, 2)
*(c) 9, 8) (d) 5, 2)
(e) None of these
Solution: Add like components:

A

B = 2, 5) 7, 3) = 2 7, 5 + 3) =
9, 8).
Problem 834.

A has magnitude 7.2 and direction 1.1 rad.

B has magnitude 5.5 and
direction 2.9 rad. Find

A +

B. Give your answer in component form: C
x
, C
y
).
Solution: We begin by putting

A and

B in component form.
A =
_
|
A| cos
A
, |
A| sin
A
,
_
= (7.2)(cos 1.1 rad), (7.2)(sin 1.1 rad))
B =
_
|
B| cos
B
, |
B| sin
B
,
_
= (5.5)(cos 2.9 rad), (5.5)(sin 2.9 rad))
A +

B = (7.2)(cos 1.1 rad) + (5.5)(cos 2.9 rad), (7.2)(sin 1.1 rad) + (5.5)(sin 2.9 rad))
= 2.1, 7.7)
Problem 835.

.

B has magnitude 1.42 and
direction 157
. Find

A

B. Give your answer in terms of unit vectors: C
x
+C
y
.
Solution: We begin by putting

A and

B in unit-vector form:
A = |
A| cos
A
+|
A| sin
A
= 0.83 cos 22
+ 0.83 sin 22
B = |
B| cos
B
+|
B| sin
B
= 1.42 cos 157
+ 1.42 sin 157
A

B = (0.83 cos 22
1.42 cos 157
) + (0.83 sin 22
1.42 sin 157
)
= 2.08 0.24
Problem 836.

A has magnitude 115 and direction 3.8 rad.

B has magnitude 303 and
direction 5.1 rad. Find the magnitude and direction of

A +

B.
Solution: This will require three steps: putting

A and

B into component form; adding
the two vectors; and then nding the magnitude and direction of the resultant.
A =
_
|
A| cos
A
, |
A| sin
A
,
_
= (115)(cos 3.8 rad), (115)(sin 3.8 rad))
B =
_
|
B| cos
B
, |
B| sin
B
,
_
= (303)(cos 5.1 rad), (303)(sin 5.1 rad))
A +

B = (115)(cos 3.8 rad) + (303)(cos 5.1 rad), (115)(sin 3.8 rad) + (303)(sin 5.1 rad))
= C
x
, C
y
)
= 24, 351)
233
You should not use these rounded component values in calculating magnitude and direc-
tion. However, youll need to know their signs in order to make sure your angle is in the
right quadrant. Since the x-component is positive and the y-component is negative, is
in the fourth quadrant.
|
A +

B| =
_
C
x
2
+C
y
2
= 352
= 2 tan
1
C
y
C
x
= 4.78 rad
Problem 837.

.

B has magnitude 22 and direction
117
. Find the magnitude and direction of

A

B.
This will require three steps: putting

A and

B in component form; nding

C =

A

B;
and calculating the magnitude and direction of

C.
A = |
A| cos
A
+|
A| sin
A
= 57 cos 43
+ 57 sin 43
B = |
B| cos
B
+|
B| sin
B
= 22 cos 117
+ 22 sin 117
A

B = (57 cos 43
22 cos 117
) + (57 sin 43
22 sin 117
)
= C
x
+C
y
= 52 + 19
You should not use these rounded component values in calculating magnitude and direc-
tion of

C. However, youll need their signs to make sure you have in the right quadrant.
Since both components are positive, is in the rst quadrant.
|
A

B| =
_
C
x
2
+C
y
2
= 55
= tan
1
C
y
C
x
= 20
Problem 838. If

A = 3.3, 5.7), what is the magnitude of

A? Round your answer to
the nearest 0.1.
(a) 5.3 (b) 5.9
*(c) 6.6 (d) 7.2
(e) None of these
Solution: |A| =
_
A
2
x
+A
2
y
=
_
(3.3)
2
+ (5.7)
2
= 6.6
Problem 839. If

A = 3, 4), what is the magnitude of

A?
*(a) 5 (b) 6
(c) 25 (d) 7
(e) None of these
Solution: |A| =
_
A
2
x
+A
2
y
=
_
(3)
2
+ (4)
2
= 6.6
234
Problem 840. If

A = 3 4, what is the magnitude of

A?
(a) -1 (b) 2
(c) 4 *(d) 5
(e) None of these
Solution: |
A| =
_
(3)
2
+ (4)
2
= 5
235
6.6 Concept vector and scalar questions
The rst three problems deal with trigonometric functions.
Problem 841. cos(5 m/s) = ?
Solution: We can only take the cosine of a pure number, so this question doesnt
make sense.
Problem 842. Consider the expression: sin(
) = ?, where t
has units of time. What

must the units of
be in order for the argument of the sine function to make sense?

Solution: [
] =
1
T
.
Problem 843. Why is an angle a dimensionless number when measured in radians?
Solution: The angle in radians is the ratio of the arc intercepted by the angle to the
radius of the circle:
angle in radians =
arc length
radius
The arc length and the radius are both measured in units of length; so length in the
numerator and denominator cancel, leaving no units.
Problem 844. True or false: If we add the scalars 1 m + 1 m, we get 2 m.
Solution: True. We add scalars as we do regular numbers: 1 + 1 = 2.
Problem 845. True or false: If we add two vectors, each with length 1 m, we get a
vector with length 2 m.
Solution: False. Suppose the rst vector is 1 m long in the positive x-direction, and
the second is 1 m long in the negative x-direction. Then the sum of the two vectors is
zero. Unless the two vectors are pointing in exactly the same direction, we cant nd the
magnitude of their sum by adding the magnitudes of the two vectors.
Problem 846. Can you nd a vector v = v
1
, v
2
) such that v ,= 0, but |v| = 0?
Solution: No. The magnitude of v is
|v| =
_
v
2
1
+v
2
2
Since it has to be the case that v
2
1
0 and v
2
2
0, the only way |v| can be zero is if
v
2
1
= v
2
2
= 0. But that means that v
1
= v
2
= 0, so v = 0.
Problem 847. Is it possible for the magnitude of a vector to be smaller than any of its
components?
236
Solution: No. For simplicitys sake, lets look at a vector with two components:
v = v
1
, v
2
); and lets suppose that v
1
< v
2
. The magnitude of v is
|v| =
_
v
2
1
+v
2
2

_
v
2
1
+ 0 = [v
1
[ v
1
Hence the magnitude of v is no smaller than its smallest component.
Technically, we should prove this for an arbitrary vector v = v
1
, . . . , v
n
), where v
k
is the
smallest component. But the notation would get cumbersome, and the essentials of the
proof are the same.
Problem 848. True or false: Let v = a, b). If |v| > 0, then a > 0 and b > 0.
Solution: False. Suppose a = 3 and b = 4. Then
|v| =
_
(3)
2
+ (4)
2
=
25 = 5
In this example, |v| > 0, and a < 0 and b < 0.
Problem 849. If

A = A
x
+A
y
and makes an angle with the positive x-axis, express
sin in terms of A
x
and A
y
.
Solution: sin =
A
y
_
A
2
x
+A
2
y
Problem 850. If

A = A
x
+A
y
cos in terms of A
x
and A
y
.
Solution: cos =
A
x
_
A
2
x
+A
2
y
Problem 851. True or false: If

A = A
x
+ A
y
, then the equation for the magnitude
satises A = A
x
+A
y
?
Solution: False. A =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
,= A
x
+A
y
. For example, let A
x
= A
y
= 1.
Problem 852. If

A = A
x
+A
y
in terms of A
x
and A
y
. Assume that A
x
> 0 and A
y
> 0.
Solution: = tan
1
_
A
y
A
x
_
. [Since A
x
> 0 and A
y
> 0, is in the rst quadrant; so
we dont have to worry about reference angles.]
Problem 853. True or false: If

A = A
x
+ A
y
, then the equation for the magnitude
satises |
A| [A
x
[. Justify your answer.
Solution: True. |
A| =
_
A
x
2
+A
y
2
_
A
x
2
= [A
x
[
237
Problem 854. True or false: Let r = x, y) = x + y . If |r| > 0, then x > 0 and
y > 0. Justify your answer.
Solution: False. Let r = 1, 1). Then |r| =
2 > 0. [There are many other

counterexamples you could use.]
Problem 855. Can you nd a situation where the average velocity vector is equal to
the zero vector, but the average speed is not zero? In symbols:
Can we have v
ave
=
r
t
=
0 and speed =
total distance travelled
t
,= 0 ?
Give an example, or explain why one doesnt exist.
Solution: A car drives 100 km straight north at 100 km/h, then quickly turns around
and drives back to its starting point at 100 km/h. The total time it takes is t = 2 h.
Since it has returned to its starting point, r =

0. The total distance travelled is 200
km, so the average speed is 100 km/h. [There are many other examples you could use.]
Problem 856. Consider the statements (i) and (ii). Are the statements true or false?
(i) If k is a scalar, then k +k = 2k
(ii) Let v = a, b). If |v| > 0, then a > 0 and b > 0.
Choose the correct answer from below.
*(a) (i) is true; (ii) is false (b) (i) is false; (ii) is true
(c) Both statements are true (d) Both statements are false
Solution: (i) is true. (ii) is false: every nonzero vector has a positive magnitude,
including those with negative components. For example, if v = 3, 4), then |v| =
_
(3)
2
+ 4
2
= 5.
(i) If v is a vector, then |2v| = 2|v|.
(ii) Let v = a, b). If |v| = 0, then a = 0 and b = 0.
(a) (i) is true; (ii) is false (b) (i) is false; (ii) is true
*(c) Both statements are true (d) Both statements are false
238
(i) If v is a vector, then | v| = |v|.
(ii) Let v = a, b). Then 2v = 2a, 2b).
(a) (i) is true; (ii) is false *(b) (i) is false; (ii) is true
Solution: (ii) is true. (i) is false: the magnitude of a vector is always positive, unless
the vector is

0, in which case the magnitude is zero. Hence | v| = |v|.
(i) If v is a vector, then | v| = |v|.
(ii) Let v = a, b). Then 2v = 2a 2b.
Solution: (i) is true. (ii) is false: if v = a, b), then 2v = 2a, 2b).
(i) If u and v are vectors, then |u +v| = |u| +|v|.
(ii) Let v = a, b). Then |v| =
a
2
+b
2
.
Solution: (ii) is true. (i) is false; for example, let u = 1, 0) and v = 1, 0). Then
u +v =
0; so |u| = |v| = 1, but |u +v| = 0 ,= 1 + 1.

(i) If u is a vector and k is a scalar, then |ku| = k|u|.
(ii) Let v = a, b). Then |v| =
a +b.
(c) Both statements are true *(d) Both statements are false
Solution: (i) is false. Let u = 1, 0), and let k = 2. Then |u| = 1; ku = 2, 0), so
|ku| = 2 ,= k|u| = (2)(1). (A true version of (i) would be: |ku| = [k[ |u|.)
(ii) is also false. |v| =
a
2
+b
2
.
239
(i) If u is a vector, k is a scalar, and k > 0, then |ku| = k|u|.
(ii) Let v
1
= a
1
, b
1
) and v
2
= a
2
, b
2
). Then v
1
+v
2
= a
1
+a
2
, b
1
+b
2
).
*(c) Both statements are true (d) Both statements are false
Solution: Both statements are true. Statement (i) is a specic case of the general
statement: If u is a vector and k is a scalar, then |ku| = [k[ |u|. If k > 0, then [k[ = k.
(i) If u is a vector, then | 2u| = 2|u|.
(ii) Let v
1
= a
1
, b
1
) and v
2
= a
2
, b
2
). Then v
1
+v
2
= a
1
+b
1
, a
2
+b
2
).
Statement (i) is a specic case of the general statement: If u is a vector and k is a scalar,
then |ku| = [k[ |u|. If k = 2, then [k[ = 2.
Statement (ii) is a garbled version of the true statement: if v
1
= a
1
, b
1
) and v
2
= a
2
, b
2
),
then v
1
+v
2
= a
1
+a
2
, b
1
+b
2
).
(i) If u is a vector, then u + (u) =
0.
(ii) Let v
1
= a
1
, b
1
) and v
2
= a
2
, b
2
). Then v
1
v
2
= a
1
b
1
, a
2
b
2
).
Solution: (i) is true. (ii) is a garbled version of the true statement: if v
1
= a
1
, b
1
)
and v
2
= a
2
, b
2
), then v
1
v
2
= a
1
a
2
, b
1
b
2
).
(i) If u is a vector, then u 2u = u.
(ii) Let v
1
= a
1
, b
1
) and v
2
= a
2
, b
2
). Then v
1
v
2
= a
1
a
2
, b
1
b
2
).
Solution: (i) is false; a true version would be: u 2u = u. (ii) is true.
240
6.7 Applications of Vectors
6.7.1 Breaking vectors into components
Problem 866. An airplane is ying at a speed of V in a direction 22
north of east.
Which expression gives the northward component of the planes velocity?
(a) V cos 22
(b) V/ cos 22
*(c) V sin 22
(d) V/ sin 22
(e) None of these

Problem 867. An airplane is ying at a speed of V in a direction 22
north of east.
Which expression gives the eastward component of the planes velocity?
*(a) V cos 22
(b) V/ cos 22
(c) V sin 22
(d) V/ sin 22
(e) None of these

Problem 868. A car is driving at a speed of V up a hill that makes an angle of 22
with the horizontal. What is the vertical component of the cars velocity?
(a) V cos 22
(b) V/ cos 22
*(c) V sin 22
(d) V/ sin 22
(e) None of these

Problem 869. An airplane is ying at a speed of 190 mph in a direction 24
north of
east. What is the northward component of the planes velocity? Round your answer to
the nearest mph.
*(a) 77 mph (b) 101 mph
(c) 161 mph (d) 175 mph
(e) None of these
Solution: v
y
= v sin = (190 mph) sin 24
= 77 mph
Problem 870. An airplane is ying at a speed of 310 mph in a direction 77
north of
east. What is the eastward component of the planes velocity? Round your answer to
the nearest mph.
*(a) 70 mph (b) 155 mph
(c) 180 mph (d) 294 mph
(e) None of these
Solution: v
x
= v cos = (310 mph) cos 77
= 70 mph
241
Problem 871. An airplane is ying at 214 m/s in a direction 37
north of east. What

is the eastward component of its velocity? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 129 m/s (b) 134 m/s
(c) 161 m/s *(d) 171 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: v
E
= (214) cos 37
= 171
Problem 872. An airplane is ying at 220 mph in a direction 30
north of east. What

is the northward component of its velocity?
Solution: You dont need a calculator, since every good physics student knows that
sin 30
= 1/2. Then
v
N
= v sin = (220 mph) sin 30
= 110 mph
Problem 873. An airplane is ying at 220 mph in a direction 30
east of north. What

is the northward component of its velocity? Round your answer to the nearest mph.
Solution: v
N
= v cos = (220 mph) cos 30
= 191 mph
Problem 874. A hill has a slope of 0.30 radians above the horizontal. If you are driving
up that hill at 22 km/hr, how fast are you gaining elevation?
Solution: You want the vertical component of your velocity:
v
y
= v sin = (22 km/hr)(sin 0.30 rad) = 6.5 km/hr
Problem 875. A car is driving at 35 mph up a hill with a slope of 8
above the horizontal.

What is the horizontal component of the cars velocity? Round your answer to the nearest
0.1 mph.
(a) 4.9 mph (b) 5.1 mph
(c) 7.5 mph *(d) 34.7 mph
(e) None of these
Solution: v
x
= v cos = (35 mph) cos 8
= 34.7 mph
Problem 876. A gun is red at an elevation of 39
above the horizontal. The shell

emerges from the muzzle at 320 m/s. What is the vertical component of the shells
velocity? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 85 m/s *(b) 201 m/s
(c) 249 m/s (d) 308 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: v
y
= v sin = (320 m/s) sin 39
= 201 m/s
242
Problem 877. (Lab Problem) A spring cannon is red at an elevation of 34
above
the horizontal. The ball emerges from the cannon at 14.4 m/s. What is the horizontal
component of the balls velocity? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 8.1 m/s (b) 9.7 m/s
*(c) 11.9 m/s (d) 12.2 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: v
x
= v cos = (14.4 m/s) cos 34
= 11.9 m/s
Problem 878. You are on an airplane ying upward at an angle of above the horizontal,
at 110 m/s. You have a cold, and if you gain altitude faster than 25 m/s, your eardrums
will explode. What is the maximum safe value for ? Round your answer to the nearest
degree.
(a) 12
*(b) 13
(c) 14
(d) 16
(e) None of these

Solution: You know v and v
y
; you want to know .
v
y
= v sin sin =
v
y
v
= sin
1
_
v
y
v
_
= sin
1
_
25 m/s
110 m/s
_
= 13
Problem 879. (Lab Problem) A spring cannon is red at an elevation of 34
above
the horizontal. The ball emerges from the cannon at 14.4 m/s. What is the horizontal
component of the balls velocity? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 8.1 m/s (b) 9.7 m/s
*(c) 11.9 m/s (d) 12.2 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: v
x
= v cos = (14.4 m/s) cos 34
= 11.9 m/s
Problem 880. An bird is ying at 20 m/s in a direction 30
south of west. If we take the

x-axis pointing east and the y-axis pointing north, then what is the southward component
of its velocity v = v
x
, v
y
)? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 10
3 m/s (b) 10 m/s

*(c) 10
3 m/s (d) 10 m/s

(e) None of these
Solution: The tip of the vector lies in the 3
rd
quadrant, so the y-component (the
southward component) is negative. v
y
= v
S
= v sin = 20 sin(30
) m/s = 10 m/s
Problem 881. Your Civil War cannon has a muzzle velocity of v
0
= 1220 ft/s. If it is
red at an elevation of 6
above the horizontal, what is the vertical component v

0y
of the
velocity? Round your answer to the nearest ft/s.
Solution: v
0y
= v
0
sin = (1220 ft/s) sin 6
= 128 ft/s
243
Problem 882. An airplane is ying at 330 km/hr, in a direction 0.19 rad above the
horizontal. At what speed is the airplane gaining altitude?
Solution: We want the vertical component of the airplanes velocity vector:
v
y
= v sin = (330 km/hr)(sin 0.19 rad) = 62 km/hr
Problem 883. A train is moving at 68 mph in a direction 22
north of west. What is

the trains speed westward?
Solution: We want the westward component of the trains velocity vector:
v
W
= v cos = (68 mph)(cos 22
) = 63 mph
Problem 884. (Position) Pirates have buried their treasure on campus, and you have
acquired a copy of their map. (Like everyone else, pirates need to be careful about that
Reply All button.) It tells you to start at the main entrance to the physics building
and take 120 steps in a direction 0.38 rad north of east; from there, you should go another
190 steps in a direction 0.33 rad south of east. How far from the entrance is the treasure,
and in what direction?
Solution: We will call the rst displacement vector

A and the second

B. We need
to nd the magnitude and direction of

C =

A +

B. We begin by writing the vectors in
component form:
A =
_
|
A| cos
A
, |
A| sin
A
_
= 120 cos 0.38 rad, 120 sin 0.38 rad)
B =
_
|
B| cos
B
, |
B| sin
B
_
= 190 cos(0.33 rad), 190 sin(0.33 rad))
Remember that cos() = cos and that sin() = sin . Then the components of
C =

A +

B are:
C
E
= 120 cos 0.38 rad + 190 cos 0.33 rad = 291 steps
C
N
= 120 sin 0.38 rad 190 sin 0.33 rad = 17 steps
Since C
E
is positive and C
N
is negative, the direction is in the fourth quadrant: that is,
south of east. We calculate
|
C| =
_
C
E
2
+C
N
2
= 292 steps
= tan
1
C
N
C
E
south of east = 0.06 rad south of east

Problem 885. (Position) You have discovered the Lost Belgian Mine, which runs
directly northward into a mountainside. From the opening, you go 47 m in a direction
0.28 rad below the horizontal. From there, you go another 66 m in a direction 0.19 rad
below the horizontal. At this point, what is your horizontal distance from the opening,
244
and how far are you above or below it?
Solution: We begin by nding the components of the two vectors:
A =
_
|
A| cos
A
, |
A| sin
A
_
= 47 m cos(0.28 rad), 47 m sin(0.28 rad))
B =
_
|
B| cos
B
, |
B| sin
B
_
= 66 m cos(0.19 rad), 66 m sin(0.19 rad))
Remember that cos() = cos and that sin() = sin . Then the components of
C =

A +

B are:
C
x
= 47 m cos 0.28 rad + 66 m cos 0.19 rad = 110 m
C
y
= 47 m sin 0.28 rad 66 m sin 0.19 rad = 25 m
Your horizontal distance from the entrance is 110 m, and you are 25 m below it.
Problem 886. A goose is directly east of an airplane. The airplane is ying at a speed
of 160 mph, in a direction 15
north of east. The goose is ying at a speed of 45 mph,

in a direction north of west. What must be in order for the goose to collide with the
airplane? Give your answer in degrees.
Solution: Since the goose is directly east of the airplane, its northbound component
of velocity must match the airplanes if they are to collide. That means
(45 mph)(sin ) = (160 mph)(sin 15
)
Solving for gives us
= sin
1
_
(160 mph)(sin 15
)
45 mph
_
= 67
Problem 887. You are tracking a submarine by determining its position when it sends
radio messages. When you rst detect the sub, it is 57 km west and 24 km north of you.
When it sends its next message 37 min later, it is 51 km west and 13 km north of you.
What are the magnitude and direction of the subs average velocity during that time?
(Give the magnitude in km/hr, and the direction in radians, relative to east or west:
e.g. rad north of east, with 0 < < /2.)
Solution: Dont forget to convert 37 min to hours. A look at the numbers shows
that the submarine is moving to the east and south. The eastbound component of the
velocity is:
v
E
=
57 km51 km
37 min

60 min
1 hr
9.7 km/hr
The southbound component of the velocity is:
v
S
=
24 km13 km
37 min

60 min
1 hr
17.8 km/hr
245
(We present these intermediate results because its a good idea to look at them and make
sure that they seem reasonable. You should not use these rounded numbers in your later
calculations.)
The magnitude of the velocity is
_
v
E
2
+v
S
2
= 20 km/hr
The direction is
tan
1
_
v
S
v
E
_
= 1.1 rad south of east
Problem 888. A cockroach has a tiny embedded radio transponder, allowing you to
track its position and velocity. Just before your lab partner attempts to stomp on it, it
is moving at 8 cm/s to the east and 5 cm/s to the south. 1.3 seconds later, it is scurrying
away at 31 cm/s to the west and 19 cm/s to the south. What are the components of the
roachs average acceleration during that time?
Solution: A look at the numbers shows that the roach is accelerating westward and
southward. The westward component of acceleration is
a
W
=
31 cm/s (8 cm/s)
1.3 s
= 30 cm/s
2
The southward component is
a
S
=
19 cm/s 5 cm/s
1.3 s
= 11 cm/s
2
Problem 889. A car is travelling eastward along a highway at 60 mph. It passes under
a hawk that is ying northward at 42 mph. From the point of view of an observer in the
car, what are the hawks speed and direction? Give the direction in degrees relative to
north, e.g.
east of north.
Solution: For an observer in the car, objects xed to the ground are moving westward
at 60 mph. To that observer, the hawk is moving westward at v
W
= 60 mph and
northward at v
N
= 42 mph. In that frame of reference, the hawks speed is
v =
_
v
W
2
+v
N
2
=
_
(60 mph)
2
+ (42 mph)
2
= 73 mph
The direction, relative to north, is
tan
1
_
v
W
v
N
_
= tan
1
_
60 mph
42 mph
_
= 55
west of north
246
Problem 890. You can paddle a kayak in still water at 2.6 m/s. The Santa Cruz River
is 55 m wide, and ows northward at 1.9 m/s. If you launch your kayak on the east
bank, and point it directly westward, what will your speed and direction be relative to
an observer standing on the bank? Give your direction in radians relative to west, e.g.
rad south of west.
Solution: Relative to a xed observer on the bank, you are moving westward at
v
W
= 2.6 m/s and northward at v
N
= 1.9 m/s. In that frame of reference, your speed is
v =
_
v
W
2
+v
N
2
=
_
(2.6 m/s)
2
+ (1.9 m/s)
2
= 3.2 m/s
Your direction relative to west is
tan
1
_
v
N
v
W
_
= tan
1
_
1.9 m/s
2.6 m/s
_
= 0.63 rad north of west
The width of the river is irrelevant to the problem.
Problem 891. An airplane can y at 410 km/hr in still air. The pilot wishes to y it
from Smithpur to Jonesgorod, 530 km to the north. The wind is blowing at 55 km/hr
from west to east. In what direction should the pilot point the plane to y directly to
Jonesgorod? How long will the journey take? Give your direction in radians relative to
north, e.g. rad east of north.
Solution: The pilot wants to y directly north. He must point the airplane west of
north, so that his still-air velocity has a westward component that osets the 55 km/hr
eastward wind. If is the pilots heading west of north, then
v
W
= (410 km/hr) sin = 55 km/hr
Solving this for yields
= sin
1
_
55 km/hr
410 km/hr
_
= 0.13 rad west of north
The northward component of the planes velocity is (410 km/hr) cos . To y 530 km to
the north requires a time of
t =
530 km
(410 km/hr) cos
= 1.3 hr
Problem 892. A river has a current with a speed of 5 ft/s. You can swim at 4 ft/s in
still water. At what angle to the cross-river direction do you need to swim to reach a
point directly across the river from you?
Solution: No solution. Whatever the angle is, your upstream component of velocity
can be no greater than the total magnitude of your velocity: 4 ft/s. Thus you will nd
yourself going downstream at 1 ft/s or more.
247
Problem 893. A train is going directly north at 70 mph. An action-movie star is atop
the train, running southward at 12 mph. Relative to someone standing on the ground,
how fast is the action-movie star moving, and in what direction?
Solution: Relative to someone on the ground, the AMS is moving northward at
70 12 = 58 mph.
248
6.7.2 Introduction to force vectors
Working denition: You can think of a force as a push or a pull. Since a push or
pull has both magnitude and direction, it follows that a force is a vector.
1
Well learn more about forces later on in the course when you learn about Newtons Laws.
In particular, Newtons 2
nd
Law F
net
= ma requires computing the net force (sometimes
called the resultant force) acting on an object of mass m. Since a force is a vector,
the net force is just the resultant vector. In more than one spatial dimension we nd
the resultant vector by breaking the individual force vectors acting on the object into
component vectors and then nding the net force in each of the x and y directions.
The purposes of these exercises is to give you an early exposure to the concept of break-
ing forces into their respective components and summing them (keeping proper sign
conventions) to nd the net force in the the x and y directions, denoted F
net,x
and F
net,y
.
Problem 894. A rope is used to pull a block
up a ramp. The ramp makes an angle of 25
to the horizontal; the rope makes an angle of

33
with the ramp. The rope is pulled with a

force

F whose magnitude is 317 N. What is
the horizontal component of

F? Round your
answer to the nearest newton.
*(a) 168 N (b) 185 N
(c) 203 N (d) 224 N
(e) None of these
x
`
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
25
\
\\
.
.
\
\\
33
F = 317 N
Solution: Draw a free-body diagram and
add the angles to nd the net angle between
F and the horizontal: = 25
+33
= 58
. The
horizontal component is
F
x
= 317 cos 58
= 168 N
The vertical component is
F
y
= 317 sin 58
= 269 N

x
`
y
25
F
33
= 58
1
Actually, this is not obvious and must be proven mathematically.
249

33
with the ramp. The rope is pulled with

a force

F whose magnitude is 317 N. What
is the vertical component of

F? Round your
(a) 218 N (b) 242 N
*(c) 269 N (d) 296 N
(e) None of these

x
`
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
25
\
\\
.
.
\
\\
33
F = 317 N
+33
= 58
. The
F
x
= 317 cos 58
= 168 N
F
y
= 317 sin 58
= 269 N

x
`
y
25
F
33
= 58


31
with the ramp. The rope is pulled with a

force

F whose magnitude is 428 N. What is
the horizontal component of

F? Round your
(a) 209 N (b) 232 N
*(c) 258 N (d) 283 N
(e) None of these
x
`
y
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
22
\
\\
.
.
\
\\
31
F = 428 N
+31
= 53
. The
F
x
= 428 cos 53
= 258 N
F
y
= 428 sin 53
= 342 N

x
`
y
22
F
31
= 53
250
Problem 897. Two forces

F
1
and

F
2
are acting on a
particle, as shown at right.

F
1
makes an angle of 35
with the x-axis and has magnitude 87 N.

F
2
makes
an angle of 18
with the y-axis and has magnitude

181 N. Use the component method to nd the net
force in the x-direction. Round your answer to the
nearest newton. (The picture is not drawn to scale.)
(a) 12 N (b) 13 N
*(c) 15 N (d) 16 N
y
x
u
F
1
= 87 N
35
F
1x
F
1y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
F
2
= 181 N
18
F
2y
F
2x
Solution: Let

F =

F
1
+

F
2
. Then
F
x
= F
1x
+F
2x
= (87 N) cos 35
(181 N) sin 18
= 15 N

F
1
and

F
2
are acting on a

F
1

F
2
makes
an angle of 18

181 N. Use the component method to nd the net
force in the y-direction. Round your answer to the
nearest newton. (The picture is not drawn to scale.)
(a) 200 N *(b) 222 N
(c) 244 N (d) 269 N
y
x
u
F
1
= 87 N
35
F
1x
F
1y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
F
2
= 181 N
18
F
2y
F
2x
Solution: Let

F =

F
1
+

F
2
. Then
F
y
= F
1y
+F
2y
= (87 N) sin 35
+ (181 N) cos 18
= 222 N
251

F
1
and

F
2
are acting on a

F
1

F
2
makes
an angle of 18

181 N. Find the magnitude of the net force on the
particle. Round your answer to the nearest newton.
(The picture is not drawn to scale.)
(a) 200 N *(b) 223 N
(c) 245 N (d) 269 N
y
x
u
F
1
= 87 N
35
F
1x
F
1y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
F
2
= 181 N
18
F
2y
F
2x
Solution: Let

F =

F
1
+

F
2
. Then
F
x
= F
1x
+F
2x
= (87 N) cos 35
(181 N) sin 18
F
y
= F
1y
+F
2y
= (87 N) sin 35
+ (181 N) cos 18
F =
_
F
2
x
+F
2
y
=
_
((87 N) cos 35
(181 N) sin 18
)
2
+ ((87 N) sin 35
+ (181 N) cos 18
)
2
1/2
= 223 N

F
1
and

F
2
are acting on a

F
1

F
2
makes
an angle of 18

181 N. If

F
net
is the net force on the particle, nd
the angle that

F
net
makes with the x-axis. Round
your answer to the nearest degree. (The picture is
not drawn to scale.)
(a) 83
*(b) 86
(c) 89
(d) 92
y
x
u
F
1
= 87 N
35
F
1x
F
1y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
F
2
= 181 N
18
F
2y
F
2x
Solution: Let

F =

F
1
+

F
2
. Then
F
x
= F
1x
+F
2x
= (87 N) cos 35
(181 N) sin 18
15 N
F
y
= F
1y
+F
2y
= (87 N) sin 35
+ (181 N) cos 18
222 N
Since F
x
and F
y
are both positive,

F is in the rst quadrant. Hence
= tan
1
_
F
y
F
x
_
= tan
1
_
(87 N) sin 35
+ (181 N) cos 18
(87 N) cos 35
(181 N) sin 18
_
= 86
252
Problem 901. You are pulling a crate of physics books down the hallway, using a rope
that makes an angle of 34
to the horizontal. If you are pulling on the rope with a force of

440 N, what is the horizontal component of the force? Round your answer to the nearest
newton.
(a) 373 N (b) 233 N
*(c) 365 N (d) 246 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The horizontal component of the force is
F
h
= F cos = (440 N) cos 34
= 365 N
Problem 902. You are pulling a crate of physics books down the hallway, using a rope
that makes an angle of 26
to the horizontal. If you are pulling on the rope with a force of

290 N, what is the horizontal component of the force? Round your answer to the nearest
newton.
(a) 127 N (b) 188 N
(c) 221 N *(d) 261 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The horizontal component of the force is
F
h
= F cos = (290 N) cos 26
= 261 N
Problem 903. Your car is stuck in a muddy road, and you and a friend are trying to
pull it out with ropes. You are pulling with a force of 820 N in a direction 0.45 rad east
of north; your friend is pulling with a force of 1040 N in a direction 0.32 rad west of
north. What is the northward force on the car?
Solution: We will use a coordinate system in which north is the positive x-direction
and west is the positive y-direction. In that system, the angle at which you are pulling
is 0.45 rad; the angle at which your friend is pulling is 0.32 rad.
We will need to write the two force vectors in component form, then nd their sum, then
nd the magnitude and direction of that sum. The two force vectors are:
A =
_
|
A| cos
A
, |
A| sin
A
_
= 820 N cos(0.45) rad, 820 N sin(0.45) rad)
B =
_
|
B| cos
B
, |
B| sin
B
_
= 1040 N cos 0.32 rad, 1040 N sin 0.32 rad)
Remember that cos() = cos . Then the northerly component of

C =

A +

B is:
C
N
= 820 N cos 0.45 rad + 1040 N cos 0.32 rad = 1730 N
We have rounded this number to 10 N, since that appears to be the accuracy of the
original data.
253
Problem 904. A boat is held in the middle of a river by two ropes, one going to either
bank. Each rope makes an angle of 79
to the upstream direction of the river. The

current exerts a downstream force of 550 lbs on the boat. How much force does each
rope have to exert to hold the boat in place? (It is the same for both ropes.)
Solution: There are two ropes, each exerting a force with a magnitude of F. The
upstream component of each force vector is F cos 79
. The two ropes working together

must oset the downstream force of the current:
2F cos 79
= 550 lbs
Solving this for F give us
F =
550 lbs
2 cos 79
= 1440 lbs
Problem 905. You are riding your bicycle straight north. The wind is exerting a force
of 48 lbs on you, in a direction 39
east of south. What is the southward component of

the winds force?
Solution: The southward component is
F
S
= F cos = (48 lbs)(cos 39
) = 37 lbs
Problem 906. A dietitian is pulling a crate of romaine lettuce, using a rope that makes
an angle of 0.41 rad to the horizontal. To move the crate requires a horizontal force of
240 N. What is the force with which the dietitian needs to pull on the rope?
Solution: The number we want is F, the magnitude of the force vector. The horizontal
force is
F
x
= F cos = F(cos 0.41 rad) = 240 N
Solving this for F give us
F =
F
x
cos
=
240 N
cos 0.41 rad
= 262 N
254
Part III
Kinematics
255
7 One-dimensional linear kinematics
7.1 Concept questions: kinematics
Problem 907. Is it possible for an object to have nonzero velocity and zero speed? Give
an example, or explain why its not possible.
Solution: No. Speed is the magnitude of the velocity vector; and only the zero vector
has a magnitude of zero.
Problem 908. Is it possible for an object to have nonzero speed and zero velocity? Give
an example, or explain why its not possible.
Solution: No. Speed is the magnitude of the velocity vector; and the zero vector has
a magnitude of zero.
Problem 909. Is it possible for an object to have zero average velocity and nonzero
average speed? Give an example, or explain why its not possible.
Solution: Yes. Suppose you walk 100 ft north at 4 mph, then turn around and walk
100 ft south at 4 mph, returning to your starting point. Your average speed is 4 mph,
since thats the speed at which you were walking the whole time. (Well neglect the very
short time it took you to turn around.) However, your average velocity is zero, because
you returned exactly to your starting point.
Problem 910. Is it possible for an object to have zero average speed and nonzero average
velocity? Give an example, or explain why its not possible.
Solution: No. Speed is always greater than or equal to zero, so the only way to have
an average speed of zero is for the speed to be zero the whole time. That means that the
velocity must also be zero the whole time; so the average velocity must be zero.
Problem 911. You are given a ticket for driving at 37 mph in a school zone with a
speed limit of 15 mph. At your hearing, you inform the judge that since you were going
in reverse, your speed was 37 mph; and since 37 < 15, you were going below the
speed limit and should not be penalized. Unfortunately for you, the policeman has taken
physics. What does he tell the judge?
Solution: The policeman informs the judge that your velocity vector may have been
negative; but that speed, the magnitude of the velocity vector, must always be greater
than or equal to zero. Thus although your velocity was negative, your speed was +37
mph, and greater than the legal limit.
256
Problem 912. You drive in a straight line from your home to your physics classroom.
Your driveway is 30 m long; you drive down it at 5 m/s. You then drive 300 m down
Smith Street at 15 m/s. After that, you drive 4.8 km down Jones Road to your classroom
at 30 m/s. Once you get there, you realize that its Saturday, and that you dont have
to come to class. You turn around and return home along the same route: at 40 m/s
along Jones Road; at 20 m/s along Smith Street; and at 10 m/s up your driveway, back
to where you started. What is your average velocity for the round trip?
Solution: Remember the distinction between speed and velocity. You returned to
your starting point; so your net displacement for the whole trip is zero; so your average
velocity is zero.
If wed asked for your average speed, this problem would have been a lot more work.
Problem 913. Assume that the direction in which a car faces is positive. Give an
example of a situation in which the car has:
(a) positive velocity and positive acceleration
(b) positive velocity and negative acceleration
(c) negative velocity and positive acceleration
(d) negative velocity and negative acceleration
(e) positive velocity and zero acceleration
(f) zero velocity and negative acceleration
Solution:
(a) The car is moving forward and speeding up.
(b) The car is moving forward, but the driver is braking to slow down.
(c) The car is moving backward and slowing down. Remember that positive accelera-
tion means accelerating in the positive direction; it doesnt mean speeding up, regard-
less of the direction youre going.
(d) The car is moving backward and speeding up. Remember that negative accelera-
tion means accelerating in the negative direction, not slowing down, regardless of the
direction youre going.
(e) The car is moving forward at a constant speed.
(f) This is a little more complicated. The car was driving up a hill when the engine died;
the car coasted forward until it stopped for an instant, then started rolling backward. At
the instant that it stopped, the velocity was zero; during the whole time after the engine
died, the acceleration was negative.
We could not have come up with a situation in which the velocity was zero and the
acceleration was nonzero for any positive amount of time. Such a situation can only last
for an instant. The reason for this is that acceleration is the change in velocity, and if
velocity is not changing (because its zero!), then the acceleration must also be zero.
Heres perhaps a better example not involving a car. Throw a ball straight up into the air.
The acceleration that the ball experiences is due to the gravitational force between the
ball and the earth. If we take the positive y-direction as up, then the acceleration always
points downward towards the earth in the negative y- direction. When the ball reaches
257
its maximum height it must stop, hence it has zero velocity, before it turns around and
falls back to earth. At no point along the balls trajectory did the earth quit pulling on
the ball, and so the balls acceleration never vanished. In fact, it remained negative and
constant.
Problem 914. You and your lab partner are designing a fountain for the front of the
physics building. You have a pressurized tank with a nozzle that squirts water out at 5.2
m/s. You claim that if that nozzle is pointed upward, it will produce a beautiful spray
of water. Your lab partner disagrees: he says that since the acceleration due to gravity
is 9.8, and 5.2 < 9.8, the water will barely dribble out of the nozzle and run back down
the sides of the pipe. Is he right? Why or why not?
Solution: Your lab partner is wrong. He is trying to compare two quantities that
have dierent dimensions: v
0
= 5.2 m/s, and g = 9.8 m/s
2
. You can only write equations
and inequalities when all terms have the same dimensions.
Problem 915. A car is being driven erratically along a straight stretch of highway. The
graph below shows its position x as a function of time t. For each interval between
consecutive points (A-B, B-C, etc.), describe whether the velocity of the car is positive,
negative, or zero; and whether the acceleration is positive, negative, or zero.
`
t
x
s
A
s
B
s
C
s
D
s
E
s
F
s
G
`
`
`
`
`
`s
H
Solution: We will do these out of order, starting with the easiest one:
E-F: The position of the car does not change during this time. Therefore the car has a
velocity of zero. Since the velocity does not change during the time period, the acceler-
ation is also zero.
A-B: The position as a function of time is a straight line. That means that the car is
moving at a constant velocity. Since the value of x increases with time, the velocity is
positive. Since the velocity is constant, the acceleration is zero.
258
C-D: Again, the position as a function of time is a straight line, so the velocity is con-
stant; the value of x increases with time, so the velocity is positive; and since the velocity
is constant, the acceleration is zero. Notice that the slope of the line from C to D is
greater than the slope from A to B. That means that the velocity between C and D is
greater than the velocity between A and B.
G-H: The position as a function of time is a straight line, so the velocity is constant. The
value of x decreases with time, so the velocity is negative. Since the velocity is constant,
the acceleration is zero.
B-C: The position as a function of time is not a straight line, so the velocity is not
constant. That means some kind of acceleration is occurring. The value of x increases
with time over the interval, so the velocity is positive. The velocity increases: since the
slope from C to D is greater than the slope from A to B, the CD velocity is greater than
the AB velocity. Hence the acceleration is positive.
D-E: The position as a function of time is not a straight line, so the velocity is not
constant. That means that there is a nonzero acceleration. The value of x increases
with time, so the velocity is positive. The velocity decreases from the positive value on
interval CD to the zero velocity on interval EF; so the acceleration is negative.
F-G: The position as a function of time is not a straight line, so the velocity is not
constant. That means that there is a nonzero acceleration. The value of x decreases
with time, so the velocity is negative. The velocity decreases from zero on interval EF to
some negative value on interval GH, so there is negative acceleration. (Again, remember
that negative acceleration doesnt mean slowing down; it means accelerating in the
negative direction, which can mean slowing down while moving forward or speeding up
while moving backward.)
7.2 Qualitative kinematics: descriptions
Problem 916. A car is facing in the positive direction. It is moving forward at 65 mph;
the driver has just seen a deer on the road and applied the brakes. Which of the following
describes the cars situation?
(a) positive velocity; positive acceleration
(b) positive velocity; zero acceleration
*(c) positive velocity; negative acceleration
(d) negative velocity; positive acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The car is moving forward, so the velocity is positive; it is slowing down
(that is, accelerating in the backward direction), so the acceleration is negative.
259
Problem 917. A car is facing in the positive direction. It is rolling backward down a
hill, and its speed is increasing. Which of the following describes the cars situation?
(b) positive velocity; negative acceleration
(c) negative velocity; positive acceleration
*(d) negative velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The car is moving backward, so the velocity is negative. It is speeding up in
the backward direction, so the acceleration is negative. Careful! Negative acceleration
and slowing down are not the same thing. In this case, negative acceleration means
speeding up in the negative direction.
Problem 918. A car is facing in the positive direction. It is rolling backward down
a hill; the drive has just applied the brakes to slow it down. Which of the following
describes the cars situation?
(a) positive velocity; zero acceleration
*(c) negative velocity; positive acceleration
(d) negative velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The car is moving backward, so the velocity is negative. It is slowing down
(that is, its velocity is becoming more positive), so the acceleration is positive. Positive
acceleration is not the same thing as speeding up.
Problem 919. A car is facing in the positive direction. It is moving forward, and the
driver is speeding up to merge onto the freeway. Which of the following describes the
cars situation?
*(a) positive velocity; positive acceleration
(b) positive velocity; zero acceleration
(c) zero velocity; positive acceleration
(d) negative velocity; zero acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The car is moving forward, so the velocity is positive. It is speeding up in
the forward direction, so the acceleration is positive.
260
Problem 920. A car is facing in the positive direction. The driver is going at a steady
speed of 55 mph on a highway. Which of the following describes the cars situation?
*(a) positive velocity; zero acceleration
(c) positive velocity; positive acceleration
(d) zero velocity; positive acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The car is moving forward, so the velocity is positive. It is moving at a
constant speed, so the acceleration is zero.
Problem 921. A car is facing in the positive direction. It was going up a hill when the
engine failed; the car slowed down as it rolled up the hill, then started rolling backward.
Which of the following describes the cars situation at the point where it started rolling
backward?
(b) negative velocity; negative acceleration
*(d) zero velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: At the moment that the car stopped rolling forward and started rolling
backward, its velocity was zero. Since its speed was changing from forward to backward,
the acceleration was negative.
Problem 922. In this problem, use upward as the positive direction. A rocket is ying
straight upward; its speed increases as it rises. Which of the following describes the
rockets situation?
(d) zero velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The rocket is moving upward, so its velocity is positive. It is speeding up
in the upward direction, so its acceleration is positive.
261
Problem 923. In this problem, use downward as the positive direction. A ball has been
dropped from the top of a building; it has not yet reached the ground. Which of the
following describes the balls situation?
(c) zero velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The ball is moving downward, so the velocity is positive. It is accelerating
downward under the inuence of gravity, so the acceleration is negative.
Problem 924. In this problem, use downward as the positive direction. A ball has been
dropped from the top of a building, has hit the ground and bounced, and is now moving
upward. Which of the following describes the balls situation?
(c) positive velocity; zero acceleration
*(d) negative velocity; positive acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The ball is moving upward (the negative direction), so the velocity is
negative. Gravity is slowing it down as it moves upward, so the acceleration is positive.
Problem 925. In this problem, use downward as the positive direction. An elevator
has just left the 39th oor, heading downward and speeding up as it goes. Which of the
following describes the elevators situation?
(c) negative velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The elevator is moving downward (the positive direction), so its velocity is
positive. It is speeding up in the downward direction, so its acceleration is positive.
262
Problem 926. In this problem, use downward as the positive direction. An elevator is
going down from the 39th oor to the 3rd. It is now at the level of the fourth oor, and is
slowing down as it approaches the third. Which of the following describes the elevators
situation?
*(b) positive velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The elevator is moving downward (the positive direction), so the velocity
is positive. It is slowing down as it moves downward, so the acceleration is negative.
Problem 927. In this problem, use downward as the positive direction. An elevator is
on its way from the 89th oor to the 4th. It has reached its maximum downward speed,
and has not yet started slowing down. Which of the following describes the elevators
situation?
(a) positive velocity; negative acceleration
*(b) positive velocity; zero acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The elevator is moving downward (the positive direction), so the velocity
is positive. It is moving at a constant speed, so the acceleration is zero.
Problem 928. In this problem, use downward as the positive direction. An elevator has
just left the 3rd oor, heading upward and speeding up as it goes. Which of the following
describes the elevators situation?
*(c) negative velocity; negative acceleration
(d) negative velocity; zero acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The elevator is moving upward (the negative direction), so its velocity is
negative. It is speeding up in the negative direction, so its acceleration is negative.
263
Problem 929. If the upward direction is positive, which situation involves positive
velocity and positive acceleration?
(a) An elevator moving upward at a constant speed
(b) An elevator speeding up as it moves downward
*(c) An elevator speeding up as it moves upward
(d) An elevator slowing down as it moves downward
(e) none of these
Solution: For velocity to be positive, the elevator must be moving upward. For
acceleration to be positive, it must be speeding up as it goes upward.
Problem 930. If the upward direction is positive, which situation involves negative
velocity and negative acceleration?
*(b) An elevator speeding up as it moves downward
(c) An elevator speeding up as it moves upward
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for velocity to be negative, the elevator must be moving downward.
In order for acceleration to be negative, it must be speeding up in the downward direction.
Problem 931. If the upward direction is positive, which situation involves positive
velocity and zero acceleration?
*(a) An elevator moving upward at a constant speed
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for velocity to be positive, the elevator must be moving upward.
In order for acceleration to be zero, it must be moving at a constant speed.
Problem 932. If the upward direction is positive, which situation involves negative
*(d) An elevator slowing down as it moves downward
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for velocity to be negative, the elevator must be moving downward.
In order for acceleration to be positive, it must be slowing down as it moves downward.
264
Problem 933. If north is the positive direction, which situation involves positive velocity
and negative acceleration?
(a) A car speeding up as it moves southward
(b) A car moving southward at a constant speed
*(c) A car slowing down as it moves northward
(d) A car slowing down as it moves southward
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for the velocity to be positive, the car must be moving northward.
In order for the acceleration to be negative, it must be slowing down as it moves in the
positive direction.
Problem 934. If north is the positive direction, which situation involves negative ve-
locity and negative acceleration?
*(a) A car speeding up as it moves southward
(c) A car slowing down as it moves northward
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for velocity to be negative, the car must be moving southward.
In order for acceleration to be negative, the car must be speeding up as it moves in the
negative direction.
locity and positive acceleration?
*(d) A car slowing down as it moves southward
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for the velocity to be negative, the car must be moving southward.
In order for the acceleration to be positive, it must be slowing down as it moves in the
negative direction.
locity and zero acceleration?
*(b) A car moving southward at a constant speed
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for the velocity to be negative, the car must be moving southward.
In order for acceleration to be zero, it must be moving at a constant speed.
265
Problem 937. If the positive direction is downward, which situation involves negative
velocity and negative acceleration?
(a) A rocket slowing down as it moves upward
(b) A rocket moving downward at a constant speed
(c) A rocket moving upward at a constant speed
*(d) A rocket speeding up as it moves upward
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for the velocity to be negative, the rocket must be moving upward.
In order for the acceleration to be negative, it must be speeding up as it moves in the
negative direction.
Problem 938. If the positive direction is downward, which situation involves positive
*(b) A rocket moving downward at a constant speed
(d) A rocket speeding up as it moves upward
(e) none of these
Solution: In order for the velocity to be positive, the rocket must be moving down-
ward. In order for the acceleration to be zero, it must be moving at a constant speed.
*(c) A rocket moving upward at a constant speed
(e) none of these
In order for the acceleration to be zero, it must be moving at a constant speed.
*(a) A rocket slowing down as it moves upward
(e) none of these
In order for the acceleration to be positive, it must be slowing down as it moves in the
negative direction.
266
7.3 Qualitative kinematics: from graph
`
t
x
s
A
s
B
s
C
s
D
s
E
s
F
s
G
`
`
`
`
`
`s
H
Figure 1: A car is being driven erratically along a straight stretch of highway. The graph
shows its position x as a function of the time t.
Problem 941. For the interval between points A and B in gure 1, the cars velocity is:
*(a) positive (b) negative (c) zero
Solution: Since x increases between A and B, the velocity is positive.
Problem 942. For the interval between points B and C in gure 1, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x increases between B and C, the velocity is positive.
Problem 943. For the interval between points C and D in gure 1, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x increases between C and D, the velocity is positive.
Problem 944. For the interval between points D and E in gure 1, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x increases between D and E, the velocity is positive.
Problem 945. For the interval between points E and F in gure 1, the cars velocity is:
(a) positive (b) negative *(c) zero
Solution: Since x does not change between E and F, the velocity is zero.
Problem 946. For the interval between points F and G in gure 1, the cars velocity is:
(a) positive *(b) negative (c) zero
Solution: Since x decreases between F and G, the velocity is negative.
267
Problem 947. For the interval between points G and H in gure 1, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x decreases between G and H, the velocity is negative.
Problem 948. For the interval between points A and B in gure 1, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The graph of x versus t is a straight line between A and B; so the velocity
is constant. That means that acceleration is zero.
Problem 949. For the interval between points B and C in gure 1, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The slope of the graph is greater between C and D than it is between A and
B. This means that the velocity between C and D is greater than the velocity between
A and B; so positive acceleration occurs between B and C.
Problem 950. For the interval between points C and D in gure 1, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The graph of x versus t is a straight line between C and D; so the velocity
is constant. Thus the acceleration is zero.
Problem 951. For the interval between points D and E in gure 1, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The velocity between C and D is positive; the velocity between E and
F is zero. Thus during the interval between D and E, the velocity decreases; so the
acceleration is negative.
Problem 952. For the interval between points E and F in gure 1, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The velocity is constant between E and F, so the acceleration is zero.
Problem 953. For the interval between points F and G in gure 1, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The velocity between E and F is zero. The velocity between G and H is
negative. Hence negative acceleration occurs between F and G.
268
Problem 954. For the interval between points G and H in gure 1, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The graph of x versus t is a straight line between G and H; so the velocity
is constant. Hence the acceleration is zero.
`
t
x
s
A
s
B
s
C
s
D
s
E
s
F
/
/
/
/
/
s
G
s
H
Figure 2: A car is being driven erratically along a straight stretch of highway. The graph
shows its position x as a function of the time t.
Problem 955. For the interval between points A and B in gure 2, the cars velocity is:
Solution: The value of x does not change between A and B; so the velocity is zero.
Problem 956. For the interval between points B and C in gure 2, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x decreases between B and C, the velocity is negative.
Problem 957. For the interval between points C and D in gure 2, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x decreases between C and D, the velocity is negative.
Problem 958. For the interval between points D and E in gure 2, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x decreases between D and E, the velocity is negative.
Problem 959. For the interval between points E and F in gure 2, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x increases between E and F, the velocity is positive.
269
Problem 960. For the interval between points F and G in gure 2, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x increases between F and G, the velocity is positive.
Problem 961. For the interval between points G and H in gure 2, the cars velocity is:
Solution: Since x increases between G and H, the velocity is positive.
Problem 962. For the interval between points A and B in gure 2, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The velocity is constant between A and B; so the acceleration is zero.
Problem 963. For the interval between points B and C in gure 2, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The velocity is zero between A and B, and negative between C and D.
Hence negative acceleration occurs between B and C.
Problem 964. For the interval between points C and D in gure 2, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The graph of x versus t is a straight line between C and D, so the velocity
is constant. Thus the acceleration is zero.
Problem 965. For the interval between points D and E in gure 2, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The velocity is negative between C and D, and positive between E and F.
Thus positive acceleration occurs between D and E.
Problem 966. For the interval between points E and F in gure 2, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The velocity is negative between D and E, and positive between F and G.
Thus positive acceleration occurs between E and F.
Problem 967. For the interval between points F and G in gure 2, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The graph of x versus t is a straight line between F and G, so the velocity
is constant. Hence the acceleration is zero.
270
Problem 968. For the interval between points G and H in gure 2, the cars acceleration
is:
Solution: The slope of the line of x versus t decreases between G and H; so the
velocity decreases; so negative acceleration occurs.
271
7.4 Introducing the fundamental one-dimensional kinematic equa-
tions
Assumptions: Unless instructed otherwise, assume that air resistance does not occur;
and that projectiles (cannonballs, golf balls, arrows, etc.) are launched from ground level.
All of the following problems in this problem set can be solved using one of the following
three fundamental equations:
In practice there are three dierent sets of subscripts used on physical variables:
1. (subscripts: i for initial values, f for nal values) Example: initial position x
i
; nal
position x
f
2. (subscripts: zero (pronounced nought) for initial values, no subscript for nal val-
ues) Example: initial position x
0
; nal position x
3. (subscripts: 1 for initial values, 2 for nal values) Example: initial position x
1
; nal
position x
2
The general fundamental kinematic equations in the rst type of subscript notation are:
Fundamental Equation 1: v
f
= v
i
+a(t
f
t
i
)
Fundamental Equation 2: v
2
f
= v
2
i
+ 2a(x
f
x
i
)
Fundamental Equation 3: x
f
= x
i
+v
i
(t
f
t
i
) +
1
2
a(t
f
t
i
)
2
where a is acceleration, v is velocity, x is position, t is time, and the subscript i and f
denotes initial and nal values, respectively. Typically, we take the initial time t
i
= 0
since, in practice, when you time an experiment you always start with the stopwatch set
to zero.
Warning: These equations are only valid if the acceleration is constant. Assume accel-
eration is constant unless stated otherwise.
The general fundamental kinematic equations in the second type of subscript notation
are:
272
Fundamental formulas for motion in 1-D
Equation 1: v = v
0
+at (use when: position not in problem statement)
Equation 2: v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
) (use when: time not in problem statement)
Equation 3: x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
(use when: want position as a fcn of time)
The general fundamental kinematic equations in the third type of subscript notation are:
Fundamental formulas for motion in 1-D
Equation 1: v
2
= v
1
+at
2
Equation 2: v
2
2
= v
2
1
+ 2a(x
2
x
1
)
Equation 3: x
2
= x
1
+v
1
t
2
+
1
2
at
2
2
This nal form has the potential of leading to much confusion. For this reason we will
not use this form. But you should be aware that it can be found in textbooks everywhere.
7.4.1 Dimensional consistency of the fundamental equations
Problem 969. Verify that the 1
st
fundamental equation is dimensionally consistent.
Solution: Start by rewriting the equation as v = at. Taking the units of the
right-hand side: [at] = (L/T
2
)T]= L/T, the units for velocity.
nd
Solution: Start by rewriting the equation as v
2
f
v
2
i
= 2ax. Taking the units of the
right and left-hand side yields [v
2
f
v
2
i
] = [2ax]], which leads to (L/T)
2
= (L/T
2
)L.
rd
Solution: Start by rewriting the equation as
x = v
i
t +
1
2
a(t)
2
t
x
t
= v
i
+
1
2
at
As weve already seen, at has units of velocity. Thus the equation is dimensionally self
consistent.
273
7.5 Quantitative kinematics: horizontal
Problem 972. Beginning at rest, a car accelerates down a straight road at 1.03 m/s
2
for 6.7 s. What is the cars nal speed? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
*(a) 6.9 m/s (b) 7.6 m/s
(c) 8.4 m/s (d) 9.2 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know acceleration and time (and initial velocity, which is zero); we
want the nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = 0 m/s + (1.03 m/s
2
)(6.7 s) = 6.9 m/s
2
for 14.8 s. What is the cars nal speed? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 6.8 m/s *(b) 32.3 m/s
(c) 35.2 m/s (d) 70.3 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know acceleration and time (and initial velocity, which is zero); we
want the nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = 0 m/s + (2.18 m/s
2
)(14.8 s) = 32.3 m/s
Problem 974. A boat can accelerate at 2.9 m/s
2
. If it begins at rest, how long must it
accelerate before it reaches a speed of 14.4 m/s? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1
s.
*(a) 5.0 s (b) 5.5 s
(c) 6.0 s (d) 6.6 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity (which is zero), the acceleration, and the nal
velocity. We want to know the time.
v = v
0
+at = at t =
v
a
=
14.4 m/s
2.9 m/s
2
= 5.0 s
274
Problem 975. A boat is initially going northward at 7.4 m/s. It accelerates at 0.36
m/s
2
northward for 22 s. At the end of this time, how far north has it travelled? Round
(a) 200 m (b) 220 m
*(c) 250 m (d) 270 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial position (zero), the initial velocity, the acceleration,
and the time. We want to know the nal position.
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (7.4 m/s)(22 s) +
1
2
(0.36 m/s
2
)(22 s)
2
= 250 m
Problem 976. A car can accelerate at 1.31 m/s
2
. If it begins at rest, how long must it
accelerate before it reaches a speed of 20.4 m/s? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1
s.
*(a) 15.6 s *(b) 17.1 s
(c) 18.8 s (d) 20.7 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity (which is zero), the acceleration, and the nal
velocity. We want to know the time.
v = v
0
+at = at t =
v
a
=
20.4 m/s
1.31 m/s
2
= 15.6 s
Problem 977. Beginning at rest, a car accelerates forward for 5.2 s, reaching a speed of
15.0 m/s. What is the cars acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s
2
.
(a) 2.6 m/s
2
*(b) 2.9 m/s
2
(c) 3.2 m/s
2
(d) 3.5 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial speed (which is zero), the time, and the nal speed.
We want to know the acceleration.
v = v
0
+at = at a =
v
t
=
15.0 m/s
5.2 s
= 2.9 m/s
2
275
Problem 978. A ship is initially moving northward at 12.1 m/s. It accelerates northward
at 1.91 m/s
2
for 4.9 s. What is its nal speed? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1
m/s.
(a) 15.7 m/s *(b) 21.5 m/s
(c) 45.9 m/s (d) 56.6 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, the acceleration, and the time. We want to
know the nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = 12.1 m/s + (1.91 m/s
2
)(4.9 s) = 21.5 m/s
Problem 979. A car is initially moving northward at 5.9 m/s. It accelerates northward
at 0.88 m/s
2
m/s.
(a) 13.4 m/s (b) 14.9 m/s
*(c) 16.5 m/s (d) 18.2 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, the acceleration, and the time. We want to
know the nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = 5.9 m/s + (0.88 m/s
2
)(12.1 s) = 16.5 m/s
Problem 980. A ship is initially moving eastward at 4.2 m/s. It accelerates over the
course of 27 s, at the end of which it is moving eastward at 10.3 m/s. What is the ships
acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 m/s
2
.
(a) 0.20 m/s
2
*(b) 0.23 m/s
2
(c) 0.25 m/s
2
(d) 0.27 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, the nal velocity, and the time. We want to
know the acceleration.
v = v
0
+at a =
v v
0
t
=
10.3 m/s 4.2 m/s
27 s
= 0.23 m/s
2
276
Problem 981. A train can accelerate at 1.04 m/s
2
. It is initially travelling eastward at
10.0 m/s. How long must it accelerate before it reaches an eastward speed of 30.8 m/s?
Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 s.
(a) 18.0 s (b) 19.1 s
*(c) 20.0 s (d) 24.2 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, the nal velocity, and the acceleration. We
want to know the time.
v = v
0
+at t =
v v
0
a
=
30.8 m/s 10.0 m/s
1.04 m/s
2
= 20.0 s
Problem 982. A train can accelerate from a complete stop to a speed of 31 m/s in 145
s. What is the trains acceleration? Assume constant acceleration. Round your answer
to two signicant gures.
(a) 0.15 m/s
2
*(b) 0.21 m/s
2
(c) 0.48 m/s
2
(d) 0.68 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Write down what information you are given, what you want, and which
fundamental equation you need to use.
Given:
_
_
v
i
= 0 m/s
v
f
= 31 m/s
t = 145 s
Want: a Which equation: Fundamental equation (1)
Solving for a in equation 1: a =
v
f
v
i
t
=
31
145
= .21. Here weve used the fact that a = a.
Problem 983. A ship is initially moving northward at 16.7 m/s. It accelerates southward
at 2.24 m/s
2
m/s.
*(a) 8.2 m/s (b) 21.7 m/s
(c) 25.2 m/s (d) 32.9 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Careful! Notice that the initial velocity is northward, but that the ac-
celeration is southward. We will take the northward direction to be positive, so the
acceleration is negative. We know initial velocity, acceleration, and time; we want to
know nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = 16.7 m/s + (2.24 m/s
2
)(3.8 s) = 8.2 m/s
The nal velocity is positive, which means that the ship is moving northward. However,
the problem only asks for speed, which doesnt include the direction.
277
Problem 984. A car is initially moving northward at 9.5 m/s. It accelerates southward
at 3.34 m/s
2
m/s.
(a) 4.3 m/s (b) 7.6 m/s
*(c) 10.2 m/s (d) 29.2 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Careful! Notice that the initial velocity is northward, but that the ac-
celeration is southward. We will take the northward direction to be positive, so the
acceleration is negative. We know initial velocity, acceleration, and time; we want to
know nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = 9.5 m/s + (3.34 m/s
2
)(5.9 s) = 10.2 m/s
The nal velocity is negative, which means that the car is moving southward. The
problem only asks for speed, which doesnt include the direction; so 10.2 m/s is the
correct answer.
Problem 985. A train is initially rolling backward at 6.9 m/s. It accelerates forward at
0.58 m/s
2
. How long must it accelerate before it is moving forward at 9.2 m/s? Round
your answer to the nearest second.
(a) 22 s (b) 25 s
*(c) 28 s (d) 31 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will use forward as the positive direction, so the trains initial velocity
will be negative. We know initial velocity, nal velocity, and acceleration; we want to
know time.
v = v
0
+at t =
v v
0
a
=
9.2 m/s (6.9 m/s)
0.58 m/s
2
= 28 s
Problem 986. A ship is initially moving backward at 5.6 m/s. It accelerates over the
course of 63 s, at the end of which it is moving forward at 11.0 m/s. What is the ships
acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 m/s
2
.
(a) 0.09 m/s
2
(b) 0.11 m/s
2
(c) 0.24 m/s
2
*(d) 0.26 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We will use forward as the positive direction, so the ships initial velocity
will be negative. We know initial velocity, nal velocity, and time; we want to know
acceleration.
v = v
0
+at a =
v v
0
t
=
11.0 m/s (5.6 m/s)
63 s
= 0.26 m/s
2
278
2
for
9.8 s. At the end of this time, how far is the car from its starting point? Round your
answer to the nearest 10 m.
(a) 130 m (b) 140 m
*(c) 160 m (d) 170 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know acceleration, time, and initial velocity and position (both of
which are zero). We want to know nal position.
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
(3.3 m/s
2
)(9.8 s)
2
= 160 m
2
for
2.9 s. At the end of this time, how far is the car from its starting point? Round your
answer to the nearest meter.
*(a) 24 m (b) 26 m
(c) 28 m (d) 31 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know acceleration, time, and initial velocity and position (both of
which are zero). We want to know nal position.
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
(5.6 m/s
2
)(2.9 s)
2
= 24 m
Problem 989. A boat is initially going northward at 15.3 m/s. It accelerates at 0.93
m/s
2
northward for 8.3 s. At the end of this time, how far north has it travelled? Round
(a) 150 m *(b) 160 m
(c) 170 m (d) 180 m
(e) None of these
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (15.3 m/s)(8.3 s) +
1
2
(0.93 m/s
2
)(8.3 s)
2
= 160 m
279
Problem 990. A boat is initially going northward at 8.8 m/s. It accelerates at 3.1 m/s
2
northward for 9.9 s. At the end of this time, how far north has it travelled? Round your
answer to the nearest 10 m.
*(a) 240 m (b) 260 m
(c) 280 m (d) 300 m
(e) None of these
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (8.8 m/s)(9.9 s) +
1
2
(3.1 m/s
2
)(9.9 s)
2
= 240 m
Problem 991. A train is initially rolling southward at 7.9 m/s. It accelerates northward
at 0.41 m/s
2
for 15 s. At the end of this time, where is it relative to its starting point?
Round your answer to the nearest meter.
(a) 65 m south *(b) 72 m south
(c) 65 m north (d) 72 m north
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take northward to be the positive direction, so the initial velocity
will be negative and the acceleration will be positive. We know the initial position (zero),
the initial velocity, the acceleration, and the time; we want to know the nal position.
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (7.9 m/s)(15 s) +
1
2
(0.41 m/s
2
)(15 s)
2
= 72 m
Since the value of x is negative, it is south of the starting point.
Problem 992. A boat is initially drifting southward at 4.2 m/s. It accelerates northward
at 0.84 m/s
2
for 12 s. At the end of this time, where is it relative to its starting point?
(a) 10 m south (b) 12 m south
*(c) 10 m north (d) 12 m north
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take northward to be the positive direction, so the initial velocity
will be negative and the acceleration will be positive. We know the initial position (zero),
the initial velocity, the acceleration, and the time; we want to know the nal position.
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (4.2 m/s)(12 s) +
1
2
(0.84 m/s
2
)(12 s)
2
= 10 m
Since the value of x is positive, it is north of the starting point.
280
Problem 993. A car is initially 30 m south of an intersection and moving northward at
6.0 m/s. It accelerates northward at 2.1 m/s
2
for 8.3 s. At the end of this time, where is
it with respect to the intersection? Round your answer to the nearest meter.
(a) 92 m south (b) 104 m south
*(c) 92 m north (d) 104 m north
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take northward to be the positive direction, so the initial position
is negative and the initial velocity and acceleration are positive. We know the initial
position, initial velocity, acceleration, and time; we want to know the nal position.
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= 30 m + (6.0 m/s)(8.3 s) +
1
2
(2.1 m/s
2
)(8.3 s)
2
= 92 m
Since x is positive, it is north of the intersection.
Problem 994. Beginning at rest, a ship accelerates at 0.45 m/s
2
until it has gone 150
m. At the end of this time, how fast is the ship moving? Round your answer to the
nearest m/s.
(a) 9 m/s (b) 10 m/s
*(c) 12 m/s (d) 13 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial position and initial velocity (both zero), the accelera-
tion, and the nal position. We want to know the nal velocity. We have a formula that
we use when time isnt in the problem statement.
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
) = 2ax
v =
2ax =
_
2(0.45 m/s
2
)(150 m)
1/2
= 12 m/s
Problem 995. Beginning at rest, a train accelerates at 0.13 m/s
2
until it has gone 220
m. At the end of this time, how fast is the train moving? Round your answer to the
nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 6.1 m/s (b) 6.8 m/s
*(c) 7.6 m/s (d) 8.3 m/s
(e) None of these
tion, and the nal position. We want to know the nal velocity. We have a formula that
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
) = 2ax
v =
2ax =
_
2(0.13 m/s
2
)(220 m)
1/2
= 7.6 m/s
281
Problem 996. Beginning at rest, a boat accelerates at 0.13 m/s
2
until it has reached a
speed of 5.6 m/s. How far has the boat travelled in this time? Round your answer to
the nearest meter.
(a) 88 m (b) 98 m
(c) 109 m *(d) 121 m
(e) None of these
tion, and the nal velocity. We want to know the nal position. We have a formula that
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
) = 2ax x =
v
2
2a
=
(5.6 m/s)
2
2(0.13 m/s
2
)
= 121 m
Problem 997. A train is moving at 31 m/s when the engineer is informed that there is
a puppy on the track in front of him. If the train is capable of decelerating at 0.80 m/s
2
,
how far does it go before it comes to a stop? Round your answer to the nearest 10 m.
(a) 490 m (b) 540 m
*(c) 600 m (d) 660 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the forward direction to be positive, so the acceleration will
be negative; and we will take the trains initial position as x
0
= 0. We know the initial
position, the initial velocity, the nal velocity (zero), and the acceleration; we want to
know the nal position. We have a formula to use when time is not in the statement of
the problem.
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
) v
2
0
= 2ax
x =
v
2
0
2a
=
(31 m/s)
2
2(0.80 m/s
2
)
= 600 m
Problem 998. A train can accelerate from a complete stop to a speed of 31 m/s in 145
s. What is the trains acceleration? Assume constant acceleration. Round your answer
(a) 0.15 m/s
2
*(b) 0.21 m/s
2
(c) 0.48 m/s
2
(d) 0.68 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Write down what information you are given, what you want, and which
fundamental equation you need to use.
Given:
_
_
v
i
= 0 m/s
v
f
= 31 m/s
t = 145 s
Want: a Which equation: Fundamental equation (1)
282
Solving for a in equation 1: a =
v
f
v
i
t
=
31
145
= .21. Here weve used the fact that a = a.
Problem 999. A car is initially moving at 18.9 m/s. It accelerates forward at 2.09 m/s
2
until it has reached a speed of 29.3 m/s. How far has it gone in this time? Round your
(a) 108 m *(b) 120 m
(c) 132 m (d) 145 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial position (zero), the initial velocity, the nal velocity,
and the acceleration. We want to know the nal position. We have a formula that we
can use when time isnt in the problem statement.
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
) = v
2
0
+ 2ax
x =
v
2
v
2
0
2a
=
(29.3 m/s)
2
(18.9 m/s)
2
2(2.09 m/s
2
)
= 120 m
Problem 1000. During World War I, the Germans used the Paris Gun to shell that
city from 75 miles away. The barrel of the gun was 28 m long, and the shells had a
muzzle velocity of 1600 m/s. Assuming that the acceleration of the shell was constant
over the whole length of the barrel, what was that acceleration? Round your answer to
the nearest 1000 m/s
2
.
(a) 46,000 m/s
2
(b) 50,000 m/s
2
(c) 55,000 m/s
2
(d) 61,000 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial position and velocity (both zero), and the nal position
and velocity. We want to know the acceleration. We have a formula to use when time is
not included in the problem statement.
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
) = 2ax
a =
v
2
2x
=
(1600 m/s)
2
2(28 m)
= 46, 000 m/s
2
283
Problem 1001. A ship has a maximum speed in still water of 13.0 m/s. To be operated
legally on the Rhine River, it must be able to come to a complete stop in 350 m. What
acceleration would the ship need to do this? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 m/s
2
.
(a) 0.20 m/s
2
(b) 0.22 m/s
2
*(c) 0.24 m/s
2
(d) 0.27 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, the nal velocity (zero), the initial position
(zero), and the nal position. We want to know the acceleration. We have a formula
that we can use when time isnt in the problem statement.
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
)
v
2
0
= 2ax
a =
v
2
0
2x
=
(13.0 m/s)
2
2(350 m)
= 0.24 m/s
2
The negative sign is because weve taken the direction of the ships movement to be
positive; to stop it, the acceleration must be in the negative direction. Since the problem
doesnt ask for the direction of the acceleration, its enough to give the magnitude: 0.24
m/s
2
.
Problem 1002. A radio-controlled airplane needs to reach a speed of 20 m/s to take o.
Assuming a constant acceleration and a runway length of 20 m, what is the minimum
acceleration that the plane needs if it starts from rest?
(a) 1 m/s
2
(b) 5 m/s
2
(c) 10 m/s
2
(d) 20 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Given: v
i
= 0 (the plane starts from rest), v
f
= 20 m/s, and x = 20 m.
Want: a
min
. We dont know time, nor do we want it, so well use fundamental kinematic
equation 2.
v
2
f
= v
2
i
+ 2ax = 0 + 2ax a
min
=
v
2
f
2x
=
20
2
2(20)
m/s
2
= 10 m/s
2
g .
Thus, the plane must be able to pull one g in order to take o.
Problem 1003. A certain bi-plane needs to reach a speed of 50 m/s to take o.
Assuming the plane starts from rest with a constant acceleration of 2.5 m/s
2
, what is
the minimum runway length the jet needs to takeo?
(a) 250 m *(b) 500 m
(c) 750 m (d) 1000 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Given: v
i
f
= 50 m/s, and a = 5/2 m/s
2
.
284
Take the initial position to be x
i
= 0. Want: x. We dont know time, nor do we want it,
so well use fundamental kinematic equation 2.
v
2
f
= v
2
i
+ 2ax = 0 + 2ax x =
v
2
f
2a
=
50
2
5
m = 500m.
Problem 1004. A young physics student buys a pre-made remote-controlled air plane.
The instructions say that the plane needs a minimum speed of 10 m/s to takeo. The
instructions also give the thrust-to-weight ratio of the plane when its at full throttle.
From this information he computes the the maximum acceleration to be 3 m/s
2
.
Allowing for friction between the wheels and the runway the student estimates that the
maximum acceleration on the ground is 2.5 m/s
2
. Assuming the plane starts from rest
and has a constant acceleration 2.5 m/s
2
(he keeps the throttle wide open at takeo),
what is the minimum runway length the jet needs to takeo?
(a) 10 m *(b) 20 m
(c) 50 m (d) 100 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Given: v
i
f
= 10 m/s, and a = 5/2 m/s
2
.
Take the initial position to be x
i
= 0. Want: x. We dont know time, nor do we want it,
so well use fundamental kinematic equation 2.
v
2
f
= v
2
i
+ 2ax = 0 + 2ax x =
v
2
f
2a
=
100
5
m = 20m.
Problem 1005. A typical airline jet needs to reach a speed of 360 km/h to take o.
Assuming a constant acceleration and a short runway length of 1.0 km, what is the
minimum acceleration that the jet needs if it starts from rest? Write your answer in
terms of g, where g 10 m/s
2
.
Solution: The jet begins at x
0
= 0, with initial speed v
0
= 0. Hence the relationship
between the speed and the distance travelled is: v
2
= 2ax. Solving for a, we get:
a =
v
2
2x
=
_
(360 km/h)(1000 m/km)
3600 s/h
_
2
1
2(1 km)(1000 m/km)
= 5.0 m/s
2
g
2
.
285
Problem 1006. An overloaded transport jet needs to reach a speed of 500 km/h to
take o. Assuming a constant acceleration and a runway length of 2.0 km, what is the
minimum acceleration that the jet needs if it starts from rest? Write your answer in
terms of g, where 1g = 9.8 m/s
2
. Round your answer to the nearest 0.01g.
Solution: The jet begins at x
0
= 0, with initial speed v
0
= 0. Hence the relationship
between the speed and the distance travelled is: v
2
= 2ax. Solving for a, we get:
a =
v
2
2x
=
_
(500 km/h)(1000 m/km)
3600 s/h
_
2
1
2(2 km)(1000 m/km)
= 4.8 m/s
2
[Dont use this rounded value of a in further calculations; we only present it because
its a good idea to check intermediate results to make sure they seem reasonable.] The
answer we want is
a = a
g
9.8 m/s
2
= 0.49g
286
Problem 1007. (This problem requires solving a system of equations) A police-
man is lurking behind a billboard beside the highway when someone speeds by him at
38 m/s. The policeman immediately accelerates at a constant rate of 6.7 m/s
2
until he
has caught up with the speeder. How long does it take for the policeman to catch up?
Round your answer to the nearest second.
*(a) 11 s (b) 12 s
(c) 13 s (d) 15 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will use the formula for position as a function of time: x = x
0
+v
0
t+
1
2
at
2
.
We will use the position of the billboard as x
0
= 0. We need to use the formula twice:
once for the policeman, once for the speeder. For the speeder, x
0
= 0, v
0,s
= 38 m/s, and
a
s
= 0. For the policeman, x
0
= 0, v
0,p
= 0, and a
p
= 6.7 m/s
2
. Hence their positions
are:
x
s
= x
0
+v
0,s
t +
1
2
a
s
t
2
= v
0,s
t
x
p
= x
0
+v
0,p
t +
1
2
a
p
t
2
=
1
2
a
p
t
2
When the policeman catches up with the speeder, their positions will be the same: so
x
s
= x
p
. Equating the expressions:
v
0,s
t =
1
2
a
p
t
2
a
p
t
2
v
0,s
t = 0 t (a
p
t 2v
0,s
) = 0
There are two solutions:
t = 0 and t =
2v
0,s
a
p
=
2(38 m/s)
6.7 m/s
2
= 11 s
The rst solution refers to the fact that both were at the billboard at t = 0; the second
solution is the time at which the policeman catches the speeder.
Note: In general, the velocity of the police ocer and the speeder at the position
x
nal
= x
s
= x
p
will not be the same v
s,f
,= v
p,f
.
287
7.6 Quantitative kinematics: vertical
Note: By convention, we will use y in place of x to denote position.
Problem 1008. An astronaut drops a watermelon from the top of a high cli on the
Moon, where the surface gravity is 1.63 m/s
2
. After 3.3 s, how fast is the watermelon
moving? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 3.9 m/s (b) 4.4 m/s
(c) 4.8 m/s *(d) 5.4 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward, which will save us hav-
ing to worry about negative signs. We know the initial velocity (zero), the acceleration,
and the time; we want to know the nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = at = (1.63 m/s
2
)(3.3 s) = 5.4 m/s
Problem 1009. Using a stopwatch, you determine that a television dropped from a
rooftop takes 2.7 s to reach the ground. How fast is it going when it hits the ground?
Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 21 m/s (b) 24 m/s
*(c) 26 m/s (d) 29 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction and the acceleration to be downward.
We know the initial velocity (zero), the acceleration, and the time. We want to know the
nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = at = (9.8 m/s
2
)(2.7 s) = 26 m/s
Problem 1010. An astronaut hurls a watermelon straight downward from the top of
a high cli on the Moon, where the surface gravity is 1.63 m/s
2
. The initial speed of
the watermelon is 11.8 m/s downward. After 2.4 s, how fast is the watermelon moving?
Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 11.5 m/s (b) 12.7 m/s
(c) 14.1 m/s *(d) 15.7 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward, so the acceleration and
the initial velocity will be positive. We know the initial velocity, the acceleration, and
the time; we want to know the nal velocity.
v = v
0
+at = 11.8 m/s + (1.63 m/s
2
)(2.4 s) = 15.7 m/s
288
Problem 1011. While walking in the desert, you discover an old mine. To nd out
how deep it is, you drop a rock down the shaft. Using the stopwatch on your cell phone,
you time how long it takes before you hear the rock hit the bottom. If it takes 3.2 s for
the rock to reach the bottom, how deep is the shaft? Round your answer to the nearest
meter.
*(a) 50 m (b) 55 m
(c) 61 m (d) 67 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward, so that the acceleration
and the nal position will be positive. We will take the initial position to be zero. Then
we know the initial position, the initial velocity (zero), the acceleration, and the time.
We want to know the nal position.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)(3.2 s)
2
= 50 m
Problem 1012. A banker drops a sack of pennies from the top of a tall building. After
1.5 s, how far has the sack of pennies fallen? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m.
(a) 9.9 m *(b) 11.0 m
(c) 12.1 m (d) 13.3 m
(e) None of these
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)(1.5 s)
2
= 11.0 m
Problem 1013. An astronaut drops a watermelon from the top of a tall cli on Mercury,
where the surface gravity is 3.7 m/s
2
. After 2.4 s, how far has the watermelon fallen?
Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m.
*(a) 10.7 m (b) 11.7 m
(c) 12.9 m (d) 14.2 m
(e) None of these
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
(3.7 m/s
2
)(2.4 s)
2
= 10.7 m
289
Problem 1014. A dietitian drops a head of iceberg lettuce from a bridge. How long
does it take for the lettuce to reach the river 31.2 m below? Round your answer to the
nearest 0.1 s.
(a) 2.0 s (b) 2.3 s
*(c) 2.5 s (d) 2.8 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward, which will make the
acceleration and the nal position positive. We will take the initial position to be zero.
Then we know the initial position and velocity (both zero), the acceleration, and the
nal position; we want to know the time.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
t =
_
2y
a
=
_
2(31.2 m)
9.8 m/s
2
_
1/2
= 2.5 s
Problem 1015. You are on the surface of Ganymede, where the acceleration due to
gravity is 1.35 m/s
2
. You throw an egg straight upward at 25 m/s. How long does it
take for the egg to reach the ground? Round your answer to the nearest second.
(a) 30 s (b) 33 s
*(c) 37 s (d) 41 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will use upward as the positive direction and ground level as y
0
= 0. We
know the initial and nal position (both zero), the initial velocity, and the acceleration.
We want to know the time.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
2v
0
t +at
2
= 0 t(2v
0
+at) = 0
t = 0 or t =
2v
0
a
=
2(25 m/s)
1.35 m/s
2
= 37 s
The rst solution refers to the fact that at t = 0, you threw the egg upward from ground
level; the second, t = 37 s, is the time at which the egg strikes the ground on its way
back down.
290
Problem 1016. An astronaut on Planet X drops a hammer from a cli 6.8 m high. The
hammer hits the ground after 1.3 s. What is the surface gravity of Planet X? Round
your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s
2
.
*(a) 8.0 m/s
2
(b) 8.9 m/s
2
(c) 9.7 m/s
2
(d) 10.7 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward. We will take the top
of the cli to be y
0
= 0. We know the initial position and velocity (both zero), the nal
position, and the time. We want to know the acceleration.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
a =
2y
t
2
=
2(6.8 m)
(1.3 s)
2
= 8.0 m/s
2
Problem 1017. A physics student angrily hurls his cell phone downward from a bridge
at 19.9 m/s. After 2.2 s, how far below the bridge will the phone be? Round your answer
to the nearest meter.
*(a) 67 m (b) 74 m
(c) 82 m (d) 90 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take down to be the positive direction, and the bridge to be y
0
= 0.
Then we know the initial position, the initial velocity, and the time; we want to know
the nal position.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (19.9 m/s)(2.2 s) +
1
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)(2.2 s)
2
= 67 m
Problem 1018. A banker drops a sack of pennies from the top of a building 18.8 m
tall. How fast is the sack moving when it strikes the ground? Round your answer to the
nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 15.5 m/s (b) 17.3 m/s
*(c) 19.2 m/s (d) 21.1 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the top of the building to be y
0
= 0, and downward as the
positive direction. We know the initial and nal position, the initial velocity (zero), and
the acceleration. We want the nal velocity. We have a formula to use when time is not
part of the problem statement.
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(y y
0
) = 2ax
v =
_
2ay =
_
2(9.8 m/s
2
)(18.8 m) = 19.2 m/s
291
Problem 1019. If we ignore air drag, what is the speed of a hail stone
that falls from rest at the top of a cumulus cloud that is 10,000 m high?
(a) 126 m/s (b) 13.2 m/s
(c) 67.6 m/s (d) 443 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward in the direction of
motion and take the height of 10 km to be the initial position y
0
. This means that the
velocity is positive, and the acceleration is positive a
y
= g. Lets write down what were
given, what we want, and which equation we need to use.
Given:
_
_
v
f
= 0 (The hail stone is initially at rest at the maximum height)
a = g = 9.8 m/s
2
y
0
= 0
y
f
= 10
4
m
Notice that we must convert the height to meters.
Want: v
f
=? (nal velocity)
Which equation: equation (2)
Notice that we dont know time; nor do we want time, so we cant use fundamental
equations (1), or (3).
Substituting v
0
= 0, y
0
= 0, and a = g into equation (2) and solving for v
0
we arrive at
v
2
f
= 0 + 2gy
f
v
f
=
_
2gy
f
evaluate
v
0
=
_
2(9.8m/s
2
)(10
4
m)
443 m/s (thats almost 1000 mph!)
Problem 1020. A ball is thrown straight upward from ground level, y = 0. At what
speed must the ball be thrown if it is to reach a height of y
max
= 10 meters above the
ground? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
Solution: v =
_
2gy
max
=
_
2(9.8 m/s)(10 m) = 14 m/s
Problem 1021. You are standing on a bridge over a canyon. To nd out how deep the
canyon is, you drop a rock o the bridge and time its fall. The rock hits the river at the
canyon bottom after 7.2 s. How deep is the canyon? Round your answer to the nearest
meter.
*(a) 254 m (b) 359 m
(c) 508 m (d) 718 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Given: y
i
= 0 (take y-axis pointing downward in the direction of motion),
v
i
= 0, a
y
= g, and t
f
= 7.2 s. Want: y
f
. Use fundamental equation 3: y =
1
2
gt
2
fall
.
292
7.6.1 The dierence between average speed and average velocity in one-
dimension
Problem 1022. (Speed vs. Velocity) An object is launched straight up into the air
from the ground with an initial vertical velocity of 30 m/s. The object rises to a height
of approximately 45 m above the ground in 3 seconds; it then falls back to the ground in
3 more seconds, impacting with a speed of 30 m/s. Approximately what is the average
speed of the object during its time in the air?
(a) 0 m/s (b) 5 m/s
*(c) 15 m/s (d) 30 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: The denition of average speed is
average speed =
total distance travelled
total time
=
distance up + distance down
time to go up + time to go down
=
2distance up
2time up
(since y
up
= y
down
= 45 m; t
up
= t
down
= 3 s)
=
45 m
3 s
= 15 m/s
Problem 1023. (Speed vs. Velocity) An object is launched straight upward from
ground level with an initial vertical velocity of about 30 m/s. In roughly 3 seconds, the
object reaches a maximum height of approximately 45 m above the ground; it takes
another 3 seconds to fall back down, striking the ground at 30 m/s. If v
ave
is the average
velocity of the object during its 6-second ight, then the magnitude of the average
velocity v
ave
is:
*(a) 0 m/s (b) 5 m/s
(c) 15 m/s (d) 30 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Recall the denition of average velocity the change in location (the displace-
ment) over the change in time. It is a vector quantity, which in one spatial dimension is a
quantity that can be positive or negative denoting which direction the object is traveling
with respect to the x-axis. Let (t
i
, y
i
) be the initial time and position, respectively, and
293
(t
f
, y
f
) be the nal time and position.
average velocity =
displacement
change in time
=
y
f
y
i
t
f
t
i
=
y
i
y
i
t
f
t
i
(Since the ball starts and stops at the same point y
i
= y
f
)
= 0 (since y = y
f
y
i
= 0 and t = t
f
t
i
> 0)
294
7.7 Similarity problems
The Idea: With all similarity problems there is always two similar problems (hence the
name!) that are modeled by the same equation/equations. The two similar situations are
sometimes called experiments, and the equation/equations that describes the situation
(the model that governs the behavior of the particle) is/are referred to as the governing
equation/equations. Some of the variables/parameters have the same value in both exper-
iments. These parameters are known as common parameters. The variables/parameters
that are situation dependent (i.e., dierent between the two experiments) are labelled
by subscripts: a subscript 1 is given to the parameters from the rst experiment and
a subscript 2 is given to the parameters from the second experiment. The parameters
that are in common to both experiments are the link between the two experiments. We
typically dont give these common parameters subscripts.
Problem-Solving Algorithm: Write down what your given, what you want, and de-
termine the governing equation that describes both situations. Identify all of the vari-
ables/parameters that are in common to both situations and put them on the right-hand
side (RHS) of the equation, and put all of the variables/parameters that are situation-
dependent on the LHS of the equation. Then equate the two situations through the
common RHS of the equation of the re-written governing equation. This is your common
link between the two situations!
Problem 1024. (Similarity Problem) A train has a constant forward acceleration of
a. Starting at rest, it reaches a speed of v
1
at time t
1
. At time t
2
= 2t
1
, how fast is the
train moving?
(a)
2 v
1
*(b) 2v
1
(c) 2
2 v
1
(d) 4v
1
(e) None of these
Solution: We have two similar situations that can both be modeled by one governing
equation. In both situations we have an object (the train) starting from rest v
i
= 0
under constant acceleration a = const. In both situations we are given time and in the
second situation we want the nal velocity. The equation describing the motion (i.e.,
the governing equation), is fundamental kinematic equation 1 v
f
= v
i
+ at
f
(were not
given distance, nor do we want it). Taking t
i
= 0, v
i
= 0, a = const, and dropping the f
subscripts yields
v = at (The governing equation) ,
where we recognize v
i
= 0 and a as common parameters (i.e., parameters that are in
common to both situations).
Well now use a to relate the velocity and time from each of the similar situations. Re-
writing the governing equation, by putting the common parameter a on the right and
the situation-dependent parameters on the left yields:
v
1
t
1
= a =
v
2
t
2
t
2
v
2
= v
1
_
t
2
t
1
_
=
_
2t
1
t
1
_
v
1
= 2v
1
.
295
Problem 1025. (Similarity Problem) A physics student drops a cell phone o a very
high bridge. At time t
1
after being released, the phone has fallen a distance y
1
. How far
has the phone fallen at time t
2
= 3t
1
?
(a)
3 y
1
(b) 3y
1
(c) 3
3 y
1
*(d) 9y
1
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction as downward, and the bridge level as
y
0
= 0. We know that the initial velocity is v
0
= 0. Hence y = y
0
+ v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
gt
2
is our governing equation for both cases. We are given t
1
, y
1
, and t
2
. At time t = t
1
,
y
1
=
1
2
gt
2
1
, at time t = t
2
= 3t
1
, y
2
=
1
2
gt
2
2
, and g/2 is a constant that is in common to
both situations. Re-writing the governing equation
y
t
2
=
g
2
(notice that the right-hand
side of the equation is constant). We want y
2
, thus equating the two equations gives
y
1
t
2
1
=
g
2
=
y
2
t
2
2
t
2
2
y
2
= y
1
_
t
2
t
1
_
2
=
_
3t
1
t
1
_
2
y
1
= 9y
1
.
Problem 1026. (Similarity Problem) An object dropped from a building with height
y
1
takes time t
1
to reach the ground. How long would it take for an object dropped from
a building with height y
2
= 2y
1
?
*(a)
2 t
1
(b) 2t
1
(c) 2
2 t
1
(d) 4t
1
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take downward as the positive direction, and the top of the building
as y
0
= 0. The initial velocity is zero v
0
= 0. Then fundamental equation (3) reduces to
y =
1
2
gt
2
. Solving this equation for time gives the governing equation for the fall time as
a function of height.
y =
1
2
gt
2
2
g
t
2
=
2
g
y
t
fall
=
_
2y
g
.
Were given: y
1
, t
1
, and y
2
. We want: t
2
. Re-writing the governing equation with common
parameters on the RHS of the equation and the situation-dependent parameters on the
LHS of the equation yields
t
fall
y
=
_
2
g
.
Equating the two situations via the common parameters yields
t
fall,1
y
1
=
_
g
2
=
t
fall,2
y
2
y
2
t
fall,2
= t
fall,1
_
y
2
y
1
y
2
=2y
1
t
fall,2
=
2t
fall,1
.
296
Problem 1027. (Similarity Problem) An object dropped from a building with height
y
1
strikes the ground with speed v
1
. If an object is dropped from a building with height
y
2
= 4y
1
, how fast is it moving when it hits the ground?
*(a) 2v
1
(b) 4v
1
(c) 8v
1
(d) 16v
1
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction as downward, and the top of the building
as y
0
= 0. The initial velocity is zero v
0
= 0. Since time isnt in the statement of the
problem, we use the fundamental formula (2): v
2
= v
2
0
+2a(yy
0
); in this case, v
2
= 2gy.
Taking the square root of this equation gives v as a function of y. The governing equation
is v =

2gy. Note that 2g is the same for both situations. This will be are common
parameters. Putting all of the parameters that are situation dependent on the left-hand
side of the equation, and the common parameters on the right-hand side of the governing
equation yields:
v =
_
2gy
y
=
_
2g (similarity form of governing equation)
Substituting the variables into this equation and using the common link (the RHS of the
governing equation) to equate the two situations yields
v
1
y
1
=
_
2g =
v
2
y
2
y
2
v
2
= v
1
_
y
2
y
1
= v
1
_
4y
1
y
1
= 2v
1
Problem 1028. (Similarity Problem) An object dropped from a certain height on
Planet X takes time t
X
to reach the ground. An object dropped from the same height
on Planet Y takes time t
Y
to fall. Which equation describes the relation between the
surface gravities g
X
and g
Y
of the two planets?
(a)
g
Y
g
X
=
t
Y
t
X
(b)
g
Y
g
X
=
t
2
Y
t
2
X
(c)
g
Y
g
X
=
t
X
t
Y
*(d)
g
Y
g
X
=
t
2
X
t
2
Y
(e) None of these
Solution: An object falling in a gravity of g for a time of t falls for a distance of
x =
1
2
gt
2
. The distance fallen, x, is the same on both planets. Hence
g
X
t
2
X
= 2x = g
Y
t
2
Y
=
g
Y
g
X
=
t
2
X
t
2
Y
297
Problem 1029. (Similarity Problem) Your friends hot rod can go from 0 to 60 mph
in 6 seconds. Your fathers minivan can only do 0 to 60 mph in 12 seconds. Assuming
constant acceleration for each vehicle, what is the ratio of the hot rods acceleration a
hr
to the minivans acceleration a
mv
?
(a)
a
hr
a
mv
=
1
2
(b)
a
hr
a
mv
=
1
2
(c)
a
hr
a
mv
=
2 *(d)
a
hr
a
mv
= 2
(e) None of these
Solution: Since each vehicle starts from rest v
0
= 0 and accelerates until it reaches the
nal velocity v = 60 mph, we have v = v v
0
= v = 60 m/hr. Because of the constant
acceleration assumption, we can use the equation v = at and the common parameter v
to nd a relationship between the ratio of accelerations and the times:
a
hr
t
hr
= v = a
mv
t
mv
amv t
hr
a
hr
a
mv
=
t
mv
t
hr
=
2 t
hr
t
hr
= 2
Notice that by taking a ratio, we avoided having to convert the acceleration a =
v
t
=
60 mph
6s
into ft/s
2
or some other standard measure of acceleration.
Problem 1030. (Similarity Problem) A spherical balloon has a radius of r when
lled with 0.50 gallons of water. If you ll the balloon with 1.0 gallons of water, what
will its radius be? Your answer should be exact.
Solution: The volume of a sphere is proportional to the cube of the radius. If the
radius of the one-gallon balloon is R, then:
0.50 gal
r
3
=
1.0 gal
R
3

R
3
r
3
=
1.0
0.50
= 2.0
Hence R
3
= 2.0 r
3
; so R =
3
2 r.
Problem 1031. (Similarity Problem) An unloaded train has an acceleration of a
u
.
Starting from a standstill, it can accelerate to a speed of v in time t
u
. A fully loaded train
has an acceleration of a
l
= 0.4a
u
. How long does it take the loaded train to accelerate
from zero to v?
Solution: Since the initial velocity is zero, we can write: v = a
u
t
u
for the unloaded
train. For the loaded train, the acceleration is a
l
= 0.40a
u
. Let t
l
be the time that it
takes for the loaded train to accelerate to v. Then
a
l
t
l
= v = a
u
t
u
a
l
t
l
=
a
u
t
u
a
l
=
t
u
a
u
0.40a
u
= 2.5 t
u
298
Problem 1032. (Similarity Problem) The Smith Building is twice as tall as the Jones
Building. A sack of pennies dropped from the top of the Jones Building takes time t
J
to
reach the ground. How long does it take for a similar sack dropped from the top of the
Smith Building? Your answer should be exact. (Hint: Use the top of the building as the
origin, and let downward be the positive y-direction.)
Solution: Since y
0
= 0 and v
0
= 0, distance fallen as a function of time is: y =
1
2
gt
2
.
Since the Smith Building is twice as tall as the Jones Building, y
S
= 2y
J
. Hence:
y
J
=
1
2
gt
J
2
y
S
=
1
2
gt
S
2
= 2y
J
= gt
J
2
t
S
2
= 2t
J
2
t
S
=
2 t
J
Problem 1033. (Similarity Problem) The Smith Building is three times as high as
the Jones Building. A watermelon dropped from the top of the Smith Building takes t
s
seconds to hit the ground. How long does it take for a watermelon dropped from the top
of the Jones Building? Your answer should be exact.
Solution: We will use the downward direction as positive, and take the top of each
building to be x = 0. Then x
0
= 0 and v
0
= 0, so we can write:
x =
1
2
gt
2
t =
_
2x
g
Thus the falling time is proportional to the square root of the height of the building. We
use the subscripts s and j to designate Smith and Jones:
t
s
x
s
=
t
j
_
x
s
/3
=
3t
j
x
s
t
j
=
3
3
t
s
Problem 1034. (Similarity Problem) Two identical balls are launched vertically into
the air with the same initial velocity v
0
. One of them is launched from the earth; the
other from the surface of Planet X, which has 1/10 of the earths gravitational attraction
(g
earth
= 10g
X
). The ball thrown on the earth reaches a maximum height of H
E
; the
ball launched on Planet X reaches a maximum height of H
X
. What is the relationship
between H
E
and H
X
? (Assume that air drag has no eect.)
Solution: We can use the formula: v
2
= v
2
0
+2a(xx
0
). The balls are launched from
ground level, so we can write x
0
= 0; the maximum height x = H is reached when v = 0.
Hence the formula becomes: 0 = v
0
2
+ 2aH. Since v
0
is the same on both planets, we
can write: 2g
earth
H
E
= 2g
X
H
X
. Solving for H
E
yields
H
E
=
g
X
H
X
g
earth
=
g
X
H
X
10g
X
=
H
X
10
Problem 1035. (Similarity Problem) Two identical balls are launched vertically into
the air with the same initial velocity v
0
. One of them is launched from the earth; the
other from the surface of Planet X, which has 1/10 of the earths gravitational attraction
(g
E
= 10g
X
). The ball thrown on the earth reaches its maximum height after time t
E
;
the ball launched on Planet X reaches its maximum height after time t
X
. What is the
relationship between t
E
and t
X
? (Assume that air drag has no eect.)
299
Solution: For the two similar experiments we are given: v
E,i
= v
X,i
= v
0
(initial
velocity), v
E,f
= v
X,f
= 0 (nal velocity), and g
E
= 10g
X
), where we have used the
fact when the ball reaches its maximum height, then its velocity is zero. The common
parameters are: the initial and nal velocities. Using the fundamental kinematic equation
1 (v
f
= v
i
gt) with the y axis pointing upward yields:
g
E
t
E
= v
E,i
= v
X,i
= g
X
t
X

t
E
t
X
=
g
X
g
E
.
300
7.8 Lab-application problems: One-Dimensional Kinematics
This is a mixture of problem types based on actual equipment found in instructional
physic labs everywhere.
7.8.1 Ball-drop apparatus
Problem 1036. (Lab Problem) In a ball-drop apparatus, a ball is held in place above
a drop pad. When a knob is turned, the ball is released to fall onto the pad; an electrical
circuit through the drop apparatus and the pad is used to measure the time it takes for
the ball to fall. If the ball is initially 0.85 m above the pad, how long should it take for
the ball to fall to the pad? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 s.
(a) 0.37 s m *(b) 0.42 s
(c) 0.46 s (d) 0.50 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward, which will make the
acceleration and the nal position positive. We will take the initial position to be zero.
Then we know the initial position and velocity (both zero), the acceleration, and the
nal position; we want to know the time.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
=
1
2
at
2
t =
_
2y
a
=
_
2(0.85 m)
9.8 m/s
2
_
1/2
= 0.42 s
7.8.2 Spring-cannon apparatus
Problem 1037. (Lab Problem) In this problem, use upward as the positive direction.
A spring cannon has been pointed straight up, and a ball has been red from it. The
ball has not yet reached the highest point in its ight. Which of the following describes
the balls situation?
*(b) positive velocity; negative acceleration
(c) positive velocity; zero acceleration
(d) zero velocity; negative acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The ball hasnt reached its highest point, so it is still moving upward.
Hence the velocity is positive. It is slowing down as it moves upward, so its acceleration
is negative.
301
Problem 1038. (Lab Problem) In this problem, use upward as the positive direction.
A spring cannon has been pointed straight up, and a ball has been red from it. The
ball has reached the highest point in its ight, and its speed is increasing as it falls back
toward the ground. Which of the following describes the balls situation?
(a) negative velocity; positive acceleration
*(b) negative velocity; negative acceleration
(c) negative velocity; zero acceleration
(d) zero velocity; positive acceleration
(e) none of these
Solution: The ball is moving downward, so its velocity is negative. It is speeding up
in the downward direction, so its acceleration is negative.
Problem 1039. (Lab Problem) A physics student shoots a ball straight upward from
a spring cannon, with an initial speed of 15.1 m/s. How long does it take for the ball to
reach the highest point in its ight? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 s.
*(a) 1.5 s (b) 1.7 s
(c) 1.9 s (d) 2.1 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be upward. This means that the
initial velocity is positive, and the acceleration is negative. We know the initial velocity,
the nal velocity (zero at the highest point in the ight), and the acceleration; we want
to know the time.
v = v
0
+at t =
v v
0
a
=
15.1 m/s
9.8 m/s
2
= 1.5 s
Problem 1040. (Lab Problem) A physics student on Pluto shoots a ball straight
upward from a spring cannon, with an initial speed of 9.1 m/s. The ball reaches the
highest point in its ight after 11.2 s. What is Plutos surface gravity? Round your
answer to the nearest 0.01 m/s
2
.
(a) 0.59 m/s
2
(b) 0.66 m/s
2
(c) 0.73 m/s
2
*(d) 0.81 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be downward, so the initial velocity
will be negative and the acceleration will be positive. We know the initial velocity, the
nal velocity (zero), and the time; we want to know the acceleration.
v = v
0
+at a =
v v
0
t
=
v
0
t
=
9.1 m/s
11.2 s
= 0.81 m/s
2
302
Problem 1041. (Lab Problem) A student shoots a ball straight upward from a spring
cannon. The ball reaches the highest point in its ight after 1.2 s. What was the balls
initial speed? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 10.6 m/s *(b) 11.8 m/s
(c) 12.9 m/s (d) 14.2 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be upward, so the acceleration
will be negative and the initial velocity positive. We know the nal velocity (zero), the
acceleration, and the time; we want to know the initial velocity.
v = v
0
+at v
0
= v at = at = (9.8 m/s
2
)(1.2 s) = 11.8 m/s
Problem 1042. (Lab Problem) A physics student shoots a ball from a spring cannon
straight upward at 15.0 m/s. After 1.1 s, how high will the ball be? Round your answer
to the nearest 0.1 m.
(a) 9.5 m *(b) 10.6 m
(c) 11.6 m (d) 12.8 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take upward to be the positive direction; so the acceleration will
be negative. We will take ground level to be y
0
= 0. We know initial position, initial
velocity, acceleration, and time; we want to know nal position.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (15.0 m/s)(1.1 s) +
1
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)(1.1 s)
2
= 10.6 m
straight upward at 15.0 m/s. After 2.3 s, how high will the ball be? Round your answer
to the nearest 0.1 m.
*(a) 8.6 m (b) 9.4 m
(c) 10.4 m (d) 11.4 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take upward to be the positive direction; so the acceleration will
be negative. We will take ground level to be y
0
= 0. We know initial position, initial
velocity, acceleration, and time; we want to know nal position.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= (15.0 m/s)(2.3 s) +
1
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)(2.3 s)
2
= 8.6 m
303
straight upward. After 1.2 s, the ball is 15.0 m high. What was the initial velocity of the
ball?
*(a) 18.4 m/s (b) 20.2 m/s
(c) 22.2 m/s (d) 24.5 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take upward to be the positive direction; so the acceleration will be
negative. We will take ground level to be y
0
= 0. We know initial position, nal position,
acceleration, and time; we want to know initial velocity.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
2y = 2v
0
t +at
2
v
0
=
2y at
2
2t
=
2(15.0 m) (9.8 m/s
2
)(1.2 s)
2
2(1.2 s)
= 18.4 m/s
304
Problem 1045. (Lab Problem
a
) A physics student shoots a ball straight upward from
a spring cannon. Using a meter stick, the student measures the balls maximum height.
If the height was found to be 53 cm, what was the balls initial velocity as it left the
muzzle of the cannon? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 2.6 m/s *(b) 3.2 m/s
(c) 2.9 m/s (d) 3.7 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be upward in the direction of motion.
This means that the initial velocity is positive, and the acceleration is negative a = g.
Lets write down what were given, what we want, and which equation we need to use.
Given:
_
_
v
f
= 0 (The ball is instantaneous at rest at the maximum height)
a = g = 9.8 m/s
2
y
max
= 53 cm = .53 m
y
0
= 0 (Well that the mouth of the cannon as our origin)
Notice that we must convert the height to meters (or acceleration to cm/s
2
).
Want: v
0
=? (initial velocity)
Which equation: equation (2)
Notice that we dont know time; nor do we want time, so we cant use fundamental
equations (1), or (3).
Substituting v = 0, a = g into equation (2) and solving for v
0
we arrive at
0
2
= v
2
0
2gy
max
+ 2gymax
v
2
0
= 2gy
max
v
0
=
_
2gy
max
evaluate
v
0
=
_
2(9.8m/s
2
)(.53m)
= 3.2 m/s
a
This is a very accurate method for determining the initial velocity of the ball, especially when you
shoot the spring cannon at a high angle of inclination (
0
60
).
305
Problem 1046. (Lab Problem) A physics student is designing a spring cannon. He
wants to re a ball straight upward from ground level; and he wants the ball to have an
upward speed of 10.2 m/s when it reaches a height of 6.8 m above the ground. What
must the balls initial speed be? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 12.5 m/s (b) 13.9 m/s
*(c) 15.4 m/s (d) 16.9 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take upward as the positive direction and ground level as y
0
= 0.
We know the initial and nal position, the acceleration (negative), and the nal velocity.
We want the initial velocity. We have a formula we can use when time isnt in the
statement of the problem.
v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(y y
0
) = v
2
0
+ 2ay
v
0
=
_
v
2
2ay =
_
(10.2 m/s)
2
2(9.8 m/s
2
)(6.8 m) = 15.4 m/s
a spring cannon, with an initial velocity of 18.2 m/s. At what time will the ball reach a
height of 10.4 m on its way up? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 s.
(a) 0.51 s (b) 0.57 s
(c) 0.63 s *(d) 0.71 s
(e) None of these
0
= 0.
Then acceleration is negative. We know initial position and velocity, nal position, and
acceleration; we want to know time.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
at
2
+ 2v
0
t 2y = 0
We will use the quadratic formula to solve this for t. As often happens with quadratic
equations, we will get two solutions. This is because the ball will pass through most
points on its trajectory twice: once on the way up, and again on the way back down.
The problem asks when the ball reaches y on the way up; so we want the smaller of the
two times.
t =
2v
0
_
4v
2
0
+ 8ay
2a
=
v
0
_
v
2
0
+ 2ay
a
=
18.2 m/s
_
(18.2 m/s)
2
+ 2(9.8 m/s
2
)(10.4 m)
9.8 m/s
2
= 0.71 s or 3.01 s
306
a spring cannon, with an initial velocity of 14.3 m/s. At what time will the ball reach a
height of 8.8 m on its way back down, after it has reached its maximum height? Round
your answer to the nearest 0.01 s.
(a) 1.83 s *(b) 2.04 s
(c) 2.24 s (d) 2.46 s
(e) None of these
0
= 0.
Then acceleration is negative. We know initial position and velocity, nal position, and
acceleration; we want to know time.
y = y
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
= v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
at
2
+ 2v
0
t 2y = 0
We will use the quadratic formula to solve this. As often happens with quadratic equa-
tions, we will get two solutions. This is because the ball will pass through most points on
its trajectory twice: once on the way up, and again on the way back down. The problem
asks when the ball reaches y on the way down; so we want the larger of the two times.
t =
2v
0
_
4v
2
0
+ 8ay
2a
=
v
0
_
v
2
0
+ 2ay
a
=
14.3 m/s
_
(14.3 m/s)
2
+ 2(9.8 m/s
2
)(8.8 m)
9.8 m/s
2
= 0.88 s or 2.04 s
Problem 1049. A student shoots a ball straight upward from a spring cannon. The
ball reaches the highest point in its ight after 1.5 s. What was the balls initial speed?
Round your answer to the nearest meter per second.
(a) 11 m/s (b) 13 m/s
*(c) 15 m/s (d) 17 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will take the positive direction to be upward, so the acceleration
will be negative and the initial velocity positive. We know the nal velocity (zero), the
acceleration, and the time; we want to know the initial velocity.
v = v
0
+at v
0
= v at = at = (9.8 m/s
2
)(1.5 s) = 15 m/s
307
7.9 Mixing It Up
Problem 1050. Harry Potters magic ying broomstick is described as having an accel-
eration of 150 miles per hour in 10 seconds. What is this acceleration in ft/s
2
? What is
it in terms of g?
Solution: Well begin by converting miles per hour to ft/s:
150 mi
hr

5280 ft
1 mi

1 hr
3600 s
= 220 ft/s
The broomstick attains this speed in 10 s; so we divide by 10 s to get acceleration:
a =
220 ft/s
10 s
= 22 ft/s
2
Since g = 32 ft/s
2
,
a =
22 ft/s
2
32 ft/s
2
= 0.69 g
Problem 1051. Using a stopwatch, you determine that a television dropped from a
rooftop takes 2.7 s to reach the ground. How fast is it going when it hits the ground?
Give your answer in m/s.
Solution: For constant acceleration,
v = v
0
+at = 0 + (9.8 m/s
2
)(2.7 s) = 26 m/s
Problem 1052. An experimental aircraft is capable of accelerating horizontally at 4.2
g. How long does it take for the aircraft to reach a horizontal speed of 5600 ft/s?
Solution: For constant acceleration, v = at; so t = v/a.
We need to convert the acceleration to units of ft/s
2
:
a = 4.2 g = (4.2)(32 ft/s
2
) = 134.4 ft/s
2
Now that we have consistent units, we can calculate the time:
t =
v
a
=
5600 ft/s
134.4 ft/s
2
= 42 s
Notice that weve rounded this answer to two signicant digits, since thats all we had
in the statement of the problem.
Problem 1053. You are on the surface of the Moon, where the acceleration due to
gravity is 1.62 m/s
2
. You throw an egg straight upward at 25 m/s. How long does it
take for the egg to reach the ground?
308
Solution: We can use the formula: x = x
0
+ v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
. We know x
0
= 0, since
were throwing the egg from ground level; v
0
= 25 m/s; a = 1.62 m/s
2
(taking the
upward direction as positive); and x = 0, since we want to know the time at which the
egg reaches ground level. Plugging these numbers into the formula gives us
0 = 0.81t
2
+ 25t = t(0.81t 25)
Solving this yields
t = 0 s and t =
25
0.81
= 31 s
The rst solution refers to the fact that at t = 0, you were throwing the egg up from the
surface. The second solution is the time at which the egg reaches x = 0 on its way back
down. Hence the answer is: 31 s.
Problem 1054. A train is moving at 32 m/s when the engineer is informed that a school
bus full of orphans and puppies is on the tracks ahead of him. If the train is capable of
decelerating at 0.80 m/s
2
, how long does it take for the train to come to a halt? How far
does it go after the brakes are applied?
Solution: Well use: v = v
0
+ at, with v = 0 m/s, v
0
= 32 m/s and a = 0.80 m/s
2
.
(Weve taken the forward direction of the train as positive.) Then
0 = 32 0.80t so t =
32 m/s
0.8 m/s
2
= 40 s
Now that we know the time, we can use the formula: x = x
0
+ v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
. Well use
x
0
= 0, v
0
= 32 m/s, a = 0.80 m/s
2
, and t = 40 s. Then
x = 0 + (32 m/s)(40 s)
1
2
(0.8 m/s
2
)(40 s)
2
= 640 m
Problem 1055. Your lab partner accidentally rides his canoe over Horseshoe Falls, which
is 53 m high. How long does it take for him to reach the bottom? What is his downward
speed when he gets there?
Solution: Well take the edge of the falls as x = 0, and the downward direction
as positive. Then we can use the formula: x = x
0
+ v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
, with x
0
= 0, v
0
= 0,
a = g = 9.8 m/s
2
, and x = 53 m. We get
53 = 0 + 0t +
1
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)t
2
= 4.9t
2
Hence t
2
= 53/4.9; so t =
_
53/4.9 = 3.3 s.
Since v
0
= 0, we can write v = at = 9.8
_
53/4.9 = 32 m/s.
309
Problem 1056. A ship has a maximum speed in still water of 8.8 m/s. To be operated
legally on the Rhine River, it must be able to come to a complete stop in 350 m. What
acceleration would the ship need to do this?
Solution: Again, well need two formulas to solve this:
x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
v = v
0
+at
We know that x = 350 m, x
0
= 0, v = 0, and v
0
= 8.8 m/s. We want to calculate a.
Well begin by solving the second equation for t:
0 = v
0
+at t =
v
0
a
We substitute this into the rst equation:
x = 0
v
0
2
a
+
v
0
2
2a
=
v
0
2
2a
We solve this for a:
a =
v
0
2
2x
=
(8.8 m/s)
2
(2)(350 m)
= 0.11 m/s
2
Problem 1057. A ball is thrown straight up from ground level, which we take to be
y = 0.
(a) At what speed must it be thrown to reach a height y
max
meters above the ground?
(b) How long does it take the ball to reach the maximum height t
up
?
Solution: (a) Use fundamental equation 2 with v
f
= 0, since when the ball reaches
its highest point the its velocity is zero.
0 = v
2
f
= v
2
i
2gy
max
v
i
=
_
2gy
max
(b) Use fundamental equation one v
f
= v
i
+gt with v
f
= 0. Then t
up
=
v
i
g
=
_
2ymax
g
310
8 One-dimensional rotational kinematics
8.1 Angular speed, period, and frequency
Problem 1058. A Ferris wheel has a radius of 12 m. If a point on the outer rim is
moving at 4 m/s, what is its angular speed?
*(a) 1/3 rad/s (b) 3 rad/s
(c) 2/3 rad/s (d) 6 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: v = r =
v
r
=
4 m/s
12 m
=
1
3
rad/s.
Problem 1059. A reector is attached to the spoke of a bicycle wheel, 20 cm from the
center. If the wheel is turning at 18 rad/s, how fast is the reector moving? Round your
answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 110 cm/s *(b) 360 cm/s
(c) 640 cm/s (d) 1100 cm/s
(e) None of these
Solution: v = r = (20 cm)(18 rad/s) = 360 cm/s
Problem 1060. A bug is clinging to the tip of a wind turbine blade, 45 meters from the
center. The blade turns through a complete circle every 7.5 s. What is the bugs angular
speed? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 0.84 rad/s (b) 6.0 rad/s
(c) 19 rad/s (d) 38 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: If T is the period (the time that it takes to make a complete circle), then
=
2 rad
T
=
2 rad
7.5 s
= 0.84 rad/s
The 45-m radius of the circle is irrelevant to this problem.
Problem 1061. The orbit of Jupiters moon Callisto has a radius of 1.9 10
9
m. The
moon makes a complete circle around Jupiter in 1.4 10
6
s. What is Callistos orbital
(a) 6700 m/s (b) 7400 m/s
*(c) 8500 m/s (d) 9100 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: v =
2r
T
=
2 1.9 10
9
m
1.4 10
6
s
= 8500 m/s
311
Problem 1062. Planet X orbits its star at a distance of 1.5 10
11
m. Its orbital speed
is 3.0 10
4
m/s. How long does it take for the planet to make a complete circle around
the star? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 2.3 10
7
s (b) 2.5 10
7
s
(c) 2.8 10
7
s *(d) 3.1 10
7
s
(e) None of these
Solution: In making a complete circle, the planet goes a distance of 2r; if it does so
at speed v, then the time that it takes is
T =
2r
v
=
2 1.5 10
11
3.0 10
4
m
= 3.1 10
7
s
Problem 1063. An airplane propeller is turning at a rate of 40 revolutions per second.
What is the propellers angular speed? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 6.4 rad/s (b) 13 rad/s
(c) 130 rad/s *(d) 250 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: 1 revolution = 2 rad; so
=
(40 rev)(2 rad/rev)
1 s
= 250 rad/s
Problem 1064. A Ferris wheel takes 40 s to make a complete circle. What is its angular
(a) 0.025 rad/s *(b) 0.16 rad/s
(c) 6.4 rad/s (d) 13 rad/s
(e) None of these
If T is the time that it takes to make a complete circle, then
=
2 rad
T
=
2 rad
40 s
= 0.16 rad/s
Problem 1065. An electric fan turns at a rate of 24 revolutions per second. How long
does it take for the fan to turn through 60 radians? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
*(a) 0.40 s (b) 0.73 s
(c) 1.4 s (d) 2.5 s
(e) None of these
Solution: Careful! We need to convert revolutions to radians. Since there are 2
radians in a revolution, if f is the angular speed in revolutions/s, then 2f is the angular
speed in rad/s.
= t t =

=

2f
=
60 rad
(2 rad/rev)(24 rev/s)
= 0.40 s
312
Problem 1066. A wind turbine turns with an angular speed of 1.1 rad/s. How long
does it take for the turbine to make 10 complete revolutions? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
(a) 9.1 s (b) 17 s
(c) 31 s *(d) 57 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert revolutions to radians, at 2 rad/rev. Then
= t t =

=
(10 rev)(2 rad/rev)
1.1 rad/s
= 57 s
Problem 1067. (Similarity Problem) Two bugs are clinging to a spoke of a turning
bicycle wheel. The rst bug is 10 cm from the center of the wheel; the second bug is 20
cm from the center. If the rst bug is experiencing an angular speed of
1
, what is the
second bugs angular speed?
(a)
1
/2 *(b)
1
(c)
2
1
(d) 2
1
(e) None of these
Solution: Both bugs experience the same angular speed, which is that of the wheel
itself.
Problem 1068. (Similarity Problem) Two bugs are clinging to a spoke of a turning
bicycle wheel. The rst bug is 10 cm from the center of the wheel; the second bug is 20
cm from the center. If the rst bug is moving at a speed of v
1
, what is the speed of the
second bug?
(a) v
1
/2 (b) v
1
(c)
2 v
1
*(d) 2v
1
(e) None of these
Solution: Both bugs experience the same angular velocity , which is that of the
wheel. Then v = r v
1
= (10 cm) and v
2
= (20 cm) = 2v
1
Problem 1069. (Similarity problem) A physics professor is riding on a moving merry-
go-round. At a distance of r
1
> 0 from the center, his angular speed is
1
. At what
distance from the center will his angular speed be 2
1
?
(a)
2 r
1
(b) 2r
1
(c) 4r
1
*(d) No solution
(e) None of these
Solution: No matter where the professor goes on the merry-go-round, his angular
velocity will be the same: that of the merry-go-round itself. Since the merry-go-round is
moving and r
1
> 0,
1
,= 0. Hence there is no distance at which his angular velocity will
be 2
1
,=
1
.
313
Problem 1070. (Similarity problem) A physics professor is riding on a moving merry-
go-round. At a distance of r
1
> 0 from the center, his speed is v
1
. At what distance from
the center will his speed be 2v
1
?
(a)
2 r
1
*(b) 2r
1
(c) 4r
1
(d) No solution
(e) None of these
Solution: The professors angular velocity is always , the angular velocity of the
merry-go-round. In the equation v = r, v and r change between the two situations;
doesnt. Separating the changing from the unchanging parameters, we get
=
v
r
=
v
1
r
1
=
2v
1
r
2
r
2
=
2v
1
r
1
v
1
= 2r
1
8.2 Fundamental equation 1
Problem 1071. A ceiling fan is initially at rest. When it is switched on, it experiences
an angular acceleration of 2.2 rad/s
2
. How long does it take before the fan is turning at
7.5 rad/s? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 1.6 s *(b) 3.4 s
(c) 7.5 s (d) 17 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0, , and . We want to know t. Use the rst fundamental
kinematic equation:
=
0
+t = t t =

=
7.5 rad/s
2.2 rad/s
2
= 3.4 s
Problem 1072. An airplane propeller is initially turning at 220 rad/s. When the engine
is switched o, it takes the propeller 18 seconds to come to a complete stop. What is the
propellers angular acceleration? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 8.9 rad/s
2
(b) 9.9 rad/s
2
(c) 11 rad/s
2
*(d) 12 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
, = 0 rad/s, and t. We want to know . Use the rst
fundamental kinematic equation:
= 0 =
0
+t =
0
t
=
220 rad/s
18 s
= 12 rad/s
2
314
Problem 1073. A wheel is initially at rest. It experiences an angular acceleration of
13 rad/s
2
for 22 s. At the end of this time, what is its angular speed? Round your answer
*(a) 290 rad/s (b) 950 rad/s
(c) 3100 rad/s (d) 6300 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0, , and t. We want to know . Use the rst fundamental
kinematic equation.
=
0
+t = t = (13 rad/s
2
)(22 s) = 290 rad/s
Problem 1074. A wind turbine is turning clockwise at 0.85 rad/s. The wind strength-
ens, causing the turbine to experience a clockwise angular acceleration of 0.044 rad/s
2
.
After 15 seconds, how fast is the turbine turning? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
(a) 0.56 rad/s *(b) 1.5 rad/s
(c) 4.1 rad/s (d) 6.1 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
, , and t. We want to know . Use the rst fundamental
kinematic equation. Careful! Notice that the problem species clockwise. When you
see a direction specied, you should check the problem with extra care to make sure that
all of your signs are right. There are no negative quantities in this particular problem,
but there might be on the exam...
=
0
+t = 0.85 rad/s + (0.044 rad/s
2
)(15 s) = 1.5 rad/s
Problem 1075. A disc is spinning at an initial angular speed of 10 rad/s. It is subjected
to an angular acceleration of 2 rad/s
2
for 5 seconds. At the end of this time, how fast is
the disc spinning?
(a) 10 rad/s *(b) 20 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
, , and t; we want to know . Use the rst fundamental
kinematic equation.
=
0
+t = 10 rad/s + (2 rad/s
2
)(5 s) = 20 rad/s
315
Problem 1076. A propeller is initially turning at 20 rad/s. When the power to it is
increased, it speeds up, reaching a speed of 48 rad/s after 4 seconds. What was its
angular acceleration?
*(a) 7 rad/s
2
(b) 12 rad/s
2
(c) 80 rad/s
2
(d) 192 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
kinematic equation.
=
0
+t =

0
t
=
48 rad/s 20 rad/s
4 s
= 7 rad/s
2
Problem 1077. A fan is initially turning at 120 rad/s. When it is switched o, it
experiences an angular acceleration of 5 rad/s
2
. After 10 seconds, how fast is it turning?
(a) 24 rad/s (b) 50 rad/s
*(c) 70 rad/s (d) 96 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
kinematic equation.
=
0
+t = 120 rad/s + (5 rad/s
2
)(10 s) = 70 rad/s
Problem 1078. A circular saw is initially turning at 450 rad/s. It is subjected to an
angular acceleration of 30 rad/s
2
until it is turning at 300 rad/s. How long does it take
before it reaches this speed?
(a) 5/3 s *(b) 5 s
(c) 10/3 s (d) 10 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
, , and . We want to know t. Use the rst fundamental
kinematic equation. Watch your signs!
=
0
+t t =

0
=
300 rad/s 450 rad/s
30 rad/s
2
= 5 s
316
Problem 1079. A windmill is turning at 10 rad/s in a clockwise direction. The wind
suddenly shifts, producing an angular acceleration of 0.5 rad/s
2
in a counterclockwise
direction. After 12 sec, what is the windmills angular velocity?
(a) 6 rad/s counterclockwise (b) 16 rad/s counterclockwise
(c) 6 rad/s clockwise *(d) 4 rad/s clockwise
(e) None of these
Solution: For no particularly good reason, well take clockwise as the positive direc-
tion. We know
0
, , and t. We want to know . Use the rst fundamental kinematic
equation.
=
0
+t = 10 rad/s + (0.5 rad/s
2
)(12 s) = 4 rad/s
Since is positive, its clockwise.
Problem 1080. A ywheel is turning at 60 rad/s in a counterclockwise direction. It is
then subjected to an angular acceleration of 5 rad/s
2
in a clockwise direction. After 20
seconds, what is the ywheels angular velocity?
(a) 30 rad/s counterclockwise *(b) 40 rad/s clockwise
(c) 100 rad/s clockwise (d) 40 rad/s counterclockwise
(e) None of these
Solution: Well arbitrarily choose clockwise as the positive direction. We know
0
,
, and t. We want to know . Use the rst fundamental kinematic equation.
=
0
+t = 60 rad/s + (5 rad/s
2
)(20 s) = 40 rad/s
Since is positive, its turning clockwise.
Problem 1081. Starting from rest, a wheel is subjected to an angular acceleration of
3.5 rad/s
2
for 5 seconds; after that, it turns at a constant angular speed. At that constant
speed, how long does it take for the wheel to make one revolution? Round your answer
(a) 0.32 s *(b) 0.36 s
(c) 0.39 s (d) 0.43 s
(e) None of these
Solution: Well need to do this in two parts: rst, calculate the nal angular velocity;
then calculate the period (the time that it takes for the wheel to make one revolution).
We know
0
= 0, and t. We can get from the rst fundamental kinematic equation,
then calculate the period using 2 = T.
=
0
+t = t
2 = T T =
2
=
2
t
=
2
(3.5 rad/s
2
)(5 s)
= 0.36 s
317
Problem 1082. A shaft is initially turning at 50 revolutions per second. When a brake
is applied to it, it slows down and comes to a halt after 5.0 seconds. What angular
acceleration does the shaft experience while it is slowing down? Round your answer to
two signicant gures.
(a) 3.2 rad/s
2
(b) 6.4 rad/s
2
(c) 31 rad/s
2
*(d) 63 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert revolutions per second to radians per second, using 2
rad/revolution. Then well know
0
, = 0, and t; we want to know . Use the rst
fundamental kinematic equation. Well use f (for frequency) to signify the revolutions
per second.
= 0 =
0
+t =
0
t
=
2f
0
t
=
(2 rad/rev)(50 rev/s)
5.0 s
= 63 rad/s
2
Problem 1083. A merry-go-round is turning at a constant rate, with a period (the
time that it takes for it to make one complete revolution) of 8.0 seconds. The operator
increases the power to it, applying an angular acceleration of 0.25 rad/s for 5.0 seconds.
At the end of this time, what is the merry-go-rounds period? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
*(a) 3.1 s (b) 4.6 s
(c) 6.8 s (d) 9.3 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We will need to convert back and forth between period and angular speed.
Since a complete circle is 2 radians, the conversion is = 2/T, where T is the period.
When weve done that with the initial period T
0
, well know
0
, , and t; well use those
to calculate the nal angular speed
f
, which well then convert to the nal period T
f
.
From the rst fundamental kinematic equation,
f
=
0
+t =
2
T
0
+t
We convert
f
to T
f
:
T
f
=
2
f
=
2
2
T
0
+t
=
2T
0
2 +tT
0
=
2(8 s)
2 + (0.25 rad/s
2
)(5.0 s)(8.0 s)
= 3.1 s
318
Problem 1084. A Ferris wheel is turning at a rate of one revolution every 10 seconds.
The operator applies a brake to it for 8 seconds, after which it is turning at a rate of one
revolution every 15 seconds. What angular acceleration does the Ferris wheel experience
while it is slowing down? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 0.011 rad/s
2
*(b) 0.026 rad/s
2
(c) 0.064 rad/s
2
(d) 0.16 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We will need to convert back and forth between period and angular speed.
Since a complete circle is 2 radians, the conversion is = 2/T, where T is the period.
When weve done that with the initial period T
0
and the nal period T
f
, well know
0
,
f
, and t; well use these to calculate . From the rst fundamental kinematic equation:
f
=
0
+t
=

f

0
t
=
2
T
f
2
T
0
t
=
2(T
0
T
f
)
T
0
T
f
t
=
2(10 s 15 s)
(10 s)(15 s)(8 s)
= 0.026 rad/s
2
Problem 1085. Starting from rest, a ywheel is subjected to an angular acceleration of
2.5 rad/s
2
. After it has turned through 11 radians, how fast is it turning? Round your
*(a) 7.4 rad/s (b) 8.2 rad/s
(c) 9.0 rad/s (d) 9.9 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0,
0
= 0, , and . We want to know . We neither know
nor care about the time. Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2
0
= 2(
0
)

2
= 2 =
2 =
_
2(2.5 rad/s
2
)(11 rad) = 7.4 rad/s
2
319
Problem 1086. A windmill is initially held at rest by a brake. When the brake is
released, it is subjected to an angular acceleration of 3 rad/s
2
. What angle will it turn
through before it reaches an angular speed of 12 rad/s?
(a) 4 rad (b) 12 rad
(c) 16 rad *(d) 24 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0, ,
0
= 0, and . We want to know . We neither know
nor care about time. Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2
0
= 2(
0
)
2
= 2
=

2
2
=
(12 rad/s)
2
2(3 rad/s
2
)
= 24 rad
Problem 1087. A physics instructor is riding on a merry-go-round, which is initially
turning at 3 rad/s. He ignites a rocket that he has attached to the merry-go-round,
producing an angular acceleration of 8 rad/s
2
. How fast will the merry-go-round be
turning after it has turned through 15 rad? Round your answer to the nearest rad/s.
(c) 15 rad/s *(d) 16 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
,
0
= 0, , and . We want to know . We neither know nor
care about the time. Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2
0
= 2(
0
) = 2
=
_
2
0
+ 2 =
_
(3 rad/s)
2
+ 2(8 rad/s
2
)(15 rad) = 16 rad/s
Problem 1088. A wheel is turning at a rate of 12 rad/s. When a brake is applied to
it, it experiences an angular acceleration of . If the wheel turns through 9 rad before
coming to a halt, what is ?
(a) 1/3 rad/s
2
(b) 4/3 rad/s
2
(c) 2 rad/s
2
*(d) 8 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
, = 0,
0
= 0, and . We want to know . We neither know
nor care about t. Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2
0
= 2(
0
)
2
0
= 2
=
2
0
2
=
(12 rad/s)
2
2(9 rad)
= 8 rad/s
2
320
Problem 1089. A propeller is turning at 30 rad/s. The power to it is increased, so
that after it has turned through 20 radians, it is turning at 45 rad/s. What angular
acceleration did the propeller experience? Round your answer to 2 signicant gures.
(a) 21 rad/s
2
(b) 23 rad/s
2
(c) 25 rad/s
2
*(d) 28 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
, ,
0
= 0, and . We want to know . We neither know nor
care about t. Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2
0
= 2(
0
) = 2
=

2
2
0
2
=
(45 rad/s)
2
(30 rad/s)
2
2(20 rad)
= 28 rad/s
2
Problem 1090. A shaft is initially turning at 10 rad/s. A brake is applied, producing
an angular acceleration of 0.5 rad/s
2
. What angle does the shaft turn through before
it has slowed down to 6 rad/s?
(a) 36 rad (b) 45 rad
(c) 56 rad *(d) 64 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
, , , and
0
= 0. We want to know . We neither know nor
2
0
= 2(
0
) = 2
=

2
2
0
2
=
(6 rad/s)
2
(10 rad/s)
2
2(0.5 rad/s
2
)
= 64 rad
Problem 1091. A windmill is initially spinning at a constant rate. The wind abruptly
dies, slowing the windmill down at a rate of 0.25 rad/s
2
. After the wind dies, the windmill
turns through 30 rad before stopping. What was the windmills initial angular speed?
Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 3.9 rad/s (b) 4.8 rad/s
(c) 6.0 rad/s (d) 7.5 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Watch your signs! We want
0
to be positive, so will be negative. We
know ,
0
= 0, , and = 0. We want to know
0
. We neither know nor care about t.
Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2
0
= 2(
0
)
2
0
= 2
=
2 =
_
2(0.25 rad/s
2
)(30 rad) = 3.9 rad/s
321
Problem 1092. A steam turbine is initially turning at a constant rate. The steam
pressure to it is increased, producing a positive angular acceleration of 20 rad/s
2
. After
it has turned through 30 rad, it has an angular speed of 50 rad/s. What was its initial
angular speed? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(c) 36 rad/s (d) 42 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0, , , and . We want to know
0
. We neither know nor
2
0
= 2(
0
) = 2
2
2 =
2
0

0
=
2
2 =
_
(50 rad/s)
2
2(20 rad/s
2
)(30 rad) = 36 rad/s
Problem 1093. A wind turbine is initially spinning at a constant rate, making one
revolution every 4.5 seconds. The wind increases, subjecting the turbine to an angular
acceleration of 0.2 rad/s. After the turbine has completed 3 revolutions, it is once again
turning at a constant rate. What is its new period of revolution? Round your answer to
the nearest 0.1 s.
*(a) 2.0 s (b) 2.7 s
(c) 3.5 s (d) 4.6 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert between the period T (the time that it takes for the
turbine to make one complete circle) and the angular speed . Since one complete circle
is 2 rad, T = 2. We know the initial period T
0
(from which we can get
0
), the
angular acceleration,
0
= 0, and = (3 rev)(2 rad/rev) = 6 rad. We want the nal
period T
f
, which we can get from the nal angular speed
f
. We neither know nor care
about t. Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2
f

2
0
= 2(
0
) = 2

2
f
=
2
0
+ 2
4
2
T
2
f
=
4
2
T
2
0
+ 2 =
4
2
+ 2T
2
0
T
2
0
T
2
f
=
4
2
T
2
0
4
2
+ 2T
2
0
T
f
=
2T
0
_
4
2
+ 2T
2
0
=
2(4.5 s)
_
4
2
+ 2(0.2 rad/s
2
)(6 rad)(4.5 s)
2
= 2.0 s
322
Problem 1094. A Ferris wheel is turning at a rate of one revolution every 8.0 seconds.
The operator applies a brake while the wheel makes two revolutions; at the end of this
time, it is turning at a rate of one revolution every 15.0 sec. What is the magnitude of
the angular acceleration produced by the brake? Round your answer to two signicant
gures. ?
*(a) 0.018 rad/s
2
(b) 0.11 rad/s
2
(c) 6.4 rad/s
2
(d) 40 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert between the period T (the time that it takes to make
one complete revolution) and the angular speed . Since one revolution is 2 radians,
T = 2. We know the inital period T
0
, from which we can get
0
; the nal period, T
f
,
from which we can get
f
; and the number of revolutions turned, from which we can get
the angle = (2 revolutions)(2 rad/rev) = 4 rad. We want to know . We neither
know nor care about t. Use the second fundamental kinematic equation.
2 =
2
f

2
0
=
4
2
T
2
f
4
2
T
2
0
=
4
2
(T
2
0
T
2
f
)
T
2
f
T
2
0
=
2
2
(T
2
0
T
2
f
)
T
2
f
T
2
0
=
2
2
[(8.0 s)
2
(15.0 s)
2
]
(15.0 s)
2
(8.0 s)
2
(4 rad)
= 0.018 rad/s
2
Since the question asks for the magnitude of , we use the absolute value: 0.018 rad/s
2
.
Problem 1095. A fan is initially turning at 12 rad/s. The power to the fan is increased,
applying a rotational acceleration of 3 rad/s
2
. What angle does the fan turn through
over the next 2 sec?
*(a) 30 rad (b) 36 rad
(c) 42 rad (d) 45 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0,
0
, , and t. We want to know . Use the third
fundamental kinematic equation.
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
= (12 rad/s)(2 s) +
1
2
(3 rad/s
2
)(2 s)
2
= 30 rad
323
Problem 1096. Starting at rest, a wheel experiences an angular acceleration of 2 rad/s
2
.
How much time elapses before the wheel has turned through 16 rad?
(a) 2 s (b)
8 s
*(c) 4 s (d) 8 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0,
0
= 0, , and . We want to know t. Use the third
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
1
2
t
2
t =
_
2
=
_
2(16 rad)
2 rad/s
2
_
1/2
= 4 s
Problem 1097. A shaft is turning at 15 rad/s. A brake is applied, producing an angular
acceleration of 0.25 rad/s
2
. What angle does the shaft turn through over the next 4
seconds?
(a) 49 rad (b) 52 rad
*(c) 58 rad (d) 62 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0,
0
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
= (15 rad/s)(4 s) +
1
2
(0.25 rad/s
2
)(4 s)
2
= 58 rad
Problem 1098. A propeller is spinning at 40 rad/s. When the power is switched o, it
experiences a constant angular acceleration . In the next 3 seconds, the propeller turns
through 60 rad. What is ? Round your answer to the nearest rad/s
2
.
(a) 10 rad/s
2
(b) 11 rad/s
2
(c) 12 rad/s
2
*(d) 13 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0, ,
0
, and t. We want to know . Use the third
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
2(
0
t)
t
2
=
2[60 rad (40 rad/s)(3 s)]
(3 s)
2
= 13 rad/s
2
324
Problem 1099. A windmill is turning at 12 rad/s. When the wind abruptly dies, it
slows down at a rate of 3 rad/s
2
. How long does it take for the windmill to turn through
16 rad? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 1.5 s *(b) 1.7 s
(c) 1.9 s (d) 2.1 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0,
0
, , and . We want to know t. Use the third
fundamental kinematic equation. Watch your signs; since the windmill is slowing down,
well take as negative.
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2

2
t
2
+
0
t = 0
Since the solution choices dont include any integers, its likely that we wont be able to
factor this. Well use the quadratic formula.
t =

0
2
0
4(/2)()
2(/2)
=

0
2
0
+ 2
=
12 rad/s
_
(12 rad/s)
2
+ 2(3 rad/s
2
)(16 rad)
3 rad/s
2
= 1.7 s or 6.3 s
There are two positive solutions; we use the smaller one. Why? The equation doesnt
know that the windmill will slow down and remain stopped; as far as its concerned,
the angular acceleration of 3 m/s
2
will continue forever. If that were the case, then
the windmill would turn through 16 rad as it slowed down; would come to a halt and
then reverse its direction; and would then speed up in that backward direction, passing
through the 16-rad mark a second time as it turned backward.
Problem 1100. A turbine is turning at some constant angular velocity. The power to it
is increased, producing an angular acceleration of 2.0 rad/s
2
. Over the next 10 seconds,
the turbine turns through 300 radians. What was its original angular velocity? Round
your answer to two signicant gures.
*(c) 20 rad/s (d) 22 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know ,
0
= 0, , and t. We want to know
0
. Use the third
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2

0
=
2 t
2
2t
=
2(300 rad) (2 rad/s
2
)(10 s)
2
2(10 s)
= 20 rad/s
325
Problem 1101. A winch is turning clockwise at 3 rad/s. The operator reverses the power
to it, producing a counterclockwise angular acceleration of 0.50 rad/s
2
for 10 seconds.
At the end of this time, what is the net angle through which the winch has turned?
*(a) 5 rad clockwise (b) 5 rad counterclockwise
(c) 55 rad clockwise (d) 55 rad counterclockwise
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0,
0
fundamental kinematic equation. Well use clockwise as the positive direction, so will
be negative.
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
= (3 rad/s)(10 s) +
1
2
(0.50 rad/s
2
)(10 s)
2
= 5 rad
Since this is positive, its 5 rad clockwise.
Problem 1102. A fan is turning at some constant angular velocity. It is subjected to a
clockwise angular acceleration of 0.4 rad/s
2
for 6 seconds, during which it turns 8 radians
clockwise. What was its initial angular velocity? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
*(a) 0.13 rad/s clockwise (b) 0.50 rad/s clockwise
(c) 0.13 rad/s counterclockwise (d) 0.50 rad/s counterclockwise
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0, , , and t. We want to know
0
. Use the fourth
fundamental kinematic equation. Well use clockwise as the positive direction.
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2

0
=
2 t
2
2t
=
2(8 rad) (0.4 rad/s
2
)(6 s)
2
2(6 s)
= 0.13 rad/s
Since this number is positive, its 0.13 rad/s clockwise.
326
Problem 1103. A windmill is initially turning at a rate of one revolution per 4.8 seconds.
The wind strengthens, applying an angular acceleration of 0.2 rad/s
2
. Over the next
8 seconds, what angle does the windmill turn through? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
(a) 6.4 rad (b) 10 rad
*(c) 17 rad (d) 27 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert from the period T (the time that it takes for the
windmill to make one revolution) to the angular speed. Since one revolution equals 2
rad, T = 2. Then we know T
0
, from which we can get
0
;
0
= 0; ; and t. We want
to know . Use the third fundamental kinematic equation.
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
2t
T
0
+
1
2
t
2
=
2(8 s)
4.8 s
+
(0.2 rad/s
2
)(8 s)
2
2
= 17 rad
Problem 1104. A merry-go-round is turning at a rate of one revolution per 5.5 sec. The
operator applies a brake, producing an angular acceleration . In the next 4.0 seconds,
the merry-go-round turns half a revolution. What is the magnitude of ? Round your
(a) 0.098 rad/s
2
*(b) 0.18 rad/s
2
(c) 0.59 rad/s
2
(d) 0.93 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert from revolutions to radians, and from the period T (the
time that it takes to make one revolution) to the angular speed. Since one revolution is
2 rad, T = 2. We know the initial period T
0
, from which we can calculate
0
;
0
= 0;
f
= 1/2 revolution = rad; and t. We want to know . Use the third fundamental
kinematic equation.
f
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
2(
f

0
t)
t
2
=
2(
f
2t/T
0
)
t
2
=
2(
f
T
0
2t)
T
0
t
2
=
2[( rad)(5.5 s) 2(4.0 s)]
(5.5 s)(4.0 s)
2
= 0.18 rad/s
2
Since were asked for the magnitude, we use the absolute value: 0.18 rad/s
2
.
327
Problem 1105. A water wheel is turning at a rate of one revolution per 7.5 seconds.
The current to the wheel increases, applying an angular acceleration of 0.5 rad/s. How
long does it take for the wheel to turn through two revolutions? Round your answer to
(a) 4.5 s (b) 5.0 s
*(c) 5.6 s (d) 6.2 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert the period T (the time that it takes to make one
revolution) to the angular speed . Since one revolution is 2 rad, T = 2. We know
the initial period T
0
, from which we can calculate
0
; ; and = 4 rad. We want to
know t. Use the third fundamental kinematic equation.
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2
1
2
t
2
+
0
t = 0
t =

0
2
0
4(/2)()
2(/2)
=

0
2
0
+ 2
=
2
_
4
2
+ 2T
2
0
T
0
=
2
_
4
2
+ 2(0.5 rad/s
2
)(4)(7.5 s)
2
(0.5 rad/s
2
)(7.5 s)
= 5.6 s
Theres also a negative root, but we ignore it.
Problem 1106. An evil physics instructor tries to fail as many students as possible
by speeding up the clock during an exam. He secretly installs a device that applies a
constant angular acceleration to the minute hand. At the beginning of the test, the
hand is moving at the correct speed; because of the angular acceleration, it makes a
complete circle in only 40 minutes. What is the value of ? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
(a) 8.7 10
8
rad/s
2
*(b) 7.3 10
7
rad/s
2
(c) 6.6 10
5
rad/s
2
(d) 4.2 10
4
rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We need to convert revolutions and minutes and hours to radians and
seconds. We can easily determine
0
, , and t. We want . Use the rst fundamental
kinematic equation.
=
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
2(
0
t)
t
2
We can calculate
0
from the fact that at the correct speed, a minute hand circles
the clock in T
0
= 1 hr = 3600 s; so
0
= 2/T
0
. We need to convert t to seconds:
t = 40 min = 2400 s. The minute hand makes a complete circle, so = 2 rad. Hence
=
2( 2t/T
0
)
t
2
=
2(T
0
2t)
t
2
T
0
=
2[2(3600 s) 2(2400 s)]
(2400 s)
2
(3600 s)
= 7.3 10
7
rad/s
2
328
9 Two-dimensional kinematics
9.1 The basics of velocity and acceleration in two dimensions
9.1.1 The dierence between average speed and average velocity in a plane
Problem 1107. (Speed vs. Velocity) A race car goes around a track at a constant
speed of 200 mph (It has cruise control). What is the cars average speed and velocity
over one lap on the race track?
Solution: The average speed is 200 mph, but the average velocity is zero! The initial
and nal positions are the same, so
x = x
f
x
i
= x
i
x
i
= 0 v
ave
=
x
t
.
The point of this exercise is to emphasize that one must be careful when using long-time
averages with vector quantities. The average velocity may give you a result that you
were not intending to get.
Problem 1108. (Speed vs. Velocity) If we throw a ball straight up in the air and
it comes back down to the same spot, what is the average velocity of the ball over one
complete trip up and back down?
Solution: The average velocity is zero. The initial and nal positions are the same,
so
y = y
f
y
i
= y
i
y
i
= 0 v
ave
=
y
t
.
The point of this exercise is to emphasize that one must be careful when using average
velocity, because you may get a result that you were not intending to get.
329
9.1.2 Average acceleration in a plane
Problem 1109. A circular room has a radius of 4 m and a small window facing north.
A y moving at 6 m/s ies directly south through the window and into the room. Over
the next 20 s, he ies three times counterclockwise around the perimeter of the room,
then ies directly north out the window at 6 m/s. What are the magnitude and direction
of the ys average acceleration between the time he enters the room and the time he
leaves?
Solution: Since we asked for the magnitude and direction of the average acceleration,
we mustve meant the acceleration vector. (Unlike velocity and speed, we dont have
a convenient way to distinguish between the acceleration vector and its magnitude.) The
only data that matter are the ys initial and nal velocity, and the time over which it
changed: from 6 m/s southward to 6 m/s northward, over 20 s. The dierence between
the nal and initial velocity is 12 m/s northward; the change occurred over 20 s, so the
average acceleration is
12 m/s
20 s
= 0.6 m/s
2
northward
9.1.3 Relative velocity in a plane
Problem 1110. A river has a current with a speed of 5 ft/s. You can swim at 4 ft/s
in still water. At what angle to the cross-river direction do you need to swim to reach a
point directly across the river from you?
Solution: No solution. Whatever the angle is, your upstream component of velocity
can be no greater than the total magnitude of your velocity: 4 ft/s. Thus you will nd
yourself going downstream at 1 ft/s or more.
Problem 1111. A train is going directly north at 70 mph. An action-movie star is atop
the train, running southward at 12 mph. Relative to someone standing on the ground,
how fast is the action-movie star moving, and in what direction?
Solution: Relative to someone on the ground, the AMS is moving northward at
70 12 = 58 mph.
330
9.1.4 Graphical interpretation of velocity and acceleration
Problem 1112. On the graph below, draw the velocity vectors at the points P
1
and P
2
on the curve. Assume the particle is moving with uniform speed from left to right.
`
x
y
r
P
1
r
P
2
`
Solution: Since the particle is moving with uniform speed, your vectors should
have the same length. Since its moving from left to right, they should have positive
x-componentsthat is, they should point up and to the left, not down and to the right.
Problem 1113. The graph at
right shows the top view of the
path of a particle moving along a
horizontal surface. The particle is
moving from the lower left to the
upper right. Which of the labelled
vectors is the velocity vector at
point P?
(a)

A *(b)

B
(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
`
x
y
s
P
C
Solution: The velocity vector is tangent to the curve in the direction of motion.
331
Problem 1114. The graph at
right shows the path of a particle
moving from the lower left to the
upper right. Which of the labelled
vectors is the acceleration vector
at point P?
(a)

A (b)

B
*(c)

C (d)

D
(e) None of these
Solution: The acceleration
vector always points into the turn
(on the concave side of the curve).
`
x
y
s
P
C
332
9.2 Uniform circular motion
Acceleration in uniform circular motion:
a
rad
=
v
2
r
,
where v is the tangential speed of the object and r is the radius.
Speed in uniform circular motion:
v = v =
circumference of circle
total time
=
2r
T
period
= 2 r f ,
where the frequency f is dened as f
1
T
period
.
Problem 1115. A freeway on-ramp has a curve with a radius of 59 m. You attempt
to drive around the curve at 16 m/s. What is the centripetal acceleration on your car?
Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s
2
.
*(a) 4.3 m/s
2
(b) 4.8 m/s
2
(c) 5.3 m/s
2
(d) 5.8 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: a =
v
2
r
=
(16 m/s)
2
59 m
= 4.3 m/s
2
Problem 1116. A ceiling fan has blades 81 cm long. A spider is clinging to the tip of
one of the blades, which are turning so that the spider moves at 10.2 m/s. What is the
spiders radial acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest m/s
2
.
(a) 105 m/s
2
(b) 117 m/s
2
*(c) 128 m/s
2
(d) 143 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Dont forget to convert 81 cm to 0.81 m.
a =
v
2
r
=
(10.2 m/s)
2
0.81 m
= 128 m/s
2
333
Problem 1117. A toddlers parents have placed him on a merry-go-round, 2.7 m from
the center. If the toddler experiences a radial acceleration greater than 1.2 m/s
2
, it will
fall o, prompting the angry parents to sue the merry-go-round operator. How fast can
the operator allow the toddler to go without fear of legal action? Round your answer to
the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 1.5 m/s (b) 1.6 m/s
*(c) 1.8 m/s (d) 2.0 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know r and a; we want to know v.
a =
v
2
r
v =
ar =
_
(1.2 m/s
2
)(2.7 m) = 1.8 m/s
Problem 1118. A curve in a highway has a radius of 93 m. A truck will roll over if
it experiences a centripetal acceleration greater than 1.9 m/s
2
. How fast can the truck
drive around the curve? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 11 m/s (b) 12 m/s
*(c) 13 m/s (d) 15 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know a and r; we want to know v.
a =
v
2
r
v =
ar =
_
(1.9 m/s
2
)(93 m) = 13 m/s
Problem 1119. You are designing a highway that will include a curve. Cars will skid
o the curve if they experience a centripetal acceleration greater than 2.2 m/s
2
. You
want cars to be able to drive the curve safely at 20 m/s. What must the radius of the
curve be? Round your answer to the nearest 10 m.
*(a) 180 m (b) 200 m
(c) 220 m (d) 240 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know a and v; we want to know r.
a =
v
2
r
r =
v
2
a
=
(20 m/s)
2
2.2 m/s
2
= 180 m
334
Problem 1120. An airplane is moving at 330 m/s when the pilot realizes that he is
going in the wrong direction and needs to make a U-turn. If the pilot experiences a
radial acceleration greater than 49 m/s
2
, he will lose consciousness and crash the plane.
What is the minimum safe radius of the turn? Round your answer to the nearest 100 m.
(a) 1600 m (b) 1800 m
(c) 2000 m *(d) 2200 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know a and v; we want to know r.
a =
v
2
r
r =
v
2
a
=
(330 m/s)
2
49 m/s
2
= 2200 m
Problem 1121. A bug is standing atop the blade of a ceiling fan, which is turning at
1.7 revolutions per second. The bug will lose its grip on the fan and go sailing o into
the room if it experiences a radial acceleration greater than 91 m/s
2
. How far from the
center of the fan can the bug go without losing its hold? Round your answer to the
nearest centimeter.
(a) 58 cm (b) 65 cm
(c) 72 cm *(d) 80 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: We cant use our formula directly, since we know a but we dont know r
or v. However, there is a relationship between r and v, and we can substitute that into
our formula. If the bug is standing at a distance r from the center of the fan, then every
time the fan makes a complete revolution, the bug travels a distance of 2r. We know
that the fan is turning at a frequency of f = 1.7 revolutions/second. Hence the bugs
speed is v = 2rf. Now we can use the formula:
a =
v
2
r
=
4
2
r
2
f
2
r
= 4
2
rf
2
r =
a
4
2
f
2
=
91 m/s
2
4
2
(1.7 s
1
)
2
= 0.80 m = 80 cm
Problem 1122. A windmill has three blades, each 37 m long; the blades make a complete
circle every 5.2 s. A bug is clinging to the tip of one of the blades. How much radial
acceleration does the bug experience? Ignore the eect of gravity.
Solution: The radius of the circle traced by the bug is r = 37 m. The bug makes
a complete circle in t = 5.2 s. Hence the bugs speed is v = 2r/t. Its centripetal
acceleration is
a
c
=
v
2
r
=
4
2
r
2
rt
2
=
4
2
r
t
2
=
4
2
(37 m)
(5.2 s)
2
= 54 m/s
2
335
Problem 1123. A windmill has three blades, each 8.3 m long; the blades make a com-
plete circle every 4.1 s. A bug is clinging to the tip of one of the blades. How much radial
acceleration does the bug experience? Ignore the eect of gravity. Round your answer
to the nearest m/s
2
.
(a) 10 m/s
2
(b) 0.1 m/s
2
(c) 6 m/s
2
*(d) 19 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: The bug is moving in a circle with radius r = 8.3 m, going around it once
every T = 4.1 s. The circumference of the circle is 2r; so the bugs speed is v = 2r/T.
The centripetal acceleration is
a =
v
2
r
=
4
2
r
2
T
2
r
=
4
2
r
T
2
=
4
2
(8.3 m)
(4.1 s)
2
= 19 m/s
2
Problem 1124. A ceiling fan is turning at a rate of 1.8 revolutions per second. A spider
is clinging to the blade of the fan. If he experiences centripetal acceleration greater than
2.7 g, he will lose his grip on the blade and go sailing o. How far from the center of the
fan can the spider safely go? Give your answer in centimeters.
Solution: Since we want the answer in centimeters, we will convert: g = 980 cm/s
2
.
If the spider is at a distance r from the center of the fan, which is turning at f revolutions
per second, his speed is
v = 2rf
The centripetal acceleration is
a
c
=
v
2
r
=
4
2
r
2
f
2
r
= 4
2
rf
2
We know a
c
and f, and we want to nd r:
r =
a
c
4
2
f
2
=
(2.7)(980cm/s
2
)
4
2
(1.8/s)
2
= 21 cm
Problem 1125. A highway has a curve with radius of curvature 72 m. A truck will skid
o the highway if it experiences a radial acceleration of more than 2.0 m/s
2
. How fast
can the truck safely go on the curve?
Solution: The centripetal acceleration is
a
c
=
v
2
r
Solving this for v yields
v =
a
c
r =
_
(2.0 m/s
2
)(72 m) = 12 m/s
336
9.2.1 Similarity problems
For all vehicles-going-around-circular-curve problems: Although it is not obvious
at this point, the vehicles ability to stay on the road depends on the centripetal force
provided by the friction and the tires. It turns out that there is a maximum centripetal
force that the tires can supply to the road to keep the car from slidding. There is a
direct correlation between force and acceleration, so it follows that there is a maximum
centripetal acceleration for which the car can remain on the road. If this centripetal
acceleration is exceeded, then the car will begin to slid.
Problem 1126. (Similarity Problem) Two bugs are clinging to the second hand of
a very large clock: one 3 ft from the center of the clock, the other 6 ft from the center.
If the rst bug experiences a radial acceleration of a, what radial acceleration does the
second bug experience?
Solution: The centripetal acceleration of a body in circular motion is
a =
v
2
r
Be careful! Dont forget that the two bugs are moving at dierent speeds. Since the
second bug is twice as far from the center of the clock, he is moving twice as fast as the
rst bug. The second bugs centripetal acceleration is
(2v)
2
2r
=
2v
2
r
= 2a
Problem 1127. (Similarity Problem) A highway has a curve with radius r
1
. Large
trucks must drive the curve at a speed of v
1
or less to keep from skidding o the road.
What would the radius of the curve have to be in order for trucks to drive it safely at
v
1
, where > 0 is a real number?
(a)

r
1
*(b)
2
r
1
(c)
r
1
(d) r
1
(e) None of these
Solution: In the rst case we are given v
1
is the maximum speed of the truck on
a curve with radius r
1
. In the second case let v
2
be the maximum speed of the truck
on a curve with radius r
2
. We want to solve for r
2
in the case v
2
= v
1
. The equation
governing uniform circular motion is a
c
= v
2
/r. Since the centripetal acceleration must
be the same for both cases, we can relate the two cases to one another via the centripetal
acceleration a
c
as follows:
v
2
1
r
1
= a
c
=
v
2
2
r
2
r
2
= r
1
_
v
2
v
1
_
2
= r
1
_
v
1
v
1
_
2
=
2
r
1
337
Problem 1128. (Similarity Problem) A highway has a curve with a radius of r
1
.
Large trucks must drive the curve at a speed of v
1
or less to keep from skidding o the
road. If the highway were rebuilt so that the curve had twice radius, how fast could
trucks safely drive around the curve?
*(a)
2 v
1
(b) 2v
1
(c) 2
2 v
1
(d) 4v
1
(e) None of these
Solution: We are given: r
1
, v
1
, and r
2
= 2r
1
, and we want v
2
. Since the centripetal
acceleration a
c
must be the same for both situations the governing equation is already
in the standard similarity form: v
2
/r = a
c
. Equating the two situations through this
equation, and using the centripetal acceleration as the common link gives:
v
2
1
r
1
= a
c
=
v
2
2
r
2
r
2
v
2
2
= v
2
1
r
2
r
1
= 2v
2
1
v
2
=
2v
1
Problem 1129. (Similarity Problem) A highway has a curve with radius r
1
. Large
trucks must drive the curve at a speed of 20 mph or less to keep from skidding o the
road. What would the radius of the curve have to be in order for trucks to drive it safely
at 60 mph?
(a)
3 r
1
(b) 3r
1
(c) 3
3 r
1
*(d) 9r
1
(e) None of these
Solution: Let v
1
= 20 mph be the maximum speed of the truck on a curve with radius
r
1
. The governing equation is in standard similarity form v
2
/r = a
c
. The maximum
centripetal acceleration that a truck can experience without sliding o the road is a
c
=
v
2
1
/r
1
. Now we want to know how large r
2
must be for a truck going at a speed of
v
2
= 60 mph = 3v
1
to experience an acceleration of a
c
. Equating the two situations
through the common parameter in the governing equation yields
v
2
1
r
1
= a
c
=
v
2
2
r
2
ip eqn
r
1
v
2
1
=
r
2
v
2
2
v
2
2
r
2
= r
1
_
v
2
v
1
_
2
= 9r
1
Problem 1130. (Similarity Problem) A highway has a quarter-circle curve with a
radius of r. Large trucks must take the curve at a speed of 25 mph or less to avoid
skidding o the road. What would the radius of the curve have to be in order for trucks
to drive around it safely at 50 mph?
Solution: The centripetal acceleration of a body in circular motion is
a =
v
2
r
We want to double the value of v and change the value of the radius so that a remains
the same. Thus we need to increase the radius to 4r.
STOP
338
9.3 Projectile motion
If

A = A
x
+A
y
, then from the denition of the trig functions about the right triangle:
_
_
A =
_
_
_
A
_
_
_ =
_
A
2
x
+A
2
y
0
= tan
1
_
A
y
A
x
_
9.3.1 General equations for projectile motion
Let the initial time be t
0
= 0, the initial position be (x
0
, y
0
), and the initial velocity be
v
0
= v
0x
+ v
0y
. Typically we take the initial position to be (x
0
, y
0
) = (0, h), where h is
the height of the mechanism doing the launching.
The general equations governing motion in 2-D are the set of fundamental equations in
1-D repeated in each of the x and y directions. Substituting (x
0
, y
0
) = (0, h) into the
fundamental equations (1) and (3) in each coordinate direction, and taking a
x
= 0 (since
there is no force acting in the horizontal direction) yields
velocity x-component: v
x
= v
0x
(9.1a)
position x-component: x = v
0x
t (9.1b)
If we take our y-axis pointing upward, then a
y
= g and we have
velocity y-component: v
y
= v
0y
gt (9.2a)
position y-component: y = h +v
0y
t
1
2
gt
2
(9.2b)
If the initial velocity is given in terms of magnitude |v
0
| = v
0
, and direction
0
, as
measured in the counterclockwise direction from the x-axis, then we must convert this
information into information about the components of the vector in order to use the
above formulas.
_
v
0x
= v
0
cos
0
(x-component of initial velocity)
v
0y
= v
0
sin
0
(y-component of initial velocity)
339
9.3.2 Velocity and acceleration of a projectile
Problem 1131. The following four diagrams show the trajectory of a cannonball. Which
diagram correctly shows the acceleration vectors at three points along the trajectory?
`
x
y
(a)
r
r
r
`

0
`
x
y
(b)
r
r
r
`
`
`
x
y
(c)
r
r
r
`
`

`
x
y
*(d)
r
r
r
(e) None of these

Solution: At every point, the acceleration is 9.8 m/s
2
, directed straight down. Your
vectors should all be of the same length. The answer is (d).
Problem 1132. The following four diagrams show the trajectory of a cannonball. Which
diagram correctly shows the velocity vectors at three points along the trajectory?
`
x
y
(a)
r
r
r
`

0
`
x
y
*(b)
r
r
r
`
`
`
x
y
(c)
r
r
r
`
`

`
x
y
(d)
r
r
r
(e) None of these

Solution: Only gure (b) has vectors that are tangent to the curve.
340
Problem 1133. Draw the acceleration vector due to gravity at the points A, B, and C
along the curve of the trajectory of the cannonball.
`
x
y
r
A
r
B
r
C
Solution: At every point, the acceleration is 9.8 m/s

2
, directed straight down. Your
vectors should all be of the same length.
341
9.3.3 Special Case I: The Half-Parabola
Note: For the case of the half-parabola the initial height is the maximum height and
the ball is red horizontally. Setting h = y
max
> 0 and
0
= 0, which leads to v
0y
= 0
and v
0x
= v
0
, in the general equations reduces them to
x
= v
0
(9.3a)
0
t (9.3b)
y
= g and we have
y
= gt (9.4a)
position y-component: y = y
max
1
2
gt
2
(9.4b)
Note: For this case, it would also make sense to take the y-axis pointing downward.
Then the time to fall is just a one-dimensional problem. The time to fall, denoted by
t
fall
, is found from the fundamental equation 3, with the y-axis pointing downward so
that a
y
= g. Once again v
0y
= 0, so the equation becomes
y
max
=
1
2
gt
2
fall
t
fall
=
_
2y
max
g
.
Problem 1134. A skateboarder inadvertently rides o the edge of a at roof at 8.2 m/s.
The roof is 23 m high. How long does it take for the skateboarder to reach the ground?
(a) 1.8 s (b) 1.9 s
*(c) 2.2 s (d) 2.4 s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the skateboarder is riding o a at roof, we assume that his angle
of launch is
0
= 0. Hence there will be no vertical component of his initial velocity.
That means that the time it takes for him to reach the ground is the same as if he were
dropped from roof level:
t =
_
2y
g
=
_
2(23 m)
9.8 m/s
2
_
1/2
= 2.2 s
The skateboarders initial velocity has nothing to do with this problem.
342
Problem 1135. A bicyclist rides o a at roof at 13.4 m/s. The roof is 3.6 m above
the ground. How far from the edge of the building does the bicyclist land? Round your
*(a) 11 m (b) 12 m
(c) 14 m (d) 15 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the bicyclist is riding o a at roof, we assume that the elevation is
0
= 0. Then the vertical component of the initial velocity is v
0y
= 0, and the horizontal
component is v
0x
= v = 13.4 m/s. The horizontal velocity does not change, since theres
no horizontal acceleration. Hence the horizontal distance that the bicycle travels is the
initial horizontal velocity times the time it takes for the bicycle to fall to the ground:
x = v
0x
t = v
0x
_
2y
g
= (13.4 m/s)
_
2(3.6 m)
9.8 m/s
2
_
1/2
= 11 m
Problem 1136. You re your potato gun horizontally from shoulder height, which is
140 cm above the ground. The potato strikes the ground 15 m away from you. What
was the initial speed of the potato? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 25 m/s *(b) 28 m/s
(c) 31 m/s (d) 34 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since you red the potato gun horizontally, the angle of elevation is
0
= 0.
This means that there is no vertical component to the initial velocity. The potatos initial
velocity was all horizontal; and since theres no horizontal acceleration, the horizontal
velocity is constant. The time it takes for the potato to reach the ground is t =
_
2y/g,
where y = 1.4 m is the initial height. (Dont forget to convert 140 cm to 1.4 m.) During
this time, the potato travels a horizontal distance of x = 15 m. Hence the initial velocity
was
v
0
= v
0x
=
x
t
=
x
_
2y/g
=
_
g
2y
x =
9.8 m/s
2
2(1.4 m)
(15 m) = 28 m/s
343
Problem 1137. You re your potato gun horizontally from shoulder height, which is
150 cm above the ground. The potato strikes the ground 11 m away from you. What
was the initial speed of the potato? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
*(a) 20 m/s (b) 22 m/s
(c) 24 m/s (d) 26 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since you red the potato gun horizontally, the angle of elevation is
0
= 0.
This means that there is no vertical component to the initial velocity. The potatos initial
velocity was all horizontal; and since theres no horizontal acceleration, the horizontal
velocity is constant. The time it takes for the potato to reach the ground is t =
_
2y/g,
where y = 1.5 m is the initial height. (Dont forget to convert 150 cm to 1.5 m.) During
this time, the potato travels a horizontal distance of x = 11 m. Hence the initial velocity
was
v
0
= v
0x
=
x
max
t
fall
=
x
max
_
2y/g
=
_
g
2y
x
max
=
9.8 m/s
2
2(1.5 m)
(11 m) = 20 m/s
Problem 1138. Your potato gun has a muzzle velocity of 27 m/s. You shoot it horizon-
tally from a window 12 m above the ground. How far from the building does the potato
strike the ground? Round your answer to the nearest meter.
(a) 32 m *(b) 42 m
(c) 52 m (d) 62 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Since youre shooting the gun horizontally, the vertical component of the
initial velocity is v
0y
= 0, and the horizontal component is v
0x
= v = 27 m/s. The range
x
max
is the product of the horizontal velocity v
0x
and the time t
fall
that it takes for the
potato to reach ground level (i.e., x
max
= v
0x
t
fall
, where t
fall
is the time it takes the object
to fall from its initial position at y = y
0
to its nal position on the ground at y = 0). To
nd t
fall
, we use the formula y = y
0
+v
0y
t
1
2
gt
2
. We use y
0
= 12 m, y = 0, and t = t
fall
.
The formula simplies to: 0 = y
0
1
2
gt
2
fall
. Solving for t
fall
yields
t
fall
=
_
2y
0
g
Then the range is
x = v
0x
t
fall
= v
0x
_
2y
0
g
=
(27 m/s)
2 12 m
_
9.8 m/s
2
= 42 m
344
Problem 1139. Your potato gun has a muzzle velocity of 10 m/s. You shoot it horizon-
tally from a window 5 m above the ground. How far from the building does the potato
strike the ground? Approximate gravity as g = 10 m/s
2
. Round your answer to the
nearest meter.
*(a) 10 m (b) 12 m
(c) 14 m (d) 8 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Since youre shooting the gun horizontally, the vertical component of the
initial velocity is v
0y
= 0, and the horizontal component is v
0x
= v = 27 m/s. The range
x
max
is the product of the horizontal velocity v
0x
and the time t
fall
that it takes for the
potato to reach ground level (i.e., x
max
= v
0x
t
fall
, where t
fall
is the time it takes the object
to fall from its initial position at y = y
0
to its nal position on the ground at y = 0). To
nd t
fall
, we use the formula y = y
0
+v
0y
t
1
2
gt
2
. We use y
0
= 12 m, y = 0, and t = t
fall
.
The formula simplies to: 0 = y
0
1
2
gt
2
fall
. Solving for t
fall
yields
t
fall
=
_
2y
0
g
Then the range is
x = v
0x
t
fall
= v
0x
_
2y
0
g
= (10 m/s)
2 5 m
10 m/s
2
= 10 m
Problem 1140. (Similarity Problem) You shoot your potato gun horizontally from
shoulder height, which is 150 cm. The potato lands 25 m away from you. You would
like the potato to go 75 m, so you climb up a ladder and re the gun horizontally from
there. How high o the ground must the gun be?
Solution: This is a similarity problem. Since the gun is red horizontally, this is a
half-parabola case. Step 1 is always write down what youre given, what you want, and
any assumptions.
Step 1:
Given:
_
_
h
1
= 150 cm = 1.5 m (convert to meters right away)
x
max,1
= 25 m
x
max,2
= 75 m = 3 x
max,1
Notice that we must convert the height to meters (or acceleration to cm/s
2
).
Want: h
2
=? (initial velocity)
345
Assumptions: The potato gun always produces the same initial speed for every potato.
This is a big assumption that is probably not true.
Step 2: Determine the equation that governs the motion of the particle in both exper-
iments. Then determine which of the variables in the governing equation are held xed
for both experiments (we call these the common parameters) and which variables are
varied. Put all of the equations that vary on the left-hand side of the governing equation
(LHS) and all of the parameters that are held xed over the two experiments on the RHS
of the governing equation. Lastly, solve for the desired variable.
Governing equation: We need an equation that gives x
max
in terms of height. Weve
already derived such an equation from our fundamental equations:
x
max
= v
0
2h
g
Common parameters: v
0
, g, 2
Next, we rearrange the governing equation and put all of the parameters that are varied
over the experiments on the LHS of the governing equation and all of the parameters
that are held xed over the two experiments on the RHS of the governing equation.
x
max
= v
0
2h
g
x
max
h
= v
0
_
2
g
Now we equate the results from the two experiments through the common parameters:
x
max,1
h
1
= v
0
_
2
g
=
x
max,2
h
2
ip equation
h
1
x
max,1
=
h
2
x
max,2
( )
2
h
1
x
2
max,1
=
h
2
x
2
max,2
x
2
max,2
h
2
=
_
x
max,2
x
max,1
_
2
h
1
=
_
3x
max,1
x
max,1
_
2
h
1
= 3
2
h
1
Discussion: The range of a projectile red horizontally is proportional to the time that
it takes it to fall from its initial height to the ground. This time is proportional to the
square root of the initial height. Since you want your potatos range to be three times
346
greater, you must increase the fall time by a factor of 3; so you must increase the initial
height by a factor of 3
2
= 9. Therefore you must re the gun from a height of
9 3/2m = 27/2 m = 13.5m 41 ft.
You are going to need a very tall ladder. Try the local re department...
Problem 1141. A movie stuntman wants to ride a motorcycle o a at roof, sail across
a gap 24 m wide, and land on another roof 3.6 m below the rst one. How fast does he
need to be moving when he leaves the rst roof?
*(a) 28 m/s (b) 31 m/s
(c) 34 m/s (d) 37 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: The stuntman is going o a at roof, with no mention of a ramp; so we
assume that the elevation is
0
= 0. There is no vertical component of initial velocity,
and v
0
= v
0x
.
The time it takes for the motorcycle to fall y = 3.6 m is t =
_
2y/g. During this time,
the motorcycle needs to cover a horizontal distance of x = 24 m. Hence the initial
(horizontal) velocity must be
v =
x
t
=
x
_
2y/g
=
_
g
2y
x =
9.8 m/s
2
2(3.6 m)
(24 m) = 28 m/s
Problem 1142. While an unmanned rover is exploring the surface of Planet X, it goes
o the edge of a cli at 11.2 m/s. The cli is 3.1 m high; the rover strikes the ground
18.8 m from the base of the cli. What is the surface gravity of Planet X? Round your
answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s
2
.
*(a) 2.2 m/s
2
(b) 2.4 m/s
2
(c) 2.6 m/s
2
(d) 2.9 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Since no elevation is mentioned, we assume that
0
= 0 and thus that
v
0y
= 0 and v
0x
= v
0
. We can calculate the time of fall from the horizontal velocity and
the horizontal distance that the rover travels as it falls: t = x/v
0
. During this time t, the
rover falls a distance of y.
y =
1
2
g
X
t
2
g
X
=
2y
t
2
=
2y
(x/v
0
)
2
=
2yv
2
0
x
2
=
2(3.1 m)(11.2 m/s
2
)
(18.8 m)
2
= 2.2 m/s
2
347
Problem 1143. A ball rolls o the edge of a horizontal table 1.32 m high. It strikes
the oor at a point 4.45 m horizontally away from the edge of the table. What was the
balls speed at the moment that it left the tabletop? Round your answer to the nearest
0.1 m/s.
Solution: The balls initial velocity is horizontal; so if the tables height is H, then
the time it takes for the ball to fall to the ground is
t =
2H
g
During that time, it traverses a horizontal distance of X; so its horizontal speed is
v
0
=
X
t
=
X
2H
=
(4.45 m)
_
9.8 m/s
2
2 1.32 m
= 8.6 m/s
348
9.3.4 Special Case II: The Full Parabola
Note: For the case of the full-parabola the initial height is zero and the ball is red at
an angle of incline 0 <
0

2
. Setting h = 0 and
0
,= 0, which leads to v
0x
,= 0 (except
if
0
=

2
) and v
0y
,= 0, in the general equations reduces them to
x
= v
0x
(9.5a)
0x
t (9.5b)
y
= g and we have
y
= v
0y
gt (9.6a)
position y-component: y = v
0y
t
1
2
gt
2
(9.6b)
Problem 1144. Your Civil War musket has a muzzle velocity of 290 m/s. If you re it
at an elevation of 6.2
, what is the maximum height reached by the bullet? Round your

(a) 36 m (b) 41 m
(c) 45 m *(d) 50 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We have the initial velocity, elevation, and gravitational acceleration; we
want to know the maximum height. We have a formula for this:
y
max
=
1
2
v
2
0
g
sin
2
0
=
(290 m/s)
2
(sin 6.2
)
2
2(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 50 m
Problem 1145. A golfer hits a ball from ground level with an initial speed of 42 m/s
at an elevation of 19
. How far from the initial location does the ball hit the ground?
Round your answer to the nearest 10 m.
(a) 100 m *(b) 110 m
(c) 120 m (d) 130 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We have the initial velocity, the elevation, and the gravitational accelera-
tion. We want to know the range. We have a formula for this:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
sin(2
0
) =
(42 m/s)
2
sin(2 19
)
9.8 m/s
2
= 110 m
349
Problem 1146. A golfer hits a ball from ground level with an initial speed of 57 m/s
. How far from the initial location does the ball hit the ground?
Round your answer to the nearest 10 m.
*(a) 310 m (b) 340 m
(c) 370 m (d) 410 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We have the initial velocity, the elevation, and the gravitational accelera-
tion. We want to know the range. We have a formula for this:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
sin(2
0
) =
(57 m/s)
2
sin(2 34
)
9.8 m/s
2
= 310 m
Problem 1147. You re your potato gun from ground level at an angle of 36
above
the horizontal. The potato strikes the ground 47 m away from you. What was the initial
speed of the potato? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
*(a) 22 m/s (b) 24 m/s
(c) 26 m/s (d) 29 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the elevation, the gravitational acceleration, and the range; we
want to know the initial velocity. Use the formula for range:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
sin(2
0
) v
0
=
_
gx
max
sin(2
0
)
=
_
(9.8 m/s
2
)(47 m)
sin(2 36
)
_
1/2
= 22 m/s
Problem 1148. You are holding the neck of a champagne bottle at an elevation of 41
when you pop the cork. The highest point in the corks ight is 2.6 m above its initial
height. What was the corks initial speed? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 9 m/s (b) 10 m/s
*(c) 11 m/s (d) 12 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the elevation, the gravitational acceleration, and the maximum
height; we want to know the initial velocity. Use the formula for maximum height:
y
max
=
1
2
v
2
0
g
sin
2
0
v
0
=
2gy
max
sin
0
=
_
2(9.8 m/s
2
)(2.6 m)
sin 41
= 11 m/s
350
Problem 1149. You are holding the neck of a champagne bottle at an elevation of 34
when you pop the cork. The highest point in the corks ight is 1.9 m above its initial
height. What was the corks initial speed? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
(a) 10 m/s *(b) 11 m/s
(c) 12 m/s (d) 13 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the elevation, the gravitational acceleration, and the maximum
height; we want to know the initial velocity. Use the formula for maximum height:
y
max
=
1
2
v
2
0
g
sin
2
0
v
0
=
2gy
max
sin
0
=
_
2(9.8 m/s
2
)(1.9 m)
sin 34
= 11 m/s
Problem 1150. A motorcyclist would like to ride up a short ramp on a rooftop, y
across a gap between two buildings, and land on a second rooftop at the same height
as the rst. The ramp is inclined at 32
; the buildings are 18 m apart. How fast does

the motorcyclist have to be going when he makes the jump? Round your answer to the
nearest m/s.
(a) 13 m/s *(b) 14 m/s
(c) 15 m/s (d) 16 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the gravitational acceleration, the elevation, and the range; we
want to know the initial velocity. Use the formula for range:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
sin(2
0
) v
0
=
_
gx
max
sin(2
0
)
=
_
(9.8 m/s
2
)(18 m)
sin(2 32
)
_
1/2
= 14 m/s
Problem 1151. A crossbow res its arrow at 105 m/s. If the arrow is aimed at an
elevation of 12
above the horizontal, what is the horizontal distance that it will travel
before striking the ground? Round your answer to the nearest 10 m.
(a) 370 m (b) 410 m
*(c) 460 m (d) 500 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, the gravitational acceleration, and the eleva-
tion; we want to know the range. We have a formula for this:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
sin(2
0
) =
(105 m/s)
2
sin(2 12
)
9.8 m/s
2
= 460 m
351
Problem 1152. A Napoleon cannon has a muzzle velocity of 450 m/s. If the cannon is
red at an elevation of 5.1
, how much time elapses before the ball strikes the ground?
*(a) 8.2 s (b) 9.0 s
(c) 9.8 s (d) 10.6 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the elevation, initial velocity, and gravitational acceleration. We
want to know the ight time. We have a formula for this:
t
xmax
=
2v
0
sin
0
g
=
2(450 m/s) sin 5.1
9.8 m/s
2
= 8.2 s
Problem 1153. Space pirates have kidnapped you from your physics lab and are holding
you for ransom on another planet. Luckily, they have overlooked your cell phone and
your spring cannon. The spring cannon has a muzzle velocity of 8.6 m/s; when you re
it at an elevation of 45
, the ball strikes the ground 41 m away. (The pirates are keeping
you in a rather large room.) What is the surface gravity of the planet on which youre
being held? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s
2
.
(a) 1.6 m/s
2
*(b) 1.8 m/s
2
(c) 2.0 m/s
2
(d) 2.2 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, elevation, and range; we want to know the
gravitational acceleration, which well call g
X
. Use the formula for range:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
X
sin(2
0
) g
X
=
v
2
0
x
max
sin(2
0
) =
(8.6 m/s)
2
sin(2 45
)
41 m
= 1.8 m/s
2
Problem 1154. Your potato gun has a muzzle velocity of 23 m/s. You want to shoot
a potato and have it strike the ground 3.5 seconds later. At what elevation do you have
to re the gun? Round your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 43
*(b) 48
(c) 53
(d) 58
(e) None of these

Solution: We know the initial velocity, the gravitational acceleration, and the time
of ight. We want to know the angle of elevation. Use the formula for ight time:
t
xmax
=
2v
0
sin
0
g
sin
0
=
gt
xmax
2v
0

0
= sin
1
_
gt
xmax
2v
0
_
= sin
1
_
(9.8 m/s
2
)(3.5 s)
2(23 m/s)
_
= 48
352
Problem 1155. You have designed a tennis-ball cannon with a muzzle velocity of 62
m/s. You want to land a tennis ball in a swimming pool 210 m away. At what angle to
the horizontal do you need to aim the gun? Round your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 11
(b) 13
(c) 15
*(d) 16
(e) None of these

Solution: We know the initial velocity, the gravitational acceleration, and the range.
We want the angle of elevation. Use the formula for range:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
sin(2
0
) sin(2
0
) =
gx
max
v
2
0
2
0
= sin
1
_
gx
max
v
2
0
_

0
=
1
2
sin
1
_
gx
max
v
2
0
_
=
1
2
sin
1
_
(9.8 m/s
2
)(210 m)
(62 m/s)
2
_
= 16
Problem 1156. You have designed a tennis-ball cannon with a muzzle velocity of 62
m/s. You want to land a tennis ball in a swimming pool 210 m away. At what angle to
the horizontal do you need to aim the gun? Your answer should be less than /4 radians.
(a) 1.08 rad (b) 0.13 rad
(c) 0.97 rad (d) 0.28 rad
(e) None of these
Solution: The horizontal range of a projectile is the product of the ight time and the
horizontal component of velocity. The horizontal component of velocity is v
x
= v
0
cos .
For a projectile red from ground level, the ight time is t = 2v
0
sin /g. Then the
horizontal range is
x
max
=
2v
0
2
cos sin
g
We know x = 210 m, v
0
= 62 m/s, and g = 9.8 m/s
2
. We want to nd . The presence
of both sin and cos in the formula creates some diculty. Happily, we remember the
trigonometric identity:
sin(2) = 2 sin cos
Substituting this produces
x
max
=
v
0
2
sin(2)
g
Now we can solve for :
=
1
2
sin
1
_
gx
max
v
0
2
_
=
1
2
sin
1
_
(9.8 m/s
2
)(210 m)
(62 m/s)
2
_
= 0.28 rad
353
Problem 1157. A dietitian is standing at the edge of a cli. He throws a piece of cheese
upward and outward, so that it reaches a maximum height of 12 m above him, then falls
down into the canyon 65 m below him and 40 m from the edge of the cli. Between
the time he releases the cheese and the time that it strikes the bottom, where is the
acceleration at a minimum?
Solution: There is no maximum or minimum acceleration: during the entire time
that the cheese is in the air, it is experiencing acceleration of 9.8 m/s
2
downward. The
various numbers describing the trajectory are irrelevant to the problem.
Problem 1158. The surface gravity on Mars is 0.4 times the surface gravity on the
Earth. A golfer can hit a ball so that it strikes the ground 200 m from him on Earth. If
he hits the ball with the same speed and at the same angle on Mars, how far will it go?
Solution: The range of a projectile is the product of the horizontal velocity and
the time that it takes for the projectile to reach the ground. The horizontal velocity is
v
x
= v
0
cos . If the projectile is launched from ground level, the time is t = 2v
0
sin /a,
where a is the acceleration due to gravity. Hence the range is
x =
2v
0
2
a
cos sin
On Earth, a = g; on Mars, a = 0.4g. The values of v
0
and are the same on both
planets. Hence
g x
E
= 0.4g x
M
so x
M
=
x
E
0.4
=
200 m
0.4
= 500 m
354
Problem 1159. Your physics teacher is trying to get a planeload of prescription drugs
across the border. As an extra-credit project, he has assigned you and your lab partner
to shoot down the radar blimp. The blimp ies at a height of 10,000 ft. You re a
cannon at an angle of to the horizontal, and the maximum height attained by the shell
is 5000 ft. Your lab partner says that if you increase the angle to 2, the shell will go
high enough to hit the blimp. Is he correct? Why or why not?
Solution: Your lab partner is wrong. The obvious counterexample is: let = 90
.
Then 2 = 180
; but a shell red at 180
will never rise above ground level, so will reach

a maximum height of zero.
More generally, lets look at y
max
as a function of . The time from the initial release of
the projectile to its maximum height is the time that it takes for its vertical velocity to
reach zero:
t =
v
0
sin
g
The maximum height is the distance that a body travels in that time if its initial velocity
is v
0
sin and it experiences an acceleration of g:
y
max
= v
0
t sin
gt
2
2
= v
0
sin
_
v
0
sin
g
_
gv
0
2
sin
2
2g
2
=
v
0
2
sin
2
2g
Clearly, a simple relation like 2 2y
max
isnt going to hold.
Problem 1160. You are trying to put out a re 150 m away with a water cannon. The
manual informs you that if you aim the water cannon at an elevation of 23
above the
horizontal, it will have a range of 150 m. Unfortunately, there is a building between you
and the re, and at an elevation of 23
the water will hit it. Is there another angle of

elevation that you could use to get a range of 150 m? Give , or explain why it doesnt
exist.
Solution: A projectile launched from ground level at an elevation of will have the
same range as a similar projectile launched at an elevation of 90
. In this case, since

you cant use an elevation of 23
, an elevation of 90
23
= 67
should work (provided,

of course, that the obstructive building isnt too high).
355
Problem 1161. If a champagne bottle is held with its neck elevated 78
above the
horizontal, the popped cork will reach a maximum altitude of 4.8 m. Is there another
angle between 0
and 90
for which the cork will reach the same maximum altitude?
Give , or explain why it doesnt exist.
Solution: There is no such angle .
Lets calculate the maximum altitude y
max
as a function of . The time from the popping
of the cork to its reaching its maximum height is the time that it takes for its vertical
velocity to reach zero:
t =
v
0
sin
g
The maximum height is the distance that a body travels in that time if its initial velocity
is v
0
sin and it experiences an acceleration of g:
y
max
= v
0
t sin
gt
2
2
= v
0
sin
_
v
0
sin
g
_
gv
0
2
sin
2
2g
2
=
v
0
2
sin
2
2g
Between 0 and 90
, sin is a nonnegative and strictly increasing function of . That

means that within that range, there are no two values of that will produce the same
value of y
max
.
In conclusion, for projectile motion there are two values that will give the same distance,
but only one that will give the same height.
Problem 1162. The Paris Gun had a muzzle velocity of 1600 m/s. If the gun was red
above the horizontal, what was the maximum altitude reached by

the shell? Give your answer in kilometers.
Solution: The vertical component of the shells velocity as a function of time is
v
y
= v
0
sin gt. The shell reaches its maximum altitude when the vertical component
of velocity is zero; so at time t = v
0
sin /g. The maximum altitude is the vertical distance
travelled in that time t by a projectile with initial vertical speed v
0
sin , subjected to an
acceleration of g:
y
max
= v
0
t sin
gt
2
2
= v
0
sin
_
v
0
sin
g
_
gv
0
2
sin
2
2g
2
=
v
0
2
sin
2
2g
Substituting our values for v
0
, , and g, we get:
y
max
=
(1600 m/s)
2
sin
2
45
2(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 65, 000 m = 65 km
356
Problem 1163. A crossbow res its arrow at 345 ft/s. If the arrow is aimed at an
elevation of 12
above the horizontal, what is the horizontal distance that it will travel
before striking the ground?
Solution: The horizontal range of a projectile is the product of the horizontal
component of velocity and the time that the projectile is in the air. If the projectile
is red from ground level with a velocity of v
0
and an elevation of , the time in the air is
2v
0
sin /g. The horizontal component of velocity is v
x
= v
0
cos . Hence the horizontal
range is
x =
2v
0
2
g
sin cos =
2(345 ft/s)
2
32 ft/s
2
sin 12
cos 12
= 1500 ft
Problem 1164. Barbora

Spotakov a won a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics by throwing
a javelin 71.42 m. Assuming that

Spotakov a threw the javelin at an angle of /4 radians
to the horizontal, what was its speed when initially thrown?
Solution: The horizontal range of a projectile is the product of the horizontal
component of velocity and the time that the projectile is in the air. If the projectile
is red from ground level with a velocity of v
0
and an elevation of , the time in the air is
2v
0
sin /g. The horizontal component of velocity is v
x
= v
0
cos . Hence the horizontal
range is
x =
2v
0
2
g
sin cos
We know x, , and g. Solving for v
0
, we get
v
0
=
_
gx
2 sin cos
_
1/2
=
_
(9.8 m/s
2
)(71.42 m)
2 sin

4
cos

4
_
1/2
= 26 m/s
Problem 1165. The Napoleon cannon of the Civil War had a muzzle velocity of 1485
ft/s. If the cannon was red at an elevation of 5.0
above the horizontal, how much time

would elapse between the ring and the balls striking the ground?
Solution: If a projectile is red from ground level with initial velocity v
0
and elevation
, its ight time is
2v
0
sin
g
=
2(1485 ft/s) sin 5
32 ft/s
2
= 8.1 s
357
Problem 1166. Using surgical tubing and ingenuity, you have constructed a water-
balloon launcher in a window 22 m above the ground. Your device launches a water
balloon at a speed of 19 m/s, and at an elevation of 0.25 radians above the horizontal.
At what horizontal distance from the building will the water balloon strike the ground?
Solution: The horizontal range is the product of the ight time and the horizontal
velocity. The horizontal velocity is v
x
= v
0
cos . The ight time is the time that it takes
for the projectile to reach the ground. The projectiles height above ground level is:
y = y
0
+v
0
t sin
gt
2
2
We need to nd t for which y = 0. Using the quadratic formula yields
t =
v
0
sin
_
(v
0
sin )
2
+ 4(g/2)y
0
2(g/2)
=
v
0
sin
_
v
0
2
sin
2
+ 2gy
0
g
=
(19 m/s)(sin 0.25 rad)
_
(19 m/s)
2
(sin 0.25 rad)
2
+ 2(9.8 m/s
2
)(22 m)
9.8 m/s
2
We want to use the positive value, which is about 2.65 s. (You should not use this
rounded value in subsequent calculations; we present it only because its a good idea to
check intermediate results and make sure they seem reasonable.) The range is
x = v
x
t = v
0
t cos = (19 m/s)(cos 0.25 rad)t = 49 m
358
Problem 1167. A bicyclist unfamiliar with the terrain is riding along a level sidewalk
when he goes over the edge of a staircase. He hits the staircase 3.7 m below the edge,
and 3.7 m horizontally from the edge. How fast was he going when he went over the
edge?
Solution: We will use the bicyclists vertical travel to calculate his ight time; and
his ight time and horizontal travel to calculate his initial horizontal speed.
We take the height of the sidewalk as y
0
= 0. We want to know how long it takes for the
bicyclist to reach a height of y = 3.7 m. Since his initial velocity was horizontal, his
height as a function of time is
y =
gt
2
2
Solving for t:
t =
_
2y
g
=
2(3.7 m)
9.8 m/s
2
= 0.87 s
During this time, the bicyclist travels a horizontal distance of x = 3.7 m. Thus his
horizontal velocity is
v
x
=
x
t
=
x
2y
=
(3.7 m)
_
9.8 m/s
2
2 3.7 m
= 4.3 m/s
Problem 1168. You re a cannon at an angle of to the horizontal, with a muzzle
velocity of v
0
. The ball lands at a horizontal distance of x from the cannon. For your
second shot, you increase the powder charge in the cannon so that the muzzle velocity
will be 2v
0
. How far from the cannon will the ball land?
Solution: The range of a projectile is the product of the horizontal velocity and
the time that it takes for the projectile to reach the ground. The horizontal velocity
is v
x
= v
0
cos . If the projectile is red from ground level, the time is t = 2v
0
sin /g.
Hence the range is
x =
2v
0
2
g
cos sin
If we increase the muzzle velocity v
0
by a factor of 2, we increase the range by a factor
of 2
2
= 4; so the new range is 4x.
359
9.4 Lab application problems: Two-Dimensional Kinematics
This is a mixture of problem types based on actual equipment found in instructional
physic labs everywhere.
9.4.1 Spring-cannon apparatus
Problem 1169. (Lab Problem
a
) You re a spring cannon horizontally from a xed
height h
cannon
= y
max
. It strikes the ground at a distance x
max
from the base of the
mouth of the muzzle. Find a formula for the balls initial velocity as a function of the
initial height y
max
and range x
max
. The initial velocity is taken to be the velocity of the
ball as it leaves the mouth of the cannon.
(a) x
max
2gy
max
(b) x
max
_
2y
max
g
(c) x
max
_
2g
y
max
*(d) x
max
_
g
2y
max
(e) None of these
a
This is a common technique for determining initial velocity, based on measured lengths rather than
on measured time. It is good for estimating the initial velocity when the spring cannon is shot at small
to moderate angles of incidence (
0
45
).
Solution: Since the ball is red horizontally, v
0x
= v
0
. Using fundamental kinematic
equation (1) in the x-direction we have x
max
= v
0
t
fall
, where t
fall
=
_
2y
max
g
is the time
for the ball to fall a distance y
max
. Thus,
x
max
= v
0
t
fall
t
fall
v
0
=
x
max
t
fall
= x
max
_
g
2y
max
360
Problem 1170. (Lab Similarity Problem) You re a spring cannon horizontally from
a xed height. The initial velocity of the ball is v
0,1
; it strikes the ground at a distance
x
max,1
from the base of the mouth of the muzzle. If you want the ball to travel twice the
horizontal distance, what must the initial velocity be?
(a)
2 v
0,1
*(b) 2v
0,1
(c) 2
2 v
0,1
(d) 4v
0,1
(e) None of these
Solution: If a projectile is red horizontally, the horizontal range is the initial velocity
times the time that it takes for the projectile to fall to the ground: x
max
= v
0
t
fall
. Since
the cannon is red horizontally, the fall time is the same as if we dropped the ball straight
down from rest from the height of the cannon h
cannon
. The fall time is then
t
fall
=
2h
cannon
g
v
0
x
max
= v
0
2h
cannon
g
.
This is our governing equation. Since g and h
cannon
are the same in both situations (i.e.,
these are our common parameters) we re-arrange the governing equation as
t
fall
=
2h
cannon
g
v
0
x
max
v
0
=
2h
cannon
g
.
Using the standard form of the governing equation to equate the two situations through
the common parameters gives
x
max,1
v
0,1
=
2h
cannon
g
=
x
max,2
v
0,2
v
0,2
=
x
max,2
x
max,1
v
0,1
= 2v
0,1
.
361
Problem 1171. (Lab Similarity Problem) If you re a spring cannon horizontally
from a height of h
cannon,1
, the ball travels a horizontal distance of x
max,1
before hitting the
oor. How high must the spring cannon be to get the ball to travel twice the horizontal
distance before hitting the ground?
(a)
2 h
cannon,1
(b) 2h
cannon,1
(c) 2
2 h
cannon,1
*(d) 4h
cannon,1
(e) None of these
Solution: If a projectile is launched horizontally, the horizontal distance that it
travels is the initial velocity times the time that it takes for it to fall to the ground:
x
max
= v
0
t
fall
= v
0
_
2h
cannon
/g. This is our governing equation. Re-arranging the terms
to put the common factors on the right and the parameters that are situation dependent
on the left gives:
x
max
= v
0
2h
cannon
g
hcannon
x
max
h
cannon
= v
0
_
2
g
( )
2
x
2
max
h
cannon
=
2v
2
0
g
.
The last step is to use the governing equation in the similarity standard form to determine
the relationship between the heights of the two similar problems:
x
2
max,1
h
cannon,1
=
2v
2
0
g
=
x
2
max,2
h
cannon,2
ip equation
h
cannon,1
x
2
max,1
=
h
cannon,2
x
2
max,2
x
2
max,2
h
cannon,2
=
_
x
max,2
x
max,1
_
2
h
cannon,1
= 4 h
cannon,1
Problem 1172. (Lab Problem) You re a spring cannon from ground level at an
elevation of 23
. The ball emerges from the cannon at a speed of 14.2 m/s. How long
does it take before the ball strikes the ground? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 s.
(a) 1.0 s *(b) 1.1 s
(c) 1.2 s (d) 1.4 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial velocity, the elevation, and the surface gravity; we
want to know the ight time. We have a formula for this:
t
xmax
=
2v
0
sin
0
g
=
2(14.2 m/s) sin 23
9.8 m/s
2
= 1.1 s
362
Problem 1173. (Lab Problem) A high-powered spring cannon discharges its ball at
16.6 m/s. If the cannon is red at an elevation of 77
, what is the maximum height

reached by the ball? Round your answer to the nearest meter.
(a) 12 m *(b) 13 m
(c) 15 m (d) 16 m
(e) None of these
Solution: We have the initial velocity, elevation, and gravitational acceleration; we
want to know the maximum height. We have a formula for this:
y
max
=
1
2
v
2
0
g
sin
2
0
=
(16.6 m/s)
2
(sin 77
)
2
2(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 13 m
Problem 1174. (Lab Problem) In your physics lab, you are using a new high-powered
spring cannon with a muzzle velocity of 19 m/s. The ceiling of the lab is 2.8 m above the
level of the cannon. What is the maximum elevation at which you can re the cannon
without hitting the ceiling? Round your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 16
(b) 18
(c) 21
*(d) 23
(e) None of these

Solution: We know the initial velocity, the maximum height, and the gravitational
acceleration. We want to know the angle of elevation. Use the formula for maximum
height:
y
max
=
1
2
v
2
0
g
sin
2
0
sin
2
0
=
2gy
max
v
2
0
sin
0
=
2gy
max
v
0

0
= sin
1
_
2gy
max
v
0
_
= sin
1
_
_
_
2(9.8 m/a
2
)(2.8 m)
19 m/s
_
_
= 23
363
Problem 1175. (Lab Similarity Problem) You re a spring cannon at a xed eleva-
tion
0
,= 0. The spring cannon uses a compressed spring to launch the ball. The cannon
has three settings with the rst being the lowest and the third being the strongest. Using
the rst setting (one click) you nd that the ball emerges from the muzzle with a speed
of v
0,1
; it strikes the ground at a distance x
max,1
from the cannon. You then increase the
energy stored in the spring by using the second setting (two clicks). The muzzle velocity
of the ball is now measured to be v
0,2
= v
0,1
, where is a positive constant. What is
the new range of the ball?
(a)

x
max,1
(b) x
max,1
(c)
x
max,1
*(d)
2
x
max,1
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the formula (the governing equation) for range:
x
max
=
v
2
0
g
sin(2
0
)
v
2
0
x
max
v
2
0
=
sin(2
0
)
g
(the common factors) ,
where weve re-arranged the governing equation to be in the standard form for a similarity
equation with the common factors on the right-hand side and the situation-dependent
variables on the left-hand side. If we increase the initial velocity from v
0,1
to v
0,2
= v
0,,1
,
we get
x
max,2
v
2
0,2
=
sin(2
0
)
g
=
x
max,1
v
2
0,1
v
2
0,2
x
max,2
=
_
v
0,2
v
0,1
_
2
x
max,1
=
2
x
max,1
An alternative approach is to make a direct substitution for v
0,2
in terms of v
0,1
in the
original equation:
x
max,2
=
(V )
2
g
sin(2
0
) =
2
_
V
2
g
sin(2
0
)
_
=
2
x
max,1
Thus, if we double the initial speed we quadruple the distance traveled by the ball.
Actually, in the real world the faster the ball travels, the larger the air drag.
364
Problem 1176. (Lab Similarity Problem) You re a spring cannon at a xed eleva-
tion
0
,= 0. The ball emerges from the muzzle with a speed of v
0,1
; it reaches a maximum
height of y
max
. You would like to increase the muzzle velocity so that the ball can double
its height. What must the new muzzle velocity be?
*(a)
2 v
0,1
(b) 2 v
0,1
(c) 2
2 v
0,1
(d) 4 v
0,1
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the formula for maximum height as the governing equation for the two
situations.
y
max
=
1
2
v
2
0
g
sin
2
0
v
2
0
y
max
v
2
0
=
sin
2
0
2g
(common factors)
We want to nd v
0,2
such that the maximum height is y
max,2
= 2y
max,1
.
y
max,2
v
2
0,2
=
sin
2
0
2g
=
y
max,1
v
2
0,1
ip equation
v
2
0,2
y
max,2
=
v
2
0,1
y
max,1
y
max,2
v
2
0,2
=
_
y
max,2
y
max,1
_
v
2
0,1
v
0,2
= v
0,1
_
y
max,2
y
max,1
=
2 v
0,1
Problem 1177. (Derive Problem) A ball rolls o the edge of a horizontal table of
height H. It strikes the oor at a horizontal distance X away from the edge of the table.
What was the balls speed at the moment that it left the tabletop? Derive a formula
that involves the given data: H and X.
Solution: The balls initial velocity is horizontal; so if the tables height is H, then
the time it takes for the ball to fall to the ground is
t
fall
=
2H
g
During that time, it traverses a horizontal distance of X; so its horizontal speed is
v
0
=
X
t
fall
= X
_
g
2H
Problem 1178. (Derive Problem) A child whirls a stone in a horizontal circle at a
height of H above the ground, on the end of a string with length L. The string breaks
and the stone ies o horizontally, striking the ground at a horizontal distance of X from
where it was when the string broke. What was the centripetal acceleration of the stone
before the string broke? Your answer should be a formula of the form a
c
= a
c
(H, L, X, g),
365
where g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Solution: To nd the centripetal acceleration, we need to know the speed v of the
stone while it was circling. If we knew the time t that it took for the stone to cover the
horizontal distance X, we could calculate: v = X/t. We are not given t, but we know
that its how long it takes for the stone to fall to the ground from an initial height of H.
Thus were going to proceed in three steps: use H and g to determine t; use X and t to
determine v; and use v and L to determine the centripetal acceleration a
c
.
The time t is:
t =
2H
g
The speed v is:
v =
X
t
=
X
2H
The centripetal acceleration a
c
is:
a
c
=
v
2
L
=
X
2
g
2HL
Problem 1179. (Lab Derive Problem) A ball is red horizontally out of a spring
cannon with an initial velocity of v
0
; the cannon is a height h above the ground. The ball
strikes the ground at a horizontal distance x
max
from the muzzle of the cannon. Find v
0
as a function of h
cannon
, x
max
, and g.
Note: The purpose of this problem is to nd the initial velocity of the ball as it leaves
the muzzle of the spring cannon. Using this initial velocity one can then point the cannon
in any direction and predict the maximum height and the range of the projectile.
Solution: Since the cannon is red horizontally, the initial vertical velocity of the
ball is zero; and were assuming that the horizontal component of the velocity remains
v
0
for the entire ight. We will use h
cannon
and g to determine the ight time (the time
it takes the object to fall a distance h
cannon
) t
fall
; then use t
fall
and x
max
to determine v
0
.
The time it takes for the ball to fall from a height of h
cannon
to the ground is
t
fall
=
2h
cannon
g
The horizontal component of the balls velocity is
v
0
=
x
max
t
fall
= x
max
_
g
2h
cannon
366
9.5 Advanced-Level Problems (Kinematics)
General algorithm for physics derivation problems
Step 1: (Setup) Write down what you are given, what you want, and list any assumptions
that you need to make to solve the problem: for example, the pulley and string are
massless, the surface is frictionless, etc. Draw any relevant pictures and label
them appropriately.
Step 2: Starting from the general equations for projectile motion written on the formula
sheet, substitute the values for the initial position, velocity, etc. That is, nd the
set of equations that are particular to this problem.
Step 3: Solve the resulting equations.
Derive problems will be graded out of 10 points. The setup step is worth between 3 and
4 points. The point breakdown for the setup is given below.
Given: (1 point) Write down what you are given.
Want: (1 point) Write down what you want (what youre solving for).
Assumptions: (1 point) Write down any assumptions and key physical laws/equations that you
are going to use. Notice that I am including writing down the relevant equations
and physical laws in this step.
Here are some examples:
(1.) Assume the surface is made of ice that can be treated as a frictionless surface.
You should include this even if it is in the problem statement because it is a good
habit to get into. Such an assumption of frictionless in a real problem could lead
to dubious results.
(2.) Use fundamental equation 2 and Newtons second law.
Picture: (1 point) Draw a picture, if one is not drawn for you. If you are resolving forces on
a system, then draw a free-body diagram for each object in the system that youre
analyzing, based on the picture. This should include a coordinate system for each
object.. (If a picture has been provided for you, then you will not receive credit for
this step).
How the rest of the problem is graded is too problem specic to provided an explicit
algorithm. Here is a general guide line:
Use the free-body diagram/diagrams to determine the net force acting on each
object in the system, in each component direction.
Apply the correct physical law/laws and solve the problem. This is the hard part!
367
Problem 1180. (Lab Derive Problem) Consider the situation shown in the gure 3
below. Take the mouth of the cannon to be at the point (x
0
, y
0
) = (0, h). Assume that
you know the speed v
0
and direction of the initial velocity v
0
= v
0
cos , sin ). Derive
a formula for the vertex of the trajectory (x
ymax
, y
max
) and the range point (x
max
, 0) in
terms of the given information.
Note: The purpose of this problem is to nd the vertex and the range of a projectile.
Figure 3: Spring cannon
Solution: See the le chapter4-projectile-motion-general-case under the physics lec-
ture notes webpage.
368
Problem 1181. In one of your physics labs you are given the challenge of shooting a ball
from a spring cannon into a bucket. Your job is to gure out where to place the center
of the bucket in order to launch the ball into the bucket! Also, you are only allowed one
attempt to put the ball in the bucket.
You are given the following information (see gure 5):
The ball is released from the mouth of the cannon and is located at the initial
position (x
0
, y
0
) = (0, H
cannon
).
The bucket stands H
bucket
units above the table with the center of the bucket located
x
max
units in the horizontal direction from the mouth of the cannon. Also, as the
picture suggests, H
bucket
< H
cannon
.
The mouth of the bucket is just large enough to allow the ball to be captured in
the bucket provided that the ball lands close enough to the point (x
max
, H
bucket
).
The initial speed v
0
= |v
0
| and direction
0
that the ball leaves the mouth of the
spring cannon.
Figure 4: Spring cannon and bucket
369
Problem 1182. (Lab Derive Problem [Put the ball in the bucket])
In one of your physics labs you are given the challenge of shooting a ball from a spring
cannon into a bucket. Specically, you need to work out the angle the cannon should be
aimed in order to launch the ball into the bucket! You are only allowed one attempt to
put the ball in the bucket and you cannot move the bucket. You are also told that the
cannon has plenty enough power to launch the ball into the bucket.
You are given the following information (see gure 5):
The bucket stands H
bucket
units above the table with the center of the bucket located
x
max
units in the horizontal direction from the mouth of the cannon.
The mouth of the bucket is just large enough to allow the ball to be captured in
the bucket provided that the ball lands close enough to the point (x
max
, H
bucket
).
You are instructed to take the mouth of the cannon to be at the point (x
0
, y
0
) =
(0, H
cannon
). By using a swivel mount at the mouth of the cannon, the device is
designed in such a way as to keep the height of the ball the same regardless of the
direction that the cannon is aimed. Thus H
cannon
is independent of .
The initial speed v
0
= |v
0
| that the ball leaves the cannon.
Derive a formula for in terms of the given information.
Figure 5: Spring cannon and bucket
Solution: This is identical to the problem solved in class except that we must reduce
the height of the cannon by the height of the bucket. Let h = H
cannon
H
bucket
> 0.
370
Problem 1183. (Lab Derive Problem [Put the ball in the moving bucket])
The Idea: In one of your physics labs you are given the challenge of shooting a ball from
a spring cannon into a bucket mounted on top of a glider moving at a constant velocity
along an air track that is aligned in the direction of the cannon.
The Apparatus: A horizontal air track is sitting atop a table. The track passes under
a spring cannon that is attached to a mount that holds the cannon directly above the air
track. From a top view the cannon is aimed along the track in the direction of motion
of the glider. From a side view, the cannon makes an angle 0
0
/2 with respect
to the horizontal air track (see gure 6 below).
A bucket sits atop a glider moving down the air track at constant speed V
glider
. When
the bucket passes directly below the the cannon, the cannon is red and the ball emerges
at the muzzle of the cannon with a velocity of V
0
. The apparatus is designed so that the
center of mass of the ball, denoted by x, is directly over the center of the bucket x
center
as the ball leaves the muzzle. Take this time to be the initial time t
0
= 0 and take the
location along the air track to be x
0
= 0.
Figure 6: Side view of the spring cannon ring ball into a bucket mounted on top of a
glider
The Setup: You are given the following information
You are instructed to take the mouth of the cannon to be at the point (x
0
, y
0
) =
(0, H
cannon
). By using a swivel mount at the mouth of the cannon, the device is
designed in such a way as to keep the height of the ball the same regardless of the
direction
0
that the cannon is aimed. Thus H
cannon
is independent of
0
.
371
The bucket stands H
bucket
units above the table with the center of the bucket
located a distance x
center
= V
glider
t from the mouth of the cannon in the horizontal
direction along the track. Thus the ordinates of the center of the bucket, the target,
are (x
center
, H
bucket
).
The mouth of the bucket is large enough to oset the small eects of air drag so that
the ball can be captured in the bucket provided that the ball lands close enough to
the point (x
center
, H
bucket
).
Assume H
bucket
< H
cannon
.
The initial speed of the ball as it leaves the mouth of the cannon is |v
0
| = V
0
> 0.
Assume that you know the speed of the glider V
glider
and the initial speed of the
ball as it leaves the mouth of the cannon V
0
.
The Questions:
(a) Starting from the general equations for projectile motion with x
0
= 0:
_
x(t) = v
0x
t (the balls x-component:)
y(t) = h +v
0y
t
1
2
gt
2
(the balls y-component:)
substitute the values for the initial position (0, h), velocity v
0
= V
0
cos(
0
), sin(
0
)), etc.
That is, nd the set of equations that are particular to this problem.
(b) Taking the initial speed of the ball as leaves the mouth of the cannon V
0
to be known
from a previous experiment, what is the range of speeds for the glider V
glider
> 0 for
which there is a solution. That is, for what range of speeds will the ball land in the
bucket, provided it is aimed properly.
(c) In order for the ball to land in the bucket, what must the cannons angle of elevation
0
be?
(d) At what horizontal distance x
max
from the mouth of the cannon will the ball land in
the bucket?
Potential future problem: What would happen if the air track were not level?
372
Part IV
Newtons Laws
373
10 Introduction to Newtons Laws
10.1 Concept questions involving Newtons three laws
Problem 1184. (Derived quantities) Determine the expression for the unit of force
(the Newton N) in terms of the fundamental dimensions mass, length, and time from the
equation expressing Newtons 2
nd
Law F = ma.
Solution: Using our take-the-dimensions-of-the-quantity operator [ ] on the equation
gives
[F] = [ma] = M
L
T
2
= kg
m
s
2
1 Newton = kg
m
s
2
Problem 1185. An object is subjected to a nonzero constant net force

F. Which of
the following properties of the object will be constant?
(a) Position (b) Speed
(c) Velocity *(d) Acceleration
(e) None of these
Problem 1186. (Similarity Problem) Consider the following two experiments. In
the rst experiment you push a block along a level surface at a constant velocity V .
To overcome the friction between the block and the surface, you must apply a constant
horizontal force F
push,1
. In the second experiment you push the block at a constant speed
2V across the same surface. Assuming that the friction is the same as it was the rst
experiment, which of the following choices best describes the new push force F
push,2
in
terms of the rst push force?
*(a)A constant force F
push,1
(b) A constant force 2F
push,1
(c) A force that increases from F
push,1
to 2F
push,1
(d) A force of zero, since the block does not accelerate.
Solution: For the block to move at constant speed, by Newtons 1
st
law the net
force on it must be zero. Doing a force balance in the horizontal direction we nd:
0 = F
net
= F
push,1
f F
push,1
= f, where f is the frictional force. Thus when
the block is moving at speed V , the pushing force F
push,1
is equal to the frictional force.
When the table is moving at 2V , the frictional force is the same; so the pushing force
must again be F
push,1
. This is a subtle problem because students generally choose (b).
The key to understanding this problem is to realize that that the force that it takes to
move the block at a constant speed is dierent that the force it takes to accelerate it
from rest to a certain speed. Also the time that it would take. These other issues have
to do with the concepts of work and power, concepts that we have not yet discussed.
374
Problem 1187. You are standing on a spring scale in an elevator that is moving at a
constant speed V . Before the elevator started moving, the scale registered your weight
as W. It now registers a weight of W
app
. What is the relationship between W
app
and W?
(a) W
app
< W
*(b) W
app
= W
(c) W
app
> W
(d) Not enough information; it depends on the direction of

V .
Solution: The elevator is moving at constant speed, so its not accelerating upward
or downward. Your apparent weight is the same as your true weight.
Problem 1188. You come into your physics lab and nd
three books stacked on a table, as shown at right. What
is the net force on the middle book?
(a) 10 N downward (b) 20 N upward
(c) 15 N downward *(d) 0 N
Solution: The book is motionless, so its not accel-
erating in any direction. Hence the net force on it is
zero.
20 N
15 N
10 N
Problem 1189. You are piloting your spaceship through interstellar space where there
is no gravity and no air, when your timing belt breaks and your engine abruptly quits.
This occurs at time T, when you are travelling at speed V . Which of the graphs below
describes your motion starting at time T?
`
v
V
t T
(a)
`
v
V
t T
*(b)
`
a
t T
(c)
`
a
t T
(d)
Solution: There is no gravity, no friction, and no air resistance in this situation; so
we assume that once the engine has stopped, there are no forces acting on the spaceship.
Thus it keeps going at the same velocity forever. Graph (b) shows that. Graph (a) shows
a changing speed; and graphs (c) and (d) show nonzero acceleration.
Problem 1190. A piano with a weight of 4500 N is resting on a frictionless horizontal
ice-covered parking lot. You push on the piano with a constant horizontal force of F.
Which of the following statements is true?
*(a) The piano will accelerate, no matter how small F is.
(b) The piano will not accelerate unless F > 4500 N.
(c) The piano will move with constant velocity, because F is constant.
(d) The piano will move as long as you apply F; once the force is removed, it will stop.
Solution: Since the lot is level and there is no friction, the only horizontal force on
the piano is your pushing force F. Hence as long as F > 0, there is a net force on the
piano, so it will accelerate. Answer (d) is wrong because the piano, once moving, will
continue to move at a constant velocity once there is no horizontal force on it.
375
Problem 1191. You come into your physics lab and nd
three weights suspended by thin strings from the ceiling,
as shown at right. Which of the following statements is
true about the tensions T
1
, T
2
, and T
3
in the strings?
(a) T
1
= T
2
= T
3
*(b) T
1
> T
2
> T
3
(c) T
3
> T
2
> T
1
(d) T
3
> T
1
> T
2 6 kg
T
3
1 kg
T
2
4 kg
T
1
Solution: The tension in each string is equal to the weight of the masses below it.
Hence T
1
= 11 kg g; T
2
= 7 kg g; and T
3
= 6 kg g.
Problem 1192. Your physics instructor asks you to help him push an atomic bomb into
the classroom. The bomb weighs 8000 N. You push on it with a horizontal force of 400
N. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) If the atomic bomb moves across the oor, then you feel it pushing back on
you with a force of less than 400 N.
*(b) You feel the atomic bomb pushing back on you with a force of 400 N, whether
it moves or not.
(c) If the atomic bomb does not move, you feel it pushing back on you with a force
of 8000 N.
(d) You feel the atomic bomb pushing back on you with a force of 8000 N, whether
it moves or not.
Solution: This is Newtons third law. If youre pushing on the bomb with a force of
400 N, then the bomb is pushing on you with an equal force.
Problem 1193. You are pushing two crates across a
level frictionless oor, as shown at right. You apply a
horizontal force of 300 N to crate A, which is heavier
than crate B. Which of the following statements is true?
300 N
A
B
(a) Crate A pushes on crate B with a force of 300 N; crate B pushes on crate A with
a force of 300 N.
(b) Crate A pushes on crate B with more force than crate B pushes on crate A.
*(c) Crate A and crate B push on one another with forces that are equal to one
another and less than 300 N.
(d) The two crates will not move if their weight is greater than 300 N.
Solution: We can rule out answer (b) by Newtons third law; and we can rule
out (d), since the oor is level and frictionless: any horizontal force will move the
crates. The two crates together experience a force of 300 N; so they accelerate at
a = (300 N)/(M
A
+ M
B
). The force on crate B is the mass of crate B times this
acceleration:
F
B
= M
B
a =
M
B
M
A
+M
B
(300 N) < 300N
376
Problem 1194. A spaceship is very far away from stars, planets, or other sources of
gravitational force. It is moving at high speed through the intergalactic void when its
rockets stop ring. Which of the following describes the spaceships future course?
(a) It will immediately stop, throwing the cargo and crew violently forward.
(b) It will begin slowing down, eventually coming to a complete stop in the vacuum
of space.
(c) It will move at constant speed for a while, but will then start slowing down.
*(d) It will keep on going forever at constant speed.
(e) None of these
Problem 1195. You are idly playing with a ball on a level oor. You give the ball a
light push, and it rolls about halfway across the oor before slowing down and coming
to a stop. Why does the ball slow and stop?
(a) Because you werent pushing it.
(b) Because speed is proportional to force.
*(c) Because there must have been some force on it opposing the direction of its
motion.
(d) Because the net force on the ball was zero.
(e) None of these
Problem 1196. Two objects with masses M and m, where M > m, are on a level
frictionless surface. If a force F is applied to the smaller object, it will experience an
acceleration of a. If that same force F is applied to the larger object, what will happen
to that object?
(a) It will experience an acceleration greater than a.
(b) It will experience an acceleration of a.
*(c) It will experience an acceleration less than a.
(d) It will move only if the force F is greater than some minimum value.
(e) None of these
Problem 1197. An object is moving northward with increasing speed. What do we
know about the forces on the object?
(a) There is a single force on the object, directed northward.
*(b) There is a net force on the object, directed northward.
(c) There may be several forces on the object, but the largest is directed northward.
(d) We know nothing about the forces on the object.
(e) None of these
377
Problem 1198. An object is moving northward. What do we know about the forces
on the object?
(a) There is a single force on the object, directed northward.
(b) There is a net force on the object, directed northward.
(c) There may be several forces on the object, but the largest is directed northward.
*(d) We know nothing about the forces on the object.
(e) None of these
Problem 1199. Which of the following objects is not experiencing a net force directed
northward?
(a) An object moving southward with decreasing speed.
(b) An object moving northward with increasing speed.
(c) An object that is instantaneously at rest, and that then begins moving northward.
*(d) An object moving northward with constant speed.
(e) None of these
Problem 1200. A rock is at rest on a level surface. The force that the surface exerts on
the rock has magnitude F
SR
; the force that the rock exerts on the surface has magnitude
F
RS
. What do we know about the two forces?
(a) F
SR
< F
RS
*(b) F
SR
= F
RS
(c) F
SR
> F
RS
(d) We dont know anything about the relative sizes of the forces.
(e) None of these
Problem 1201. An object with a mass of 20
kg is suspended from two ropes, as shown at
right. The magnitude of the force exerted by
each rope on the object is 139 N; the magnitude
of the force of gravity on the object is 196 N.
What is the magnitude of the net force on the
object?
(a) 47.4 N (b) 33.5 N
(c) 13.9 N *(d) 0 N
(e) None of these
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
20 kg
Solution: Since the system is static, the sum of the forces in each component direction
is zero. Thus the net force is zero.
378
Problem 1202. An astronaut with a mass of 100 kg is trying to move a very small
asteroid with a mass of 400 kg. The astronaut pushes on the asteroid with a force of
120 N. What force does the asteroid exert on the astronaut? Round your answer to the
nearest newton.
(a) 30 N (b) 96 N
*(c) 120 N (d) 480 N
(e) None of these
Solution: This doesnt require any computation: only Newtons third law. The
asteroid must exert the same magnitude of force, but in the opposite direction, as the
astronaut by Newtons 3
rd
Law.
Since the astronaut exerts a force of 120 N on the asteroid, the asteroid exerts a force of
120 N on the astronaut. The masses of the astronaut and the asteroid have nothing to
do with the problem.
Problem 1203. You are pushing a crate with mass m across a oor. You are pushing
forward with a force whose magnitude is F
push
; the force of friction is directed backward,
with magnitude f. If the crate is moving at a constant velocity, which of the following
is true?
*(a) F
push
= f (b) F
push
> f
(c) F
push
= mg +f (d) F
push
> mg +f
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the crate is moving at a constant velocity, the net horizontal force
on it must be zero. Hence F
push
= f.
kg is suspended from the ceiling by two ropes
of equal length, each making an angle of 74
to
the horizontal. Each rope has a tension of 61
N. What is the magnitude of the net force on
the object? Round your answer to the nearest
newton.
*(a) 0 N (b) 59 N
(c) 118 N (d) 122 N
(e) None of these
12 kg
`
`
`
`
`
``
/
/
/
/
/
//
74
74
Solution: You dont have to do any calculations on this. Since the object isnt
moving, it has a constant velocity of zero; so the net force on it is zero.
379
10.2 Free-body diagrams
Problem 1205. A book is given a push along a frictionless horizontal tabletop. After
it has been pushed, it slides along the tabletop and o the edge.
(a) What are the forces acting on the book while it is being pushed along the table?
What are the reaction forces to those forces?
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram showing action-reaction pairs. While the book
is being pushed, it experiences a horizontal force from the hand doing the pushing; it
pushes back on the hand with equal force. It experiences two vertical forces adding up to
zero: the downward force of gravity, and the normal force of the table pushing upward.
The reaction forces are the gravitational force pulling the Earth upward toward the book,
and the force of the book pushing downward on the table.
(b) What are the forces acting on the book while it is sliding along the table after being
pushed? What are the reaction forces to those forces?
Solution: As in part (a), only with no horizontal forces.
(c) What are the forces acting on the book while it is falling from the table to the oor?
What are the reaction forces to those forces?
Solution: The only force acting on the book is the Earths gravity pulling it downward.
The reaction force is the gravitational force pulling the Earth upward toward the book.
Problem 1206. Two crates are connected by a
thin horizontal rope and sitting on a horizontal
oor. You are pulling them by a second horizon-
tal rope attached to one of the crates. There is
friction between the crates and the oor. Draw a
free-body diagram for each of the crates.
Solution: We isolate each crate as a separate
system and draw a free-body diagram for that
system. In this course, we will usually assume
that the rope is massless and doesnt stretch; so
T
1
= T
2
.
m
1
m
2
u
`
N
1
m
1
g

T
1
+f
1
P
u
`
N
2
m
2
g
f
2
T
2
380
10.3 Pushing and pulling objects on horizontal frictionless sur-
faces
Problem 1207. Two blocks are connected by a
thin rope and sitting on a horizontal frictionless
surface. You are pulling them by a second rope
attached to the smaller block. You pull on your
rope with a horizontal force of P; the tension in
the rope connecting the blocks is T. Which of the
following is true of P and T?
P
37 kg
T 89 kg
(a) P < T (b) P = T
*(c) P > T (d) Not enough information; it could be any of these
Solution: P is giving a certain acceleration to the combined mass of both crates. T
is giving the same acceleration to the 89-kg crate alone. Thus T is smaller than P; in
fact,
T =
89 kg
37 kg + 89 kg
P
Problem 1208. You are pushing two blocks across a
horizontal frictionless surface, as shown at right. You
apply a horizontal force of 240 N to the smaller block.
How much force does the smaller block exert on the larger
one?
240 N
20 kg
60 kg
(a) 60 N (b) 120 N
*(c) 180 N (d) 240 N
Solution: You are applying a net horizontal force of 240 N to a total mass of
20 + 60 = 80 kg. By Newtons second law, the two crates together will accelerate at
(240 N)/(80 kg) = 3 m/s
2
. Again by Newtons second law, the net horizontal force on
the larger crate must be F = ma = (60 kg)(3 m/s
2
) = 180 N.
381
11 Applications of Newtons Laws to Linear Motion
11.1 Newtons laws in one-dimension
11.1.1 One-dimensional kinematics and Newtons second law
The idea behind these problems is add one more equation to our three fundamental
kinematic equations:
F
net
= ma +
_
_
Fund. Eq
n
1: v = v
0
+at
Fund. Eq
n
2: v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
)
Fund. Eq
n
3: x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
This builds our system of possible fundamental equations to 4 equations:
_
_
Fund. Eq
n
1: v = v
0
+at
Fund. Eq
n
2: v
2
= v
2
0
+ 2a(x x
0
)
Fund. Eq
n
3: x = x
0
+v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
Fund. Eq
n
4: F
net
= ma
with the catch that when mass or force is involved in a problem then fundamental equa-
tion 4 is always used together with one of the other three equations. That is, we are
always solving a system of equations: F = ma plus one of the fundamental kinematic
equations.
382
Problem 1209. A block with a mass of 132 kg is pulled with a horizontal force of

F
across a rough oor. The coecient of friction between the oor and the block is 0.51.
If the block is moving at a constant velocity, what is the magnitude of

F? Round your
(a) 67 N (b) 259 N
*(c) 660 N (d) 2536 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the blocks velocity is constant, the net force on it is zero. The two
forces acting in the horizontal direction are the pull, directed forward with magnitude F;
and the frictional force f
k
, directed backward with magnitude mg. Hence:
F = f
k
= mg = (0.51)(132 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
) = 660 N
Problem 1210. A 5.5-kg block is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface.
It is pulled with with a constant horizontal force of 3.8 N. How long must it be pulled
before its speed is 5.2 m/s?
(a) 2.5 s (b) 5.0 s
*(c) 7.5 s (d) 10.0 s
(e) None of these
Solution: Start by using Newtons 2
nd
law for 1-d motion to determine a. Once a is
known, this becomes a kinematics problem and we can apply one of our 3 fundamental
equations.
F = ma
m
a =
F
m
=
3.8 kg m/s
2
5.5 kg
= 0.69 m/s
2
.
We now know the acceleration a; so write down what information you are given, what
you want, and which fundamental equation you need to use.
Given:
_
_
v
i
= 0 m/s
v
f
= 5.2 m/s
a = .69 m/s
2
t
i
= 0
Want: t Which Equation: Fundamental equation (1)
Solving for t in equation 1: t =
v
f
v
i
a
=
5.2 m/s
.69 m/s
2
= 7.5 s.
Problem 1211. A 523-kg experimental rocket sled can be accelerated from rest to 1620
km/h in 1.82 s. What is the net force required to produce this motion? Assume the
applied force is constant.
*(a) 1.29 10
5
N (b) 6.34 10
3
N
(c) 2.74 10
6
N (d) 1.29 10
4
N
(e) None of these
383
Solution: Start by down what were given and what we want:
Given:
_
_
m = 5 kg
v
i
= 0 m/s
v
f
= 1620
km
h
_
1 h
3600 s
_ _
1000 m
1 km
_
= 450m/s
t
i
= 0
t
f
= 1.82 s
Want: F =?
We can nd the net force using Newtons 2
nd
law for 1-d motion F = ma, but well need
to use 1-d kinematics to determine a. To nd a we can apply one of our 3 fundamental
equations. Since we know both velocities and time, but there is no x in the problem we
should apply equation (1). Put another way, since the acceleration is constant,
a = a
ave
=
v
t
=
v
f
v
i
t
f
t
i
=
450 m/s
1.82 s
= 247 m/s
2
m
F = ma = (523 kg)(247 m/s
2
) = 1.29 10
5
N.
Problem 1212. A box has a mass of 160 kg. It is sitting on an icy sidewalk, which
constitutes a horizontal frictionless surface. A horizontal force of 32 N is applied to the
box. What is the boxs acceleration?
(a) 5 m/s
2
*(b) 0.2 m/s
2
(c) 6.4 m/s
2
(d) 0.16 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Let +x be the direction of the force and acceleration. The net force on the
box is 32 N. Since F = ma, we can solve for acceleration:
a =
F
net
m
=
32 N
160 kg
= 0.2 m/s
2
384
Problem 1213. A box has a mass of 60 kg. It is sitting on an icy sidewalk, which
constitutes a horizontal frictionless surface. A horizontal force of 30 N is applied to the
box. What is the boxs acceleration?
(a) 15 m/s
2
(b) 5 m/s
2
(c) 2 m/s
2
*(d) 0.5 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: The only horizontal force on the box is the push of 30 N. Since F = ma,
a =
F
m
=
30 N
60 kg
= 0.5 m/s
2
Problem 1214. You are trying to move a 150-lb crate across a oor by pulling on a rope
inclined at 17
to the horizontal. The coecient of static friction is 0.52; the coecient

of kinetic friction is 0.35. You pull on the rope until the crate starts moving. What is
the crates initial acceleration?
Solution: See the solution for Problem 25 in Chapter 5 Exercises on my website.
Problem 1215. A 10-kg block is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. It
is pulled with with a constant horizontal force of 10 N until it reaches a nal velocity of
10 m/s. How far does it move in this time?
(a) 5 m (b) 10 m
(c) 100 m *(d) 50 m
(e) None of these
nd
equations.
F = ma
m
a =
F
m
=
10 kg m/s
2
10 kg
= 1.0 m/s
2
.
you want, and which fundamental equation you need to use. Notice that time does not
appear explicitly in the problem, and we are not asked to nd the time.
Given:
_
_
v
i
= 0 m/s
v
f
= 10 m/s
a = 1.0 m/s
2
t
i
= 0
Want: x Which Equation: Fundamental equation (2)
Solving for x in equation 2: x =
v
2
f
v
2
i
2a
=
10
2
(m/s)
2
2(1.0) m/s
2
= 50 m.
385
It is pulled with with a constant horizontal force of 1.0 N. How long must it be pulled
before its speed is 1.0 m/s?
(a) 0.25 s (b) 0.5 s
(c) .75 s *(d) 1.0 s
(e) None of these
nd
equations.
F = ma
m
a =
F
m
=
1.0 kg m/s
2
1.0 kg
= 1.0 m/s
2
.
you want, and which fundamental equation you need to use.
Given:
_
_
v
i
= 0 m/s
v
f
= 1.0 m/s
a = 1.0 m/s
2
t
i
= 0
Want: t Which Equation: Fundamental equation (1)
Solving for t in equation 1: t =
v
f
v
i
a
=
1.0 m/s
1.0 m/s
2
= 1.0 s.
386
Problem 1217. A crate of auto parts is sitting on a horizontal frictionless frozen lake.
A worker applies a constant horizontal force of 750 N to the crate. Starting from rest,
the crate moves 20 m in the rst 4 s. What is the mass of the crate?
(a) 250 kg *(b) 300 kg
(c) 350 kg (d) 400 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: If you sketch a free-body diagram, youll see that the only horizontal force
is the constant 750 N. That is therefore the net horizontal force. Theres no net vertical
force.
Given: F
net
= 750 N; v
i
= 0 m/s; v
f
= ? ; x = 20 m; and t = 4 s.
Want: m = ?
If we try to solve for m directly using Newtons second law, we get stuck:
F
net
= ma
a
m =
F
net
a
=
750 N
a
(11.1)
We need to use one of our three fundamental kinetic equations to nd a. Since we know
x, v
i
= 0, and t, we can use
x = v
i
t +
1
2
at
2
=
at
2
2
2/t
2
a =
2x
t
2
(11.2)
Substituting equation (11.5) into equation (11.4) gives us
m =
F
net
t
2
2x
=
(750 N)(4 s)
2
2(20 m)
= 300 kg
Problem 1218. A ball with a mass of 0.4 kg is at rest on top of a tee when it is hit with
a bat moving horizontally. The bat is in contact with the ball for 20 ms; when the ball
leaves the bat, it is moving horizontally at 50 m/s. If the bat applies a constant force
F
net
to the ball during the whole time that they are in contact, what is the magnitude
of F
net
?
(a) 400 N *(b) 1000 N
(c) 2500 N (d) 4000 N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the balls mass m, its initial speed v
0
and nal speed v
f
, and
the time over which it accelerates t. We want to know the force F
net
. We can use
Newtons second law: F
net
= ma. We dont know a, but we can nd it from the equation
v
f
= v
i
+at, in which we know everything but a:
v
f
= v
i
+at a =
v
f
v
i
t
F
net
= ma =
m(v
f
v
i
)
t
=
(0.4 kg)(50 m/s 0 m/s)
0.02 s
= 1000 N
387
It is pulled with with a constant horizontal force of 10.0 N.
(a) How long must it be pulled before its speed is 100 m/s? Round your answer to the
nearest second
(b) How far does it move in this time? Round your answer to the nearest meter.
Solution: Since F = ma, the acceleration of the block is
a =
F
m
=
10.0 N
10.0 kg
= 1 m/s
2
(a) Since the block starts at v
0
= 0, speed as a function of time is v = at; so
t =
v
a
=
100 m/s
1 m/s
2
= 100 s
(b) Since v
0
= 0 and x
0
= 0, position as a function of time is
x =
1
2
at
2
=
(1 m/s
2
)(100 s)
2
2
= 5000 m
Problem 1220. A 1-kg ketchup bottle is slid across a smooth counter at a local diner.
You notice that the bottle slid 1.5 meters and took 2 seconds to come to rest. Assuming
a constant net force owing to the friction on the table, what was the initial velocity of
the bottle? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 5 m/s (b) 0.5 m/s
*(c) 1.5 m/s (d) 0.15 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: If the force on the bottle was constant, then so was the acceleration a. If we
let x
0
= 0, then position as a function of time is: x = v
0
t +
1
2
at
2
. Since the acceleration is
constant and slows the bottle from v
0
to v = 0 in time t = 2 s, we can write: a = v
0
/t.
Substituting that expression for a into the equation of position, we get
x = v
0
t
1
2
v
0
t
t
2
=
v
0
t
2
Solving for v
0
yields
v
0
=
2x
t
=
2(1.5 m)
2 s
= 1.5 m/s
[Notice that we didnt need the mass of the bottle.]
388
Problem 1221. A block of mass M is pulled along a horizontal frictionless surface by a
bar of mass m that is attached to the block and horizontal to the surface . A horizontal
force

P (P for pull) is applied to the free end of the bar (see gure below).
(a) Find the acceleration of the bar-block system (i.e., the bar and the block taken
together).
(b) What is the force that the bar exerts on the block?
Solution: (a) The bar-block system has mass M +m. The acceleration of the system
is the force applied to it divided by its mass:
a =
P
M +m
(b) The force on the block is its mass times its acceleration. Its mass is M and its
acceleration is that of the whole bar-block system, so
F = Ma =
MP
M +m
11.1.2 Weight
Remember weight is dened as w = mg, where m is mass and g is the magnitude of the
acceleration due to gravity. g is always positive.
Problem 1222. The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of Neptunes moon Triton
is 2.41 m/s
2
. If a rock weighs 106 N on Triton, what is its mass? Round your answer to
the nearest kilogram.
(a) 26 kg *(b) 44 kg
(c) 255 kg (d) 431 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: w = mg
T
g
T
m =
w
g
T
=
106 N
2.41 m/s
2
= 44 kg
Problem 1223. Tritons gravity is 2.41 m/s
2
. If a rock weighs 482 N on Triton, what
is its mass? Round your answer to the nearest kilogram.
(a) 206 kg *(b) 200 kg
(c) 225 kg (d) 22 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: w = mg
T
g
T
m =
w
g
T
=
482 N
2.41 m/s
2
= 200 kg.
389
Problem 1224. The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of Neptune is 11.15 m/s
2
.
If a rock weighs 266 N on Neptune, what is its mass? Round your answer to the nearest
0.1 kg.
(a) 27.1 kg (b) 2965.9 kg
(c) 0.4 kg *(d) 23.9 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: On Neptune,
W
N
= mg
N
m =
W
N
g
N
=
266 N
11.15 m/s
2
= 23.9 kg
Problem 1225. The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of Planet X is 12.2 m/s
2
.
If a rock weighs 307 N on Planet X, what is its mass? Round your answer to the nearest
kilogram.
*(a) 25 kg (b) 247 kg
(c) 382 kg (d) 3745 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: On Planet X,
W
X
= mg
X
m =
W
X
g
X
=
307 N
12.2 m/s
2
= 25 kg
Problem 1226. An astronaut weighs 790 N on Earth. On Planet X, he weighs 640 N.
What is astronauts mass on Planet X? Round your answer to the nearest kilogram.
*(a) 81 kg (b) 89 kg
(c) 98 kg (d) 107 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: Remember that the mass of an object is the same wherever it may be. The
only way to change mass is by adding material to or taking it away from the object. We
know that on Earth, w
E
= mg
E
; and we know both w
E
and g
E
. Hence
w
E
= mg
E
g
E
m =
w
E
g
E
=
790 N
9.8 m/s
2
= 81 kg
390
Problem 1227. An astronaut weighs 790 N on Earth. On Planet X, he weighs 640 N.
What is the astronauts mass on Earth? Round your answer to the nearest kilogram.
(a) 73 kg *(b) 81 kg
(c) 89 kg (d) 98 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: Remember that the mass of an object is the same wherever it may be. The
only way to change mass is by adding material to or taking it away from the object. We
know that on Earth, w
E
= mg
E
; and we know both w
E
and g
E
. Hence
w
E
= mg
E
g
E
m =
w
E
g
E
=
790 N
9.8 m/s
2
= 81 kg
Problem 1228. (Similarity Problem) An astronaut weighs 790 N on Earth. On
Planet X, he weighs 640 N. What is the gravitational acceleration on Planet X? Round
your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s
2
.
(a) 5.8 m/s
2
(b) 6.4 m/s
2
(c) 7.1 m/s
2
*(d) 7.9 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution:
Step 1: Write down what youre given, what you want, and any assumptions:
Given: w
E
= mg
E
= 790 N; w
X
= mg
X
= 640 N
In addition we know g
E
= 9.8 m/s
2
, but dont know m
Want: g
X
= ?
Step 2: Solve. We can eliminate the common parameter m by solving both equations for
m and setting the expressions equal (m is our common link):
w
E
g
E
= m =
w
X
g
X
g
X
g
E
w
E
g
X
=
w
X
g
E
w
E
=
(640 N)(9.8 m/s
2
)
790 N
= 7.9 m/s
2
391
Problem 1229. A uniform chain is 2.0 m long and has
a mass of 20 kg. It hangs from the ceiling and supports
a lamp with a mass of 60 kg. What is the tension in the
top link of the chain? For ease of calculation, assume that
g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 200 N (b) 600 N
(c) 700 N *(d) 800 N
(e) None of these
w
L
u
1
2
w
c
u
1
2
w
c
u
u
`
T
top
w
L
w
c
Solution: Sketch a picture of the entire system; then a free-body diagram of the
system consisting of the top link. The top link supports the entire weight of the chain
w
c
, plus the weight of the lamp w
L
. Since the system is in static equilibrium, there is no
acceleration, so no net force; so
T
top
= w
c
+w
L
= (m
c
+m
L
)g = (20 kg + 60 kg)(10 m/s
2
) = 800 N
middle link of the chain? For ease of calculation, assume
that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 100 N (b) 600 N
*(c) 700 N (d) 800 N
(e) None of these
w
L
u
1
2
w
c
u
1
2
w
c
u
u
`
T
middle
w
L
1
2
w
c
system consisting of the middle link. The middle link supports half of the weight of the
chain,
1
2
w
c
, plus the weight of the lamp w
L
. Since the system is in static equilibrium,
there is no acceleration, so no net force; so
T
top
=
1
2
w
c
+w
L
= (
1
2
m
c
+m
L
)g = (10 kg + 60 kg)(10 m/s
2
) = 700 N
392
bottom link of the chain? For ease of calculation, assume
that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 200 N *(b) 600 N
(c) 700 N (d) 800 N
(e) None of these
w
L
u
1
2
w
c
u
1
2
w
c
u
u
`
T
bottom
w
L
system consisting of the bottom link. The bottom link supports the weight of the lamp
w
L
, but none of the weight of the chain. Since the system is in static equilibrium, there
is no acceleration, so no net force; so
T
bottom
= w
L
= m
L
g = (60 kg)(10 m/s
2
) = 600 N
Problem 1232. (Force-to-weight ratio) A softball is at rest on top of a tee when
it is hit with a bat moving horizontally. The bat is in contact with the ball for 20 ms;
when the ball leaves the bat, it is moving horizontally at 50 m/s. If the bat applies
a constant force F
net
to the ball during the whole time that they are in contact, what
is the force-to-weight ratio F
net
/w
ball
for the ball? For ease of calculation, assume that
g = 10 m/s
2
.
*(a) 250 (b) 500
(c) 1250 (d) 2500
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the balls initial speed v
0
and nal speed v
f
, and the time
over which it accelerates t. We want to know the ratio of net force to weight F
net
/w.
Since we dont know the balls mass, we cant know the net force or the weight; but in
calculating the ratio, the mass cancels out:
F
net
w
ball
=
ma
mg
=
a
g
We know enough to calculate the acceleration:
v
f
= v
i
+at a =
v
f
v
i
t
F
net
w
ball
=
a
g
=
v
f
v
i
gt
=
50 m/s 0 m/s
(10 m/s
2
)(0.02 s)
= 250
393
Problem 1233. (Determining the weight of an object without a scale) You have
just landed on Planet X and realized that youve left your scale behind. However, you
have a 5.0 kg ball, and a spring cannon that can launch the ball straight upward at a
speed of 15 m/s. You launch the ball upward from ground level; it strikes the ground
again 3.0 s after launching. What is the magnitude of gravity on Planet X? Use this to
determine the weight of the object. Round your answer to the nearest newton.
(a) 40 N (b) 45 N
*(c) 50 N (d) 55 N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know m = 5.0 kg; v
i
= 15 m/s; and t = 3.0 s. We want w
X
= mg
X
,
where g
X
is the gravitational acceleration on Planet X. We are assuming that there is
no air resistance, so the ball returns to the ground at the same speed at which it was
launched, and it takes as much time going up as it does falling back down: v
f
= v
i
=
15 m/s, and t = 2t
ymax
, where t
ymax
is the time that the ball takes to reach its
maximum height after being launched.
The velocity as a function of time is v(t) = v
i
g
X
t. At the top of the trajectory (i.e. at
t = t
ymax
), the velocity is zero. Hence
v(t
ymax
) = 0 = v
i
g
X
t
ymax
g
X
=
v
i
t
ymax
t=2tymax
g
X
=
2v
i
t
w
X
= mg
X
=
2mv
i
t
=
2(5.0 kg)(15 m/s)
3.0 s
= 50 N
394
Problem 1234. You are standing on a 100 m tall cli on Planet X. You drop a 5 kg
stone o the cli, and notice that it takes 10 seconds for it to hit the ground below.
What is the magnitude of gravity g
X
on planet X? You may assume that you can ignore
air drag.
(a) 1.0 m/s
2
*(b) 2.0 m/s
2
(c) 5.0 m/s
2
(d) 10.0 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: This is just a kinematics problem! The weight of the stone is irrelevant.
By Newtons 2
nd
law for 1-d motion with weight as our force:
mg
X
= w = F = ma
m
g
X
= a .
We can now apply one of our 3 fundamental equations. Start by writing down what
information you are given, what you want, and which fundamental equation you need
to use. Well take our initial position to be the origin y
i
= 0, and the nal position at
the bottom of the cli as our nal position y
f
= 100 m. Since this is drop problem
the natural direction for the y-axis is in the direction of motion, so well take the y-axis
pointing downward.
Given:
_
_
y
i
= 0 m
y
f
= 100 m
v
i
= 0 m/s
t
i
= 0 s
t
f
= 10 s
Want: a = g
X
Which Equation: Equation (3)
Solving for a in equation 3 with v
0
= 0 and y
0
= 0 gives:
y
f
=
1
2
g
X
t
2
fall
g
X
=
2y
f
t
2
fall
=
2 (100) m
10
2
s
2
= 2.0 m/s
2
.
395
11.1.3 Apparent weight problems (The Elevator Equation)
The apparent weight of a mass that is accelerating (upward or downward) with the y-axis
taken pointing upward is
w
app
= w
_
1 +
a
y
g
_
Problem 1235. A block is hanging from a spring scale that is
attached to the ceiling of an elevator. Under which of the following
circumstances will the reading on the scale be less than the weight
of the block?
(a) The elevator is moving downward and slowing down.
*(b) The elevator is moving upward and slowing down.
(c) The elevator is moving downward at constant speed.
(d) The elevator is moving upward at constant speed.
u
w
b
`
T
u
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram for the block, as at right. There are two
forces acting on the block: the weight w
b
pulling down, and the tension in the scale T
u
pulling upward. If T
u
< w
b
, then the net force is downward; so the block is experiencing
downward acceleration. This can happen if the elevator is moving upward and slowing
down, or if it is moving downward and speeding up. Only the former option is in the
answers.
Problem 1236. A block is hanging from a spring scale that is attached to the ceiling of
an elevator. What will the reading on the scale be if the elevator cable breaks?
Solution: The vertical forces on the block are the weight pulling downward, and the
tension in the scale pulling up. If the cable breaks and the elevator is in free fall, then
the net force on the block is equal to its weight; so the tension in the scale is zero. Hence
the scale will register a reading of zero.
Problem 1237. An object is hung from a spring scale attached to the ceiling of an
elevator. The scale reads 100 N when the elevator is sitting still. What is the reading
on the scale if the elevator is moving downward with a constant speed of 10 m/s?
Approximate g as 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 0 N (b) 50 N
*(c) 100 N (d) 200 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the elevator is moving at constant speed, the acceleration a is 0 m/s
2
.
From Newtons 2
nd
law it follows that the net force is just the force due to gravity, which
was present when the elevator was sitting still. Thus the reading on the scale is 100 N.
396
Problem 1238. What is the apparent weight of a 150 N block if it is accelerating
upward at 1 m/s
2
? For ease of calculation, assume that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 20 N (b) 135 N
(c) 150 N *(d) 165 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the apparent weight formula.
Problem 1239. What is the apparent weight of a 150 N block if it is accelerating
downward at 1 m/s
2
2
.
(a) 20 N (b) 135 N
(c) 150 N (d) 165 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the apparent weight formula.
Problem 1240. What is the apparent weight of a 150 N block if it is moving upward
at a constant velocity of 1 m/s? For ease of calculation, assume that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 20 N (b) 135 N
*(c) 150 N (d) 165 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Constant velocity No acceleration w
app
= w.
Problem 1241. What is the weight of a 150 N block if it is accelerating downward at
1 m/s
2
2
.
(a) 20 N (b) 135 N
*(c) 150 N (d) 165 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The weight of an object is the force exerted on it by gravity, and thats not
aected by its upward or downward acceleration.
397
Problem 1242. An elevator weighing 6200 lb is pulled upward by a cable, with an
upward acceleration of 3.2 ft/s
2
. What is the tension in the cable? Round your answer
to the nearest 100 lb.
(a) 218,200 lb (b) 19,800 lb
*(c) 6800 lb (d) 600 lb
(e) None of these
Solution: A free-body diagram shows the force of weight pointing straight downward
with magnitude W = mg, and the tension T pointing straight upward. The sum of the
two is the net force, which produces an upward acceleration of a. Hence Newtons second
law becomes: T W = T mg = ma. We solve for tension: T = m(g + a). We know
that W = mg, so m = W/g. Hence
T = m(g +a) =
W(g +a)
g
= W
_
1 +
a
g
_
= (6200 lb)
_
1 +
3.2 ft/s
2
32 ft/s
2
_
= 6800 lb
Problem 1243. A bucket weighing 500 N is lifted with
an upward acceleration of 2 m/s
2
by a uniform chain
weighing 200 N. What is the tension in the top link of the
chain? For ease of calculation, assume that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 360 N (b) 720 N
*(c) 840 N (d) 1080 N
(e) None of these
w
b
u
1
2
w
c
u
1
2
w
c
u
u
`
T
top
w
b
w
c
system consisting of the top link. The top link supports the weight of the bucket w
b
plus
the entire weight of the chain w
c
. Since the system is accelerating upward, it experiences
a net upward force. We will use Newtons second law:
T
top
w
b
w
c
= F
net
= m
system
a = (m
b
+m
c
)a
T
top
= w
b
+w
c
+ (m
b
+m
c
)a
w=mg
= w
b
+w
c
+
(w
b
+w
c
)a
g
= (w
b
+w
c
)
g +a
g
= (500 N + 200 N)
10 m/s
2
+ 2 m/s
2
10 m/s
2
= 840 N
398
2
by a uniform chain
weighing 200 N. What is the tension in the middle
link of the chain? For ease of calculation, assume that
g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 600 N *(b) 720 N
(c) 840 N (d) 960 N
(e) None of these
w
b
u
1
2
w
c
u
1
2
w
c
u
u
`
T
mid
w
b
1
2
w
c
system consisting of the middle link. The middle link supports the weight of the bucket
w
b
plus half the weight of the chain,
1
2
w
c
. Since the system is accelerating upward, it
experiences a net upward force. We will use Newtons second law:
T
mid
w
b
w
c
2
= F
net
= m
system
a =
_
m
b
+
m
c
2
_
a
T
mid
= w
b
+
w
c
2
+
_
m
b
+
m
c
2
_
a
w=mg
= w
b
+
w
c
2
+
(w
b
+w
c
/2)a
g
=
_
w
b
+
w
c
2
_
g +a
g
=
_
500 N +
200 N
2
_
10 m/s
2
+ 2 m/s
2
10 m/s
2
= 720 N
2
by a uniform chain
weighing 200 N. What is the tension in the bottom
link of the chain? For ease of calculation, assume that
g = 10 m/s
2
.
*(a) 600 N (b) 660 N
(c) 720 N (d) 840 N
(e) None of these
w
b
u
1
2
w
c
u
1
2
w
c
u
u
`
T
bottom
w
b
system consisting of the bottom link. The bottom link supports the weight of the bucket
w
b
, but none of the weight of the chain w
c
. Since the system is accelerating upward, it
experiences a net upward force. We will use Newtons second law:
T
bottom
w
b
= F
net
= m
system
a = m
b
a
T
bottom
= w
b
+m
b
a
w=mg
= w
b
+
w
b
a
g
= w
b
g +a
g
= (500 N)
10 m/s
2
+ 2 m/s
2
10 m/s
2
= 600 N
399
Problem 1246. You are standing on a spring scale on an elevator.
When the elevator is not moving, the scale registers a weight of 600
N. When the elevator starts moving, it has an upward acceleration
of 2 m/s
2
. What weight does the scale register while the elevator is
accelerating? For ease of calculation, assume that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 360 N (b) 500 N
*(c) 720 N (d) 1200 Nv
(e) None of these
u
`
N
s
w
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram, as at right. The forces working on the system
(you) are the normal force of the scale N
s
, which is the weight registered on the scale;
and your weight. Since you are accelerating, there is a nonzero net force. Use Newtons
second law:
F
net
= N
s
w = ma
N
s
= w +ma
w=mg
N
s
= w +
wa
g
=
_
1 +
a
g
_
w =
_
1 +
2 m/s
2
10 m/s
2
_
(600 N) = 720 N
Problem 1247. You are standing on a spring scale on an elevator. When the elevator
is not moving, the scale registers a weight of 730 N. When the elevator starts moving, it
has an upward acceleration of 1.6 m/s
2
. What weight does the scale register while the
elevator is accelerating? Round your answer to the nearest 10 N.
(a) 760 N *(b) 850 N
(c) 930 N (d) 1030 N
(e) None of these
Solution: There are two vertical forces acting on you: your weight w = mg = 730 N,
pulling down; and the normal force of the scale, N
scale
= w
app
, your apparent weight,
pushing upward. The combination of these two is the net force, which gives you an
upward acceleration of a = 1.6 m/s
2
. Taking the upward direction as positive, this gives
us
N
scale
w = F
net
= ma N
scale
= w +ma
We solve w = mg to get: m = w/g. Substituting this gives
N
scale
= w +ma = w +
wa
g
= w
_
1 +
a
g
_
= (730 N)
_
1 +
1.6 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
_
= 850 N
400
Problem 1248. Someone has left a spring scale on an elevator. While the elevator
is not moving, you get on the scale and see that your weight is 810 N. When the
elevator starts moving, you see that the scale registers 890 N. What is the acceleration
of the elevator? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s
2
; use a positive sign if the
acceleration is upward, a negative sign if the acceleration is downward.
*(a) 1.0 m/s
2
(b) 10.8 m/s
2
(c) 1.0 m/s
2
(d) 10.8 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: If your mass is m, then gravity is pulling you downward with a force of your
weight: w = mg = 810 N. When the elevator is accelerating, the scale reading is
the normal force of the oor pushing up on you. This upward force is F
scale
= 890 N. The
net vertical force on you is F
net
= F
scale
mg = 80 N. Since F
net
= ma, your acceleration
is a = F
net
/m. We can get m from your weight: m = w/g. Hence
a =
F
net
m
=
F
net
g
w
=
(80 N)(9.8 m/s
2
)
810 N
= 1.0 m/s
2
Problem 1249. Someone has left a spring scale in an express elevator. While the
elevator is standing still, you get on the scale and see that you weigh 142 lb. You ride
the elevator nonstop to the top oor of the building. In the middle of the ride, you are
going upward at at a constant speed of 44 ft/s. What weight does the scale register at
this point? Round your answer to the nearest pound.
(a) 103 lb *(b) 142 lb
(c) 154 lb (d) 195 lb
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the elevator is moving at a constant speed, it is experiencing no
acceleration. The weight registered by the scale is the same as it would be if the elevator
were standing still: 142 lb.
Problem 1250. A lamp with a mass of 7.0 kg is hanging from a
thin cord attached to the ceiling of an elevator. When the elevator is
accelerating upward at 3 m/s
2
, what is the tension in the cord? For
ease of calculation, assume that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 21 N (b) 49 N
(c) 70 N *(d) 91 N
(e) None of these
u
`
T
w = mg
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram for the lamp, as at right. The forces working
on the system are the tension of the cord T, and the lamps weight w = mg. Since the
system is accelerating, there is a nonzero net force. Use Newtons second law:
F
net
= T mg = ma
T = mg +ma = m(g +a) = (7.0 kg)(10 m/s
2
+ 3 m/s
2
) = 91 N
401
Problem 1251. A block with weight w is hanging from a spring
scale that is attached to the ceiling of an elevator. If the elevator
has an upward acceleration of a > 0 and the reading on the scale is
T, what is w as a function of a and T?
(a) w =
Tg
g a
(b) w =
T(g a)
g
*(c) w =
Tg
g +a
(d) w =
T(g +a)
g
(e) None of these
u
w
`
T
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram of the block, as at right. There are two vertical
forces acting on the block: the weight w pulling down, and the tension in the scale T
pulling up. The block is experiencing an upward acceleration of a. Using Newtons
second law and the fact that w = mg:
T w = ma =
wa
g
T = w
_
1 +
a
g
_
= w
_
g +a
g
_
w =
Tg
g +a
Problem 1252. A block with weight w is hanging from a spring
scale that is attached to the ceiling of an elevator. If the elevator
has an upward acceleration of a > 0, what is the reading on the
scale T?
(a) T = w
a
g
(b) T = w
g
a
(c) T = w
_
1 +
g
a
_
(d) T = w
_
1 +
a
g
_
(e) None of these
u
w
`
T
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram of the block, as at right. There are two vertical
forces acting on the block: the weight w pulling down, and the tension in the scale T
pulling up. The block is experiencing an upward acceleration of a. Using Newtons
second law and the fact that w = mg:
T w = ma =
wa
g
T = w
_
1 +
a
g
_
Quick way: Notice the the tension in the string is the force that the scale reads. But
that is just the apparent weight. Now apply the apparent weight formula.
402
11.1.4 Spring Problems
Problem 1253. (Derived quantities) Determine the units of the spring constant k
from the equation for the ideal spring force: F
spring
= kx, where F is force, k is the
spring constant, and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position. Write the
answer in terms of Newtons.
matical expression for the spring force gives
[F] = [kx] = [k][x]
[x]
[k] =
[F]
[x]
=
N
m
There is no special name for a Newton divided by a meter.
Problem 1254. A rubber band has an unstretched length of 8 cm and a force constant
of 4 N/cm. What is the force required to stretch it to a length of 12 cm?
(a) 3 N *(b) 16 N
(c) 32 N (d) 48 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The rubber band is being stretched by x = 12 cm 8 cm = 4 cm. The
force required to stretch it is F = kx = (4 N/cm)(4 cm) = 16 N.
Problem 1255. A spring is hanging from the ceiling. Its unstretched length is 12 cm.
When a block with a mass of 6 kg is hanging from the end, it stretches to a length of
15 cm. What is the spring constant of the spring? For ease of calculation, assume that
g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 4 N/m (b) 20 N/m
(c) 400 N/m *(d) 2000 N/m
(e) None of these
Solution: Dont forget to convert centimeters to meters. When a mass of m is hanging
from the spring, the force on the spring is w = mg. By Hookes law, F = ky; so
k =
F
y
=
mg
y
f
y
0
=
(6 kg)(10 m/s
2
)
0.15 m0.12 m
= 2000 N/m
403
Problem 1256. A spring is hanging from the ceiling. Its unstretched length is 10 cm.
When a block with a mass of 8 kg is attached to the end, it stretches to a length of 20
cm. If you want to stretch the spring to a length of 30 cm, how much mass must you
hang from it?
(a) 8 kg (b) 12 kg
*(c) 16 kg (d) 24 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: When a mass of m is hanging from the spring, the force on the spring is
w = mg. By Hookes law, F = mg = ky. When we change the mass from m
1
to m
2
,
we change from y
1
to y
2
; k and g dont change. Hence
k
g
=
m
y
=
m
1
y
1
=
m
2
y
2
m
2
=
m
1
y
2
y
1
=
(8 kg)(0.30 m0.10 m)
0.20 m0.10 m
= 16 kg
Problem 1257. A horizontal spring with a spring constant of 500 N/m is used to pull a
sled across a frictionless frozen lake. The sled has a mass of 40 kg, and is undergoing an
acceleration of 0.5 m/s
2
. How much does the spring stretch while pulling the sled? For
ease of calculation, use g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 2.5 cm *(b) 4 cm
(c) 10 cm (d) 25 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the ice is horizontal and frictionless, we need only concern ourselves
with the horizontal forces. There is only one: the tension in the spring, pulling on the
sled. Using Newtons second law gives us the value of the force: F = ma. Using Hookes
law gives us the amount by which the spring stretches.
F = ma = kx x =
ma
k
=
(40 kg)(0.5 m/s
2
)
500 N/m
= 0.04 m = 4 cm
404
Problem 1258. An unstretched spring has a length of 22.8 cm. When an object with
a mass of 12.0 kg is hung from it, it stretches to a length of 35.5 cm. What is the spring
constant of the spring? Round your answer to the nearest N/m.
(a) 34 N/m (b) 94 N/m
(c) 331 N/m *(d) 926 N/m
(e) None of these
Solution: The force applied to the spring is the weight of the object w = mg. Since
there is no acceleration in the mass-spring system, applying Newtons 2nd law in the
vertical direction gives [F
spring
[ = w = mg. The spring stretches by x = 35.5 cm
22.8 cm = 0.127 m. (Since the problem asks for the spring constant in N/m, you must
convert centimeters to meters.) Hookes law gives us
[F
spring
[ = kx = mg k =
mg
x
=
(12.0 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
0.127 m
= 926 N/m
Problem 1259. An unstretched spring is 62 cm long. When you hang an object with a
mass of 4.6 kg from it, it stretches to a length of 71 cm. What is the mass of the object
you would have to hang from the spring to get it to stretch to a length of 90 cm? Round
your answer to the nearest 0.1 kg.
(a) 1.8 kg (b) 5.8 kg
*(c) 14.3 kg (d) 450.8 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: Let m
1
= 4.6 kg be the rst mass, and let x
1
= 71 cm62 cm = 9 cm be
the distance by which it stretches the spring. We can calculate the force constant of the
spring:
m
1
g = kx
1
k =
m
1
g
x
1
We want to know what mass m
2
it takes to stretch the spring by a distance of x
2
=
90 cm62 cm = 28 cm.
m
2
g = kx
2
m
2
=
kx
2
g
=
m
1
x
2
x
1
=
(4.6 kg)(28 cm)
9 cm
= 14.3 kg
405
Problem 1260. A bungee cord obeys Hookes law, with a spring constant of 850 N/m.
It is attached to a crate with a mass of 170 kg and pulled at an angle of 19
to the
horizontal, in order to move the crate across a horizontal frictionless oor. If the crate
accelerates at 0.81 m/s
2
, how much does the bungee cord stretch? Round your answer
to the nearest centimeter.
(a) 16 cm *(b) 17 cm
(c) 159 cm (d) 168 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: Let T be the tension in the bungee cord. Since it makes an angle of 19
to
the horizontal, the horizontal component of the force is F
h
= T cos 19
. This is the only

horizontal force acting on the crate, and it is accelerating the crate at a = 0.81 m/s
2
. By
Newtons second law, T cos 19
= ma. By Hookes law, T = kx, where x is the amount

by which the bungee cord stretches. Hence
kxcos 19
= ma x =
ma
k cos 19
=
(170 kg)(0.81 m/s
2
)
(850 N/m) cos 19
= 0.17 m = 17 cm
Problem 1261. A bungee cord obeys Hookes law, with a spring constant of 620 N/m.
It is attached to a crate with a mass of 220 kg and pulled at an angle of 24
to the
horizontal, in order to move the crate across a horizontal frictionless oor. If the crate
accelerates at 0.72 m/s
2
, how much does the bungee cord stretch? Round your answer
to the nearest centimeter.
(a) 13 cm (b) 14 cm
(c) 26 cm *(d) 28 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: Let T be the tension in the bungee cord. Since it makes an angle of 19
to
the horizontal, the horizontal component of the force is F
h
= T cos 24
. This is the only

horizontal force acting on the crate, and it is accelerating the crate at a = 0.72 m/s
2
. By
Newtons second law, T cos 24
= ma. By Hookes law, T = kx, where x is the amount

by which the bungee cord stretches. Hence
kxcos 24
= ma x =
ma
k cos 24
=
(220 kg)(0.72 m/s
2
)
(620 N/m) cos 24
= 0.28 m = 28 cm
406
Problem 1262. (Lab Problem) A spring is hanging from the ceiling in the physics
lab. When there is no weight hanging from it, the spring is 42 cm long; it has a spring
constant of 8300 N/m. You hang a lead block with a mass of 87 kg from the spring,
stretching it. What is the length of the spring with the weight hanging from it? Round
your answer to the nearest centimeter.
(a) 10 cm (b) 21 cm
(c) 32 cm *(d) 52 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the unstretched length of the spring L
u
= 42 cm = 0.42 m; the
spring constant k = 8300 N/m; and the mass m = 87 kg.
If y is the change in length of the spring, we want the stretched length: L
s
= L
u
+y.
Use the equation [F
spring
[ = ky to nd y. We assume that the system is static, so there
is no acceleration; so the two forces on the weight match: mg = [F
spring
[ = ky. Divide
by k:
y =
mg
k
L
s
= L
u
+
mg
k
= 0.42 m +
(87 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
8300 N/m
= 0.52 m = 52 cm
Problem 1263. (Lab Problem) An unstretched spring is 62 cm long. When you
hang an object with a mass of 4.6 kg from it, it stretches to a length of 71 cm. What is
the mass of the object you would have to hang from the spring to get it to stretch to a
length of 90 cm? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 kg.
(a) 1.8 kg (b) 5.8 kg
*(c) 14.3 kg (d) 450.8 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: Let m
1
= 4.6 kg be the rst mass, and let x
1
= 71 cm62 cm = 9 cm be
the distance by which it stretches the spring. We can calculate the force constant of the
spring:
m
1
g = kx
1
k =
m
1
g
x
1
We want to know what mass m
2
it takes to stretch the spring by a distance of x
2
=
90 cm62 cm = 28 cm.
m
2
g = kx
2
m
2
=
kx
2
g
=
m
1
x
2
x
1
=
(4.6 kg)(28 cm)
9 cm
= 14.3 kg
Problem 1264. (Derive Problem) Two air-track gliders of mass m
1
and m
2
with
m
1
< m
2
are connected by a spring whose mass is negligible compared to the mass of
the gliders. The gliders sit on a horizontal frictionless air-track and are constrained to
one-dimensional motion. Treat the problem as a one-dimensional problem by assuming
that the force of gravity is exactly cancelled by the upward blowing air of the air track.
The system: Take the pair of gliders together with the spring to be our system under
investigation. There are no external forces acting on the system in the direction of the
track.
407
The initial condition: The system is initially at rest with the spring compressed and
held in place by a thin massless string connecting the two gliders. At time t = 0, the
string is cut setting the mass-spring system in motion.
The nal condition:
(a) If at time t
f
> 0 the acceleration of mass m
2
is a
2
, then what is the force on m
2
by
the spring, denoted F
m
2
s
?
(b) What is the acceleration of mass m
1
at time t
f
?
Comment: After the string is cut, the energy stored in the spring sets the system in
motion. The motion comes from internal forces, there are no external forces acting on
the mass-spring system.
Solution: See solutions to chapter 3 homework on my website (Exercises #11 ).
408
11.2 Newtons laws in two-dimensions
11.2.1 Static equilibrium problems
Problem 1265. Two nails are driven into a wall at
dierent heights, and a weight is hung from two thin
strings fastened to the nails, as shown at right. Both
strings make the same angle to the horizontal, but
the rst string is longer than the second. If T
1
is the
tension in the longer string and T
2
is the tension in
the shorter, what is the relationship between T
1
and
T
2
?
M
T
1
`
`
`
`
r

T
2
(a) T
1
< T
2
*(b) T
1
= T
2
(c) T
1
> T
2
(d) Not enough information: could be any of these
Solution: Since the weight isnt moving, the net force on it must be zero. In
particular, the net horizontal force must be zero. There are two horizontal forces acting
on it: the horizontal component of T
2
pulling to the left, and the horizontal component
of T
1
pulling to the right. These horizontal forces must be equal to one another:
T
1x
= T
2x
T
1
cos = T
2
cos T
1
= T
2
The dierence in the lengths of the strings doesnt matter; whats important is that their
angles are the same.
409
Problem 1266. A rope is stretched between
two poles. The rope is initially horizontal. Af-
ter an 82 N block is hung from the middle of
the rope each side of the rope makes an angle
of 9.5
with the horizontal. What is the tension

in the rope? Round your answer to the nearest
10 N.
(a) 40 N (b) 50 N
(c) 80 N *(d) 250 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Begin by sketching a free-body
diagram for the block, as at right. There are
two horizontal forces acting on the block: the
horizontal components of the tension in the two
ropes, T cos . These forces are equal and op-
posite.
82 N
9.5
9.5
T T
u
w
T

`
T cos
T sin
-
T

`
T cos
T sin
There are three vertical forces acting on the block: the force due to gravity (i.e., the
weight w) pulling downward, and the vertical components of the tension in the two ropes
pulling upward, each with magnitude T
y
= T sin . Since the crate is in static equilibrium,
the net force on it is zero; so
2T sin = w T =
w
2 sin
=
82 N
2 sin 9.5
= 250 N
410
Problem 1267. In an attempt to keep bears
from eating his food, a hiker stretches a rope
between two trees and hangs the food from the
middle of the rope. When the food is hung
from the rope, each side of the rope makes an
angle of 11.4
with the horizontal. The rope will

break if its tension exceeds 220 N. What is the
maximum weight of food w
max
that the hiker
can hang without breaking the rope? Round
your answer to the nearest newton.
(a) 43 N *(b) 87 N
(c) 216 N (d) 432 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Begin by sketching a free-body di-
agram for the food, as at right. There are two
horizontal forces acting on the food: the hor-
izontal components of the tension in the two
ropes, T cos . These forces are equal and op-
posite.
w
max
11.4
11.4
T T
u
w
max
T

`
T cos
T sin
-
T

`
T cos
T sin
There are three vertical forces acting on the food: the weight w
max
pulling downward,
and the vertical components of the tension in the two ropes pulling upward, each with
magnitude T
y
= T sin . Since the food is in static equilibrium, the net force on it is zero;
so
w
max
= 2T sin = 2(220 N) sin 11.4
= 87 N
Problem 1268. In an attempt to keep bears
from eating his food, a hiker stretches a rope
between two trees and hangs the food from the
rope. The food weighs 82 N; each side of the
rope makes an angle of 9.5
with the horizontal.

What is the tension in the rope? Round your
answer to the nearest 10 N.
(a) 40 N (b) 50 N
(c) 80 N *(d) 250 N
(e) None of these
82 N
= 9.5
= 9.5
T T
Solution: The food is not accelerating in any direction, so the net force on it is zero.
In particular, the net vertical force on it is zero. The vertical forces on it are the weight,
w = 82 N, pulling downward; and the vertical component of the tension of the rope on
either side, pulling upward. If the tension is T, its vertical component on either side of
the food is T
y
= T sin . If we take upward as the positive direction, the net vertical force
411
is:
2T sin w = 0
+w
2T sin = w
2 sin
T =
w
2 sin
(11.3)
evaluate
T =
82 N
2 sin 9.5
= 250 N
Notice that from equation (11.3), that as 0, sin 0, and so T .
Problem 1269. Two ropes are attached to the
ceiling, and their free ends are tied together.
A block with weight w is hung from the point
where the ropes are joined. Rope A makes an
angle of 51
to the horizontal; rope B makes an

angle of 68
to the horizontal. The tension in

rope B is T
B
= 138 N. What is the weight w of
the block? Round your answer to the nearest
newton.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
A
51
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
B
68
w
Solution: Since the weight isnt accelerating to the left or to the right, we know
that the net horizontal force on it is zero. The only horizontal forces acting on it are the
horizontal components of the tensions in the ropes. Thus these two must be equal:
T
A
cos 51
= T
B
sin 68
T
A
=
T
B
cos 68
cos 51
Since the weight isnt accelerating up or down, the net vertical force on it is zero. The
vertical forces are the weight w pulling down, and the vertical components of T
A
and T
B
pulling up. Hence:
w = T
A
sin 51
+T
B
sin 68
=
T
B
cos 68
sin 51
cos 51
+T
B
sin 68
Since T
B
= 138 N,
w = (138 N) [cos 68
tan 51
+ sin 68
] = 192 N
412
Problem 1270. A hanging mass with weight
w is suspended by two thin ropes, labelled A
and B. Rope A makes an angle of
A
with
the horizontal; rope B makes an angle of
B
with the horizontal. The tension in rope A is
T
A
; the tension in rope B is T
B
. Which of the
following equations represents the condition for
static equilibrium of the hanging-mass system
in the horizontal direction?
w
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

A
T
A

B
T
B
*(a) T
A
cos
A
= T
B
cos
B
(b) T
A
sin
A
= T
B
sin
B
(c) T
A
cos
B
= T
B
cos
A
(d) T
A
sin
B
= T
B
sin
A
(e) None of these
Solution: The hanging mass is not moving, so the net force on it must be zero. The
net horizontal force is the sum of the horizontal components of the tensions in the two
ropes: T
A
cos
A
, pulling to the left; and T
B
cos
B
, pulling to the right. Since the net
horizontal force must be zero, T
A
cos
A
= T
B
cos
B
.
Problem 1271. A hanging mass with weight
w is suspended by two thin ropes, labelled A
A
with
the horizontal; rope B makes an angle of
B
with the horizontal. The tension in rope A is
T
A
B
. Which of the
following equations represents the condition for
static equilibrium of the hanging-mass system
in the vertical direction?
w
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

A
T
A

B
T
B
(a) w = T
A
cos
A
+T
B
cos
B
(b) w =
T
A
cos
A
+
T
B
cos
B
*(c) w = T
A
sin
A
+T
B
sin
B
(d) w =
T
A
sin
A
+
T
B
sin
B
(e) None of these
Solution: The hanging mass is not moving, so the net force on it must be zero.
The vertical forces acting on it are the weight w, pulling downward; and the vertical
components of the tensions in the two ropes, T
A
sin
A
and T
B
sin
B
, both pulling upward.
Since the net vertical force must be zero, w = T
A
sin
A
+T
B
sin
B
.
413
Problem 1272. A block with weight w = 130
N is suspended by two thin ropes, labelled A
A
= 37
with the horizontal; rope B makes an angle of
B
= 54
with the horizontal. The tension in

rope A is T
A
B
. Find
T
A
; round your answer to the nearest newton.
w
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

A
T
A

B
T
B
(a) 62 N (b) 69 N
*(c) 76 N (d) 85 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The block is not moving, so the net force on it must be zero. The net force
in the horizontal direction is the sum of the horizontal components of the two tensions:
T
A
cos
A
pulling leftward; and T
B
cos
B
pulling rightward. The net force in the vertical
direction is the sum of the weight w, pulling downward; and the vertical components of
the two tensions, T
A
sin
A
and T
B
sin
B
, pulling upward. Thus we get two equations
that we can solve for the two variables T
A
and T
B
:
T
A
cos
A
= T
B
cos
B
T
A
sin
A
+T
B
sin
B
= w
We want to solve for T
A
, so we will begin by solving the rst equation for T
B
, then
substitute into the second equation.
T
A
cos
A
= T
B
cos
B
cos
B
T
B
=
T
A
cos
A
cos
B
substitute
T
A
sin
A
+
T
A
cos
A
sin
B
cos
B
= w
cos
B
T
A
sin
A
cos
B
+T
A
cos
A
sin
B
= wcos
B
factor
T
A
(sin
A
cos
B
+ cos
A
sin
B
) = wcos
B
divide
T
A
=
wcos
B
sin
A
cos
B
+ cos
A
sin
B
trig identity
T
A
=
wcos
B
sin(
A
+
B
)
=
(130 N) cos 54
sin 37
cos 54
+ cos 37
sin 54
= 76 N
414
Problem 1273. A block with weight w = 130
N is suspended by two thin ropes, labelled A
A
= 37
with the horizontal; rope B makes an angle of
B
= 54
with the horizontal. The tension in

rope A is T
A
B
. Find
T
B
; round your answer to the nearest newton.
w
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

A
T
A

B
T
B
(a) 93 N *(b) 104 N
(c) 115 N (d) 128 N
(e) None of these
T
A
cos
A
B
cos
B
direction is the sum of the weight w, pulling downward; and the vertical components of
the two tensions, T
A
sin
A
and T
B
sin
B
, pulling upward. Thus we get two equations
that we can solve for the two variables T
A
and T
B
:
T
A
cos
A
= T
B
cos
B
T
A
sin
A
+T
B
sin
B
= w
We want to solve for T
B
, so we will begin by solving the rst equation for T
A
, then
substitute into the second equation.
T
A
cos
A
= T
B
cos
B
cos
A
T
A
=
T
B
cos
B
cos
A
substitute
T
B
cos
B
sin
A
cos
A
+T
B
sin
B
= w
cos
A
T
B
cos
B
sin
A
+T
B
sin
B
cos
A
= wcos
A
factor
T
B
(cos
B
sin
A
+ sin
B
cos
A
) = wcos
A
divide
T
B
=
wcos
A
cos
B
sin
A
+ sin
B
cos
A
trig identity
T
A
=
wcos
A
sin(
A
+
B
)
=
(130 N) cos 37
cos 54
sin 37
+ sin 54
cos 37
= 104 N
415
Problem 1274. (Lab Derive Problem) You
walk into the lab and nd a block hanging from
the ceiling suspended by two threads as shown
in the gure to the right. Using a scale, you
nd the weight of the block w
block
. Using a pro-
tractor, you nd the angle between the ceiling
and the left-hand string to be
L
. Similarly,
R
is the angle between the ceiling and the right-
hand thread. From this information determine
the tensions in the threads: T
L
and T
R
.
w
block
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

L
T
L

R
T
R
T
L
cos
L
R
cos
R
direction is the sum of the weight of the block w
block
, pulling downward; and the vertical
components of the two tensions, T
L
sin
L
and T
R
sin
R
, pulling upward. Thus we get
two equations that we can solve for the two variables T
L
and T
R
:
T
L
cos
L
= T
R
cos
R
T
L
sin
L
+T
R
sin
R
= w
block
The order in which we solve for the tensions is arbitrary, so well solve for T
R
. We will
begin by solving the rst equation for T
L
, then substitute this result into the second
equation.
T
L
cos
L
= T
R
cos
R
cos
L
T
L
=
_
cos
R
cos
L
_
T
R
substitute
__
cos
R
cos
L
_
T
R
_
sin
L
+T
R
sin
R
= w
block
cos
L
T
R
sin
L
cos
R
+T
R
sin
R
cos
L
= w
block
cos
L
factor
T
R
(sin
L
cos
R
+ sin
R
cos
L
) = w
block
cos
L
trig identity
T
R
sin(
L
+
R
) = w
block
cos
L
divide
T
R
=
_
cos
L
sin(
L
+
R
)
_
w
block
We can now substitute this result back into our equation for T
L
and T
R
to nd T
L
. There
is a faster and more insightful way to solve for T
L
. By symmetry, we can reverse the roles
of the left and right angles, just call the left angle right and the right angle left (i.e., just
switch the left and right subscripts) to get
T
L
=
_
cos
R
sin(
R
+
L
)
_
w
block
=
_
cos
R
sin(
L
+
R
)
_
w
block
.
416
Problem 1275. Two blocks with weights w
A
and w
B
are held in place on a frictionless in-
clined plane by two thin ropes, as shown at
right. One rope connects block A to a wall at
the top of the plane; a second rope connects
block B to block A. Both ropes are parallel to
the inclined plane, which makes an angle of
with the horizontal. What is the tension T
AB
in the rope that connects blocks A and B?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
A
T
Aw
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
B
T
AB
x
\
\
\
y
(a) w
B
cos *(b) w
B
sin
(c) (w
A
+w
B
) cos (d) (w
A
+w
B
) sin
(e) None of these
Solution: Begin by drawing a free-body
diagram for each block. We will take the x-
axis as pointing up the slope, and the y-axis
as perpendicular to the slope pointing upward:
see the axes sketched on the upper gure.
There are only two forces acting in the x-
direction on block B: the tension T
AB
in the
positive direction, and the x-component of the
weight w
Bx
= w
B
sin in the negative direc-
tion. Since the system is in static equilib-
rium, the net force on block B is zero; so
T
AB
= w
B
sin .
u
-
w
B
w
Bx
w
By
`
N
B
T
AB
u
-
w
A
w
Ax
w
Ay
`
N
A
T
Aw
T
AB
417
A
and w
B
with the horizontal. What is the tension T
Awall
in the rope that connects block A to the wall?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
A
T
Awall
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
B
T
AB
x
\
\
\
y
(a) w
A
cos (b) w
A
sin
(c) (w
A
+w
B
) cos *(d) (w
A
+w
B
) sin
(e) None of these
There are only two forces acting in the x-
direction on block B: the tension T
AB
in the
positive direction, and the x-component of the
weight w
Bx
= w
B
sin in the negative direc-
tion. Since the system is in static equilib-
rium, the net force on block B is zero; so
T
AB
= w
B
sin .
u
-
w
B
w
Bx
w
By
`
N
B
T
AB
u
-
w
A
w
Ax
w
Ay
`
N
A
T
Awall
T
AB
Now we can look at the forces acting on block A. There are three forces in the x-direction:
T
AB
and the x-component of the weight, w
Ax
= w
A
sin , both pulling in the negative
x-direction; and T
Awall
in the positive x-direction. (Since the ropes are thin, we assume
that T
AB
doesnt change over the length of the rope.) Since the system is in static
equilibrium, the net force on block A must be zero; so
T
Awall
= w
Ax
+T
AB
= w
A
sin +w
B
sin = (w
A
+w
B
) sin
418
A
and w
B
with the horizontal. What is the magnitude of
the force that the plane exerts on block B?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
A
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
B
x
\
\
\
y
*(a) w
B
cos (b) w
B
sin
(c) (w
A
+w
B
) cos (d) (w
A
+w
B
) sin
(e) None of these
There are only two forces acting in the y-
direction on block B: the normal force N
B
in
the positive y-direction, and the y-component
of the blocks weight, w
By
= w
B
cos . Since
the block is in static equilibrium, the net force
on it is zero; so N
B
= w
B
cos .
u
-
w
B
w
Bx
w
By
`
N
B
T
AB
u
-
w
A
w
Ax
w
Ay
`
N
A
T
Aw
T
AB
419
A
and w
B
with the horizontal. What is magnitude of the
force that the plane exerts on block A?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
A
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
B
x
\
\
\
y
*(a) w
A
cos (b) w
A
sin
(c) (w
A
+w
B
) cos (d) (w
A
+w
B
) sin
(e) None of these
There are only two forces acting in the y-
direction on block A: the normal force N
A
in
the positive y-direction, and the y-component
of the blocks weight, w
Ay
= w
A
cos . Since
the block is in static equilibrium, the net force
on it is zero; so N
A
= w
A
cos .
u
-
w
B
w
Bx
w
By
`
N
B
T
AB
u
-
w
A
w
Ax
w
Ay
`
N
A
T
Aw
T
AB
Problem 1279. Two forces with magnitudes F
1
and F
2
are acting on an object. Which
of the following inequalities always hold for the magnitude of the net force F
net
on the
object?
(a) F
1
F
net
F
2
(b) (F
1
F
2
)/2 F
net
(F
1
+F
2
)/2
*(c) [F
1
F
2
[ F
net
F
1
+F
2
(d) F
2
1
F
2
2
F
2
net
F
2
1
+F
2
2
(e) None of these
kg is suspended from two ropes, as shown at
right. The magnitude of the force exerted by
each rope on the object is 139 N; the magnitude
of the force of gravity on the object is 196 N.
What is the magnitude of the net force on the
object?
(a) 47.4 N (b) 33.5 N
(c) 13.9 N *(d) 0 N
(e) None of these
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
20 kg
Solution: The system is static, so the net force is zero.
420
11.2.2 Block and pulley frictionless systems
Key Idea: Frictionless block-and-pulley systems are just one-dimensional systems in
disguise! The system sits in two dimensions, but can be converted to a one-dimensional
system. The background space is known as the ambient space and the system can be
shown to be one dimensional by mathematical arguments from a eld known as Topology.
We will just take these topological arguments as fact.
Problem 1281. A rope, one end of which is attached to a ceiling, passes through a
pulley and then goes straight upward where it is held in place by a man that is standing
on the ground. A weight of 400 N is attached to the pulley. Assuming that the weight
of the pulley can be neglected in comparison to the 400 N weight and that there is no
friction between the pulley and the rope, what upward force must the man exert to hold
the weight in place?
(a) 800 N (b) 640 N
(c) 400 N *(d) 200 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Let W = 400 N be the downward force of the weight, and let T be the
tension of the rope. If you sketch a free-body diagram, it will show a downward force of
W on the pulley, an upward force of T exerted on the pulley by the rope to the ceiling,
and another upward force of T exerted on the pulley by the man pulling upward on the
other end of the rope. Since the pulley isnt moving, the net force must be zero: so
2T = W; so T = W/2 = 200 N.
Problem 1282. Two crates are connected by a
thin rope and sitting on a frictionless horizontal
oor. You are pulling them by a second rope at-
tached to the smaller crate. You pull on your
rope with a horizontal force of P; the tension in
the rope connecting the crates is T. Which of the
following is true of P and T?
P
37 kg
T 89 kg
(a) P < T (b) P = T
*(c) P > T (d) Not enough information; it could be any of these
Solution: P is giving a certain acceleration to the combined mass of both crates. T
is giving the same acceleration to the 89-kg crate alone. Thus T is smaller than P; in
fact,
T =
89 kg
37 kg + 89 kg
P
421
Problem 1283. In your physics lab, you nd the ap-
paratus shown at right. A block with a mass of m
1
is
resting on a horizontal table. A light string runs hor-
izontally from the block, over a massless frictionless
pulley, and down to a hanging bucket. The coecient
of static friction between the block and the table is
s
, and the coecient of kinetic friction between the
block and the table is
k
. Initially, the system does
not move. You slowly add water to the bucket until
the system starts moving. At this point, what is the
weight w of the bucket?
w
m
1
given:
s
given:
k
(a) m
1
(b) m
1
g
(c)
s
m
1
g (d)
k
m
1
g
Solution: The system is initially at rest, so you must add water to the bucket until its
weight is sucient to overcome the static friction of the block on the table. This occurs
when W =
s
N =
s
Mg, where N is the normal force on the block from the table.
Problem 1284. (Lab Problem) In your physics
lab, you nd the apparatus shown at right. A block
with a weight of 60 N is resting on a horizontal table.
A light string runs horizontally from the block, over
a massless frictionless pulley, and down to a hanging
bucket. The coecient of static friction between the
block and the table is
s
= 0.6, and the coecient
of kinetic friction between the block and the table is
k
= 0.2. Initially, the system does not move. You
slowly add water to the bucket until the system starts
moving. At this point, what is the weight w of the
bucket?
w
60 N
s
= 0.6
k
= 0.2
(a) 12 N *(b) 36 N
(c) 48 N (d) 60 N
Solution: The system is initially at rest, so you must add water to the bucket until its
weight is sucient to overcome the static friction of the block on the table. This occurs
when W =
s
60 N = (0.6)(60 N) = 36 N.
422
Problem 1285. In your physics lab, you nd the
apparatus shown at right. A glider with a weight of
m
1
is resting on a horizontal air-track with the air
o. A light string runs horizontally from the glider,
over a massless frictionless pulley, and down to a
hanging block with a weight of m
2
. The coecient
of static friction between the glider and the air-track
is
s
, and the coecient of kinetic friction between
the glider and the air-track is
k
. The coecients of
friction are assumed known. After the glider-string-
block system have been released to move freely, and
before the hanging block has hit the oor, what is
the tension T in the string?
m
2
m
1
s
>
k
(a)
_
m
1
m
1
+m
2
_
(1 +
k
)g *(b)
_
m
1
m
2
m
1
+m
2
_
(1 +
k
)g
(c)
_
m
1
m
2
m
1
+m
2
_
(1
k
)g (d)
_
m
1
+m
2
m
1
m
2
_
(1 +
k
)g
Solution: First, you should determine a condition between m
1
and m
2
that assures
us that the system moves when the glider-block system is released. The maximal static
friction of the glider on the air-track is f
k
=
s
N
1
=
s
m
1
g. That is, we need m
2
g >
s
m
1
g m
2
>
s
m
1
. This is our condition for motion.
Assuming the system will move, we can determine the forces on it. We will rst analyze
the forces on the two separate subsystems: mass m
1
and m
2
, and then we will connect
them by examining the combined system: glider, massless string, and hanging-mass. We
will connect the forces on the systems by observing that because the string is taunt and
assumed not to stretch, that the velocity and the acceleration of the two masses must be
the same.
423
The glider m
1
: If we take the x
1
-axis for m
1
to point in the
direction of motion and the y
1
-axis to point upward, then applying
Newtons second law we arrive at the system of equations:
F
net1,x
= T
1
f
k
= m
1
a
1,x
,
F
net1,y
= N
1
m
1
g = m
1
a
1,y
= 0 ,
where weve used the fact that the glider does not move in the
vertical direct, so a
y,1
= 0 (see free-body diagram).
u
T
1
m
1
g
`
N
1
f
k
free-body diagram
for mass m
1
From the second equation we have
N
1
= m
1
g f
k
=
k
N
1
=
k
m
1
g .
Upon substituting this equation into the rst equation we have
T
1
= f
k
+m
1
a
1,x
=
k
m
1
g +m
1
a
1,x
.
The hanging mass m
2
: Since the motion of m
2
is pure vertical, we only need a y
2
-
axis to describe the motion. We take the y
2
-axis pointing downward in the direction of
motion. Applying Newtons second law to mass m
2
, we arrive at the system of equations:
F
net1,y
= m
2
g T
2
= m
2
a
2,y
T
2
= m
2
g m
2
a
2,y
.
By hypothesis, the pulley is massless and frictionless, so it only serves to redirect the
forces. Thus, T
1
= T
2
and we have
T
1
= T =
k
m
1
g +m
1
a
1,x
,
T
2
= T = m
2
g m
2
a
2,y
.
Equating these equations through T and using the fact that since the glider and hanging
mass are connected by a string, they move as one and therefore have the same magnitude
of acceleration (i.e., a
1,x
= a
2,y
= a) gives the following equation for a
k
m
1
g +m
1
a = T = m
2
g m
2
a
re-arraging terms
(m
1
+m
2
)a = (m
2
k
m
1
)g
(m
1
+m
2
)
a =
_
m
2
k
m
1
m
1
+m
2
_
g
424
We can now use a to determine T.
T = m
2
g m
2
a
= m
2
g m
2
_
m
2
k
m
1
m
1
+m
2
_
g
=
_
(m
1
m
2
+m
2
2
) (m
2
2
k
m
1
m
2
)
m
1
+m
2
_
g
=
_
m
1
m
2
m
1
+m
2
_
(1 +
k
)g
As a check on our formulas that we found for acceleration and tension, lets ask what
happens if the mass of the glider goes to zero (i.e., m
1
0
+
)? Then a = g and T = 0
as would be expected since the hanging mass would then be in free fall. Notice that we
cannot let m
2
go to zero because of the constraint m
2
>
s
m
1
> 0.
425
Problem 1286. (Lab Problem) This problem has a fundamental mistake in
it, can you nd it?
A glider is sitting at rest on a horizontal frictionless air track. A light string is attached
to a light string that runs over a massless frictionless pulley and attaches to a hanging
mass of 1 kg. The system is held in place and released from rest. Using photo gates that
are placed 1 m apart the time is measured to be 2 s. Assuming that the string remains
horizontal and taunt throughout the entire run, what is the mass of the glider? For ease
of computation take g to be 10 m/s
2
. Round your answer to the nearest kilogram.
(a) 1 kg (b) 2 kg
(c) 4 kg (d) 19 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: The massless, frictionless pulley justies the assumption that the tension
is the same throughout the string, from which it follows that there is a constant
horizontal force on the glider of mg = 10 N from the hanging weight. This force has
been transmitted through the string. Recall that a pulley is a machine that redirects
force. The light string means that we can ignore the mass of the string.
The mistake is highlighted in italics: as the hanging weight falls, it acceler-
ates, so its apparent weight increases since its in an accelerating frame of
reference. This leads to an increase in tension. If you sketch a free-body diagram
of the glider, youll see that the only horizontal force is the constant 1 N. Theres no net
vertical force.
Given: F
net
= 1 N; v
i
= 0 m/s; x = 1 m; and t = 2s;
Want: m = ?
Note: We dont know, nor do we want v
f
.
If we try to solve for m directly using Newtons second law, we get stuck:
F
net
= ma
a
m =
F
net
a
=
1 N
a
(11.4)
We need to use one of our three fundamental kinetic equations to nd a. Since we know
x, v
i
= 0, and t, we can use
x = v
i
t +
1
2
at
2
=
at
2
2
2/t
2
a =
2x
t
2
(11.5)
Substituting equation (11.5) into equation (11.4) gives us
m =
F
net
t
2
2x
=
(1 N)(2 s)
2
2(1 m)
= 2 kg
426
apparatus shown at right. A tank of water is rest-
ing on a horizontal frictionless table. A light string
runs horizontally from the tank, over a massless fric-
tionless pulley, and down to a hanging block with a
mass of m
1
. You add increasing amounts of water to
the tank, each time releasing the system and observ-
ing its motion or lack thereof. How does the system
behave as you increase the mass m
2
of the tank?
m
1
m
2
(a) The acceleration does not change, since there is no friction and m
1
remains
constant.
(b) The system accelerates as long as m
2
< m
1
; when m
2
= m
1
, the system no
longer accelerates.
(c) The system moves as long as m
2
< m
1
; when m
2
= m
1
, the system no longer
moves.
*(d) The system always accelerates; but the acceleration gets smaller as m
2
becomes
larger.
Solution: Since there is no friction, the system always accelerates, no matter how
large m
2
is. However, since the force remains the same (F = m
1
g), and since the mass
of the system is m
1
+ m
2
, increasing m
2
increases the mass of the system and decreases
a. In fact,
a =
m
1
g
m
1
+m
2
427
Problem 1288. (Derive Lab Problem) In your
physics lab, you nd the apparatus shown at right.
A block with mass m
1
is resting on a horizontal
air-track with the air turned o. A light string
runs horizontally from the block, over a massless
frictionless pulley, and down to a hanging bucket.
The coecient of static friction between the block
and the track is
s
, and the coecient of kinetic
friction between the block and the table is
k
<
s
.
Initially, the system does not move. You slowly add
water to the bucket until the system just starts to
move. Call this moment in time t = t
0
= 0; at this
time, call the mass of the bucket of water m
2
.
m
2
m
1
k
<
s
Note: Not drawn to scale.
Setup: For the block, take the x
1
-axis in the direction of motion along the table and
the y
1
-axis going upward. Take the y
2
-axis pointing downward, in the direction of mo-
tion. Let the origin along the x
1
-axis be the initial position of the block with mass m
1
(x
1,i
= 0). The initial velocity of mass m
1
is zero (at t = 0, v
1,i
= 0).
(a) Find the value of m
2
: that is, nd m
2
such that the force of gravity on the hanging
bucket is just enough to overcome the force of static friction on the block with mass m
1
.
(b) Find a formula for the initial acceleration of the system, denoted a
sys
.
(c) Assuming that the initial position and velocity of the block with mass m
1
is zero,
nd an equation for its position as a function of time: x
1
= x
1
(t). Ignore the fact that
the block will eventually crash into the pulley.
Solution: Work it out!
428
Problem 1289. (Derive Problem) In your physics lab, you nd the apparatus shown
below. A glider with mass m
1
is resting on a horizontal air track. A light string runs hori-
zontally from the glider, over a massless frictionless pulley, and down to a hanging bucket.
The air track is specially designed so that the coecient of static friction between the
glider and the air track is
s
> 0 (a constant), and the coecient of kinetic friction
between the block and the table is
k
=
s
e
x
(a function of position) provided that
the front of the glider is initially at rest at a location marked as the origin on the air
track. The coecient of static friction between the block and the table is
s
(a constant),
and the coecient of kinetic friction between the block and the table is
k
=
s
e
x
(a
function of position). Initially, the system does not move. You slowly add water to the
bucket until the system just starts to move. Call this moment the initial time t
0
= 0;
at this time, call the mass of the bucket of water m
2
. Dene the initial position of the
center of mass for block m
1
to be the origin and take the initial velocity to be zero, since
the block starts from rest.
m
2
m
1
k
=
s
e
x
The Coordinate System: For the glider, take the x
1
-axis in the direction of motion
along the table and the y
1
-axis going upward. Take the y
2
-axis pointing downward, in
the direction of motion. Let the origin along the x
1
-axis be the initial position of the
glider with mass m
1
(x
1,i
= 0). Since the direction of motion is one dimensional, you can
simplify things by letting x = x
1
= y
2
.
The Setup and Initial Conditions: Take the initial position of the glider to be at the
origin dened above (i.e., x
1,i
= 0) and the initial velocity of the two-mass-plus-string
system to be zero at time t
0
= 0. Take the point of zero potential to be y
2
= initial
height of the hanging mass m
2
. This is equivalent to taking x = 0 as the point of zero
potential.
The Problem: Find an equation for the mechanical energy of the system as a function
of time and position:
K.E.
sys
(x, t) +P.E.
sys
(x, t) = D(x, t) ,
429
where D(x, t) is a dissipation term. Ignore the fact that the glider will eventually crash
into the pulley, or the hanging mass will hit the ground. Your model is only designed to
describe the motion in the interim time.
Comments, Advice, and Hints:
Comment (1): The rst step is to determine if the system will even move! To do this
you will need to nd the force exerted by the hanging weight m
2
that over comes the
force of static friction. That is, nd m
2
such that the force of gravity on the hanging
bucket plus water is just enough to overcome the force of static friction f
s,max
on the
block with mass m
1
.
Comment (2): Notice that the coecient of kinetic friction
k
is a function of position!
We have never solved such a problem in class! However, we have solved a similar equation
in the new lab 6.
Comment (3): Be sure to clearly label all of the intermediate steps in comments (1)-(3).
If I have to go searching for them, I will take points o.
Advice: To nd the kinetic and potential energy, and any possible dissipation term for
the system, as a function of position and time, you will need to rst nd a formula for the
initial acceleration of the system a
sys
as a function of time t and position x and integrate
the system using the initial conditions. When you get your result, ask yourself what is
the source of the kinetic energy of the system, and what is the source of the potential
energy of the system. Also, ask yourself: is the system mechanically conservative? If not,
then what are the sources of energy loss? Can you identify these terms in the equation?
Hint: To perform one integration on a dierential equation of the form:
d
2
x
dt
2
+
dF(x(t))
dx
= constant ,
The standard trick is to multiple the equation by the velocity term v = x and integrate
the equation using the chain rule together with the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
(FTC). With this hint, you can solve the resulting equation with the techniques that you
learn in Calculus 1 (a prerequisite for the course).
Solution: Work it out!
430
Problem 1290. Two identical blocks, each
with mass m, are attached to opposite ends of a
thin rope that passes over a massless frictionless
pulley. The pulley is suspended from the ceiling
by a thin chain. Draw a free-body diagram for
each block, and one for the block-pulley system.
Solution: The diagrams are drawn to the
right of the illustration. The diagram on the
left is for an individual block; the one on the
right is for the block-pulley system.
m
m
r
u
`
T
rope
w
b
= mg
u
`
T
chain
w
sys
= 2mg
with mass m, are attached to opposite ends of
a thin rope that passes over a massless friction-
less pulley. The pulley is suspended from the
ceiling by a thin chain. What is the tension in
the chain holding up the pulley-block system?
(a) 0 (b) mg/2
(c) mg *(d) 2mg
Solution: A free-body diagram for the
pulley-blocks system is sketched at right. There
are two forces acting on the system: the weight
w = 2mg pulling down; and the tension T
chain
pulling up. Since the system is in static equi-
librium, F
net
= 0; so T
chain
= 2mg.
m
m
r
u
`
T
chain
w = 2mg
with mass m, are attached to opposite ends of
a thin rope that passes over a massless friction-
less pulley. The pulley is suspended from the
ceiling by a thin chain. What is the tension in
the rope?
(a) 0 (b) mg/2
*(c) mg (d) 2mg
Solution: A free-body diagram for one
of the blocks is sketched at right. There are
only two forces acting on the block: the weight
w = mg pulling downward, and the tension
T
rope
pulling upward. Since the system is in
static equilibrium, F
net
= 0; so T
rope
= mg.
m
m
r
u
`
T
rope
w = mg
431
apparatus at right. A block with mass M
1
is on a
frictionless slope. A thin string from the block runs
parallel to the slope, up to and over a massless fric-
tionless pulley, then down to a second block with
mass M
2
. Initially, the system is in static equilib-
rium. If it is shaken slightly, what will the system
do?
M
2
M
1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
u
(a) The rst block will accelerate up the slope; the second will accelerate downward.
(b) The rst block will accelerate down the slope; the second will accelerate upward.
*(c) The blocks will not accelerate.
Solution: Since the system is in static equilibrium and there is no friction, the
downward force of gravity on M
2
equals the component of the gravitational force on M
1
parallel to the slope. Vibrating the system doesnt change this; the net force on the
system will still be zero afterward, so it wont accelerate in either direction.
Problem 1294. A block with mass m
1
is on a fric-
tionless ramp that makes an angle of to the hori-
zontal. A thin string runs from the block, parallel to
the ramp, up and over a massless frictionless pulley,
and down to a hanging block with mass m
2
. The
system is held in place, then released. If the blocks
do not move after the release, which of the following
must be true?
*(a) m
1
sin = m
2
(b) m
2
sin = m
1
(c) m
1
cos = m
2
(d) m
2
cos = m
1
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram for each
of the blocks, as at right. Since the rope is thin
and the pulley is massless and frictionless, we
assume that the tension in the rope is constant
over its entire length. In the diagram for the
sliding block, we take the x-direction as parallel to
the slope, and the y-direction as perpendicular to it.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
m
2
>
>>
`
`
`
>
>>
`
`
`
m
1
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
u
u
m
2
w
2
= m
2
g
`
T
u
m
1
w
1
= m
1
g
>
>
>
T
`
`
`
`
`
N
`
`
`
`
`
w
1y
>
>
>.
w
1x
If the system does not move, then the net force on each block must be zero. For the
hanging block, this means that T = w
2
= m
2
g. For the sliding block, the net force in
the x-direction must be zero; so T = w
1x
= m
1
g sin . Combining these, we get
T = m
1
g sin = m
2
g m
1
sin = m
2
432
Problem 1295. A block with mass m
1
is on a
frictionless ramp that makes an angle of to the
horizontal. A thin string runs from the block,
parallel to the ramp, up and over a massless
frictionless pulley, and down to a hanging block
with mass m
2
. The system is held in place,
then released. What is the acceleration of the
hanging block? Use downward as the positive
direction.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
m
2
>
>>
`
`
`
>
>>
`
`
`
m
1
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
u
(a)
(m
2
m
1
cos )g
m
1
+m
2
*(b)
(m
2
m
1
sin )g
m
1
+m
2
(c)
(m
2
m
1
cos )g
m
2
(d)
(m
2
m
1
sin )g
m
2
(e) None of these
of the blocks, as at right. Since the rope is thin and
the pulley is massless and frictionless, we assume
that the tension in the rope is constant over its
entire length. In the diagram for the sliding block,
we take the x-direction as parallel to the slope, and
the y-direction as perpendicular to it.
We know the masses m
1
and m
2
, the angle , and
the gravitational acceleration g. We dont know
the tension in the rope T. We want to know the
acceleration of the hanging block; and since the two
blocks are connected by a taut rope, the accelera-
tion of the sliding block must have equal magnitude.
u
m
2
w
2
= m
2
g
`
T
u
m
1
w
1
= m
1
g
>
>
>
T
`
`
`
`
`
N
`
`
`
`
`
w
1y
>
>
>.
w
1x
The net force acting on the hanging block in the positive (downward) direction is F
2
=
m
2
g T. The net force acting on the sliding block in the same direction (up the slope)
is F
1
= T m
1
g sin . The net force acting on the whole system is
F
net
= F
1
+F
2
= T m
1
g sin +m
2
g T = m
2
g m
1
g sin
The mass of the system is m
1
+ m
2
; so by Newtons second law, the acceleration of the
system is
a =
F
net
m
system
=
(m
2
m
1
sin )g
m
1
+m
2
433
Problem 1296. A block with a mass of 50 kg is on
a frictionless ramp that makes an angle of 30
to the
horizontal. A thin string runs parallel to the ramp
from the block to a massless frictionless pulley, then
down to a second block with a mass of 30 kg. The
system is initially held in place, then released. What
is the acceleration of the hanging (30 kg) block?
2
. [The
picture is not drawn to scale.]
(a) 0.6 m/s
2
upward *(b) 0.6 m/s
2
downward
(c) 1.6 m/s
2
upward (d) 1.6 m/s
2
downward
30 kg
50 kg
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
u
Solution: Since the pulley is massless and frictionless and since the string is massless,
the tension is the same throughout the length of the string: T.
Sketch a free-body diagram of each block. The hanging block is easy: the weight w
1
=
m
1
g pulling straight down, and the tension T pulling straight up. (Well use the subscripts
1 for the hanging block and 2 for the sliding block.)
The sliding block is more complicated. There are
three forces: the weight w
2
= m
2
g pulling straight
down; the tension T pulling upward parallel to the
slope; and the normal force N pushing upward per-
pendicular to the slope. We decompose w
2
into two
components: w
2
= w
2
sin 30
, parallel to the slope;

and w
2
= w
2
cos 30
, perpendicular to the slope. A

free-body sketch is shown at right.
r
30
w
2
w
2
-
w
2
`
N
We can ignore forces on the sliding block perpendicular to the slope, since theres no
friction. We will take forces as positive if they tend to move the system so that the
hanging block moves downward and the sliding block moves upward. The net force on
the hanging block is F
1
= w
1
T = m
1
g T; the net force parallel to the slope on the
sliding block is F
2
= T w
2
= T m
2
g sin 30
. Then the net force on the whole system

is
F
net, system
= F
1
+F
2
= m
1
g T +T m
2
g sin 30
= m
1
g m
2
g sin 30
By Newtons second law, the acceleration of the system is the net force on the system
divided by the total mass:
a =
F
net, system
m
system
=
m
1
g m
2
g sin 30
m
1
+m
2
=
g(m
1
m
2
sin 30
)
m
1
+m
2
=
(9.8 m/s
2
)[30 kg (50 kg) sin 30
]
30 kg + 50 kg
= 0.6 m/s
2
Since the sign is positive, the hanging block accelerates downward.
434
11.2.3 Accelerometers
Problem 1297. (Accelerometer) A thin
string is attached to the ceiling of a car, and a
lead sinker with mass m is attached to the free
end of the string. The car is going at highway
speed when the driver hits the brakes. While
the car is slowing down, the string makes
an angle of to the vertical. What is the
magnitude of the cars acceleration? Take the
direction of motion to be the positive x-axis
and the y-axis to point upward.
*(a) g tan (b) mg tan
(c)
g
tan
(d)
mg
tan
(e) None of these
\
\
\
\
\\u
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram of the object on the

string. There are two forces acting on it: gravity, pulling straight
downward with a force of w = mg, where m is the mass of the
object; and the tension T in the string, pulling upward and to the
left at an angle of to the vertical. The latter can be decomposed
into its x- and y-components: T
x
= T sin and T
y
= T cos .
Since there is no vertical acceleration, the net force in the y-
direction must be zero: thus
0 = ma
y
= F
net,y
= T
y
w T cos = mg
The only force in the x-direction is T
x
; so it supplies all the
horizontal acceleration. Hence
ma
x
= F
net,x
= T
x
T sin = ma
x
u `
`
`
`
`
`
T
T
x
`
T
y
w
From these, we can calculate :
tan =
T
x
T
y
=
ma
x
mg
=
a
x
g
a
x
= g tan
Note: If we take the x-axis pointing in the initial direction of motion, then a
x
< 0.
435
string is attached to the ceiling of a car, and
a weight is attached to the free end of the
string. The car is going at 43 m/s when the
driver hits the brakes. The cars acceleration
has a magnitude of 2.3 m/s
2
. While the car
is slowing down, what angle does the string
make to the vertical? Take the direction of
motion to be the positive x-axis and the y-axis
to point upward. Round your answer to the
nearest degree.
(a) 11
(b) 12
*(c) 13
(d) 15
\
\
\
\
\\u
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram of the object on the

string. There are two forces acting on it: gravity, pulling straight
downward with a force of w = mg, where m is the mass of the
object; and the tension T in the string, pulling upward and to the
left at an angle of to the vertical. The latter can be decomposed
into its x- and y-components: T
x
= T sin and T
y
= T cos .
Since there is no vertical acceleration, the net force in the y-
direction must be zero: thus
0 = ma
y
= F
net,y
= T
y
w T cos = mg
The only force in the x-direction is T
x
; so it supplies all the
horizontal acceleration. Hence
ma
x
= F
net,x
= T
x
T sin = ma
x
u `
`
`
`
`
`
T
T
x
`
T
y
w
From these, we can calculate :
tan =
T
x
T
y
=
ma
x
mg
=
a
x
g
= tan
1
_
a
x
g
_
= tan
1
_
2.3 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
_
= 13
Note: If we take the x-axis pointing in the initial direction of motion, then
a
x
< 0 a
x
> 0 > 0 .
436
string is attached to the ceiling of a car, and a
lead sinker with mass m is attached to the free
end of the string. The car is going at highway
speed when the driver hits the brakes, produc-
ing an acceleration with magnitude a
x
. While
the car is slowing down, the string makes an
angle of to the vertical. What is ? Take the
direction of motion to be the positive x-axis and
the y-axis to point upward.
(a) = tan
_
g
a
x
_
(b) = tan
1
_
g
a
x
_
(c) = tan
_
a
x
g
_
*(d) = tan
1
_
a
x
g
_
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram for
the sinker, as at right. There are two forces
acting on it: the tension in the string T, pulling
upward and to the left; and the weight w = mg,
pulling straight down. While the car is slowing
down, the sinker has a horizontal acceleration
of a
x
and no vertical acceleration.
\
\
\
\
\\u
m
u `
`
`
`
`
`
T
`
T
y
= T cos
T
x
= T sin
w = mg
Since there is no vertical acceleration, the two vertical forces must be equal and opposite:
T
y
= T cos = mg. The only horizontal force is T
x
= T sin ; so ma
x
= F
net,x
= T sin .
We can eliminate the unknowns T and m by taking the ratio of these two equations:
T cos = mg and T sin = ma
x
T sin
T cos
=
sin
cos
= tan =
ma
x
mg
=
a
x
g
= tan
1
_
a
x
g
_
= tan
1
_
a
x
g
_
In the last step we used the fact that the arctan is an odd function to factor out the
negative sign.
437
11.2.4 Static and kinetic friction problems
Problem 1300. (Similarity Problem) You are pushing a crate of physics books across
a concrete oor, with friction present. If you push with a horizontal force of F
1
, the crate
experiences an acceleration a
1
. If you increase the horizontal force to F
2
= 2F
1
, the
acceleration is a
2
. What is the relationship between a
2
and a
1
?
(a) a
2
= a
1
(b) a
1
< a
2
< 2a
1
(c) a
2
= 2a
1
*(d) a
2
> 2a
1
Solution: If you push the crate hard enough to move it, then the net horizontal force
on it is your pushing force minus the force of kinetic friction. In the rst case, thats
F
1
f
k
. If you push with twice the horizontal force, it doesnt aect the friction; so in
the second case, the net horizontal force on the crate is 2F
1
f
k
> 2(F
1
f
k
). Since
the mass of the crate doesnt change from the rst case to the second, the acceleration
is proportional to the net horizontal force; so a
2
> 2a
1
.
Problem 1301. Two blocks, one with mass m
1
and one with mass m
2
, are connected by a thin hor-
izontal rope. A second horizontal rope is attached
to the block with mass m
1
and pulled to the left
with a force whose magnitude is P. The coecient
of kinetic friction between each block and the oor
is
k
. If the blocks move at a constant velocity,
what is the tension T in the rope connecting the
two blocks?
(a) m
1
g
k
(b) (m
2
+m
1
)g
k
*(c) m
2
g
k
(d) (m
2
m
1
)
k
(e) None of these
block, as at right. Let T be the tension in the rope
connecting the two boxes.
P
m
1
T
m
2
u
f
2k
w
2
= m
2
g
`
N
2
u
f
1k
w
1
= m
1
g
`
N
1
Since the oor is horizontal, N
1
= m
1
g and N
2
= m
2
g. Hence f
1k
=
k
m
1
g and
f
2k
=
k
m
2
g. Since the blocks are moving at constant velocity, the net force on each is
zero. For block 2, this means that
T = f
2k
= m
2
g
k
438
1
and one with mass m
2
, are connected by a thin hor-
izontal rope. A second horizontal rope is attached
to the block with mass m
1
and pulled to the left
with a force whose magnitude is P. The coecient
of kinetic friction between each block and the oor
is
k
. If the blocks move at a constant velocity,
what is P?
(a) 0 *(b) (m
1
+m
2
)g
k
(c) m
1
k
(d) (m
2
m
1
)
k
(e) None of these
P
m
1
T
m
2
u
f
2k
w
2
= m
2
g
`
N
2
u
f
1k
w
1
= m
1
g
`
N
1
1
= m
1
g and N
2
= m
2
g. Hence f
1k
=
k
m
1
g and
f
2k
=
k
m
2
zero. For block 2, this means that T = f
2k
=
k
m
2
g. For block 1, it means that
P = f
1k
+T =
k
m
1
g +
k
m
2
g = (m
1
+m
2
)g
k
1
=
3 kg and one with mass m
2
= 7 kg, are connected
by a thin horizontal rope. A second horizontal rope
is attached to the block with mass m
1
and pulled to
the left with a force whose magnitude is P. The co-
ecient of kinetic friction between each block and
the oor is
k
= 0.4. If the blocks move at a con-
stant velocity, what is P? For ease of calculation,
assume that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 12 N (b) 16 N
(c) 28 N *(d) 40 N
(e) None of these
P
m
1
T
m
2
u
f
2k
w
2
= m
2
g
`
N
2
u
f
1k
w
1
= m
1
g
`
N
1
1
= m
1
g and N
2
= m
2
g. Hence f
1k
=
k
m
1
g and
f
2k
=
k
m
2
zero. For block 2, this means that T = f
2k
=
k
m
2
g. For block 1, it means that
P = f
1k
+T =
k
m
1
g +
k
m
2
g = (m
1
+m
2
)g
k
= (3 kg + 7 kg)(10 m/s
2
)(0.4) = 40 N
439
1
=
3 kg and one with mass m
2
= 5 kg, are connected
by a thin horizontal rope. A second horizontal rope
is attached to the block with mass m
1
and pulled to
the left with a force whose magnitude is P. The co-
ecient of kinetic friction between each block and
the oor is
k
= 0.2. If the blocks move at a con-
stant velocity, what is the tension T in the rope
connecting the two blocks? For ease of calculation,
assume that g = 10 m/s
2
.
(a) 6 N (b) 8 N
*(c) 10 N (d) 16 N
(e) None of these
P
m
1
T
m
2
u
f
2k
w
2
= m
2
g
`
N
2
u
f
1k
w
1
= m
1
g
`
N
1
1
= m
1
g and N
2
= m
2
g. Hence f
1k
=
k
m
1
g and
f
2k
=
k
m
2
zero. For block 2, this means that
T = f
2k
= m
2
g
k
= (5 kg)(10 m/s
2
)(0.2) = 10 N
440
Problem 1305. You are towing a block on a horizontal surface, using a rope that makes
an angle of to the horizontal. The block has a mass of m; the coecient of kinetic
friction between the block and the oor is
k
. As you pull the block, you are giving the
block a forward acceleration of a. What is the tension T in the rope, expressed in terms
of m, a, ,
k
, and the gravitation g?
(a) (mg
k
+a) cos *(b)
m(g
k
+a)
cos +
k
sin
(c)
m(g
k
+a)
cos
(d) mg
k
+a
(e) None of these
m
.
.
.
.
T
Solution: The rst step is draw a picture and a free-body diagram. The forces on
the block are the normal force, the weight, the kinetic frictional force, and the tension
that must be broken into its x and y components, where the x-axis points to the right
and the y-axis pointing upward. See the diagram. The horizontal force from the rope is
T
x
= T cos , directed forward and the vertical force is T
y
= T sin . The frictional force
is given by f
k
=
k
N. Notice that because of the vertical component of the tension the
normal force is not equal to the weight. Applying Newtons second law in each of the
component directions:
_
T cos
k
N = F
net,x
= ma
x
= ma
T sin +N mg = F
net,x
= ma
y
= 0
This is a system of two equations and two unknowns: N and T. Solving the second
equation for N gives N = mg T sin , and substituting this equation into the rst
equation yields
T cos
k
(mg T sin ) = ma
Isolate T
T(cos +
k
sin ) = m(g
k
+a)
Solve for T
T =
m(g
k
+a)
cos +
k
sin
Note 1: A common mistake is to take N = mg, giving an incorrect force of friction
f
k
=
k
mg, which would only be the case if there was no y component of tension.
Note 2: If the force is horizontal, then = 0, and the problem is straight forward.
441
Problem 1306. A large stone block has been loaded
in the bed of a dump truck. The bed is slowly raised
until it makes an angle of
s
with the horizontal; at this
point, the block starts to slide downward. What is the
coecient of static friction
s
between the block and
the truck bed?
(a) sin
s
*(b) tan
s
(c) cos
s
(d)
s
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a picture and then a free-body
diagram, as at right. For the free-body diagram, we
choose the x-axis parallel to the truck bed and the y-axis
perpendicular to it.
Since the block does not sink into the truck bed or rise
above it, the net force in the y-direction must be zero.
Hence N = w
y
= wcos
s
. At the point where the block
begins to slide, the downslope force in the x-direction is
equal to the force of static friction. Hence
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
s
`
`
`
`
`
`
>
>
>
r
w
`
`
`
`
`
N
>
>
>
f
s
>
>
x
`
`
y
u
-
w
w
y
= wcos
s
`
N
w
x
=
wsin
s
f
s
=
s
N
wsin
s
= f
s
=
s
N =
s
wcos
s

s
=
wsin
s
wcos
s
=
sin
s
cos
s
= tan
s
Problem 1307. A brick is sitting on a roof, which
makes an angle of
k
with the horizontal. If the brick
is given a slight nudge, it slides down the rooftop at a
constant speed. What is the coecient of kinetic friction
k
between the brick and the rooftop?
(a) sin
k
*(b) tan
k
(c) cos
k
(d)
k
(e) None of these
Solution: Sketch a picture and then a free-body
diagram, as at right. For the free-body diagram, we
choose the x-axis parallel to the roof top and the y-axis
perpendicular to it.
Since the brick does not sink into the roof or rise above
it, the net force in the y-direction must be zero. Hence
N = w
y
= wcos
k
. When the brick slides down the
roof without accelerating, the downslope force in the x-
direction exactly matches the force of kinetic friction.
Hence
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
k
`
`
`
`
`
`
>
>
>
r
w
`
`
`
`
`
N
>
>
>
f
k
>
>
x
`
`
y
u
-
w
w
y
= wcos
k
`
N
w
x
=
wsin
k
f
k
=
k
N
wsin
k
= f
k
=
k
N =
k
wcos
k

k
=
wsin
k
wcos
k
=
sin
k
cos
k
= tan
k
442
Problem 1308. A crate whose weight is w is
being pulled up a ramp that makes an angle of
with the horizontal, using a thin rope that
runs parallel to the ramp. The coecient of
kinetic friction between the crate and the ramp
is
k
. If the crate is moving at a constant speed
of v
0
, what is the tension in the rope?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
w
x
\
\\
y
*(a) w(sin +
k
cos ) (b) w(sin
k
cos )
(c) w(cos +
k
sin ) (d) w(cos
k
sin )
(e) None of these
Solution: Draw a free-body diagram with the x-axis
parallel to the ramp and the y-axis perpendicular to it.
Since the crate does not sink into or rise above the ramp,
the net force in the y-direction is zero; so N = wcos .
Hence f
k
=
k
N =
k
wcos .
Since the crate is moving at constant speed, the net force
on it is zero. Hence the net force in the x-direction is
zero; so
T = w
x
+f
k
= wsin +
k
wcos = w(sin +
k
cos )
u
-
w
w
y
= wcos
`
N
w
x
=
wsin
f
k
=
k
N
T
Problem 1309. A crate whose mass is m
c
is
sliding down a ramp that makes an angle of
with the horizontal. The coecient of kinetic
friction between the crate and the ramp is
k
.
What is the magnitude of the crates accelera-
tion?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
\
m
c
x
\
\\
y
(a) g(sin +
k
cos ) *(b) g(sin
k
cos )
(c) g(cos +
k
sin ) (d) g(cos
k
sin )
(e) None of these
Solution: Draw a free-body diagram with the x-axis
parallel to the ramp and the y-axis perpendicular to it.
Since the crate does not sink into or rise above the ramp,
the net force in the y-direction is zero; so N = wcos .
Hence f
k
=
k
N =
k
wcos .
The net force on the crate in the downslope x-direction
is F
x
= w
x
f
k
= wsin
k
wcos . We can use New-
tons law, plus the fact that w = m
c
g, to calculate the
acceleration.
u
-
w
w
y
= wcos
`
N
w
x
=
wsin
f
k
=
k
N
a =
F
x
m
c
=
m
c
g sin
k
m
c
g cos
m
c
= g(sin
k
cos )
443
Problem 1310. Two crates, one full of avocados and the other full of beets, are
connected by a light horizontal rope. A second horizontal rope is attached to the crate
of avocados and used to pull both crates across the oor at a constant speed of 1.4 m/s.
The avocados have a mass of 72 kg; the beets have a mass of 93 kg. The coecient of
kinetic friction between the crates and the oor is 0.21. What is the tension T
AB
on the
rope connecting the two crates? Round your answer to the nearest newton. (See the
illustration following the answers.)
(a) 148 N *(b) 191 N
(c) 219 N (d) 340 N
(e) None of these
B: 93 kg
A: 72 kg
_
T
AB
Solution: In this situation, the properties of the crate of avocados have nothing to
do with T
AB
. The exact speed of the two crates is also unimportant; all that matters is
that theyre moving at a constant velocity. The horizontal forces acting on the beets are
T
AB
pulling forward, and the friction m
B
g pulling backward. Since the crate is moving
at a constant velocity, the net horizontal force must be zero: so
T
AB
= m
B
g = (93 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(0.21) = 191 N
Problem 1311. A block with a mass of 9.7 kg is sliding down a plane at a constant
speed of 4.4 m/s. The plane is angled at 22.4
to the horizontal. What is the coecient

of kinetic friction
k
of the block on the plane? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01.
(a) 0.37 (b) 0.39
*(c) 0.41 (d) 0.43
(e) None of these
Solution: Take the x-axis to be down the plane and the y-axis to be the upward
normal to the plane. Since the speed is constant, a
x
= 0 F
net,x
= 0 the force of
friction must match the component of the gravitational force parallel to the plane. This
component is: W
x
= mg sin . The component of the gravitational force normal to the
plane is: N = mg cos ; so the frictional force is: f
k
=
k
N =
k
mg cos . Equating the
two forces gives:
mg sin =
k
mg cos
k
=
sin
cos
= tan = tan 22.4
= 0.41
The mass of the block and the value of its constant speed are irrelevant to the problem.
444

F

F? Round your
(a) 67 N (b) 259 N
*(c) 660 N (d) 2536 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the blocks velocity is constant, the net force on it is zero. The two
forces acting in the horizontal direction are the pull, directed forward with magnitude F;
and the frictional force f
k
, directed backward with magnitude mg. Hence:
F = f
k
= mg = (0.51)(132 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
) = 660 N

F

F? Round your
(a) 54 N (b) 131 N
*(c) 527 N (d) 1286 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the block is moving at constant velocity, the net force on it must be
zero. The horizontal forces on it are the pull, directed forward with a magnitude of F;
and the frictional force, directed backward with a magnitude of mg. Hence
F = mg = (0.64)(84 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
) = 527 N
Problem 1314. You trying to move a crate across a oor by pulling horizontally on a
rope. The crate has a mass of 114 kg. The coecient of static friction between the crate
and the oor is 0.76; the coecient of kinetic friction is 0.51. You gradually increase your
pull on the rope until the crate starts to move. What is the crates initial acceleration?
2
.
Solution: To get the crate to start moving, you must exert a horizontal force equal
to the crates weight times the coecient of static friction: F
pull
=
s
mg. Once the crate
begins to move, the force pulling backward on it is kinetic friction: F
k
=
k
mg. At that
point, the net force on it is: F = F
pull
F
k
= (
s
k
)mg. The acceleration is
a =
F
m
= (
s
k
)g = (0.76 0.51)9.8 m/s
2
= 2.45 m/s
2
445
Problem 1315. A block has mass m. It is sliding at a constant speed v
0
down a plane
that makes an angle of
k
to the horizontal. If the coecient of kinetic friction of the
block on the plane is
k
, which equation gives the value of
k
?
(a)
k
= mg sin
k
(b)
k
=
s
1
g cos
s
2x
(t)
2
(c)
k
=
mg
sin
k
*(d)
k
= tan
k
(e) None of these
Solution: The component of the gravitational force parallel to the surface of the
plane is: F
p
= mg sin
k
. The frictional force is
k
mg cos
k
. Since the block is sliding at
constant velocity, the net force on it is zero; so
mg sin
k
=
k
mg cos
k

k
=
sin
k
cos
k
= tan
k
446
11.2.5 Stopping distance problems
Problem 1316. The coecient of kinetic friction between a set of
tires and the road surface is
k
. If you are driving on level pavement
at a speed of v
0
, and you lock up the brakes and skid to a halt, how
far do you travel before you stop?
*(a)
v
2
0
2
k
g
(b)
v
0
k
g
(c)
v
0
2
k
g
2
(d)
v
0
g
2
2
k
(e) None of these
u
w = mg
`
N
f
k
=
k
N
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram, as at right; assume that your mass is m. Since
the road surface is level, N = w = mg, so f
k
=
k
N =
k
mg. Use Newtons law to nd
your acceleration: a = f
k
/m =
k
g. Then we know v
0
, v
f
= 0, and a =
k
g; we want
to know the distance x. We have a kinetic equation that we can use in this situation.
Remember that the signs of a and of x are opposite; since we want x to be positive,
we will use a =
k
g.
v
2
f
= v
2
0
+ 2ax x =
v
2
f
v
2
0
2a
=
v
2
0
2
k
g
=
v
2
0
2
k
g
447
Problem 1317. The coecient of kinetic friction between a set of
tires and the road surface is
k,dry
when the road is dry, and
k,wet
when the road is wet, with 2
k,wet
=
k,dry
. If you are driving
on level wet pavement at a speed of v
wet
and hit the brakes, you
will travel a distance of x before you come to a stop. How fast
can you drive on dry pavement and be able to stop in the same
distance?
(a) v
wet
*(b)
2 v
wet
(c) 2v
wet
(d) 4v
wet
(e) None of these
u
w = mg
`
N
f
k
=
k
N
k
=
k
N =
k
k
/m =
k
g. Then we know x, v
f
= 0, and a =
k
g; we want to
know the initial speed v
0
. We have a kinetic equation that we can use in this situation.
Remember that the signs of a and of x are opposite.
v
2
f
= v
2
0
+ 2ax v
2
0
= v
2
f
2ax = 2
k
gx
In going from the wet- to the dry-pavement situation, the only things that change are
k
and v
0
; 2gx remains the same. Thus we can write:
v
2
0
k
= 2gx =
v
2
dry
k,dry
=
v
2
wet
k,wet
v
2
dry
=

k,dry
k,wet
v
2
wet
=
2
k,wet
k,wet
v
2
wet
= 2v
2
wet
v
dry
=
2 v
wet
448
Problem 1318. The coecient of kinetic friction between a set
of tires and the road surface is
k,dry
when the road is dry, and
k,ice
=
k,dry
/4 when the road is icy. If you are driving on level
dry pavement at a speed of v
0
and hit the brakes, you will travel
a distance of x
dry
before you come to a stop. What will your
stopping distance be if you are driving at v
0
on an icy road?
(a) x
dry
(b) 2x
dry
*(c) 4x
dry
(d) 16x
dry
(e) None of these
u
w = mg
`
N
f
k
=
k
N
k
=
k
N =
k
k
/m =
k
g. Then we know v
0
, v
f
= 0, and a =
k
g; we want
to know the distance x. We have a kinetic equation that we can use in this situation.
Remember that the signs of a and of x are opposite; since we want x to be positive,
we will use a =
k
g.
v
2
f
= v
2
0
+ 2ax x =
v
2
f
v
2
0
2a
=
v
2
0
2
k
g
=
v
2
0
2
k
g
In switching from a dry to an icy road, the only things that change are the coecient of
friction
k
and the stopping distance x; v
0
and g do not change. Thus we can write
k
x =
v
2
0
2g
=
k,ice
x
ice
=
k,dry
x
dry
x
ice
=

k,dry
k,ice
x
dry
=

k,dry
k,dry
/4
x
dry
= 4x
dry
449
12 Applications of Newtons Laws to Uniform Cir-
cular Motion
12.1 Centripetal force
12.1.1 Conceptual questions: centripetal force
Problem 1319. A satellite is in circular orbit around the Earth. What is the source of
the centripetal force?
(a) Momentum (b) Kinetic energy
*(c) Gravity (d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: Look for a force directed toward the center of the circle. In this case,
its gravity. Momentum and kinetic energy arent forces at all; and there must be a
centripetal force, since the satellite is in circular motion.
Problem 1320. A car goes around a banked curve on an icy highway. What is the
source of the centripetal force?
(a) Kinetic energy (b) The cars engine
*(c) Normal force (d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: The highway is described as icy, which suggests that theres no friction.
The curve is banked, so theres a normal force directed toward the inside of the curve.
Kinetic energy is not a force at all; and since the car is going around a curve, there must
be some centripetal force.
Problem 1321. A car goes around an unbanked curve. What is the source of the
centripetal force?
(a) Momentum (b) Normal force
*(c) Friction (d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: Momentum is not a force at all. Since the curve is unbanked, the normal
force points vertically upward, with no component pointing toward the inside of the
curve. Friction is the only force that might work; there must be a centripetal force, since
the car is going around a curve.
450
Problem 1322. A model airplane is attached to a wire so that it ies in horizontal
circles around a central pylon. What is the source of the centripetal force?
*(a) Tension in the wire (b) Air resistance
(c) Inertia (d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: Look for a force directed toward the center of the circle. Tension in the wire
is such a force. Air resistance is directed backward against the planes motion. Inertia is
not a force at all. There must be a centripetal force, since the plane is moving in a circle.
Problem 1323. A bullet is red straight up into the air; it slows down, comes to a
momentary halt, then falls straight down again. What is the source of the centripetal
force?
(a) Inertia (b) Air resistance
(c) Normal force *(d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: The bullet is moving in a straight line: rst straight up, then straight
down. Since it is not moving in a curve, there is no centripetal force.
Problem 1324. You have left your coee mug on the at roof of your car. As you drive
around an unbanked curve, what is the source of the centripetal force on the mug?
(a) Normal force (b) Kinetic energy
*(c) Static friction (d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: The mug is moving in a curve, so there is a centripetal force. Since the
roof and the road are level, the normal force is directed straight upward. Kinetic energy
is not a force at all. Static friction is the source of the centripetal force: if there were no
static friction, the mug would slide o on the curve.
Problem 1325. Your keys are attached to the end of a thin chain. You are holding
the end of the chain and twirling the keys in a vertical circle. What is the source of the
centripetal force on the keys at the top of the circle?
(a) Gravity (b) Tension in the chain
*(c) Both gravity and tension (d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: The keys are moving in a circle, so there is a centripetal force. At the top
of the circle, both gravity and the tension in the chain are directed straight downward,
toward the center of the circle. Hence the combination of the two produces the centripetal
force.
451
Problem 1326. A car is moving down a straight and level road. The driver comes to a
stop sign, at which he slows down but does not stop completely, then speeds up again.
What is the source of the centripetal force?
(a) Kinetic friction (b) Air resistance
(c) Normal force *(d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: The car is moving in a straight line. Since it is not moving in a curve,
there is no centripetal force.
Problem 1327. A dead cockroach is lying on its back on the at blade of a ceiling fan,
which is slowly turning in a horizontal circle. What is the source of the centripetal force
on the roach?
*(a) Static friction (b) Kinetic friction
(c) Gravity (d) There is no centripetal force
(e) None of these
Solution: The late roach is moving in a circle, so there must be a centripetal force.
Gravity is pulling straight downward, so has no component toward the center of the
circle. There is no kinetic friction, since the roach is not moving with respect to the fan
blade on which it is resting. Static friction is the force that is holding it in place as the
fan turns, so is the source of the centripetal acceleration.
Problem 1328. Which of the following statements is correct?
(a) Uniform circular motion causes a constant force toward the center.
(b) Uniform circular motion is caused by a constant force toward the center.
*(c) Uniform circular motion is caused by a net force toward the center with a
constant magnitude.
(d) Uniform circular motion is caused by a net force away from the center with a
constant magnitude.
(e) None of these
452
Problem 1329. Let

F
net
be the net force on an object moving in a circle (not necessarily
with constant speed). Which of the following statements best describes the component
of the net force in the radial direction?
*(a) The radial component of the net force is the centripetal force.
(b) The radial component of the net force is the centrifugal force.
(c) The radial component of the net force causes the object to spiral inwards
towards the center of the circular path.
(d) The radial component of the net force causes the object to spiral outwards
away from the center of the circular path.
(e) None of these
Solution: Recall: The word Centripetal originates from the Greek word for center
seeking. By assumption, the object is moving in a circle, so (c) and (d) are wrong. The
object is traveling in a circle because the radial component of the net force points towards
the center of the circle. The tangential component of the net force will cause the object
to accelerate in the -direction (i.e., it will cause the object to speed up or slow down,
but it will continue to move in a circle).
There is no such thing as centrifugal force; it is an apparent force, not a real force (i.e., it
doesnt originate from a push or a pull). The eect of centrifugal force comes from linear
inertial. For example, suppose you are a passenger in a car that is initially traveling in
a straight line and then makes a hard left. Why are you thrown outward against the
car door? There is no magical force that is throwing you outward. The explanation is
simple. You were initially traveling in a straight line, and by Newtons rst law (the law
of linear inertial) you want to remain moving in a straight line, but the car turned out
from under you. You went straight and the car didnt! How did the car mange to do
this? The friction between the tires and the road allowed the car to move in a circular
arc. It should also be mentioned that the friction between the tires and the road is the
source of the very real centripetal force.
Problem 1330. Determine whether the two claims are true or false.
Claim 1: Centripetal force is a real force and its existence is brought about when objects
move in circles.
Claim 2: Centrifugal force is a real force that points radially outwards when objects
move in circles.
(a) Claim 1 is true; Claim 2 is true
(b) Claim 1 is true; Claim 2 is false
(c) Claim 1 is false; Claim 2 is true
*(d) Claim 1 is false; Claim 2 is false
Solution: Claim 1 is false. The centripetal force comes from a real push or pull
between two or more objects, it does not just appear magically because you are moving
in a circle. To the contrary, it is a real force that causes you to move in a circle.
Claim 2 is also false. There is no such thing as a centrifugal force.
453
12.1.2 Horizontal Motion
Problem 1331. A car is driving at a
constant speed counter-clockwise around
the horizontal track shown at right. At
each of the labelled points on the track,
sketch a vector representing the net force
on the car. Ignore gravity, which points
downward into the page. Remember to
make the lengths of your vectors roughly
proportional to the magnitude of the
force: greater forces should be indicated
by longer vectors.
Solution: Since the car never changes
speed, there is no acceleration in the
direction tangent to the track. The
acceleration vector and thus the force
must therefore always be perpendicular
to the track. At points A, B, and C,
there is a centripetal force keeping the
car on the curves. The curves at A and
B have about the same radius; the curve
at C has a radius about twice as big.
r
A
`
r
B

r
C
r
D
F
net
=
0
Since a
rad
= v
2
/r, and since v is the same at all points, the centripetal force at C should
have about half the magnitude that it has at A and B. At all three points, the force
vector should point toward the inside of the curve (the concave side of the curve).
Note: You dont need to be fussy about making the vector at C exactly half as long as
the vectors at A and B; but it should clearly be shorter on your drawing.
The car is moving in a straight line at D, so it is experiencing no acceleration, hence no
force. Indicate the zero vector at that point.
454
Problem 1332. A car is travelling at a constant speed clockwise around a horizontal
track. Which of the diagrams below best shows the force vectors on the car at two points
on the track?
(a)
(b)
`
*(c)
(d)
`
Solution: Since the car never changes speed, there is no acceleration in the direction
tangent to the track. The acceleration vector and thus the force must always be perpen-
dicular to the track. That doesnt help us: it doesnt allow us to rule out any of the four
diagrams.
At each of the two points shown, the car is on a curve. There must be a centripetal
force keeping the car on the curve, and that centripetal force must be directed toward
the concave side of the curve. That lets us rule out (b) and (d), which show the force
directed toward the convex side of the curves.
The magnitude of the centripetal force is F
rad
= v
2
/r. Since the speed of the car is
constant, F
rad
should be proportional to 1/r. The curve on the left of the picture is wide
(large r); the curve on the top of the picture is tight (small r). Hence F
rad
should be
smaller on the left and larger at the top. We see this in (c) but not in (a). Hence the
correct answer is (c).
Problem 1333. A model gas airplane is ying in a horizontal circle, attached to the
central point by a string 5 m long. The airplane has a mass of 1 kg. The string will
break if subjected to a tension of more than 100 N. How fast can the airplane y without
breaking the string? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
Solution: If the airplanes speed is v, then the centripetal acceleration necessary to
keep it moving in a circle of radius r is:
a
rad
=
v
2
r
We assume that the tension T in the string is supplying all of the centripetal force; so
if the airplane has mass m, then T = ma
rad
. We want to nd the value of v for which
T = 100 N. Thus:
T = ma
rad
=
mv
2
r
v =
_
rT
m
=
_
(5 m)(100 N)
1 kg
_
1/2
= 22.4 m/s
455
Problem 1334. A circular curve on a highway is designed for trac moving at 15 m/s.
The radius of the unbanked curve is 100 m. What is the minimum coecient of friction
between tires and the highway necessary to keep cars from sliding o the curve? Round
your answer to the nearest 0.01.
(a) 0.15 (b) 0.19
*(c) 0.23 (d) 2.25
(e) None of these
Solution: In order for a car to remain on the curve, it must experience a centripetal
acceleration of a
rad
= v
2
/r. For this acceleration to come from friction, it must be the
case that
g
s
a
rad
=
v
2
r

s

v
2
rg
=
(15 m/s)
2
(100 m)(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 0.23
Problem 1335. You are designing a highway interchange that includes an unbanked
circular curve. Assuming that the coecient of static friction between tires and
pavement is
s
= 0.51 (pointing in the direction transverse to the motion), and that
cars will need to negotiate the curve at 20 m/s, what must the radius of the curve be?
(a) 39 m *(b) 80 m
(c) 204 m (d) 784 m
(e) None of these
Solution: For a car with mass m to follow the curve, it must experience a centripetal
force of mv
2
/r. The maximum frictional force on such a car is mg
r
. Hence
mv
2
r
= mg
r
r =
v
2
g
r
=
(20 m/s)
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)(0.51)
= 80 m
456
Problem 1336. A highway curve in north-
ern Minnesota has a radius of 140 m. The
curve is banked so that a car travelling at 25
m/s will not skid sideways, even if the curve is
coated with a frictionless glaze of ice. Sketch a
free-body diagram of a car under these circum-
stances.
Solution: See gure at right. The vector N
is the normal force, so its perpendicular to the
highway surface. The y-component of N must
match the weight w, since the car doesnt move
up or down. The x-component of N is an un-
balanced force. By Newtons second law, this
force must lead to an acceleration. It is this
force that provides the centripetal acceleration
a
rad
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
w = mg
`
`
`
`
`
`
N
`
N
y
= mg
N
x
= ma
rad
Problem 1337. A highway curve in northern
Minnesota has a radius of 160 m. The curve is
banked so that a car travelling at 25 m/s will
not skid sideways, even if the curve is coated
with a frictionless glaze of ice. At what angle
to the horizontal is the curve banked? Round
(a) 18
(b) 20
*(c) 22
(d) 24
(e) None of these

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
w = mg
`
`
`
`
`
`
N
`
N
y
= mg
N
x
= ma
rad
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram. There are two forces acting on the car: the
weight w = mg, pulling straight down; and the normal force of the highway N, pushing
perpendicular to the road surface. If the banking angle of the highway is =
bank
, then
N decomposes into two components: an x-component N
x
= N sin ; and a y-component
N
y
= N cos .
Since the car doesnt move up or down, the total vertical force must be zero; so N
y
= mg.
Since N
x
is the only horizontal force, it must account for the centripetal acceleration; so
if the speed of the car is V and the radius of the curve is R, then N
x
= ma
rad
= mV
2
/R.
Hence
tan =
N
x
N
y
=
mV
2
/R
mg
=
V
2
Rg

bank
= tan
1
_
V
2
Rg
_
= tan
1
_
(25 m/s)
2
(160 m)(9.8 m/s
2
)
_
= 22
457
Problem 1338. (Derive Problem) You are a civil engineer working in the wilds of
North Dakota. You are designing a highway with a circular curve of radius r. You
know that at times, the highway will be glazed with ice so that the coecient of friction
between the highway and a cars tires is essentially zero. In order for the cars to safely
negotiate the icy curve at a speed of v, the road must be banked at an angle of
bank
above the horizontal. Find a formula for
bank
in terms of r, v, and g.
(a) tan
1
_
rg
v
2
_
(b) tan
1
_
v
2
rg
_
*(c) tan
1
_
v
2
rg
_
(d) tan
1
_
v
r
2
g
_
(e) None of these
Solution: The highway must exert two components of force on a car: a vertical force
equal to the cars weight; and the centripetal force, directed horizontally. If there is no
friction, then the sum of these two forces must be normal to the surface of the highway.
The vertical weight force is mg; the horizontal centripetal force is mv
2
/r. Hence
tan
bank
=
mv
2
/r
mg
=
v
2
rg

bank
= tan
1
_
v
2
rg
_
Problem 1339. A highway curve in northern
Minnesota has a radius of 90 m. The curve is
banked so that a car travelling at 15 m/s will
not skid sideways, even if the curve is coated
with a frictionless glaze of ice. At what angle
to the horizontal is the curve banked? Round
*(a) 14
(b) 16
(c) 17
(d) 19
(e) None of these

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
w = mg
`
`
`
`
`
`
N
`
N
y
= mg
N
x
= ma
rad
Solution: Sketch a free-body diagram. There are two forces acting on the car: the
weight w = mg, pulling straight down; and the normal force of the highway N, pushing
perpendicular to the road surface. If the banking angle of the highway is =
bank
, then
N decomposes into two components: an x-component N
x
= N sin ; and a y-component
N
y
= N cos .
Since the car doesnt move up or down, the total vertical force must be zero; so N
y
= mg.
Since N
x
is the only horizontal force, it must account for the centripetal acceleration; so
if the speed of the car is V and the radius of the curve is R, then N
x
= ma
rad
= mV
2
/R.
Hence
tan =
N
x
N
y
=
mV
2
/R
mg
=
V
2
Rg

bank
= tan
1
_
V
2
Rg
_
= tan
1
_
(15 m/s)
2
(90 m)(9.8 m/s
2
)
_
= 14
458
Problem 1340. A circular curve on a highway is designed for trac moving at 15 m/s.
The radius of the curve is 100 m. What is the correct angle of banking for the road?
*(a) 13
(b) 11
(c) 9
(d) 7
(e) None of these

Solution: The centripetal acceleration is horizontal, and has magnitude a
rad
= v
2
/r.
The acceleration due to gravity is vertical and has magnitude g. The surface of the
highway at the correct angle of banking is normal to the sum of these vectors; so
tan
bank
=
a
rad
g
=
v
2
rg

bank
= tan
1
_
v
2
rg
_
= tan
1
_
(15 m/s)
2
(100 m)(9.8 m/s
2
)
_
= 13
Problem 1341. (Similarity Problem) A car travelling at a speed of V goes around

an unbanked curve with a radius of R. The centripetal force that keeps it on the road is
the frictional force F between the road and the tires. A few miles later, the car comes
to another curve, this one with radius R/2, and tries to go around the curve at the same
speed. What must the frictional force f
s
be in order to keep the car on the road?
(a) F/2 (b) F/
2
(c)
2 F *(d) 2F
(e) None of these
Solution: On the rst curve, F = MV
2
/R, where M is the mass of the car. On the
second curve,
f
s
= M
V
2
R/2
= M
2V
2
R
= 2F .
Since this is a similarity problem, we could also solve this problem by nding the param-
eters that are in common (held xed) in both experiments. Notice that the mass of the
car M and the speed of the car V are the same in both situations (experiments).
FR = MV
2
= f
s
_
R
2
_

2
R
f
s
= 2F .
Notice that the result is independent of the mass of the car.
459
Problem 1342. (Similarity Problem) A car with mass M and a pickup with mass
3M both go around an unbanked curve with radius R. Each vehicle is moving at a
constant speed V . While the car is going around the curve, it experiences a centripetal
force of F. What is the centripetal force f
s
experienced by the pickup on the curve?
(a) F (b)
3 F
*(c) 3F (d) 9F
(e) None of these
Solution: The two vehicles go around the same curve at the same speed, so they
experience the same centripetal acceleration. The centripetal force is the mass times the
acceleration. Since the pickup has three times the mass of the car, it experiences three
times the centripetal force: f
s
= 3F.
Problem 1343. (Similarity Problem) A car with mass M and a pickup with mass
2M both go around a curve with radius R. Each vehicle is moving at a constant speed
V . While the car is going around the curve, it experiences a centripetal force of F. What
is the centripetal force F
truck
experienced by the pickup on the curve?
(a) F/2 (b) F
*(c) 2F (d) 4F
(e) None of these
Solution: The two vehicles go around the same curve at the same speed, so they
experience the same centripetal acceleration. The centripetal force is the mass times the
acceleration. Since the pickup has twice the mass of the car, it experiences twice the
centripetal force: F
truck
= 2F.
Problem 1344. (Similarity Problem) An object with a mass of m is on a frictionless
horizontal surface. The object is attached to a horizontal string with length r whose
other end is attached to a pivot xed in the surface; the object is then set to moving in
a horizontal circle at a constant speed v
1
. Under these circumstances, the tension in the
string is T
1
. If the speed of the object were doubled to a constant v
2
= 2v
1
, what would
be the tension in the string T
2
?
(a) T
1
(b)
2 T
1
(c) 2T
1
*(d) 4T
1
(e) None of these
Solution: The tension in the string is the sole source of centripetal acceleration; so
the tension equals ma
c
. When the speed of the object is v
1
, the tension is T
1
= mv
2
1
/r.
When the speed is doubled, it becomes
T
2
=
mv
2
2
r
=
m(2v
1
)
2
r
=
4mv
2
1
r
= 4T
1
460
Problem 1345. (Similarity Problem) An object with a mass of m is on a frictionless
horizontal surface. The object is attached to a horizontal string with length r
1
whose
other end is attached to a pivot xed in the surface; the object is then set to moving in
a horizontal circle at a constant speed v
1
. Under these circumstances, the tension in the
string is T
1
. If the speed of the object is doubled to a constant v
2
= 2v
1
, and the length
of the string is increased to r
2
= 4r
1
, what will be the tension in the string T
2
?
*(a) T
1
(b)
2 T
1
(c) 2T
1
(d) 4T
1
(e) None of these
Solution: The tension in the string is the sole source of centripetal acceleration; so the
tension equals ma
c
. When the speed of the object is v
1
and the radius is r
1
, the tension
is T
1
= mv
2
1
/r
1
. When the speed is doubled and the radius quadrupled, the tension is
unchanged:
T
2
=
mv
2
2
r
2
=
m(2v
1
)
2
4r
1
=
mv
2
1
r
1
= T
1
.
461
12.1.3 Vertical Motion
Problem 1346. A block with mass M is whirled on the end of a thin rigid rod that is
attached to the axel of a motor so that it moves at a constant speed in a vertical circle
with radius R. At the top of the circle, the tension in the rod is twice the weight of the
block. What is the speed of the block?
(a)
2gR *(b)
3gR
(c) 2
gR (d) 4
gR
(e) None of these
Solution: At the top of the circle, two forces are pulling straight down on the block:
gravity, pulling downward with the weight of the block W = Mg; and tension in the
rod at the top of the circle T
top
, pulling downward with twice the weight of the block.
The sum of these two is the centripetal force: F
rad
= W + T
top
= 3W = 3Mg. Since
F
rad
= Ma
rad
, it follows that the centripetal acceleration is 3g. Hence
a
rad
= 3g =
v
2
R
v =
_
3gR
Problem 1347. A brass sphere with weight W is attached to the end of a thin rigid
rod; the other end of the rod is attached to the axle of a motor, which is set to turning
so that the sphere moves in a vertical circle at a constant speed. When the sphere is at
the lowest point on the circle, the tension in the rod is 2W. What is the tension in the
rod when the sphere is at the top of the circle?
*(a) 0 (b) W/2
(c) W (d) 2W
(e) None of these
Solution: At the bottom of the circle, the weight is pulling downward and the tension
is pulling upward; so
F
rad
= T
bottom
W = 2W W = W T
bottom
= W +F
rad
.
Notice that the tension on the rod when the sphere is at the bottom of the circle is the
sum of the centripetal force, needed to overcome the spheres inertia and keep the sphere
moving in a circle, and the gravitational force. This should be the maximum tension in
the rod.
At the top of the circle, the radial force is the same F
rad
because the object is travelling
with constant speed, but now the weight and the tension are pulling in the same direction.
Thus
F
rad
= W = T
top
+W T
top
= 0 .
Notice that the tension on the rod when the sphere is at the top of the circle is the
dierence between the centripetal force and the gravitational force. This should be the
minimum tension in the rod. Since T
top
< T
bottom
, this result agrees with our intuition.
462
Problem 1348. A brass sphere with weight W is attached to the end of a thin rigid
rod; the other end of the rod is attached to an axle, which is set to turning so that the
sphere moves in a vertical circle at a constant speed. When the sphere is at the lowest
point on the circle, the tension in the rod is 3W. What is the tension in the rod when
the sphere is at the top of the circle?
(a) 0 *(b) W
(c) 2W (d) 4W
(e) None of these
Solution: At the bottom of the circle, the weight is pulling downward and the tension
is pulling upward; so
F
rad
= T
bottom
W = 3W W = 2W
+W
T
bottom
= W +F
rad
.
Notice that the tension on the rod when the sphere is at the bottom of the circle is the
sum of the centripetal force, needed to overcome the spheres inertia and keep the sphere
moving in a circle, and the gravitational force. This should be the maximum tension in
the rod.
At the top of the circle, the radial force is the same F
rad
because the object is travelling
with constant speed, but now the weight and the tension are pulling in the same direction.
Thus
F
rad
= 2W = T
top
+W T
top
= W .
Notice that the tension on the rod when the sphere is at the top of the circle is the
dierence between the centripetal force and the gravitational force. This should be the
minimum tension in the rod. Since T
top
< T
bottom
, this result agrees with our intuition.
463
Problem 1349. A pendulum in the physics lab consists of a metal sphere with a mass
of 220 g attached to the end of a thin string 104 cm long. The sphere is pulled away
from the center with the string taut and then released to swing freely. When the sphere
reaches the lowest point in its arc, it is moving at 83 cm/s. At that point, what is the
magnitude of the spheres acceleration? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 m/s
2
.
*(a) 0.66 m/s
2
(b) 0.73 m/s
2
(c) 0.80 m/s
2
(d) 0.88 m/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: At the pendulums lowest point, there is no acceleration due to gravity,
since gravity is pulling directly against the string (see the comments below). Hence the
only acceleration to consider is the centripetal acceleration. Not forgetting to convert
centimeters to meters, we get
a
rad
=
v
2
r
=
(0.83 m/s)
2
1.04 m
= 0.66 m/s
2
The mass of the sphere is irrelevant to this problem.
Comment (1): When the pendulum is at its lowest point (the bottom of the circular
arc), there is no component of gravity in the tangential direction. The tension in the
string counters the gravitational force and must also bear the burden of having to
change the direction of the mass (the sphere), which possesses inertia. Remember that
by Newtons 1
st
Law, the sphere wants to travel in a straight line. If the string did not
pull on the mass, then it would not go in a circle!
Comment (2): If the sphere were brought to rest (no motion), then the sphere would
hang straight down and a simple free-body diagram would show that the tension in
the string would equal the weight (no motion no acceleration net force is zero).
The only dierence between the static situation and the one involving the motion of the
pendulum through the lowest point is that a centripetal force is needed to change the
pendulums direction. This additional force is the centripetal force.
Problem 1350. A Ferris wheel has a radius of 79 m. At its maximum speed, it makes
one revolution every 38 s. If you are riding the Ferris wheel at this speed, how fast are
you moving? Round your answer to the nearest m/s.
*(a) 13 m/s (b) 14 m/s
(c) 16 m/s (d) 17 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since you are moving at a constant speed, your average velocity is equal to
your instantaneous velocity: v = v. In travelling a complete revolution, you go a distance
of one circumference: 2r. If you travel this distance in a time period T
period
, your speed
is
v =
2r
T
period
=
2(79 m)
38 s
= 13 m/s
464
one revolution every 31 s. A dog is sitting on a spring scale on one of the seats on the
wheel. When the wheel is not moving, the scale registers 124 N. When the wheel is
turning at its maximum speed, what weight does the scale register at the highest point
in the circle? Round your answer to the nearest newton.
(a) 81 N *(b) 90 N
(c) 99 N (d) 109 N
(e) None of these
Solution: At the top of the wheel, the dog is experiencing two forces: the force
of gravity pulling downward with a magnitude of w = 124 N, and the normal force of
the scale pushing upward with a magnitude of N
scale
= w
app
, which will be the weight
registered by the scale. This additional force on an object, resulting from the fact that
the object is accelerating, together with the force of gravity on the object (its weight) is
known as the objects apparent weight, which we will denote by w
app
and use from this
point forward. The sum of these two forces will produce a net centripetal force, which
will give rise to a downward-directed centripetal acceleration a
rad
. Hence if the dogs
mass is m, then ma
rad
= w w
app
; so w
app
= w ma
rad
.
Since we know the dogs weight on the ground, w = 124 N, we can calculate the mass:
w = mg m = w/g.
Calculating a
rad
requires the dogs speed on the wheel. If the radius of the wheel is R
and the dog makes a complete circle in time T, then the speed is V = 2R/T. Then the
centripetal acceleration is
a
rad
=
V
2
R
=
4
2
R
T
2
Putting all of these equations together gives us
w
app
= w ma
rad
= w
wa
rad
g
= w
_
1
a
rad
g
_
(the elevator equation with y-axis pointing up)
= w
_
1
4
2
R
gT
2
_
= (124 N)
_
1
4
2
(65 m)
(9.8 m/s
2
)(31 s)
2
_
= 90 N
Notice that in the elevator equation, we have a
y
= a
rad
, since a
rad
always points
towards the center of the Ferris wheel.
465
turning at its maximum speed, what weight does the scale register at the lowest point in
the circle? Round your answer to the nearest newton.
(a) 193 N (b) 214 N
(c) 238 N *(d) 264 N
(e) None of these
Solution: At the bottom of the wheel, the dog is experiencing two forces: the
force of gravity pulling downward with a magnitude of w = 227 N, and the normal
force of the scale pushing upward with a magnitude of N
scale
= w
app
, which will be the
apparent weight registered by the scale. The sum of these two forces will produce the
centripetal acceleration a
rad
, which is directed upward. Hence if the dogs mass is m,
then ma
rad
= w
app
w; so w
app
= w +ma
rad
.
w = mg m = w/g.
Calculating a
rad
a
rad
=
V
2
R
=
4
2
R
T
2
w
app
= w +ma
rad
= w +
wa
rad
g
= w
_
1 +
a
rad
g
_
= w
_
1 +
4
2
R
gT
2
_
= (227 N)
_
1 +
4
2
(79 m)
(9.8 m/s
2
)(44 s)
2
_
= 264 N
Notice that in the elevator equation we have a
y
= a
rad
since a
rad
always points towards
the center of the Ferris wheel.
466
Problem 1353. A Ferris wheel has a radius of 88 m. A dog is sitting on a spring scale
on one of the seats on the wheel. When the wheel is not moving, the scale registers 265
N. When the wheel is turning at its maximum speed, the scale registers zero at the top
of the circle. At this speed, how long does it take for the wheel to make one revolution?
Round your answer to the nearest second.
(a) 14 s (b) 15 s
(c) 17 s *(d) 19 s
(e) None of these
Solution: At the top of the wheel, the dog is experiencing two forces: the force
of gravity pulling downward with a magnitude of w = mg = 265 N, and the normal
scale
= w
app
, which will be the
rad
, which is directed downward. Hence if the dogs mass is m,
then ma
rad
= w w
app
. Since the scale registers zero, w
app
= 0, and ma
rad
= w = mg.
We can factor out the dogs mass (its weight is irrelevant to this problem): a
rad
= g.
If the radius of the wheel is R and the time it takes to make one revolution is T, then
the dog is going around at a speed of V = 2R/T. Then
g = a
rad
=
V
2
R
=
4
2
R
T
2
T
2
g
T
2
=
4
2
R
g
T = 2
R
g
evaluate
T = 2
88 m
9.8 m/s
2
= 19 s
467
(a) 96 N (b) 107 N
*(c) 131 N (d) 145 N
(e) None of these
scale
= w
app
, which will be the
rad
then ma
rad
= w
app
w; so w
app
= w +ma
rad
.
w = mg m = w/g.
Calculating a
rad
a
rad
=
V
2
R
=
4
2
R
T
2
w
app
= w +ma
rad
= w +
wa
rad
g
= w
_
1 +
a
rad
g
_
= w
_
1 +
4
2
R
gT
2
_
= (119 N)
_
1 +
4
2
(81 m)
(9.8 m/s
2
)(56 s)
2
_
= 131 N
y
= a
rad
, since a
rad
468
Problem 1355. A Ferris wheel has a radius of 57 m. At its maximum speed, the seats
are moving at 12.2 m/s. A dog is sitting on a spring scale on one of the seats on the
(a) 345 N *(b) 384 N
(c) 422 N (d) 464 N
(e) None of these
scale
= w
app
, which will be the
rad
then ma
rad
= w
app
w; so w
app
= w +ma
rad
.
Since we know that the dogs true weight is w = 303 N, we can calculate the mass:
w = mg m = w/g.
We know V = 12.2 m/s and R = 57 m for the Ferris wheel, so we can calculate the
centripetal acceleration: a
rad
= V
2
/R.
w
app
= w +ma
rad
= w +
wa
rad
g
= w
_
1 +
a
rad
g
_
= w
_
1 +
V
2
gR
_
= (303 N)
_
1 +
(12.2 m/s)
2
(9.8 m/s
2
)(57 m)
_
= 384 N
y
= a
rad
, since a
rad
469
Problem 1356. An airplane pilot is ying downward. He wants to pull out of the dive
and start ying upward again by making a vertical semicircle. At the bottom of the
semicircle, his speed will be 125 m/s. If he experiences more than 8.2 gs, he will lose
consciousness and crash the plane. What is the minimum radius of the semicircle? Round
(a) 200 m *(b) 220 m
(c) 2100 m (d) 2200 m
(e) None of these
Solution: If the pilots centripetal acceleration at the bottom of the circle is a
rad
,
then the apparent gravity, denoted g
app
, he will experience is g
app
= a
rad
+g. We want
to nd the radius of the semicircle such that a
rad
+ g = 8.2g, so a
rad
= 7.2g. If V is his
speed and R is the radius of the semicircle, then
a
rad
=
V
2
R
= 7.2g R =
V
2
7.2g
=
(125 m/s)
2
(7.2)(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 220 m
Comment: The apparent weight and apparent gravity for a mass m are related by the
equation w
app
= mg
app
. To derive this relationship, we start by nding the centripetal
force.
The centripetal force is F
rad
= N w, where N is the normal force of the pilots seat.
If the pilot were sitting on a scale, then the reading on the scale would be N, usually
denoted N
scale
, and N
scale
= w
app
. From the equation F
rad
= N w we get
w
app
= w +F
rad
= mg +ma
rad
= m(g +a
rad
) = mg
app
.
Problem 1357. A skateboard park includes a U-shaped half-pipe with a semicircular
cross section whose radius is 3.4 m. A skater who starts at the top will be moving at 7.4
m/s at the lowest point. If a skater weighs 160 lb, what is his apparent weight at the
lowest point? Round your answer to the nearest 10 lb.
(a) 260 lb (b) 330 lb
*(c) 420 lb (d) 540 lb
(e) None of these
Solution: At the lowest point on the circle, the apparent weight of the skateboarder
will be w
app
= w + ma
rad
, where m is the mass of the skateboarder. We dont know
the mass of the skater, and it would be tedious to calculate it in kg from the weight in
pounds. Happily, we dont need to do so. The true weight is w = mg; so m = w/g. Thus
w
app
= mg
app
= m(g +a
rad
) =
w(g +a
rad
)
g
= w
_
1 +
a
rad
g
_
(The elevator equation)
Now we need to calculate a
rad
. We know the radius of the circle R and the speed of the
skater V . Hence a
rad
= V
2
/R. Then the apparent weight is
w
app
= w
_
1 +
V
2
Rg
_
= (160 lb)
_
1 +
(7.4 m/s)
2
(3.4 m)(9.8 m/s
2
)
_
= 420 lb
470
Problem 1358. You have tied a short length of rope to the handle of a bucket full of
water, and are swinging the bucket in a vertical circle with radius 83 cm. What is the
minimum speed that the bucket must be moving in order for no water to spill out at the
top of the circle? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 2.6 m/s *(b) 2.9 m/s
(c) 26 m/s (d) 29 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: When the bucket is moving just fast enough to keep the water in at the
top of the circle, then a
rad
= g. To see this, notice that at the top of the circular arc
F
rad
= T
top
+ w, where T
top
is the tension in the rope at the top of the circle, and w is
the weight of the bucket of water. Now, since the speed of the bucket V is related to the
centripetal acceleration via the equation a
rad
= V
2
/R, and since we are assuming that
the radius R is xed, it follows that if we want to minimize V , then we must minimize
a
rad
. But to minimize a
rad
we must minimize F
rad
, since the mass is assumed to be a
xed constant. Finally, to minimize F
rad
= T
top
+ w, we need to minimize the tension
in the rope, since the weight of the water is a xed constant. Since tension is always
greater than or equal to zero, it follows that to minimize V , we should take the ten-
sion at the top of the rope to be zero. That is, to minimize V = V
min
, we must set T
top
= 0.
Hence if the minimum speed of the bucket is V
min
and the radius of the circle is R (and
if we dont forget to convert R from centimeters to meters), then
V
2
min
R
= g V
min
=
_
Rg =
_
(0.83 m)(9.8 m/s
2
) = 2.9 m/s
Problem 1359. A block with a mass of M slides down a frictionless loop-the-loop track.
The loop has a radius of R. At the top of the loop, the block is moving at a speed of V .
What is the net force acting on the block at that point?
Solution: The net force is the centripetal force: the centripetal acceleration times
the mass of the block.
F
net
= Ma
rad
=
MV
2
R
471
Problem 1360. A sack of potatoes has a mass of 4.4 kg. It is hanging from a spring
scale that is hanging from the ceiling of a car. The car is driven around a vertical loop-
the-loop track with a radius of 7.9 m. At the top of the track, the car is going at a speed
of 9.6 m/s. At this point, what apparent weight does the scale show for the potatoes?
Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 N.
*(a) 8.2 N (b) 9.0 N
(c) 9.9 N (d) 10.9 N
(e) None of these
Solution: At the top of the circle, the potatoes are experiencing two forces: gravity,
pulling downward with a force of w = mg, where m = 4.4 kg is the mass of the potatoes;
and the tension in the scale T
scale
= w
app
, the apparent weight registered by the scale.
Since the car is upside down at the top of the loop, with the potatoes hanging upward
from the ceiling, T
scale
is directed downward. The sum of these two forces will produce
the centripetal acceleration a
rad
, which is directed downward toward the center of the
loop. Hence mg +w
app
= ma
rad
; so
w
app
= ma
rad
mg = m(a
rad
g)
We know the cars speed V = 9.6 m/s and the loops radius R = 7.9 m. Thus we can
calculate a
rad
= V
2
/R. Substituting that into the equation for w
app
gives us
w
app
= m(a
rad
g) = m
_
V
2
R
g
_
= (4.4 kg)
_
(9.6 m/s)
2
7.9 m
9.8 m/s
2
_
= 8.2 N
472
Problem 1361. The colleges Wellness Committee has decreed that overweight faculty
members will not receive pay raises. To get his raise, a certain physics instructor must
get his weight from 200 lbs down to 180 lbs. Rather than giving up pizza and beer, he
decides to employ trickery. He stands on a spring scale in the back of a moving van and
has it driven around a vertical loop-the-loop track with a radius of 8.7 m. At the top of
the loop, he has a friend take a picture with the scale showing an apparent weight of 180
lbs. At what speed does the van need to be going at the top of the loop? Round your
answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
*(a) 12.7 m/s (b) 14.0 m/s
(c) 15.4 m/s (d) 16.9 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: At the top of the loop, the pudgy instructor will experience two forces:
gravity, pulling downward with a force of W = mg = 200 lbs, where mis his mass; and the
normal force of the scale, pushing downward with a magnitude N
scale
= W
app
= 180 lbs,
the apparent weight. (Since the van is upside down at the top of the loop, the scale is
pushing the instructor downward.) The sum of these two forces produces the centripetal
acceleration a
rad
, which is directed downward toward the center of the loop. Hence
W +W
app
= ma
rad
.
It would be nice if we could avoid having to calculate m. Happily, we can. Notice that
m = W/g. Substituting this expression into the equation W +W
app
= ma
rad
gives
W
g
a
rad
= W +W
app
g
W
a
rad
=
(W +W
app
)g
W
=
_
1 +
W
app
W
_
g
Using our given information, we can now compute a
rad
.
W
app
W
=
180 lbs
200 lbs
= 0.9 a
rad
= 1.9g .
Now that we know a
rad
we can use the formula for centripetal acceleration. We know the
radius R = 8.7 m of the loop; we want to know the speed v. Setting the two expressions
for a
rad
equal to one another will give us v
v
2
R
= a
rad
=
_
1 +
W
app
W
_
g
R
v
2
=
_
1 +
W
app
W
_
gR
v =
_
1 +
W
app
W
_
gR
evaluate
v =
_
(1.9)(9.8 m/s
2
)(8.7 m)
1/2
= 12.7 m/s
473
12.2 Gravitation and circular orbits
12.2.1 Gravation
Problem 1362. A wrench has a mass of 1.43 kg. It has been left outside of a spaceship
at a distance of 1.61 10
7
m from the center of a planet whose mass is 5.98 10
24
kg.
What is the gravitational force on the wrench? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01
N.
(a) 1.78 N (b) 1.98 N
*(c) 2.20 N (d) 2.42 N
Solution: Use the formula for gravitational force:
F
g
=
Gm
1
m
2
r
2
=
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(1.43 kg)(5.98 10
24
kg)
(1.61 10
7
m)
2
= 2.20 N
Problem 1363. A very small asteroid with a mass of 32.5 kg is at a distance of 7.7110
6
m from the center of a planet whose mass is 2.12 10
21
kg. What is the gravitational
force on the asteroid? Round your answer to three signicant gures.
(a) 6.96 10
2
N *(b) 7.74 10
2
N
(c) 8.51 10
2
N (d) 9.36 10
2
N
Solution: Use the formula for gravitational force:
F
g
=
Gm
1
m
2
r
2
=
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(32.5 kg)(2.12 10
21
kg)
(7.71 10
6
m)
2
= 7.74 10
2
N
Problem 1364. An astronaut with a mass of 73.3 kg is standing on the surface of a
planet whose radius is 1.15 10
6
m and whose mass is 1.31 10
22
kg. What is the
astronauts weight on the planet? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 N.
(a) 39.3 N (b) 43.6 N
*(c) 48.5 N (d) 53.3 N
Solution: The weight of an object is the gravitational force acting on it. We can
therefore use the formula for gravitational force:
F
g
=
Gm
1
m
2
r
2
=
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(73.3 kg)(1.31 10
22
kg)
(1.15 10
6
m)
2
= 48.5 N
474
Problem 1365. An unmanned space probe has a mass of 129 kg. It is sent to the surface
of a planet with a radius of 2.48 10
7
m and a mass of 1.02 10
26
kg. What is the
probes weight on the planet? Round your answer to the nearest 10 N.
(a) 1040 N (b) 1160 N
(c) 1290 N *(d) 1430 N
Solution: The weight of an object is the gravitational force acting on it. We can
therefore use the formula for gravitational force:
F
g
=
Gm
1
m
2
r
2
=
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(129 kg)(1.02 10
26
kg)
(2.48 10
7
m)
2
= 1430 N
Problem 1366. A space probe has a mass of 31.2 kg. It is sent to the surface of Planet
X, whose radius is 2.11 10
6
m. On the planets surface, the probes weight is 109 N.
What is the mass of Planet X? Round your answer to three signicant gures.
(a) 1.70 10
23
kg (b) 1.89 10
23
kg
(c) 2.10 10
23
kg *(d) 2.33 10
23
kg
Solution: The weight of an object is the force of gravity on it. We know the
gravitational force, the mass of the probe m
p
, and the radius of the planet; we want to
know the mass of the planet m
X
. We can use the formula for gravitational force and
solve for m
X
.
F
g
= w =
Gm
p
m
X
r
2
(r
2
/Gmp)
m
X
=
wr
2
Gm
p
m
X
=
(109 N)(2.11 10
6
m)
2
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(31.2 kg)
= 2.33 10
23
kg
Problem 1367. An astronaut has a mass of 67.3 kg. On the surface of Planet X, his
weight is 418 N. The radius of Planet X is 4.87 10
6
m. What is the mass of Planet X?
Round your answer to three signicant gures.
(a) 1.99 10
24
kg *(b) 2.21 10
24
kg
(c) 2.43 10
24
kg (d) 2.67 10
24
kg
Solution: The weight of an object is the force of gravity on it. We know the
gravitational force, the mass of the astronaut m
a
, and the radius of the planet; we want
to know the mass of the planet m
X
. We can use the formula for gravitational force and
solve for m
X
.
F
g
= w =
Gm
a
m
X
r
2
(r
2
/Gma)
m
X
=
wr
2
Gm
a
m
X
=
(418 N)(4.87 10
6
m)
2
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(67.3 kg)
= 2.21 10
24
kg
475
12.2.2 Orbits
Problem 1368. You want to calculate the period of a satellite in a circular orbit around
a planet. Which of the following do you not need to know for your calculation?
(a) The mass of the planet *(b) The radius of the planet
(c) The radius of the orbit (d) The gravitational constant G
(e) None of these
Solution: The formula for orbital period is
T =
2r
3/2
GM
where T is the period, r is the radius of the orbit, G is the gravitational constant, and
M is the mass of the primary (in this case, the planet). The radius of the planet does
not matter.
Problem 1369. Astronomers discover a small planet in a circular orbit around a distant
star. They are able to determine the distance of the planet from the star, and the period
of the planets orbit. Which of the following can they calculate based on these?
(a) The mass of the planet (b) The radius of the planet
*(c) The mass of the star (d) The radius of the star
(e) None of these
Solution: The formula for the orbital period is
T =
2r
3/2
GM
where T is the period, r is the radius of the orbit, G is the gravitational constant, and M
is the mass of the primary (in this case, the star). We know T, r, and G; the only other
variable in the formula is M. We can solve the formula for M and calculate it. The mass
of the planet and the radius of the planet and the star do not come into the formula at
all.
476
Problem 1370. A satellite in circular orbit around the Earth has a period of 90 minutes.
A second satellite in circular orbit around Planet X has a period of 180 minutes. If the
mass of the Earth is M
E
and the mass of Planet X is M
X
, which planets mass is greater?
(a) M
E
< M
X
*(b) Not enough information: need radii of orbits
(c) M
E
> M
X
(d) Not enough information: need masses of satellites
(e) None of these
T =
2r
3/2
GM
M is the mass of the primary. We can solve this for M:
T =
2r
3/2
GM
( )
2
T
2
=
4
2
r
3
GM
M/T
2
M =
4
2
r
3
GT
2
We see that M depends on r as well as on T. Since we dont know anything about r, we
cant conclude anything about M.
Problem 1371. A satellite with a mass of 24 kg in circular orbit at a distance of 10,000
km from the center of Planet X has a period of 2 hours. Which of the following satellites
circling Planet X would also have a period of 2 hours?
(a) A satellite with a mass of 24 kg at a distance of 20,000 km
*(b) A satellite with a mass of 96 kg at a distance of 10,000 km
(c) A satellite with a mass of 3 kg at a distance of 20,000 km
(d) A satellite with a mass of 3 kg at a distance of 5,000 km
(e) None of these
T =
2r
3/2
GM
M is the mass of the primary (in this case, of Planet X). Hence T depends on r and M
alone. Since both satellites are circling the same planet, M is the same; so if r is the
same, then T is the same as well. The mass of the satellite doesnt enter into the formula
at all.
477
Problem 1372. Russells celestial teapot was observed to be in a circular orbit around
the Earth at a distance of 1.48 10
7
m from the center of the planet. The mass of the
Earth is 5.97 10
24
kg. What is the teapots speed? Round your answer to the nearest
10 m/s.
(a) 3780 m/s (b) 4200 m/s
(c) 4670 m/s *(d) 5190 m/s
Solution: For an object in circular orbit, gravitation provides the centripetal force.
Thus we can use the formula for gravitational force and the one for centripetal force:
F
g
= F
rad
=
Gm
t
m
E
r
2
=
m
t
v
2
r
(r/mt)
v
2
=
Gm
E
r
v =
_
Gm
E
r
v =
_
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(5.97 10
24
kg)
1.48 10
7
m
_
1/2
= 5190 m/s
Problem 1373. An asteroid is in circular orbit around the sun, at a distance of 1.5010
11
m from the suns center. The mass of the sun is 1.99 10
30
kg. What is the asteroids
speed? Round your answer to three signicant gures.
(a) 2.41 10
4
m/s (b) 2.68 10
4
m/s
*(c) 2.98 10
4
m/s (d) 3.27 10
4
m/s
F
g
= F
rad
=
Gm
a
m
s
r
2
=
m
a
v
2
r
(r/ma)
v
2
=
Gm
s
r
v =
_
Gm
s
r
v =
_
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)(1.99 10
30
kg)
1.50 10
11
m
_
1/2
= 2.98 10
4
m/s
Problem 1374. A small moon is in circular orbit around Planet X, at a distance of
1.68 10
7
m from the planets center. The moons orbital speed is 1120 m/s. What is
the mass of Planet X? Round your answer to three signicant gures.
(a) 2.84 10
23
kg *(b) 3.16 10
23
kg
(c) 3.47 10
23
kg (d) 3.82 10
23
kg
F
g
= F
rad
=
Gm
m
m
X
r
2
=
m
m
v
2
r
=
(r
2
/Gmm)
m
X
=
v
2
r
G
m
X
=
(1120 m/s)
2
(1.68 10
7
m)
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)
= 3.16 10
23
kg
478
Problem 1375. A small planet is in circular orbit around a star, at a distance of 3.78
10
11
m from the stars center. The orbital speed of the planet is 3.44 10
4
m/s. What
is the stars mass? Round your answer to three signicant gures.
(a) 5.43 10
30
kg (b) 6.03 10
30
kg
*(c) 6.70 10
30
kg (d) 7.37 10
30
kg
F
g
= F
rad
=
Gm
p
m
s
r
2
=
m
p
v
2
r
=
(r
2
/Gmp)
m
s
=
v
2
r
G
m
s
=
(3.44 10
4
m/s)
2
(3.78 10
11
m)
(6.674 10
11
N m
2
/kg
2
)
= 6.70 10
30
kg
479
Problem 1376. A satellite has a mass of 6 kg. It is in circular orbit around a planet
with a mass of 6 10
24
kg. The radius of the planet is 10
6
m; the radius of the orbit
is 10
8
m. What is the satellites orbital period? For ease of calculation, assume that
G =
2
3
10
10
N m
2
/kg
2
.
(a) 10
2
s *(b) 10
5
s
(c) 10
14
s (d) 10
17
s
(e) None of these
T =
2r
3/2
GM
M is the mass of the primary (in this case, the planet). The mass of the satellite and
the radius of the planet dont enter into the formula at all, and have nothing to do with
this problem. Hence:
T =
2r
3/2
GM
=
2(10
8
m)
3/2
_
(
2
3
10
10
N m
2
/kg
2
)(6 10
24
kg)
1/2
Well look at the numbers rst, then check the units and make sure that they work.
T =
2 10
12
[4 10
14
]
1/2
=
2 10
12
2 10
7
= 10
5
Now, we need to check the units. In the numerator, the units are m
3/2
. In the denomi-
nator, remember that 1 N = 1 kg m/s
2
. Hence the units of the denominator are:
_
N m
2
kg
2

kg
1
_
1/2
=
_
kg
2
m
3
kg
2
s
2
_
1/2
=
m
3/2
s
Thus the units of the whole formula (numerator over denominator) are:
m
3/2
m
3/2
/s
= s
Our solution is: T = 10
5
s.
480
Problem 1377. A satellite with a mass of 150 kg is in circular orbit around a planet
with a mass of 1.5 10
26
kg. The radius of the planet is 10
8
m; the radius of the orbit
is 10
10
m. What is the satellites orbital period? For ease of calculation, assume that
G =
2
3
10
10
N m
2
/kg
2
.
(a) 2 10
4
s (b) 2 10
5
s
(c) 2 10
6
s *(d) 2 10
7
s
(e) None of these
T =
2r
3/2
GM
M is the mass of the primary (in this case, the planet). The mass of the satellite and
the radius of the planet dont enter into the formula at all, and have nothing to do with
this problem. Hence:
T =
2r
3/2
GM
=
2(10
10
m)
3/2
_
(
2
3
10
10
N m
2
/kg
2
)(1.5 10
26
kg)
1/2
T =
2 10
15
[1 10
16
]
1/2
=
2 10
15
10
8
= 2 10
7
3/2
. In the denomi-
2
_
N m
2
kg
2

kg
1
_
1/2
=
_
kg
2
m
3
kg
2
s
2
_
1/2
=
m
3/2
s
m
3/2
m
3/2
/s
= s
Our solution is: T = 2 10
7
s.
481
Problem 1378. A star has a mass of 2.4 10
31
kg and a radius of 10
9
m. A planet in
circular orbit around the star has a mass of 2.4 10
25
kg and a radius of 8 10
6
m. The
radius of the planets orbit is 4 10
12
m. What is the planets orbital period? For ease
of calculation, assume that G =
2
3
10
10
N m
2
/kg
2
.
*(a) 4 10
8
s (b) 4 10
9
s
(c) 4 10
10
s (d) 4 10
11
s
(e) None of these
T =
2r
3/2
GM
M is the mass of the primary (in this case, the star). The mass of the planet and the
radii of the planet and of the star dont enter into the formula at all, and have nothing
to do with this problem. Hence:
T =
2r
3/2
GM
=
2(4 10
12
m)
3/2
_
(
2
3
10
10
N m
2
/kg
2
)(2.4 10
31
kg)
1/2
T =
2(8 10
18
)
[1.6 10
21
]
1/2
=
16 10
18
[16 10
20
]
1/2
=
16 10
18
4 10
10
= 4 10
8
3/2
. In the denomi-
2
_
N m
2
kg
2

kg
1
_
1/2
=
_
kg
2
m
3
kg
2
s
2
_
1/2
=
m
3/2
s
m
3/2
m
3/2
/s
= s
Our solution is: T = 4 10
8
s.
482
Problem 1379. (Similarity Problem) A satellite with mass m
1
is in circular orbit at
a distance of r
0
from the center of a planet with mass M
p
. A second satellite with mass
m
2
= 2m
1
is in circular orbit around the same planet, at the same distance from the
center. If the period of the rst satellite is T
1
, what is the period of the second satellite?
(a) T
1
/4 (b) T
1
/2
*(c) T
1
(d)
2 T
1
(e) None of these
Solution: The orbital period only depends on the orbital radius r
0
and the mass of
the primary (in this case, the planet) M
p
. The mass of the satellite does not enter into
the calculation. Since both satellites orbit the same planet at the same distance, they
have the same period.
Problem 1380. (Similarity Problem) A satellite with mass m
1
is in circular orbit
around the Earth at a distance of r
1
from the center of the planet; it has a period of
T
1
. Scientists would like to launch a second satellite into circular orbit with a period of
T
2
= 2T
1
. What should they do to give the second satellite this period?
(a) Orbit the second satellite at a distance of r
2
= 64r
1
*(b) Orbit the second satellite at a distance of r
2
= 4
1/3
r
1
(c) Give the second satellite a mass of m
2
= 4m
1
(d) Give the second satellite a mass of m
2
= m
1
/4
(e) None of these
T =
2r
3/2
GM
where T is the period, r is the radius of the orbit, G is the gravitational constant, and M
is the mass of the primary (in this case, the Earth). The mass of the satellite does not
appear in the formula, so we can rule out answers (c) and (d). M and G are the same
from one experiment to the other; so the only things that change are r and T. Separating
the changing from the unchanging variables, we get:
T =
2r
3/2
GM
( )
2
T
2
=
4
2
r
3
GM
r
3
T
2
r
3
=
4
2
GM
T
2
r
3
=
T
2
1
r
3
1
=
T
2
2
r
3
2
=
(2T
1
)
2
r
3
2
=
4T
2
1
r
3
2
r
3
1
r
3
2
/T
2
1
r
3
2
= 4r
3
1
( )
1/3
r
2
= 4
1/3
r
1
483
Problem 1381. (Similarity Problem) Planet X has mass M
X
. A satellite with mass
m
X
is in circular orbit around it at a distance of r
X
from the center of the planet. Planet
Y has mass M
Y
; a satellite with mass m
Y
is in circular orbit around it at a distance of
r
Y
= 2r
X
from the planets center. If the two satellites have the same period, which of
the following is true?
(a) M
Y
= M
X
/8 *(b) M
Y
= 8M
X
(c) m
Y
= m
X
/8 (d) m
Y
= 8m
x
(e) None of these
T =
2r
3/2
GM
M is the mass of the primary (in this case, Planet X). The mass of the satellite does not
appear in the formula, and has no bearing on the problem; thus we can rule out answers
(c) and (d).
In the two experiments, M and r are dierent; G and T are the same. Separating the
changing from the unchanging variables, we get:
T =
2r
3/2
GM
( )
2
T
2
=
4
2
r
3
GM
G/4
2
T
2
G
4
2
=
r
3
M
r
3
M
=
r
3
X
M
X
=
r
3
Y
M
Y
=
(2r
X
)
3
M
Y
=
8r
3
X
M
Y
M
X
M
Y
/r
3
X
M
Y
= 8M
X
484
13 Applications of Newtons Laws to Rotating Bod-
ies
13.1 Torque
Problem 1382. A diving board extends 2 m horizontally from the side of a pool. A
swimmer weighing 600 N stands on the very end of the board. What torque does the
swimmer exert about the base of the board? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 300 Nm (b) 600 Nm
*(c) 1200 Nm (d) 2400 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the board is horizontal and gravity is vertical, the angle between
the board and the force on it is 90
. Hence
= Fr sin = Fr sin 90
= Fr = (600 N)(2 m) = 1200 Nm

Problem 1383. A sherman is holding a shing rod horizontally over the edge of a
bridge. The rod is 150 cm long; from the end of it hangs a catsh with a mass of 6.0 kg.
What torque does the sh exert about the base of the road? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
(a) 0.92 Nm (b) 9.0 Nm
*(c) 88 Nm (d) 900 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: Dont forget to convert centimeters to meters, and to convert the catshs
mass to its weight. The rod is horizontal and the shs weight pulls vertically, so the
angle between the rod and the force is 90
. Hence
= Fr sin = mgr sin 90
= mgr = (6.0 kg)(9.8 m/s

2
)(1.50 m) = 88 Nm
Problem 1384. A cord wraps around a pulley with a radius of 8 cm. The pulley is
rusty, and requires a torque of 120 Nm to make it turn. How much force do you have
to pull on the cord with in order to make the pulley turn? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
(a) 15 N (b) 96 N
*(c) 1500 N (d) 9600 N
(e) None of these
Solution: When were applying force to a cord or a belt wrapped around a wheel,
we can assume that the force is perpendicular to the radius; so = Fr sin 90
= Fr. We
know and r; we want to know F. Dont forget to convert centimeters to meters.
= Fr F =

r
=
120 Nm
0.08 m
= 1500 N
485
Problem 1385. On a construction site, a plank is fastened at one end and projects 2.0
m horizontally from the building. The fastening will break if subjected to a torque of
more than 1500 Nm. What is the mass of the heaviest piece of equipment that can safely
be placed on the end of the plank? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 77 kg (b) 310 kg
(c) 750 kg (d) 3000 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: The plank is horizontal and the force of weight is vertical; so =
Fr sin 90
= Fr. We know r and ; we want to know m, for which we have to use

the fact that F = mg.
= Fr = mgr m =

gr
=
1500 Nm
(9.8 m/s
2
)(2.0 m)
= 77 kg
Problem 1386. You are out in the middle of the desert with a at tire. Your lug nuts
are rusty, and require a torque of 300 Nm to loosen them. You are strong enough to
exert a force of 500 N on the end of a wrench. How long does the wrench have to be in
order for you to get the lug nuts o? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 15 cm (b) 17 cm
*(c) 60 cm (d) 67 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: Since no angle is mentioned, assume that you can apply the force at 90
to the wrench handle; so = Fr. We know and F; we want to know r.

= Fr r =

F
=
300 Nm
500 N
= 0.6 m = 60 cm
Problem 1387. An action-movie hero who weighs 70 kg is hanging from a agpole that
projects horizontally from the side of a building. The agpole will break o if subjected
to a torque of more than 1200 Nm. How far out on the agpole can the hero go? Round
(a) 0.84 m (b) 1.1 m
(c) 1.4 m *(d) 1.7 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the agpole is horizontal and the heros weight is vertical, = 90
and = Fr. We know and m (which we can convert to F using F = mg); we want to
know r.
= Fr = mgr r =

mg
=
1200 Nm
(70 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 1.7 m
486
Problem 1388. You are trying to loosen a rusty nut with a wrench 30 cm long. Because
the nut is in an awkward place, you can only pull at an angle of 70
to the wrench handle.

If you can pull with a force of 600 N, how much torque do you exert on the nut? Round
(a) 62 Nm (b) 100 Nm
*(c) 170 Nm (d) 280 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: Dont forget to convert centimeters to meters.
= Fr sin = (600 N)(0.30 m) sin 70
= 170 Nm
Problem 1389. A sherman has a bass on the end of his line. His rod is 1.2 m long; the
line makes an angle of 50
with the rod; and the bass is pulling on the line with a force
of 40 N. How much torque does the bass produce about the handle of the rod? Round
(a) 31 Nm (b) 33 Nm
(c) 35 Nm *(d) 37 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr sin = (40 N)(1.2 m) sin 50
= 37 Nm
Problem 1390. A telephone pole is supported by a guy wire that
is attached 3.0 m up on the pole and makes an angle of 60
with
the ground. If the tension in the wire is 6000 N, how much torque
does it exert about the base of the pole? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
*(a) 9000 Nm (b) 11,000 Nm
(c) 13,000 Nm (d) 16,000 Nm
(e) None of these
`
`
`
`
`
`
60
.
30
r
F
Solution: Careful! The in the formula = Fr sin is the angle between the force
and the radius. In this case, the radius is vertical (from the base of the pole to the point
where the wire joins the pole), so = 90
60
= 30
.
= Fr sin = (6000 N)(3.0 m) sin 30
= 9000 Nm
487
Problem 1391. A sherman is holding a rod 120 cm long at an angle
of 55
above the horizontal. A carp weighing 60 N is hanging from the

end of the rod. How much torque does the sh exert about the handle
of the rod? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 29 Nm *(b) 41 Nm
(c) 59 Nm (d) 72 Nm
(e) None of these
/
/
/
/
/
/
r
F
55
= 35
Solution: Careful! The rods angle is 55
above the horizontal; the force of the carps

weight is vertical. Thus the angle between the rod and the force is 90
55
= 35
. Its
a good idea to sketch a diagram, as at right. Also, dont forget to convert centimeters to
meters.
= Fr sin = (60 N)(1.2 m) sin 35
= 41 Nm
Problem 1392. A agpole with a length of 40 m has been installed
carelessly, and makes an angle of 12
to the vertical. The wind exerts

a horizontal force of 300 N on the ag at the top of the pole. How
much torque does this produce about the base of the pole? Round
(a) 2500 Nm (b) 4200 Nm
(c) 7000 Nm *(d) 12,000 Nm
(e) None of these
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
''
r
12

= 78
Solution: Careful! The pole is at 12
to the vertical; the force of the wind is horizontal.

Thus the angle between the force and the agpole is 90
12
= 78
. It never hurts to
sketch a diagram, as at right.
= Fr sin = (300 N)(40 m) sin 78
= 12, 000 Nm
Problem 1393. A bird with a mass of 4.2 kg lands on top of a pole 3.5 m long that
to the vertical. How much torque does the bird exert about the
base of the pole? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 19 Nm *(b) 37 Nm
(c) 72 Nm (d) 140 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: Dont forget to calculate the birds weight from its mass.
= Fr sin = mgr sin = (4.2 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(3.5 m) sin 15
= 37 Nm
488
Problem 1394. A sherman has a marlin on the end of his line. The line makes an
angle of 70
with the rod, which is 2.2 m long. The sherman will lose his grip on the
rod if it is subjected to a torque of more than 1200 Nm. How much force must the
marlin exert on the line in order to break the shermans grip? Round your answer to
*(a) 580 N (b) 900 N
(c) 1600 N (d) 2500 N
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr sin F =

r sin
=
1200 Nm
(2.2 m) sin 70
= 580 N
Problem 1395. A agpole 2.5 m long projects from the side of a building, at an angle
of 35
to the vertical. A bird lands on the end of the agpole, producing a torque of
80 Nm about the agpoles base. What is the birds mass? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
(a) 4.2 kg (b) 4.6 kg
(c) 5.1 kg *(d) 5.7 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: Use torque to calculate weight, then use that to calculate mass.
= Fr sin = mgr sin m =

gr sin
=
80 Nm
(9.8 m/s
2
)(2.5 m) sin 35
= 5.7 kg
Problem 1396. Rebels have overthrown the President-for-life of Tyrannia, and are now
attempting to pull down a large statue of him. They have tied a cable around the neck
of the statue, 12 m above the ground, and attached the other end to a pickup. The rope
to the vertical. In order to topple the statue, it is necessary to

produce a torque of 80,000 Nm about its base. How much force does the pickup need to
apply to the rope? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 8700 N *(b) 10,000 N
(c) 12,000 N (d) 15,000 N
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr sin F =

r sin
=
80, 000 Nm
(12 m) sin 40
= 10, 000 N
489
Problem 1397. A agpole is supported by a guy wire that is attached to the pole 5.0 m
above the ground, and that makes an angle of 65
to the horizontal. To keep the agpole

from blowing over in high winds, the wire must be able to produce a torque of 6000
Nm about the base of the pole. How much tension must the wire be able to withstand?
(a) 1300 N *(b) 2800 N
(c) 6100 N (d) 13,000 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Be careful with your angle. The wire makes an angle of 65
with the
horizontal, so it makes an angle of = 90
65
= 25
with the vertical agpole. Sketch

a diagram if youre not sure about this.
= Fr sin F =

r sin
=
6000 Nm
(5.0 m) sin 25
= 2800 N
Problem 1398. A branch projects diagonally upward from the trunk of a tree, making
an angle of 70
with the vertical trunk. A monkey weighing 240 N climbs out along the
branch. The branch will break o if it is subjected to a torque of more than 300 Nm
about its base. How far along the branch can the monkey go without breaking it? Round
*(a) 1.3 m (b) 1.9 m
(c) 2.6 m (d) 3.7 m
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr sin r =

F sin
=
300 Nm
(240 N) sin 70
= 1.3 m
Problem 1399. A partly open drawbridge makes an angle of 15
to the horizontal. A
truck weighing 1.2 10
5
N drives slowly up the slope. The drawbridge will collapse if
subjected to a torque of more than 2.0 10
6
N. How far along the drawbridge can the
truck go? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 11 m *(b) 17 m
(c) 33 m (d) 64 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Be careful with your angle. The bridge makes an angle of 15
to the
horizontal; but the force of the trucks weight is vertical, so it makes an angle of 90
15
=
75
with the bridge. Sketch a diagram if youre unclear on this.

= Fr sin r =

F sin
=
2.0 10
6
Nm
(1.2 10
5
N) sin 75
= 17 m
490
Problem 1400. The boom of a crane is 20 m long. A cement truck weighing 300,000
N is hanging from the end of the crane. The crane will topple over if it is subjected to
a torque about its base greater than 5.0 10
6
Nm. What is the largest angle with the
vertical that the boom can safely make? Round your answer to the nearest degree.
(a) 34
(b) 41
(c) 49
*(d) 56
(e) None of these

Solution: = Fr sin = sin
1
_

Fr
_
= sin
1
_
5.0 10
6
Nm
(300, 000 N)(20 m)
_
= 56
Problem 1401. Rebels have overthrown the Dear Leader of Annexia, and are attempting
to pull down his statue. They have attached a cable around the statues neck, 11 m above
ground level, and have attached the other end to a truck. If the truck can pull with a
force of 50,000 N, and if it will require a torque of 400,000 Nm about the statues base
to pull it over, what angle must the cable make with the horizontal? Round your answer
to the nearest degree.
*(a) 43
(b) 47
(c) 50
(d) 53
(e) None of these

Solution: Careful! The problem asks for the cables angle with the horizontal; but
the radius (from the statues base to the neck) is vertical. Thus the problem is asking for
= 90
, where is the angle between the cable and the vertical. Sketch a diagram
if youre not clear on this.
= Fr sin = sin
1
_

Fr
_
= 90
sin
1
_
400, 000 Nm
(50, 000 N)(11 m)
_
= 43
Problem 1402. Two people are standing on a horizontal diving board. One person
weighs 400 N, and is standing 3 m from the base of the board. The other weighs 800 N,
and is standing 2 m from the base. What is the magnitude of the net torque that the
two people produce about the base of the board? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
(a) 400 Nm (b) 1200 Nm
*(c) 2800 Nm (d) 3000 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: Both people are standing on the same side of the base; so their torques point
in the same direction, and therefore have the same sign. Since the board is horizontal
and the forces (weight) are vertical, = 90
and Fr sin = Fr.

=
1
+
2
= F
1
r
1
+F
2
r
2
= (400 N)(3 m) + (800 N)(2 m) = 2800 Nm
491
Problem 1403. A teeter-totter consists of a massless
board pivoting on a fulcrum. With the board held hor-
izontal, a physics instructor weighing w
1
= 800 N sits
1 m from the fulcrum. A physics student weighing
w
2
= 500 N sits on the opposite side, 2 m from the
fulcrum. What is the net torque about the fulcrum?
Assume that the instructor produces a positive torque.
/
/
/
`
`
`
w
1
w
2
(a) 200 Nm *(b) 200 Nm
(c) 300 Nm (d) 300 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: We will use r
i
= 1 m and r
s
= 2 m, so that the instructors torque
i
will
be positive and the students torque
s
will be negative. Since the board is horizontal
and the forces are vertical, = 90
and Fr sin = Fr.

=
i
+
s
= F
i
r
i
+F
s
r
s
= (800 N)(1 m) + (500 N)(2 m) = 200 Nm
Problem 1404. Two pulleys are xed on a shaft, as
shown at right. One pulley has a radius of 15 cm; a weight
of w
1
= 6 N hangs from that pulley on the left side of the
shaft. The second pulley has a radius of 10 cm; a weight
of w
2
= 4 N hangs from it, on the right side of the shaft.
What is the net torque on the shaft? Assume that w
1
produces a positive torque. Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
*(a) 0.50 Nm (b) 0.50 Nm
(c) 1.3 Nm (d) 1.3 Nm
(e) None of these
u
w
1
w
2
Solution: Dont forget to convert centimeters to meters. We will use r
1
= 0.15 m
and r
2
= 0.10 m, so that the directions of the torques will be right.
=
1
+
2
= w
1
r
1
+w
2
r
2
= (6 N)(0.15 m) + (4 N)(0.10 m) = 0.50 Nm
492
Problem 1405. You are trying to close a door; your dog is on the opposite side, trying
to push it open. You apply a force of 200 N at a distance of 80 cm from the hinges.
The dog applies a force of 400 N at a distance of 60 cm from the hinges. What is the
net torque on the door? Assume that you are applying a positive torque. Round your
(a) 160 Nm *(b) 80 Nm
(c) 120 Nm (d) 400 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: We will use F
y
= 200 N and F
d
= 400 N so that the torques will have
the right signs. Since no angles are mentioned, well assume that you and the dog are
both pushing at right angles to the door, so sin = 1 for both. Dont forget to convert
centimeters to meters.
=
y
+
d
= F
y
r
y
+F
d
r
d
= (200 N)(0.80 m) + (400 N)(0.60 m) = 80 Nm
Problem 1406. Two civil engineering students are attempting to loosen a nut on a
bridge, using a very large wrench. Both students are pulling in the same direction. One
student is applying a force of 400 N at an angle of 90
to the handle of the wrench, 1.2

m from the nut; the other student is applying a force of 500 N at an angle of 80
to the
handle, 1.6 m from the nut. What is the net torque applied to the nut? Round your
(a) 310 Nm (b) 900 Nm
*(c) 1300 Nm (d) 1400 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: Since both students are producing torque in the same direction, we dont
have to worry about signs.
=
1
+
2
= F
1
r
1
sin
1
+F
2
r
2
sin
2
= (400 N)(1.2 m) sin 90
+ (500 N)(1.6 m) sin 80
= 1300 Nm
493
Problem 1407. Rebels have overthrown the Tsar of Fanatistan, and are now trying to
pull down his statue. However, the two rebel organizations are in disagreement on how
to do it. The Peoples Front has attached a rope 6.0 m up on the statue, and is pulling
northward with a force of 20,000 N at an angle of 40
to the horizontal. The Popular

Front has attached their rope 7.5 m up on the statue, and is pulling southward with a
force of 15,000 N at an angle of 35
to the horizontal. What is the net torque about the

base of the statue? Assume that the Peoples Front is applying positive torque. Round
your answer to the nearest 1000 Nm.
*(a) 0 Nm (b) 13, 000 Nm
(c) 38,000 Nm (d) 180,000 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: Careful! Notice that we are given angles to the horizontal, but that
to calculate the torque we need angles measured to the vertical. Also, to make the
signs of the torques work out correctly, well give the Popular Front a negative force:
F
2
= 15, 000 N.
=
1
+
2
= F
1
r
1
sin
1
+F
2
r
2
sin
2
= (20, 000 N)(6.0 m) sin 50
+ (15, 000 N)(7.5 m) sin 55
= 0 Nm
Problem 1408. A massless plank is lying on the ground and extending partly out over
the edge of the Grand Canyon. A tourist weighing 800 N wants to walk to the end of the
plank, 2.5 m beyond the cli edge, and have his wife take his picture. If the wife weighs
500 N, how far back from the cli edge must she stand on the plank to keep her husband
from falling into the canyon? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 1.6 m (b) 2.5 m
*(c) 4.0 m (d) 6.4 m
(e) None of these
Solution: If the wife really doesnt want her husband to fall in, then she must produce
a torque about the cli edge that matches his. We assume that the plank is horizontal,
so Fr sin = Fr. Then
F
w
r
w
= F
h
r
h
r
w
=
F
h
r
h
F
w
=
(800 N)(2.5 m)
500 N
= 4.0 m
494
Problem 1409. A teeter-totter consists of a massless
board pivoting on a fulcrum. A physics instructor weigh-
ing w
1
= 800 N sits 1.2 m from the fulcrum. A physics
student weighing w
2
= 500 N sits on the opposite side.
How far from the fulcrum must the student sit to bal-
ance the instructors torque? Round your answer to two
signicant gures.
/
/
/
`
`
`
w
1
w
2
(a) 0.75 m (b) 1.4 m
(c) 1.6 m *(d) 1.9 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Since no angle is mentioned, we can assume that the board is horizontal; so
Fr sin = Fr. To balance, the torques produced by instructor and student must match.
w
1
r
1
= w
2
r
2
r
2
=
w
1
r
1
w
2
=
(800 N)(1.2 m)
500 N
= 1.9 m
Problem 1410. A vertical pulley has a radius of 5 cm. A thin string is wound around
the outside of the pulley, and a weight of 8 N is suspended from it. The pulley has a
brake, located 3 cm from the pulleys axle. How much force must the brake exert to keep
the pulley from turning? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 1.9 N (b) 4.8 N
*(c) 13 N (d) 120 N
(e) None of these
Solution: To keep the pulley from turning, the torques produced by the weight and
by the brake must match.
F
1
r
1
= F
2
r
2
F
2
=
F
1
r
1
r
2
=
(8 N)(0.05 m)
0.03 m
= 13 N
Problem 1411. A massless horizontal pole projects 1.6 m from the
side of a building. It is held up by a cable running from the side of
the building to the end of the pole, making an angle of 35
to the
horizontal. A sign weighing w = 30 N hangs from the pole 1.5 m out
from the building. What is the tension in the cable? Round your
(a) 28 N (b) 34 N
(c) 39 N *(d) 49 N
(e) None of these
w
Solution: Since the system is not moving, the torques produced by the weight and
by the tension must match. Let T be the tension.
Tr
T
sin
T
= wr
w
T =
wr
w
r
T
sin
=
(30 N)(1.5 m)
(1.6 m) sin 35
= 49 N
495
Problem 1412. A agpole 2.4 m long projects from the side of a
building, making an angle of 40
to the vertical. The agpole has a

mass of 80 kg; its center of mass is at its midpoint. It is supported
by a horizontal cable running from the side of the building to the end
of the pole. What is the tension in the cable? Round your answer
(a) 34 N (b) 40 N
*(c) 330 N (d) 390 N
(e) None of these
r
40
w = mg
T
50
Solution: We need to balance two torques about the base of the pole. The rst is
produced by the weight of the agpole: F
1
= w = mg, r
1
= 1.2 m (the midpoint of
the pole), and
1
= 40
. The second is produced by the tension in the cable: F

2
= T,
r
2
= 2.4 m (the end of the pole), and
2
= 50
.
mgr
1
sin
1
= Tr
2
sin
2
T =
mgr
1
sin
1
r
2
sin
2
=
(80 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(1.2 m) sin 40
(2.4 m) sin 50
= 330 N
Problem 1413. A agpole 7 m high is supported by a guy wire
attached 5 m high on the north side of the pole and meeting the
ground at an angle of = 50
. The wind blows southward, exerting a

force of 200 N on the ag at the top of the pole. What is the tension
in the wire? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 180 N (b) 210 N
(c) 370 N *(d) 440 N
(e) None of these
`
`
`
`
`
`
Solution: Since the pole doesnt move, the torque produced by the wire must balance
the torque produced by the wind on the ag. Be careful with the angles; the angle
between the wire and the agpole is = 90
50
= 40
. Let T be the tension; then

F
1
r
1
= Tr
2
sin T =
F
1
r
1
r
2
sin
=
(200 N)(7 m)
(5 m) sin 40
= 440 N
496
Problem 1414. A pendulum consists of a lead sinker with weight W
attached to the end of a thin string with length L; the other end of
the string is attached to a hook in the ceiling. The pendulum is pulled
back and released. When the string makes an angle of with the
vertical, it has a tension of T. At that point, what is the net torque
about the hook in the ceiling?
(a) 0 (b) (T +W) sin
*(c) WLsin (d) (T W)Lcos
(e) None of these
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
L
u
Solution: The tension is pulling straight away from the hook, so it makes no contri-
bution to the torque: r = 0. The weight W is pulling straight downward, at an angle of
180
to the string and at a distance of L from the hook. Hence

= WLsin(180
) = WLsin
13.2 Angular acceleration
Problem 1415. A windmill has a moment of inertia of 5.0 kgm
2
. When the wind begins
to blow, it accelerates at 0.40 rad/s
2
. What is the torque on the windmill? Round your
(a) 0.80 Nm *(b) 2.0 Nm
(c) 5.0 Nm (d) 13 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: = I = (5.0 kgm
2
)(0.40 rad/s
2
) = 2.0 Nm
Problem 1416. A shafts moment of inertia is 24 kgm
2
. How much torque does it take
to accelerate the shaft at 3.0 rad/s
2
? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 8.0 Nm (b) 17 Nm
(c) 35 Nm *(d) 72 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: = I = (24 kgm
2
)(3.0 rad/s
2
) = 72 Nm
497
Problem 1417. A ywheel has a mass of 1200 kg, a radius of 0.75 m, and a moment of
inertia of 480 kgm
2
. When a motor connected to the ywheel is switched on, the ywheel
accelerates at 0.80 rad/s
2
. How much torque does the motor apply to the ywheel?
(a) 290 Nm (b) 340 Nm
*(c) 380 Nm (d) 900 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: We dont need the mass or the radius for this problem.
= I = (480 kgm
2
)(0.80 rad/s
2
) = 380 Nm
Problem 1418. A bicycle wheels moment of inertia is 0.30 kgm
2
. If you apply a torque
of 20 Nm to it, what is its angular acceleration? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
(a) 1.8 rad/s
2
(b) 6.0 rad/s
2
(c) 20 rad/s
2
*(d) 67 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: = I =

I
=
20 Nm
0.30 kgm
2
= 67 rad/s
2
Problem 1419. A revolving door has moment of inertia 120 kgm
2
. You apply a torque
of 50 Nm to it. What is its angular acceleration? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
(a) 0.12 rad/s
2
*(b) 0.42 rad/s
2
(c) 1.4 rad/s
2
(d) 2.4 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: = I =

I
=
50 Nm
120 kgm
2
= 0.42 rad/s
2
Problem 1420. You are trying to determine the moment of inertia of a roast turkey
on a massless turntable. Unfortunately, your physics book does not include a formula
for the moment of inertia of a turkey, roasted or otherwise. You apply a torque of 0.060
Nm to the turntable, and it accelerates at 1.4 rad/s
2
. What is the turkeys moment of
inertia? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 0.043 kgm
2
(b) 0.054 kgm
2
(c) 0.067 kgm
2
(d) 0.084 kgm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: = I I =

=
0.60 Nm
1.4 rad/s
2
= 0.043 kgm
2
498
Problem 1421. A motor supplies a torque of 160,000 Nm to a merry-go-round, which
accelerates at 0.3 rad/s
2
. What is the merry-go-rounds moment of inertia? Round your
(a) 48,000 kgm
2
(b) 110,000 kgm
2
(c) 240,000 kgm
2
*(d) 530,000 kgm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: = I I =

=
160, 000 Nm
0.3 rad/s
2
= 530, 000 kgm
2
Problem 1422. A ywheel has a radius of 60 cm and a moment of inertia of 150 kgm
2
.
A belt around the rim of the wheel imparts a force of 80 N. What is the ywheels angular
acceleration? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 0.29 rad/s
2
*(b) 0.32 rad/s
2
(c) 0.35 rad/s
2
(d) 0.39 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr = I =
Fr
I
=
(80 N)(0.60 m)
150 kgm
2
= 0.32 rad/s
2
Problem 1423. A gate is 2 m long, and has a moment of inertia of 200 kgm
2
. A cow
pushes on the gate 1.5 m from the hinges, with a force of 400 N. What is the gates
angular acceleration? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 1.5 rad/s
2
(b) 2.3 rad/s
2
*(c) 3.0 rad/s
2
(d) 4.0 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Since no angle is mentioned, we assume that the cow pushes at a right
angle; so = Fr.
= Fr = I =
Fr
I
=
(400 N)(1.5 m)
200 kgm
2
= 3.0 rad/s
2
Notice that we dont need the length of the gate.
Problem 1424. A shaft is 10 m long, with a radius of 10 cm and a moment of inertia of
12 kgm
2
. A belt around the shaft imparts a force of 50 N. What is the shafts angular
acceleration? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 0.30 rad/s
2
(b) 0.34 rad/s
2
(c) 0.38 rad/s
2
*(d) 0.42 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: The length of the shaft is irrelevant to this problem.
= Fr = I =
FR
I
=
(50 N)(0.10 m)
12 kgm
2
= 0.42 rad/s
2
499
Problem 1425. A large gear has a radius of 1.2 m, a mass of 4100 kg, and a moment of
inertia of 4000 kgm
2
. A second gear engages the teeth on the outer edge of the rst one
and imparts a force of 200 N. What is the angular acceleration of the rst gear? Round
(a) 0.050 rad/s
2
*(b) 0.060 rad/s
2
(c) 0.067 rad/s
2
(d) 0.075 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: The mass of the gear doesnt matter.
= Fr = I =
Fr
I
=
(200 N)(1.2 m)
4000 kgm
2
= 0.060 rad/s
2
Problem 1426. A merry-go-round has a radius of 2.0 m. A physics professor pushes
with a force of 120 N tangent to the outer edge of the merry-go-round, giving it an angular
acceleration of 1.8 rad/s
2
. What is the merry-go-rounds moment of inertia? Round your
(a) 110 kgm
2
(b) 120 kgm
2
*(c) 130 kgm
2
(d) 150 kgm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr = I I =
Fr
=
(120 N)(2.0 m)
1.8 rad/s
2
= 130 kgm
2
Problem 1427. A belt runs over a pulley with a radius of 12 cm. When the belt is
pulled with a force of 60 N, the pulley experiences a radial acceleration of 2.5 m/s
2
. What
is the pulleys moment of inertia? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 2.1 kgm
2
(b) 2.3 kgm
2
(c) 2.6 kgm
2
*(d) 2.9 kgm
2
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr = I I =
Fr
=
(60 N)(0.12 m)
2.5 m/s
2
= 2.9 kgm
2
Problem 1428. A fountain features a stone sphere with a radius of 2.8 m, suspended
frictionlessly on a lm of water in a hemispherical basin. The sphere has a moment of
inertia of 2800 kgm
2
. How much force do you have to apply along the spheres equator
in order to produce an acceleration of 0.04 m/s
2
? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
*(a) 40 N (b) 44 N
(c) 48 N (d) 53 N
(e) None of these
Solution: = Fr = I F =
I
r
=
(2800 kgm
2
)(0.04 m/s
2
)
2.8 m
= 40 N
500
Problem 1429. A gate is 2.1 m long, and has a moment of inertia of 260 kgm
2
. How
hard do you have to push on the outer edge of the gate to induce an acceleration of
1.5 rad/s
2
(a) 140 N (b) 150 N
(c) 170 N *(d) 190 N
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we dont mention an angle, assume that you push at right angles to
the gate.
= Fr = I F =
I
r
=
(260 kgm
2
)(1.5 rad/s
2
)
2.1 m
= 190 N
Problem 1430. A windmills moment of inertia is 20 kgm
2
. It is initially at rest; when
the wind starts to blow, it begins turning, reaching a speed of 4.5 rad/s in 8 seconds.
What is the magnitude of the torque that the wind applied to the windmill? Round your
(a) 10 Nm *(b) 11 Nm
(c) 12 Nm (d) 14 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: We cant use = I directly, since we dont know . However, we know
0
= 0, , and t; so we can calculate .
=
0
+t = t =

t
= I =
I
t
=
(20 kgm
2
)(4.5 rad/s)
8 s
= 11 Nm
Problem 1431. A shaft has a radius of 8 cm and a moment of inertia of 15 kgm
2
. It is
driven by a belt wrapped around it. If the shaft is initially at rest and the belt is pulled
with a force of 20 N, how long does it take for the shaft to turn 10 radians? Round your
(a) 12 s *(b) 14 s
(c) 15 s (d) 17 s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since we know r and F, we can calculate ; since we know I, we can
calculate . Then we know ,
0
= 0,
0
= 0, and ; we want to know t.
= Fr = I =
Fr
I
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
1
2
t
2
=
Fr
2I
t
2
t =
_
2I
Fr
=
_
2(15 kgm
2
)(10 rad)
(20 N)(0.08 m)
_
1/2
= 14 s
501
Problem 1432. A wheels moment of inertia is 30 kgm
2
. It is spinning at 25 rad/s
when a brake is applied at a distance of 30 cm from the wheels center. The wheel turns
through 15 radians before coming to a halt. How much force was produced by the brake?
*(a) 2100 N (b) 2300 N
(c) 2500 N (d) 2800 N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know r and we want to know F. If we knew , we could calculate it
directly. We know I; if we knew , we could calculate . We know
0
, , and = 0,
from which we can calculate .
tau = I = Fr F =
I
r
2 =
2
2
0
=
2
0
=

2
0
2
Since we only care about the magnitude of the force applied by the brake, well ignore
the negative sign.
F =
I
2
0
2r
=
(30 kgm
2
)(25 rad/s)
2
2(0.30 m)(15 rad)
= 2100 N
Problem 1433. An evil physics professor decides to stop the rotation of the Earth. He
embeds a large rocket in a mountain on the equator, pointing westward. The Earth
has a radius of 6.4 10
6
m and a moment of inertia of 9.8 10
37
kgm
2
; it is initially
turning at 7.3 10
5
rad/s. If the professor wants to stop the rotation in 3.2 10
7
s
(approximately one year), how much thrust must his rocket produce? Round your answer
(a) 3.2 10
18
N *(b) 3.5 10
19
N
(c) 3.9 10
20
N (d) 4.2 10
21
N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know r. If we knew , we could calculate F. We know I; if we knew
, we could calculate . We know
0
, = 0, and t; from these, we can calculate .
= Fr = I F =
I
r
= 0 =
0
+t =
0
t
Since we want the magnitude of the force, we will ignore the negative sign.
F =
I
0
rt
=
(9.8 10
37
kgm
2
)(7.3 10
5
rad/s)
(6.4 10
6
m)(3.2 10
7
s)
= 3.5 10
19
N
502
Problem 1434. A large gears radius is 30 cm, and its moment of inertia is 40 kgm
2
.
A second gear engages the teeth on the outer edge of the rst one and applies a force of
20 N. The gears are initially at rest. After the rst gear has turned through 5 rad, how
fast will it be turning? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 1.0 rad/s (b) 1.1 rad/s
*(c) 1.2 rad/s (d) 1.3 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know
0
= 0 and ; we want to know . If we knew , we could
calculate . We know r and F, so we can calculate ; and we know I, so we can calculate
.
= Fr = I =
Fr
I
2 =
2
2
0
=
2
=
2 =
_
2Fr
I
_
1/2
=
_
2(20 N)(0.30 m)(5 rad)
40 kgm
2
_
1/2
= 1.2 rad/s
Problem 1435. A ywheel with a radius of 0.50 m and a moment of inertia of 120 kgm
2
is driven by a belt around the rim. The ywheel is initially at rest. You would like it to
turn through 20 rad in 6 seconds. What force do you need to apply to the belt? Round
(a) 190 N (b) 220 N
(c) 240 N *(d) 270 N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know r and I; we want to know F. If we knew , we could calculate
, and from that we could calculate F. We know
0
= 0,
0
= 0, , and t. From these,
we can calculate .
=
0
+
0
t +
1
2
t
2
=
1
2
t
2
=
2
t
2
= Fr = I F =
I
r
=
2I
rt
2
=
2(120 kgm
2
)(20 rad)
(0.50 m)(6 s)
2
= 270 N
503
13.3 Moment of inertia
Problem 1436. A physics instructor has a mass of 90 kg. His wife has a mass of 60 kg.
The two are riding together on a merry-go-round with two concentric circles of wooden
horses. In which of the following situations is the systems moment of inertia the smallest?
(a) Both sit together one one of the outer horses
(b) Both sit on outer horses, on opposite sides of the merry-go-round
*(c) She sits on one of the outer horses; he sits on the inner horse next to her
(d) He sits on one of the outer horses; she sits on an inner horse on the opposite side
Solution: In all of the possible solutions, the mass is the same. We can reduce the
moment of inertia by moving mass closer to the axis of rotation. We dont have the
option of putting both people on inner horses (making both r
p
and r
w
small). Since
m
p
> m
w
, our best option is to put the professor on an inner horse (making r
p
small).
Problem 1437. A ywheel consists of a solid iron disc with two holes drilled through
it, turning on a shaft through its center. In which of the following arrangements of holes
is the moment of inertia the largest?
*(a)
u k k
(b)
u k k
(c)
u
k
k
(d)
u kk
Solution: To make the moment of inertia large, we want as much mass as possible to
be far away from the axis of rotation. In situation (a), we are drilling our holes near the
axis, where the mass removed contributed little to I. In the other situations, the mass
removed contributed more to I, so drilling holes there makes greater reductions in I.
Problem 1438. A lead block with mass m
b
is attached to a massless turntable, at a
distance of r
1
from the center. The systems moment of inertia is I
1
. The block is then
moved to a distance of 2r
1
from the center. What is the new moment of inertia?
(a) I
1
(b)
2 I
1
(c) 2I
1
*(d) 4I
1
(e) None of these
We assume that the block is small enough to be treated as a point mass. Then
I
1
= m
b
r
2
1
and I
2
= m
b
(2r
1
)
2
= 4m
b
r
2
1
= 4I
1
504
Problem 1439. A lead block with mass m
b
is attached to a massless turntable, at a
distance of r
1
from the center. The systems moment of inertia is I
1
. A second block with
the same mass is then attached at the same distance from the center, on the opposite
side. What is the new moment of inertia?
(a) I
1
(b)
2 I
1
*(c) 2I
1
(d) 4I
1
(e) None of these
Solution: We assume that the block is small enough to be treated as a point mass.
Then
I
1
= m
b
r
2
1
and I
2
= m
b
r
2
1
+m
b
r
2
1
= 2m
b
r
2
1
= 2I
1
Problem 1440. A system consists of a massless turntable with a lead block with mass
m
1
attached at a distance of r
1
from the center. A second system has the same moment
of inertia, but uses a block with mass m
2
= 2m
1
. At what distance r
2
is this block
attached?
(a) r
1
/4 (b) r
1
/2
*(c) r
1
/
2 (d) r
1
(e) None of these
Solution: We assume that the blocks can be treated as point masses.
I
1
= m
1
r
2
1
and I
2
= I
1
= m
2
r
2
2
= (2m
1
)r
2
2
r
2
1
= 2r
2
2
r
2
=
r
1
2
Problem 1441. A gate can be regarded as a thin rectangular plate hinged along one
side, with a mass of 80 kg and a length of 3.0 m. The gate is pushed with a force of 50
N, 2.0 m from its hinges. What angular acceleration does it experience? Round your
(a) 0.30 rad/s
2
(b) 0.34 rad/s
2
(c) 0.38 rad/s
2
*(d) 0.42 rad/s
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Well use L = 3.0 m to denote the length of the gate, and r = 2.0 m to
denote the distance at which force is applied. We know r and F, so we can calculate .
To calculate , we need to know I. We can calculate I from the mass and dimensions of
the gate.
I =
mL
2
3
= Fr = I =
Fr
I
=
3Fr
mL
2
=
3(50 N)(2.0 m)
(80 kg)(3.0 m)
2
= 0.42 rad/s
2
505
Problem 1442. A wind turbine has three blades. Each blade has a mass of 1200 kg
and a length of 20 m. Each blade can be regarded as a thin rod connected at one end
to the axis. How much torque must be applied to the turbine to make it accelerate at
0.10 rad/s
2
(a) 35,000 Nm (b) 39,000 Nm
(c) 43,000 Nm *(d) 48,000 Nm
(e) None of these
Solution: We know . We want to know . We can calculate I from the description
of the turbine. Well use L = 20 m to denote the length of a blade.
I
turbine
= 3I
blade
= 3
_
ML
2
3
_
= ML
2
= I = ML
2
= (1200 kg)(20 m)
2
(0.10 rad/s
2
) = 48, 000 Nm
Problem 1443. A ywheel consists of a solid cylinder with a radius of 70 cm and a
thickness of z = 8 cm; it is made of steel with a density of = 7.5 g/cm
3
. The ywheel
is driven by a belt that wraps around its rim. If you want it to go from rest to a speed
of 12 rad/s in 5 seconds, how much force do you need to apply to the belt? Round your
*(a) 780 N (b) 850 N
(c) 940 N (d) 1000 N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the dimensions and density of the ywheel. From these, we can
calculate m, and then I. We know
0
= 0, , and t; from these, we can calculate .
With that information, we can calculate and then F.
m = V = r
2
z
I =
mr
2
2
=
r
4
z
2
=
0
+t = t =

t
= Fr = I
F =
I
r
=
r
3
z
2t
=
(0.70 m)
3
(0.08 m)(7500 kg/m
3
)(12 rad/s)
2(5 s)
= 780 N
506
Problem 1444. A ywheel can be regarded as a cylindrical shell with an inside radius
of 50 cm, an outside radius of 60 cm, a thickness (length) of z = 7.5 cm, and a density
of = 7.5 g/cm
3
. It is mounted on a shaft with radius 1.5 cm. (The moment of inertia
of the shaft, and of the wheels spokes, can be ignored.) A belt around the shaft drives
the ywheel. How much force do you need to apply to the belt if you want the wheel,
starting from rest, to reach a speed of 1.2 rad/s by the time it has made one complete
revolution? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 450 N (b) 500 N
(c) 550 N (d) 600 N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the dimensions and density of the ywheel; from these we can
calculate m and then I. We know
0
= 0, , and ; from these, we can calculate .
That will allow us to calculate ; and since we know the radius r of the shaft, we can
calculate F. Well use R
i
and R
o
for the inner and outer radii of the ywheel.
m = V = z(R
2
o
R
2
i
)
I =
m(R
2
o
+R
2
i
)
2
=
z(R
4
o
R
4
i
)
2
2 =
2
2
0
=
2
=

2
2
= Fr = I F =
I
r
=
z
2
(R
4
o
R
4
i
)
4r
=
(7500 kg/m
3
)(0.075 m)(1.2 rad/s)
2
[(0.60 m)
4
(0.50 m)
4
]
4(0.015 m)(2 rad)
= 450 N
507
Problem 1445. (Similarity Problem) A solid sphere, solid cylinder, thin-walled hol-
low cylinder, and thin-walled hollow sphere all having the same mass M and radius R
are released from rest from the same height H on a ramp. Assuming that the ramp is
smooth and each of the four objects rolls without slipping, which of these objects will be
the rst one to reach the bottom of the hill?
*(a) solid sphere (b) solid cylinder
(c) thin-walled hollow cylinder (d) thin-walled hollow sphere
(e) None of these
Solution: Take the y-axis pointing upward and the origin y = 0 to be at the bottom
of the ramp. Since each object has the same mass M and initial height y = H, they
have the same initial potential energy U
i
= MgH. Since they also start from rest, they
all have the same initial kinetic energy K
i
= 0. Thus, the initial mechanical energy is
ME
i
= MgH.
At each point along the ramp they all have the same potential energy. When the object
is y units above ground level its potential energy is U
f
(y) = Mgy. Notice that when they
reach ground level that the potential energy is zero. The nal kinetic energy at height
y above the ground is the sum of the kinetic energy due to translation and rotation:
K
f
(y) =
1
2
Mv
2
cm
+
1
2
I
cm
2
. When an object with radius R has rotated through one
complete revolution (2 radians), it has rolled a distance equal to its circumference
(2R). Thus the distance travelled during any time interval is R times the angular
velocity. It follows that v
cm
= R. Substituting = v
cm
/R in the expression for kinetic
energy gives
K
f
(y) =
1
2
Mv
2
cm
+
1
2
I
cm
v
2
cm
R
2
=
1
2
Mv
2
cm
_
1 +
I
cm
MR
2
_
.
We now make an observation about the moment of inertia about the center of mass of
each of the four objects. They all have the structure: I
cm
= MR
2
, where 0 < 1.
Thus the nal mechanical energy can be expressed as
ME
f
= Mgy +
1
2
Mv
2
cm
(1 +) .
Ignoring any loss of energy due to rolling friction we can apply the conservation of
mechanical energy to arrive at the equation
MgH = ME
i
= ME
f
= Mgy +
1
2
Mv
2
cm
(1 +)
Mgy
Mg(H y) =
1
2
Mv
2
cm
(1 +)
2
M
(1+)
1
2g(H y) (1 +)
1
= v
2
cm
v
cm
=
_
2g(H y)
1 +
(13.1)
Notice that the nal velocity depends on the parameters H, g, y, and . This is an
amazing result; it says that the nal velocity is independent of the mass M and the
radius R!
508
If we compare any two objects at a time, then we can treat them like two similar ex-
periments with common parameters: H, g, y. We wish to nd the similarity between
the two dierent velocities. Treating the above equation as the governing equation and
put all of the common parameters on the right-hand side of the equation and all of the
experiment-dependent parameters on the left we arrive at
1+
v
cm
_
1 + =
_
2g(H y)
Comparing two similar experiments (objects) with
1
<
2
and using the above equation
with the common parameters as our link we have
v
cm,1
_
1 +
1
=
_
2g(H y) = v
cm,2
_
1 +
2
v
cm,1
v
cm,2
=
1 +
2
1 +
1
(13.2)
Since
1
<
2

1 +
1
<
1 +
2
, it follows from equation (13.2) that v
cm,1
> v
cm,2
.
Dene the following subscripts:
ss = solid sphere
sc = solid cylinder
hc = thin-walled hollow cylinder
hs = hollow sphere.
Then
ss
=
2
5
<
sc
=
1
2
<
hs
=
2
3
<
hc
= 1 v
cm,ss
> v
cm,sc
> v
cm,hs
> v
cm,hc
.
Thus, the solid sphere reaches the bottom of the hill rst.
509
Part V
Work, Energy, and Momentum
510
14 Work and mechanical energy
14.1 Work
Problem 1446. A rocket is red upward. As it rises, the work done by gravity on the
rocket is:
Solution: The rocket is moving upward; gravity is pulling downward. Since the force
is in the opposite direction of the motion, the work done by the force is negative.
Problem 1447. A piano is dropped from a high window. As it falls, the work done by
gravity on the piano is:
Solution: The piano moves downward; gravity is pulling downward. Since the force
and the motion are in the same direction, the work done by the force is positive.
Problem 1448. An ice skater is gliding across the frictionless surface of a frozen pond.
As he crosses the pond, the work done by gravity on the skater is:
Solution: The force of gravity is pulling straight down. The skater is moving hori-
zontally. Since the force is perpendicular to the motion, the work done by the force is
zero.
Problem 1449. A pickup is towing a car along a level road. The two are connected by
a horizontal tow-strap, which has a tension of 4000 N. How much work does the pickup
do in towing the car a distance of 100 m in a time of 10 s?
(a) 2 10
4
J (b) 2 10
5
J
*(c) 4 10
5
J (d) Not enough information: need cars mass
(e) None of these
Solution: The force and the motion are in exactly the same direction, so the angle
between force and motion is zero. Hence
W = Fs cos = Fs = (4000 N)(100 m) = 4 10
5
J
The time it takes to move the car is irrelevant to the problem.
511
Problem 1450. You are pushing a shopping cart across a level parking lot. The cart
has a mass of 10 kg. You push it with a horizontal force of 100 N to move it at a constant
speed of 4 m/s. How much work do you do on the cart?
(a) 400 J (b) 800 J
(c) 1000 J *(d) Not enough information: need the distance
(e) None of these
Solution: The force and the motion are in exactly the same direction, so the angle
between force and motion is zero. Hence W = Fs cos = Fs. We know F = 100 N, but
we dont know the distance s, and we have no way of nding it out from the information
were given in the problem. Hence: (d)
Problem 1451. A ling cabinet has a mass of 69 kg. You push on it horizontally in
order to move it at a constant velocity. The coecient of kinetic friction between the
cabinet and the oor is 0.77. How much work do you do in moving the cabinet 0.85 m?
(a) 45 J (b) 59 J
*(c) 440 J (d) 520 J
(e) None of these
Solution: To move the cabinet at a constant velocity, the force with which you push
it has to equal the force of kinetic friction. The work done is this force, times the distance
that you push the cabinet:
W = f
k
s = mg
k
s = (69 kg)(9.8m/s
2
)(0.77)(0.85 m) = 440 J
Problem 1452. A crate full of pineapples has a mass of 170 kg. A worker pushes
horizontally on the crate to move it 12 m across the oor at a constant speed. The
coecient of kinetic friction between the sliding crate and the oor is 1.12. How much
work does the worker do on the crate? Round your answer to the nearest 100 J.
(a) 900 J (b) 2300 J
(c) 20,000 J *(d) 22,400 J
(e) None of these
Solution: To overcome friction, the worker has to push with a horizontal force of
F = mg
k
. Exerting this force over a horizontal distance of s does work:
W = Fs = mg
k
s = (170 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(1.12)(12 m) = 22, 400 J
512
Problem 1453. A sidewalk runs parallel to a street. A skateboarder is being towed
down the sidewalk by a rope attached to the back of a car on the street. The rope makes
an angle of 23
to the direction in which the car and the skateboarder are moving. The
tension in the rope is 185 N. How much work does the car do in towing the skateboarder
78 m down the sidewalk? Round your answer to the nearest 100 J.
(a) 5600 J *(b) 13,300 J
(c) 14,400 J (d) 15,700 J
(e) None of these
Solution: The component of the tension in the direction of the sidewalk is T cos 23
.
The work is this parallel component of force, times the distance through which it acts:
W = (T cos 23
)s = (185 N)(78 m) cos 23
= 13, 300 J
Problem 1454. A road runs beside and parallel to a straight stretch of railroad track.
A train robber attaches his pickup truck to a boxcar, using a horizontal rope that makes
an angle of 17
to the tracks, and tows the boxcar 1200 m down the tracks. If the
tension in the rope was 7400 N, how much work was done on the boxcar? Give your
answer in scientic notation, rounded to two signicant gures.
(a) 2.4 10
6
J (b) 2.6 10
6
J
*(c) 8.5 10
6
J (d) 9.3 10
6
J
(e) None of these
17
Solution: The component of force parallel to the track is T cos = (7400 N) cos 17
.
The work done is this component of force times the distance that the boxcar was moved:
W = Tx cos = (7400 N)(1200 m) cos 17
= 8.5 10
6
Nm = 8.5 10
6
J
Problem 1455. You are taking your German shepherd for a walk in Reid Park when
she decides to chase a Black-crowned Night-Heron by the pond. You pull back with a
force of T on her leash, which makes an angle of with the horizontal. However, the dog
is stronger than you are, and pulls you forward a distance of x. How much work do you
do on the dog?
(a) Tx cos *(b) Tx cos
(c) Tx sin (d) Tx sin
(e) None of these
Solution: The dog is moving horizontally forward; the force is directed backward
at an angle of to the horizontal. Hence the component of force parallel to the dogs
displacement is T cos . Since the dog moves a distance of x against this force, the work
done is Tx cos .
513
Problem 1456. A case of ball bearings has a mass of 145 kg. A worker pushes horizon-
tally on the case to move it 4.2 m across the oor at a constant speed. The coecient of
friction between the sliding case and the oor is 0.58. How much work does the worker
do on the case? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 180 J (b) 350 J
(c) 1700 J *(d) 3500 J
(e) None of these
Solution: To overcome friction, the worker has to push with a horizontal force of
F = mg. Exerting this force over a horizontal distance of s does work:
W = Fs = mgs = (145 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(0.58)(4.2 m) = 3500 J
14.2 Power
Problem 1457. You are pushing a shopping cart with a mass of 23 kg across a parking
lot. The forces of resistance total 52 N. How much power is necessary to push the cart
at 1.8 m/s? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 47 W *(b) 94 W
(c) 460 W (d) 920 W
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the equation for power as a product of force times velocity: P = Fv.
Then P = F
push
v
cart
= (52N)(1.8m/s) = 94 W. To nd F
push
, draw a free-body diagram
and apply Newtons second law, along with the fact that the cart is moving at a constant
speed (so its not accelerating). That will give you: F
push
= f
k
.
Problem 1458. (Power) How much power, in kilowatts, must be developed by the
electric motor of a 1600-kg car moving at 26 m/s on a level road if the forces of resistance
total 720 N? Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a kilowatt.
(a) 95.2 kW (b) 36.3 kW
(c) 133.2 kW *(d) 18.7 kW
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the equation for power as a product of force times velocity: P = Fv.
Then P = F
motor
v
car
= (720N)(26m/s) = 18.7 kW. To nd F
motor
, draw a free-body
diagram and apply Newtons second law together with the fact that the car is moving at
a constant speed (so its not accelerating) to arrive at F
motor
= f
k
. See my solutions on
the web for the details.
514
14.3 Kinetic energy (K.E.)
Problem 1459. A model airplane with a mass of 6 kg is ying at a speed of 10 m/s.
What is the airplanes kinetic energy?
(a) 30 J (b) 60 J
*(c) 300 J (d) 600 J
(e) None of these
Solution: K =
1
2
mv
2
=
1
2
(6 kg)(10m/s)
2
= 300 J
Problem 1460. A skier with a mass of 80 kg is sliding down a slope at 20 m/s. What
is the skiers kinetic energy?
(a) 3.2 10
3
J (b) 6.4 10
3
J
*(c) 1.6 10
4
J (d) 3.2 10
4
J
(e) None of these
Solution: K =
1
2
mv
2
=
1
2
(80 kg)(20 m/s)
2
= 1.6 10
4
J
Problem 1461. A suitcase with a mass of 20 kg falls out of an airplane ying at a height
of 500 m. Just before it hits the ground, the suitcase is falling with a speed of 80 m/s.
What is the suitcases kinetic energy at this point?
(a) 1.6 10
3
J (b) 5 10
4
J
*(c) 6.4 10
4
J (d) 1 10
5
J
(e) None of these
Solution: K =
1
2
mv
2
=
1
2
(20 kg)(80 m/s)
2
= 6.4 10
4
J
The height from which the suitcase falls is irrelevant to the problem. If youre feeling
advanced, you can calculate the potential energy of the suitcase at that height. Its less
than the kinetic energy of the suitcase hitting the ground, so the suitcase lost mechanical
energy (probably to air resistance) as it fell.
Problem 1462. (Similarity Problem) A car with a mass of M and a truck with a
mass of 9M are moving at the same speed V . If K
1
is the kinetic energy of the car and
K
2
is the kinetic energy of the truck, which of the following equations is true?
(a) K
2
= K
1
(b) K
2
= 3K
1
*(c) K
2
= 9K
1
(d) K
2
= 81K
1
(e) None of these
Solution: Since K =
1
2
mv
2
:
K
1
=
MV
2
2
K
2
=
(9M)V
2
2
= 9K
1
515
Problem 1463. (Similarity Problem) When a car is moving at speed v
1
, its kinetic
energy is K
1
. When it is moving at speed v
2
, its kinetic energy is K
2
= 2K
1
. What is
the relationship between v
2
and v
1
?
*(a) v
2
=
2 v
1
(b) v
2
= 2v
1
(c) v
2
= 2
2 v
1
(d) v
2
= 4v
1
(e) None of these
Solution: Use K =
1
2
mv
2
. In this problem, the mass doesnt change; the speed and
kinetic energy do. We separate the variables that dont change from the ones that do:
m
2
=
K
v
2
=
K
1
v
2
1
=
K
2
v
2
2
v
2
2
=
K
2
K
1
v
2
1
= 2v
2
1
v
2
=
2 v
1
Problem 1464. (Similarity Problem) When a crate is pushed at speed v
c
across a
smooth oor with a low coecient of friction, it has kinetic energy K
1
. When the same
crate is pushed at the same speed across a rough oor with a higher coecient of friction,
its kinetic energy is K
2
. What is the relationship between K
1
and K
2
?
(a) K
1
> K
2
*(b) K
1
= K
2
(c) K
1
< K
2
(d) Not enough information: need mass of crate
(e) None of these
Solution: The kinetic energy depends only on the mass of the crate and its speed.
Since these are the same in both situations, the kinetic energy is the same.
Problem 1465. You are testing your new potato gun at the ballistics lab. A potato
red at a speed of v has kinetic energy of KE. What is the mass of the potato?
(a)
_
2KE
m
(b)
_
KE
2m
(c)
_
m
2KE
(d)
_
KE
2m
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the formula for kinetic energy:
K =
1
2
mv
2
v
2
=
2K
m
v =
_
2K
m
=
_
2 60 J
0.37 kg
_
1/2
= 18 m/s
516
Problem 1466. You have just acquired a Civil War cannon, and you want to know its
muzzle velocity. You re a cannonball with a mass of 7.3 kg into a ballistic pendulum,
and discover that the kinetic energy of the cannonball was 370,000 J. What was the
speed of the cannonball? Round your answer to the nearest 10 m/s.
(a) 70 m/s (b) 230 m/s
*(c) 320 m/s (d) 5170 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since K =
1
2
mv
2
, solving for v gives:
v =
_
2K
m
=
2 370, 000 J
7.3 kg
= 320 m/s
Problem 1467. (Impulse and K.E.) Two railroad cars are at rest on two horizontal
frictionless tracks. One car is three times as heavy as the other. Each car is pushed with
the same horizontal force of F for the same time T. At the end of this time, the kinetic
energy of the lighter car is K. What is the kinetic energy of the heavier car?
(a) 3K (b)
3K
(c) K/
3 *(d) K/3
(e) None of these
Solution: Let the mass of the light car be M. Well construct a table with the
kinematic properties of the two cars:
Light car Heavy car
Mass M 3M
Acceleration = force/mass F/M F/3M
Speed = acceleration time FT/M FT/3M
Kinetic energy =
1
2
mass speed
2
K =
F
2
T
2
2M
F
2
T
2
6M
=
K
3
517
14.4 Potential energy (P.E.)
Problem 1468. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) If a force is directed downward, it does negative work.
(b) The work done by a force on an object equals the increase in the objects potential
energy.
(c) If a force has moved an object around a circle and back to its starting point,
then the force has done no work on the object.
*(d) If an object is moving in the positive direction, and if a force is applied to it in
the negative direction, then the force does negative work on the object.
Solution: We can rule out (a): what matters is not whether the force is directed
upward or downward or sideways, but whether it has a positive or negative component
in the direction of the objects motion. We can rule out (b), since the work done on
an object might have the eect of increasing its kinetic energy without changing the
potential energy (e.g. accelerating a glider along a horizontal air track). We can rule
out (c) for much the same reason: if the object is moving faster when it returns to its
starting point than it was when it started, it has greater kinetic energy, so work has
been done on it. Only (d) is true.
Problem 1469. You move 56 kg of potatoes from the oor to a shelf 1.9 m high. By
how much did you increase the gravitational potential energy of the potatoes? Round
your answer to the nearest joule.
(a) 101 J (b) 106 J
(c) 202 J *(d) 1043 J
(e) None of these
Solution: The gravitational potential of the potatoes is
U
grav
= mgy = (56 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(1.9 m) = 1043 J
Problem 1470. A case of rat food has a mass of 10.3 kg. To keep rats from eating it,
you move it from the oor to a shelf 2.2 m high. By how much did you increase the
potential energy of the case? Round your answer to the nearest 10 J.
(a) 160 J (b) 180 J
(c) 200 J *(d) 220 J
(e) None of these
Solution: Let y = 0 be the level of the oor. Then the initial potential energy of the
case is zero. The potential energy of the case on the shelf is
U
grav
= mgy = (10.3 kg)(9.8m/s
2
)(2.2 m) = 220 J
518
Problem 1471. A cat has a mass of 4.3 kg. It jumps up from the oor onto a countertop
1.2 m high. How much did the cats gravitational potential energy increase in going from
the oor to the countertop? Round your answer to the nearest joule.
(a) 5 J (b) 25 J
(c) 30 J *(d) 51 J
(e) None of these
Solution: The gravitational potential energy of an object with mass m at a height h
above the oor is
U
grav
= mgh = (4.3 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(1.2 m) = 51 J
Problem 1472. A spring can store 36 J of energy when compressed by 0.12 m. What
is the spring constant of the spring?
(a) 300 N/m (b) 600 N/m
(c) 2500 N/m *(d) 5000 N/m
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the energy stored in a spring is U =
1
2
kx
2
,
k =
2U
x
2
=
2 36 J
(0.12 m)
2
= 5000 N/m
We were given x in meters, so we didnt have to convert it.
Problem 1473. You move 41 kg of physics books from the oor to a shelf 2.1 m high.
By how much did you increase the gravitational potential energy of the books? Round
your answer to the nearest joule.
(a) 86 J (b) 181 J
(c) 422 J *(d) 844 J
(e) None of these
Solution: The gravitational potential of the books is
U
grav
= mgy = (41 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(2.1 m) = 844 J
519
14.5 Work-Mechanical-Energy Theorem
Work-Mechanical-Energy Theorem: W
ext
= ME.
14.5.1 Work-Kinetic-Energy Theorem
Special case 1: Work-Kinetic-Energy Theorem: W
ext
= KE.
Problem 1474. A bartender slides a glass of beer with a mass of 480 g along the top of
a level bar. The coecient of kinetic friction between the glass and the bar is
k
= 0.13.
When the glass leaves the bartenders hand, it is moving at a speed of v
0
= 2.1 m/s. How
far does the glass travel before coming to a stop? Round your answer to the nearest 10
cm.
(a) 140 cm (b) 160 cm
*(c) 170 cm (d) 190 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the mass m, the coecient of friction
k
, the initial velocity v
i
,
and the nal velocity v
f
= 0. We want the stopping distance x.
Apply the work-energy principle: W
net
= K = K
f
K
i
. The net force after the glass
is released is friction, so
W
net
= F
net
(distance) =
k
Nx
Since the top of the bar is level, N = mg. Hence W
net
=
k
mgx.
Since v
f
= 0, K
f
=
1
2
mv
2
f
= 0. Hence W
net
= K
i
=
1
2
mv
2
0
. Hence
k
mgx =
1
2
mv
2
0
(m)

k
gx =
v
2
0
2
k
g
x =
v
2
0
2
k
g
=
(2.1 m/s)
2
2(0.13)(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 1.7 m = 170 cm
520
Problem 1475. A skier slides down a slope and onto a frozen lake, where he slows
down and comes to a halt. When he rst reaches the lake, he is moving at 24 m/s. The
coecient of kinetic friction between his skis and the ice is 0.13. How far does he travel
across the lake before stopping? Round your answer to the nearest 10 m.
*(a) 230 m (b) 250 m
(c) 270 m (d) 300 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the work-energy principle. If the skiers mass is m and his initial speed
is v
i
, then his initial kinetic energy is K
i
=
1
2
mv
2
i
. He will slide until the negative work
done by friction equals K
i
. Since he is on a level surface, N = mg; so the force of kinetic
friction is F
k
=
k
mg. If he slides a total distance of s, then the negative work done by
friction is F
k
s =
k
mgs. Hence:
k
mgs = K
i
=
1
2
mv
2
i
s =
mv
2
i
2
k
mg
=
v
2
i
2
k
g
=
(24 m/s)
2
2(0.13)(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 230 m
Problem 1476. A skier slides down a small slope and onto a frozen lake, where he
slows down and comes to a halt. When he rst reaches the lake, he is moving at 10 m/s.
He travels 50 meters across the lake before coming to a stop. What is the coecient
of kinetic friction between his skis and the ice? Round your answer to the nearest
hundredth and approximate g by 10 m/s
2
.
(a) .15 *(b) .10
(c) .29 (d) .19
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the work-energy principle. If the skiers mass is m and his initial speed
is v
i
, then his initial kinetic energy is K
i
=
1
2
mv
2
i
. He will slide until the negative work
done by friction equals K
i
. Since he is on a level surface, the normal force is equal to
weight N = mg; so the force of kinetic friction is f
k
=
k
mg. If he slides a total distance
of s, then the negative work done by friction is f
k
s =
k
mgs. Hence:
k
mgs = W
friction
= K
i
=
1
2
mv
2
i
mgs

k
=
mv
2
i
2smg
=
v
2
i
2sg
evaluate

k
=
(10 m/s)
2
2(50 m)(10 m/s
2
)
= .10
521
Problem 1477. A car has a weight of 13,500 N. The coecient of kinetic friction
between its wheels and the wet highway is 0.47. The car is travelling at 18.4 m/s when
the driver locks up the brakes. How far does the car travel before it comes to a complete
stop? Round your answer to the nearest meter.
*(a) 37 m (b) 159 m
(c) 339 m (d) 647 m
(e) None of these
Solution:
Step 1: Draw a picture and a free-body diagram (not shown here).
Step 2: Write down what youre given and what you want.
given:
_
_
w = mg = 13, 500N (weight = mass gravity)
k
= 0.47 (coecient of kinetic friction-car is moving)
v
i
= 18.4m/s (initial velocity)
v
f
= 0m/s (nal velocity)
want: x (the stopping distance)
Note: Time is not given, nor is it needed in this problem.
Step 3: Use the appropriate fundamental kinematic equation and solve for the unknown.
Alternatively, we can use the work-kinetic-energy theorem, which is what well do.
We can determine the mass m of the car from its weight w = mg, where g = 9.8 m/s
2
.
We can determine the kinetic energy K from the mass and the speed v. We can determine
the force of kinetic friction f
k
from the weight and the coecient of friction
k
. Then
the force of friction times the stopping distance x equals the kinetic energy.
m =
w
g
=
13, 500 N
9.8 m/s
2
K
i
=
1
2
mv
2
i
=
1
2
w
g
v
2
i
=
wv
2
i
2g
and K
f
= 0 (nal K.E. - no motion)
f
k
= w = (0.47)(13, 500 N)
K = K
f
K
i
= f
k
x x =
K
i
f
k
=
wv
2
/2g
w
=
v
2
2g
=
(18.4 m/s)
2
2(4.7)(9.8 m/s
2
)
= 37 m
Notice that the weight of the car cancels out. A heavy car would require more force to
stop it than a light one; but it would have a greater frictional force.
522
Problem 1478. (Similarity Problem) You are driving at a speed of V on a straight
and level road when you see a deer in front of you and lock up the brakes. You travel a
distance D before coming to a complete stop. If your original speed had been 2V when
you hit the brakes, what distance would you have travelled before stopping?
(a) D (b)
2 D
(c) 2D *(d) 4D
(e) None of these
Solution: We will use the work-energy principle. Your car will move until the negative
work done by friction equals its initial kinetic energy. If m is the mass of the car, v is its
initial speed, F
k
is the force of kinetic friction, and d is the stopping distance, then
1
2
mv
2
= F
k
d d =
mv
2
2F
k
The mass of the car and the force of friction dont change between trials. In the rst
trial, your initial speed is V , so
D =
mV
2
2F
k
In the second trial, your initial speed is 2V , so
d =
m(2V )
2
2F
k
=
4mV
2
2F
k
= 4D
14.5.2 Work-Potential-Energy Theorem
Special case 2: Work-Potential-Energy Theorem: W
ext
= PE.
Problem 1479. (The potential energy in a spring) A giant spring with spring
constant 50 N/m is 10 m long in its unstretched position. Suppose a force acts on the
spring and stretches it to 12 m long. How much energy is stored in the spring?
(a) 50 J (b) 100 J
(c) 150 J (d) 200 J
(e) None of these
Solution: Step 1: Write down what youre given and what you want.
Given: L
u
= 10 m,
s
= 12 m, and k = 50 N/m.
Want: U
spring
The equation for the potential energy stored in a spring is:
U
spring
(x) =
1
2
kx
2
, where x = L
s
L
u
is the displacement. Here x = 12 m10 m = 2 m.
U
spring
(x = 2) =
1
2
50 2
2
J = 100 J
523
Problem 1480. A spring is hanging from the ceiling in the physics lab. When there
is no weight hanging from it, the spring is 42 cm long; it has a spring constant of 8300
N/m. You hang a lead block with a mass of 87 kg from the spring, stretching it. What
is the length of the spring with the weight hanging from it? Round your answer to the
nearest centimeter.
(a) 10 cm (b) 21 cm
(c) 32 cm *(d) 52 cm
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the unstretched length of the spring L
u
= 42 cm = 0.42 m; the
spring constant k = 8300 N/m; and the mass m = 87 kg.
If y is the change in length of the spring, we want the stretched length: L
s
= L
u
+y.
Use the equation [F
spring
[ = ky to nd y. We assume that the system is static, so there
is no acceleration; so the two forces on the weight match: [F
spring
[ = mg = ky. Divide
by k:
y =
mg
k
L
s
= L
u
+
mg
k
= 0.42 m +
(87 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
8300 N/m
= 0.52 m = 52 cm
Problem 1481. An unstretched spring is 15.0 cm long. If you hang an object with a
mass of 8.8 kg from it, it stretches to a length of 19.2 cm. What is the spring constant
of the spring? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 4.5 N/m (b) 22 N/m
(c) 210 N/m *(d) 2100 N/m
(e) None of these
Solution: From Hookes law, F = kx. The force acting on the spring is F = mg, where
m = 8.8 kg. The value of x is the dierence between the stretched and the unstretched
length of the spring: x = 0.192 m0.150 m = 0.042 m. (The answers are given in N/m,
so we have to convert centimeters to meters.) Hence
k =
F
x
=
mg
x
=
(8.8 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
0.042 m
= 2100 N/m
524
Problem 1482. An unstretched spring has a length of 22.8 cm. When an object with a
mass of 12.0 kg is hung from it, it stretches to a length of 35.5 cm. What is the spring
(a) 34 N/m (b) 94 N/m
(c) 331 N/m *(d) 926 N/m
(e) None of these
spring
[F
spring
[ = kx = mg k =
mg
x
=
(12.0 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
0.127 m
= 926 N/m
Problem 1483. A box has a mass of 22.2 kg. It is sitting on an icy sidewalk, which
constitutes a horizontal frictionless surface. A spring with a spring constant of 103 N/m
is attached to the box and pulled horizontally, so that the box accelerates at 1.31 m/s
2
.
How much does the spring stretch? Round your answer to the nearest 0.01 m.
*(a) 0.28 m (b) 1.38 m
(c) 2.11 m (d) 2.77 m
(e) None of these
Solution: The spring is pulled horizontally and there is no friction, so the force
exerted by the spring is the mass of the box times its acceleration: F = ma. By Hookes
law, F = kx. Hence
ma = kx x =
ma
k
=
(22.2 kg)(1.31 m/s
2
)
103 N/m
= 0.28 m
Problem 1484. A spring has a spring constant of 1700 N/m. You pull on it with a force
that increases to 120 N until it stops stretching. How much work have you done on the
spring? Round your answer to two signicant digits.
*(a) 4.2 J (b) 8.5 J
(c) 14 J (d) 60 J
(e) None of these
Solution: When you pull on a spring with a force of magnitude F, the amount by
which it stretches is given by: F = kx. Solving this for x gives: x = F/k. The work that
it takes to stretch a spring by x is:
W =
1
2
kx
2
=
k
2
_
F
k
_
2
=
F
2
2k
=
(120 N)
2
2 1700N/m
= 4.2 J
525
Problem 1485. A spring has a spring constant of 680 N/m. You pull on it with a force
that increases to 170 N until it stops stretching. How much work have you done on the
spring? Round your answer to two signicant digits.
*(a) 21 J (b) 43 J
(c) 5400 J (d) 11000 J
(e) None of these
Solution: When you pull on a spring with a force of magnitude F, the amount by
which it stretches is given by: F = kx. Solving this for x gives: x = F/k. The work that
it takes to stretch a spring by x is:
W =
1
2
kx
2
=
k
2
_
F
k
_
2
=
F
2
2k
=
(170 N)
2
2 680N/m
= 21 J
Problem 1486. With no force applied to it, a spring is 24 cm long. You pull on it with
a force of 330 N, stretching it to a length of 30 cm. How much work have you done in
stretching the spring?
*(a) 9.9 J (b) 49.5 J
(c) 990 J (d) 4950 J
(e) None of these
Solution: The work that you have done is equal to the potential energy stored in the
spring. We can nd that using the formula: U =
1
2
kx
2
. Here x is the change in length
from equilibrium: x = 30 cm 24 cm = 6 cm = 0.06 m. We can calculate k using the
spring formula: F = kx k = F/x. Then the potential energy is:
U =
kx
2
2
=
Fx
2
2x
=
Fx
2
=
(330 N)(0.06 m)
2
= 9.9 J
Problem 1487. An unstretched spring is 0.24 m long. When a force that increases to
190 N is applied, it stretches until its total length is 0.30 m. How much work does it take
to stretch the spring to this length?
*(a) 5.7 J (b) 11.4 J
(c) 28.5 J (d) 57 J
(e) None of these
Solution: The change in the springs length is x = 0.30 m 0.24 m = 0.06 m. By
Hookes law, F = kx, so k = F/x. The work that it takes to stretch the spring is
W =
kx
2
2
=
Fx
2
=
(190 N)(0.06 m)
2
= 5.7 J
The springs lengths were given in meters, so we didnt have to convert.
526
Problem 1488. An unstretched spring has a length of 23.8 cm. When an object with a
mass of 18.2 kg is hung from it, it stretches to a length of 32.2 cm. What is the spring
(a) 217 N/m (b) 554 N/m
*(c) 2123 N/m (d) 9435 N/m
(e) None of these
spring
[F
spring
[ = kx = mg k =
mg
x
=
(18.2 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
0.084 m
= 2123 N/m
Problem 1489. With no force applied to it, a spring hanging from the ceiling is 24 cm
long. You hang a weight of 330 N from it, stretching it to a length of 30 cm. How much
work was done by gravity in stretching the spring?
(a) 9.9 J (b) 49.5 J
(c) 990 J (d) 4950 J
(e) None of these
Solution: By applying a force (the weight of the object) through a distance x (the
displacement) gravity has done work on the system. The work done on the spring-
mass system is equal to the potential energy stored in the spring. We can nd that
using the formula: U =
1
2
kx
2
. Here x is the change in length from equilibrium: x =
L
s
L
u
= 30 cm24 cm = 6 cm = 0.06 m. We can calculate k using the spring formula:
F = kx k = F/x. Then the potential energy is:
U =
kx
2
2
=
Fx
2
2x
=
Fx
2
=
(330 N)(0.06 m)
2
= 9.9 J
527
Problem 1490. (Derive Problem-Requires Calculus)
[Approximating the strength of gravity as a function of height] The magnitude
of the gravitational attraction between two particles of mass m
1
and m
2
is given by
[F
g
(r)[ = G
m
1
m
2
r
2
,
where r is the distance between the two particles and the force that each particle exerts
on the other is directed along the radial direction between the two particles, and G is
the universal gravitational constant.
(a) What is the potential energy function U = U
g
(r), if we take U
0
= lim
r
U
g
(r) = 0?
That is, we take our reference point out at r = .
(b) How much work W
g
must be done against the conservative gravitational force to
increase the separation distance from r = R to r = R +h?
(c) Let m
1
= M
e
the mass of the earth and m
2
= m the mass of a small point particle on
the earth, where we assume that m M
e
. Let R = R
e
be the mean radius of the earth
and h be the height that the particle is above the ground, where h R
e
. Compute the
work done against gravity in moving the object from the earths surface at r = R
e
to a
height h above the ground r = R
e
+ h. Denote this work by W
g
. Express your answer
in terms of the parameter g =
GM
e
R
2
e
, and the variable
h
R
e
. Since R
e
, M
e
, m, and G are
xed, the work will be a function of h. However, it will turn out to be advantageous to
think of the work as a function of
h
R
e
.
(d) We are now going to repeat the calculation in part (c) except this time we are
going to approximate the force of gravity as a constant force F
grav
= mg, where g =
GMe
R
2
e
is the constant magnitude of gravity that is assumed to be independent of the
separation distance between the two attracting masses. This is nothing new, when we
apply Newtons second law to trajectory problems involving gravity on the earths surface,
such as computing the path of a cannon ball launched from the ground, we take the force
of gravity as a constant.
Compute the work W
grav
done in moving the same object of mass m in part (c) from the
ground at y = 0 to height y = h against the constant force of gravity F
grav
= mg.
(e) We now want to compare the exact result for the work found in part (c) with the
approximate value of work found in part (d). What is the size of the relative error
between the work found in part (c) and (d)? Hint: W.L.O.G. we can take W
grav
as our
reference measure. Show that the relative error is
W
g
W
grav
W
grav
= O
_
h
R
e
_
.
(f) The mean radius of the earth is approximately 6370 km. Use the relative error that
you nd to predict how high you can go above the earths surface and safely ignore the
fact that gravity is changing with height when you compute the work done in lifting an
object from the earths surface.
528
Figure 7: Earth-mass system.
Solution: See hand-written solutions.
529
14.6 Conservation of mechanical energy (M.E.)
Problem 1491. Planet X has no air, hence no air resistance. An astronaut standing
atop a cli on Planet X drops a rock down into the lava lake below. If the gravitational
potential energy of the rock just before being dropped is U
grav
, and its kinetic energy just
as it hits the lava is K, what is the relationship between U
grav
and K? Use the level of
the lava lake as y = 0.
(a) U
grav
< K
*(b) U
grav
= K
(c) U
grav
> K
(d) Not enough information: it depends on Planet Xs gravity g
X
.
Solution: Since there is no air resistance, we assume that mechanical energy is
conserved: U
i
+K
i
= U
f
+K
f
. Initially, just as the astronaut drops the rock, it has zero
velocity; so K
i
= 0. Just as the rock hits the lava, it is at y = 0, so U
f
= 0. Hence
U
grav
= U
i
= K
f
= K
Problem 1492. Two identical stone blocks are transported from the bottom to the top
of a cli. The rst block is fastened to a rope and pulled straight up through the air to
the top. The second block is pulled up a frictionless ramp to the top of the cli. If the
work done on the rst block is W
1
and the work done on the second block is W
2
, what
is the relationship between W
1
and W
2
?
(a) W
1
< W
2
*(b) W
1
= W
2
(c) W
1
> W
2
(d) Not enough information: any of these could be true
Solution: Since there is no friction, conservation of energy applies; so the work done
on each block is equal to the change in its potential energy. Since the blocks are identical,
they have the same mass; and they are raised by the same height. Hence the potential
energy change, and therefore the work, is the same for both blocks.
Problem 1493. Two frictionless inclined planes have the same vertical height Y . Plane 1
to the horizontal; plane 2 makes an angle of 30
to the horizontal.
Two objects with the same mass M are released from the tops of the planes to slide
down. The object that slides down plane 1 has speed v
1
when it reaches the bottom; the
object that slides down plane 2 has speed v
2
when it reaches the bottom. What is the
relationship between v
1
and v
2
?
*(a) v
1
= v
2
(b) v
1
= 2v
2
(c) v
1
sin 30
= v
2
sin 60
(d) v
1
cos 60
= v
2
cos 30
(e) None of these

Solution: The key word is frictionless. Since there are no nonconservative forces,
mechanical energy must be conserved. Initially, both objects have zero kinetic energy
and the same potential energy (since they have the same mass M and theyre at the
same height Y ). When they reach the bottom of their planes, they still have the same
mechanical energy; since they have height zero, their potential energy is zero; so their
mechanical energy is all kinetic, and its the same for both. Since they have the same
kinetic energy and the same mass, their speeds must be the same.
530
Problem 1494. Ricky, the 5 kg snowboarding rac-
coon, is on his snowboard atop a frictionless ice-covered
quarter-pipe with radius 3 meters (see gure at right). If
he starts from rest at the top of the quarter-pipe, what
is his speed at the bottom of the quarter-pipe? For ease
of calculation, assume that g = 10 m/s
2
. Round your
answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 7.0 m/s *(b) 7.7 m/s
(c) 8.5 m/s (d) 9.3 m/s
(e) None of these
x
Raccoon: 5 kg
3 m
3 m
Solution:
We are given: m = 5 Kg, R = 3 m, v
i
= 0 m/s, and g = 10 m/s
2
.
We want: v
f
=?
We assume: no friction, hence the mechanical energy of the system is conserved.
Since the system, Ricky and the earth, has no external forces on it, such as friction, we
can apply the conservation of mechanical energy: ME
i
= ME
f
. Now, the initial potential
due to gravity is U
grav
= mgh = mgR and the initial kinetic energy is K
i
= 0 since Ricky
is at rest. The nal P.E. is zero, since Ricky is now at ground level h = 0. The nal K.E.
is K
f
=
1
2
mv
2
f
. Using the denition of mechanical energy: ME = PE +KE gives
mgR = PE
i
+KE
i
= ME
i
= ME
f
= PE
f
+KE
f
=
1
2
mv
2
f
1
2
m
v
2
f
= 2Rg
v
f
=
_
2Rg =
_
(2)(3 m)(10 m/s
2
)
1/2
= 7.7 m/s
Notice that since R = h, this is the same speed that Ricky would have if he had jumped
straight down (go look back at our 1-D kinematic problems). The only dierence is the
direction of his speed would have been dierent. If he had jumped straight down, then
his velocity would also have been straight down, and into the ground would go Ricky; but
the quarter pipe redirected his motion to being tangent to the ground, while preserving
his speed. So instead of busting his head, and winding up dead; Ricky sped o to work,
where he was a clerk. Were it not for conservation of mechanical energy he would have
been late for his job, and replaced by his competitor Rob.
531
Problem 1495. The surface gravity on Planet X is g
X
. An astronaut standing on the
surface of the planet res a bullet with mass m straight upward with kinetic energy K.
What is the maximum height h
max
reached by the bullet?
(a)
2K
mg
X
*(b)
K
mg
X
(c)
_
2K
m
(d)
K
2
mg
X
(e) None of these
Solution: Apply the conservation of mechanical energy. Take the initial position to
be the ground at the moment the potato is launched, and the nal position to be the
highest point of the trajectory. Let y = 0 correspond to the initial position. At the initial
and nal points:
_
U
i
= mgy = 0 (y = 0)
K
i
= K
and
_
U
f
= mg
X
h
max
K
f
= 0 (ball is momentarily at rest at the top of the trajectory)
Notice that at its highest point, the potato will have zero kinetic energy, so all of its
energy will be potential. At this height h
max
,
K = mg
X
h
max
h
max
=
K
mg
X
532
Problem 1496. Planet X has a surface gravity of 13.6 m/s
2
and no atmosphere. An
astronaut on Planet X res a potato gun straight upward; the potato has a mass of 0.73
kg, and leaves the gun with a speed of 34.3 m/s. What is the maximum height that the
potato reaches? Round your answer to the nearest meter.
(a) 7 m (b) 24 m
(c) 34 m *(d) 43 m
(e) None of these
Solution: Apply the conservation of mechanical energy. Take the initial position to
be the ground at the moment the potato is launched, and with the nal position to be
the highest point of the trajectory. Let y = 0 correspond to the initial position. At the
initial and nal points:
_
U
i
= mgy = 0 (y = 0)
K
i
=
1
2
mv
2
i
= 430J
and
_
U
f
= mg
X
h
max
K
f
= 0 (ball is momentarily at rest at the top of the trajectory)
Notice that at its highest point, the potato will have zero kinetic energy, so all of its
energy will be potential. At this height h
max
,
K
i
= mg
X
h
max
h
max
=
K
i
mg
X
=
430 J
(0.73 kg)(13.6 m/s
2
)
= 43 m
533
Problem 1497. (Lab Problem) A spring cannon shoots a ball with a mass of 28 g
vertically into the air from ground level. In this situation, air resistance can be ignored.
If the spring is compressed by a distance of 1.2 cm, the ball reaches a maximum height
of 2.4 m. What is the spring constant of the spring in the cannon? Round your answer
to the nearest 100 N/m.
(a) 6700 N/m (b) 7400 N/m
(c) 8200 N/m *(d) 9100 N/m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the mass of the ball m, the compression distance y of the spring,
the maximum height h
max
of the ball, and the value of g. We want to know the spring
constant k.
Since theres no air resistance and no friction, we can assume that mechanical energy is
conserved: K
i
+ U
i
= K
f
+ U
f
. We will take the initial position (subscript i) as that
of the cannon with its spring compressed, just before it is red; and the nal position
(subscript f) as the system when the ball has reached its maximum height. Since the
ball isnt moving in either case, K
i
= K
f
= 0. Hence U
i
= U
f
.
The initial potential energy is all in the spring: U
i
=
1
2
ky
2
. The nal potential energy is
all gravitational: U
f
= mgh
max
. Hence
1
2
ky
2
= mgh
max
(2/y
2
)
k =
2mgh
max
y
2
=
2(0.028 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)(2.4 m)
(0.012 m)
2
= 9100 N/m
Problem 1498. (Lab Problem) A spring cannon shoots a ball with a mass of 9.6 g
vertically into the air from ground level. In this situation, air resistance can be ignored.
The spring is compressed by a distance of 3.4 cm below the mouth of the cannon. If the
ball reaches a maximum height of 96 cm above the mouth of the cannon, then what is
the spring constant of the spring in the cannon? Round your answer to the nearest 10
N/m. Take y = 0 to be at the mouth of the cannon.
(a) 140 N/m (b) 150 N/m
*(c) 160 N/m (d) 170 N/m
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the mass of the ball m, the compression distance y of the
spring, the maximum height y
max
of the ball, and the value of g. We want to know the
spring constant k.
Since theres no air resistance and no friction, we can assume that mechanical energy is
conserved: K
i
+ U
i
= K
f
+ U
f
. We will take the initial position (subscript i) as that
of the cannon with its spring compressed, just before it is red; and the nal position
(subscript f) as the system when the ball has reached its maximum height y
max
. Since
the ball isnt moving in either case, K
i
= K
f
= 0. Hence U
i
= U
f
.
The initial potential energy is the energy stored in the spring plus the negative gravi-
tational potential energy (because the ball is y below the zero gravitational reference
534
potential line at y = 0): U
i
= U
grav
+ U
spring
= mgy +
1
2
k(y)
2
. The nal potential
energy is all gravitational: U
f
= mgy
max
. Hence U
i
= U
f
becomes
mgy +
1
2
k(y)
2
= mgy
max
+mgy
1
2
k(y)
2
= mgy
max
+mgy
2
(y)
2
k =
2mg
(y)
2
(y
max
+ y)
evaluate
k =
_
2(0.0096 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
(0.034 m)
2
_
(0.96 + 0.034) m = 162 N/m 160 N/m
Note: We could have taken the zero reference line to be the top of the ball when it is
in its initial position sitting on the compressed spring. In this case the maximum height
would be h
textmax
= y
max
+ y.
Problem 1499. (Lab Similarity Problem) A spring cannon is used to launch two
balls straight upward: rst, a ball with mass M; then a ball with mass 2M. The spring
in the cannon is compressed by the same amount in both launchings. Which of the
following statements is true?
(a) The two balls reach the same maximum height.
(b) The larger ball will leave the spring cannon at a higher speed than the smaller
ball.
*(c) The two balls leave the spring cannon with the same kinetic energy.
(d) At their maximum heights, the smaller ball has greater potential energy than
the larger ball.
Solution: In both trials, the spring is compressed by the same amount; so in both
trials, it has the same potential energy. When the balls are launched, the potential
energy of the spring is entirely converted into kinetic energy of the ball. Thus both balls
leave the spring cannon with the same kinetic energy.
Since the balls have dierent masses, they leave the spring cannon with dierent speeds:
the small ball at a greater speed than the large ball. That lets us rule out (b). At their
maximum heights, each ball stops moving; so its initial kinetic energy is completely
converted into gravitational potential energy. Since they started with the same kinetic
energy, they must have the same potential energy at their maximum heights; so we
can rule out (d). Since they have dierent masses, they must reach dierent maximum
heights in order to have the same potential energy there; that rules out (a).
535
Problem 1500. A baseball with mass M and a cannonball with mass 9M are thrown
vertically upward from ground level at the same initial speed V , with no air resistance.
The initial kinetic energy of the baseball is K
b
; it reaches a maximum height of Y
b
; and
at this height, its gravitational potential energy is U
b
. The corresponding values for the
cannonball are K
c
, Y
c
, and U
c
. Which of the following is true?
(a) Y
b
= 3Y
c
*(b) U
c
= 9U
b
(c) K
b
= K
c
(d) K
c
= 81K
b
(e) None of these
Solution: Since there is no air resistance, we assume that mechanical energy is
conserved. Initially at ground level, the potential energy is zero and the mechanical
energy consists entirely of the balls kinetic energy: K
b
= MV
2
/2 and K
c
= (9M)V
2
/2 =
9K
b
. At the high point, the ball is motionless, so its kinetic energy is zero. At this point,
the potential energy of each ball equals its initial kinetic energy; so U
c
= K
c
= 9K
b
= 9U
b
.
Problem 1501. (Lab Problem) A frictionless horizontal air track has a horizontal
spring at one end, with a spring constant of 800 N/m. A glider with a mass of 500 g
is pressed against the spring, compressing it by 4 cm. When the glider is released, the
spring pushes it down the track. How fast is the glider moving when it leaves the spring?
(a) 20 cm/s (b) 40 cm/s
(c) 80 cm/s *(d) 160 cm/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We assume that energy is conserved; so the potential energy of the spring
before the glider is released equals the kinetic energy of the glider after it leaves the
spring. Dont forget to convert units to kilograms and meters.
U
el
=
1
2
kx
2
= K =
1
2
mv
2
kx
2
= mv
2
v
2
=
kx
2
m
v =
_
k
m
x =
_
800 N/m
0.5 kg
_
1/2
(0.04 m) = 1.6 m/s = 160 cm/s
536
Problem 1502. (Lab Problem) A horizontal spring with spring constant k
1
is at one
end of a frictionless horizontal air track. A glider is pushed against the spring, compress-
ing it by a distance of x
1
, so that the energy stored in the spring is 100 J. After the glider
is released, it reaches a speed of v
1
and a kinetic energy of K
1
. The procedure is then
repeated, with the spring replaced by one with spring constant k
2
> k
1
; the new spring
is compressed by a distance of x
2
, so that the energy stored in it is once again 100 J.
When the glider is released this time, it reaches a speed of v
2
and a kinetic energy of K
2
.
Which of the following is true?
(a) x
1
= x
2
(b) K
1
< K
2
*(c) v
1
= v
2
(d) k
1
x
2
1
< k
2
x
2
2
(e) None of these
Solution: The air track is frictionless, so we assume that there are no nonconser-
vative forces, which means that mechanical energy is conserved. Initially, the spring is
compressed and the glider is not moving; so the kinetic energy is zero and the mechan-
ical energy equals the potential energy of the spring. After the glider has been released
and has reached its maximum speed, there is no potential energy left in the spring, and
the mechanical energy equals the kinetic energy of the glider. In both trials, the initial
potential energy is U
1
= U
2
= 100 J. Hence in both trials, the nal kinetic energy is
K
1
= K
2
= 100 J. Since the mass of the glider doesnt change from the rst trial to the
second, and since its kinetic energy is the same in both trials, its velocity must be the
same: v
1
= v
2
.
537
Problem 1503. (Lab Problem) A frictionless horizontal air track has a spring at
either end. The spring on the left has a spring constant of k
L
; the one on the right
has a spring constant of k
R
. A glider with a mass of m is pressed against the left-hand
spring, compressing it by a distance of x
L
from its equilibrium position. The glider is
then released, so that the spring propels it rightward. It slides along the track and into
the right-hand spring. Find a formula for the maximum compression of the right-hand
spring x
R
as a function of the given parameters: x
L
, k
L
, k
R
, m. (The diagram following
the answers shows the situation before the glider is released, when the left-hand spring
is compressed and the glider is not moving.)
*(a) x
R
=
_
k
L
k
R
x
L
(b) x
R
=
_
k
R
k
L
x
L
(c) x
R
=
k
L
k
R
x
L
(d) x
R
= x
L
(e) None of these
'
'
'
'
'
'
\
\
\
\
\
\ |
|
|
|
m
Solution: We know the mass m of the glider, the spring constants K
L
and K
R
of the
left- and right-hand springs, and the compression x
L
of the left-hand spring. We want to
know the compression x
R
of the right-hand spring.
There is no friction, so we can assume that mechanical energy is conserved: U
i
+ K
i
=
U
f
+ K
f
. We will take the initial situation to be that in which the left-hand spring is
fully compressed, before the glider is released to move; and the nal situation to be that
in which the glider has pushed the right-hand spring to its maximum compression. Since
the glider isnt moving in either case, K
i
= K
f
= 0; so U
i
= U
f
.
In both situations, the potential energy is all in a spring: U
i
=
1
2
k
L
x
2
L
=
1
2
k
R
x
2
R
= U
f
.
We can solve this for x
R
:
2
k
R
x
2
R
= k
L
x
2
L
k
R
x
2
R
=
k
L
x
2
L
k
R
x
R
=
k
L
x
2
L
k
R
=
_
k
L
k
R
x
L
Notice that we never needed the mass of the glider. Its only function in the problem was
to carry all the energy from one spring to the other.
538
Problem 1504. (Lab Problem) A frictionless horizontal air track has a spring at
either end. The spring on the left has a spring constant of 1800 N/m; the one on the
right has a spring constant of 1300 N/m. A glider with a mass of 4.30 kg is pressed
against the left-hand spring, compressing it by 3.9 cm. The glider is then released, so
that the spring propels it rightward. It slides along the track and into the right-hand
spring. What is the maximum compression of the right-hand spring? Round your
answer to the nearest 0.1 cm. (The diagram following the answers shows the situation
before the glider is released, when the left-hand spring is compressed and the glider is
not moving.)
(a) 2.0 cm (b) 2.8 cm
*(c) 4.6 cm (d) 5.4 cm
(e) None of these
'
'
'
'
'
'
\
\
\
\
\
\ |
|
|
|
4.30 kg
Solution: We know the mass m of the glider, the spring constants K
L
and K
R
of the
left- and right-hand springs, and the compression x
L
of the left-hand spring. We want to
know the compression x
R
of the right-hand spring.
There is no friction, so we can assume that mechanical energy is conserved: U
i
+ K
i
=
U
f
+ K
f
. We will take the initial situation to be that in which the left-hand spring is
fully compressed, before the glider is released to move; and the nal situation to be that
in which the glider has pushed the right-hand spring to its maximum compression. Since
the glider isnt moving in either case, K
i
= K
f
= 0; so U
i
= U
f
.
In both situations, the potential energy is all in a spring: U
i
=
1
2
k
L
x
2
L
=
1
2
k
R
x
2
R
= U
f
.
We can solve this for x
R
:
2
k
R
x
2
R
= k
L
x
2
L
k
R
x
2
R
=
k
L
x
2
L
k
R
x
R
=
k
L
x
2
L
k
R
=
_
k
L
k
R
x
L
=
1800 N/m
1300 N/m
(0.039 m) = 0.046 m = 4.6 cm
Notice that we never needed the mass of the glider. Its only function in the problem was
to carry all the energy from one spring to the other.
539
Problem 1505. You drop a rock o the Navajo Bridge and let it fall 467 feet to the
Colorado River. This is a situation in which air resistance is too large to be ignored. If
the gravitational potential energy of the rock just before being dropped is U
grav
, and its
kinetic energy just as it hits the water is K, what is the relationship between U
grav
and
K? Use the level of the river as y = 0.
(a) U
grav
< K (b) U
grav
= K
*(c) U
grav
> K (d) Not enough information: any of these could be true
Solution: If there were no air resistance, then the mechanical energy (M.E.) of the
rock-earth system would be conserved: U
i
+K
i
= U
f
+K
f
. However, air resistance means
that the rock losses some of its kinetic energy (K.E.) to the molecules in the atmosphere
(the atmosphere is not considered part of the rock earth system). The atmosphere acts
like a K.E. sink, it converts K.E. into heat! Thus, the nal M.E. will be less than the
initial M.E. In particular, U
i
+K
i
= U
f
+K
f
+Heat > U
f
+K
f
. Initially, the rock has no
K.E. since it starts from rest (zero velocity); so K
i
= 0. Just as the rock hits the river,
it is at y = 0, so U
f
= 0. Hence
U
grav
= U
i
> K
f
= K
Problem 1506. A frozen pond acts as a frictionless horizontal surface. A spring with a
spring constant of 32,000 N/m is attached to a wall at the edge of the pond, and a piano
with a mass of 450 kg is pushed against the spring, compressing it by 0.18 m. When the
piano is released, how fast does it slide across the ice? Round your answer to the nearest
0.1 m/s.
*(a) 1.5 m/s (b) 2.3 m/s
(c) 4.6 m/s (d) 12.8 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Before the piano is released, it is stationary; so the initial kinetic energy of
the spring-piano system is K
i
= 0. The potential energy of the system is that stored in
the spring: U
i
=
1
2
kx
2
. Hence the total mechanical energy of the system is U
i
+K
i
=
1
2
kx
2
.
After the piano is released, this energy is completely transferred from the spring to the
piano. The nal kinetic energy of the system is K
f
=
1
2
mv
2
, and the nal potential
energy is U
f
= 0. Thus the total mechanical energy of the system is U
f
+K
f
=
1
2
mv
2
.
By conservation of energy, the initial and nal mechanical energies of the system must
be the same. Hence:
kx
2
2
=
mv
2
2
v =
_
kx
2
m
=
(32, 000 N/m)(0.18 m)

2
450 kg
= 1.5 m/s
540
Problem 1507. (Derive Problem [Ball in the bucket]) You want to shoot a ball
of mass m out of a spring cannon into a bucket. The spring cannon is aimed to re the
ball in the horizontal direction. The buckets radius is just a little larger than the balls
radius. The bucket is designed to capture the ball so long as the balls center of mass hits
the center of the top of the bucket. The cannons manufacturer gives the spring constant
as k. You measure the following distances: H, the height from the top of the bucket to
the center of mass of the ball as it sits in the cannon; and R, the distance from the end
of the muzzle of the cannon (where the ball exits the cannon) to the center of the top
of the bucket. Neglecting friction and air drag, and treating the ball as a point particle,
derive a formula for the distance d that the spring must be compressed in order to shoot
the ball into the bucket (see gure below). Your nal answer should be an expression for
d as a function of m, k, g, H, and R. Justify your answer.
(a)
_
mg
2Hk
*(b) R
_
mg
2Hk
(c) R
Hk
mg
(d) R
_
mg
Hk
(e) None of these
Figure 8: Ball in the bucket.
Solution: See hand-written solutions
541
Problem 1508. (Derive Problem) A small block of mass m slides along a frictionless
loop-the-loop track. The radius of the loop is R. At what height H above the bottom of
the track should the block be released from so that it just makes it through the loop-the-
loop without losing contact with the track? Hint: We want the maximum height such
that the normal force exerted by the track on the block at the top of the loop is zero.
That is, if we release the block from a height of H +, where is arbitrarily small, then
the normal force at the top of the loop will not be zero. In order to receive any credit
for this problem, you must show all the work necessary to arrive at the answer. Simply
writing down the nal formula will earn you a grade of zero.
(a)
2
3
R (b)
3
4
R
*(c)
5
2
R (d)
3
2
(e) None of these
Figure 9: The loop-the-loop.
542
Problem 1509. (Derive Problem) A small block of mass m sits at rest at the top
of a frictionless hemispherical mound of ice of radius R. The block is given a slight tap
by a very small bug and begins to slide down the side of the mound. Find the height H
above the ground where the block leaves the ice. Express this height as a function of the
radius R.
Hint: Look for the position where the normal force rst vanishes. This will be the point
where the block leaves the ice.
*(a)
2
3
R (b)
3
4
R
(c)
5
2
R (d)
3
2
(e) None of these
Figure 10: Block sliding o a hemispherical piece of ice.
543
15 Conservation of Linear Momentum
15.1 Computing Linear Momentum p = mv
Problem 1510. A skateboarder with a mass of 60 kg is moving at a speed of 3 m/s.
What is his momentum?
*(a) 180 kg m/s (b) 270 kg m/s
(c) 360 kg m/s (d) 540 kg m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: p = mv = (60 kg)(3 m/s) = 180 kg m/s.
Problem 1511. A shopping cart with a mass of 13.4 kg is rolling across a parking lot
at 4.0 m/s. What is the carts momentum?
(a) 26.8 kg m/s *(b) 53.6 kg m/s
(c) 107.2 kg m/s (d) 214.4 kg m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: p = mv = (13.4 kg)(4.0 m/s) = 53.6 kg m/s.
Problem 1512. Your potato gun launches a potato with a mass of 370 g at a speed of
21 m/s. What is the magnitude of the potatos momentum? Round your answer to two
signicant digits.
(a) 3.9 kg m/s *(b) 7.8 kg m/s
(c) 82 kg m/s (d) 160 kg m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: p = mv = (0.37 kg)(21 m/s) = 7.8 kg m/s. Dont forget to convert grams
to kilograms.
Problem 1513. A ying duck with a mass of 2 kg has a momentum of 40 kg m/s. What
is the ducks speed?
(a) 10 m/s *(b) 20 m/s
(c) 40 m/s (d) 80 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: p = mv v =
p
m
=
40 kg m/s
2 kg
= 20 m/s
544
Problem 1514. An artillery shell has a mass of 5 kg and a momentum of 4000 kg m/s.
What is the shells speed?
(a) 40 m/s (b) 80 m/s
(c) 160 m/s *(d) 800 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: p = mv v =
p
m
=
4000 kg m/s
5 kg
= 800 m/s
15.2 Applying conservation of momentum to isolated systems
Problem 1515. You drop an object from rest on a planet with no atmosphere. As the
object falls, which of the quantities of the object listed below is conserved?
(a) Momentum
*(b) Mechanical energy
(c) Potential energy
(d) Kinetic energy
Solution: The object is accelerating in a straight line due to the force of gravity. Its
speed increases as it falls; so its momentum and its kinetic energy are both increasing.
Thus they are not conserved. The potential energy decreases as the object falls, so it
is not conserved. Since the planet has no atmosphere, there is no air drag or other
dissipative force. Thus the object-planet system is an isolated system and conserves
mechanical energy.
Problem 1516. You drop a wrench from the top of a bridge. Which property of the
wrench is conserved as it falls? Assume that there is no air resistance.
(a) Momentum (b) Kinetic energy
(c) Potential energy *(d) Mechanical energy
(e) None of these
Problem 1517. A cannon has a mass of 1100 kg. It res a cannonball with a mass of
5.3 kg at a muzzle velocity of 390 m/s. How fast does the cannon move backward when
the ball is red? Round your answer to two signicant digits.
*(a) 1.9 m/s (b) 2.8 m/s
(c) 18 m/s (d) 27 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Assuming that the cannon-cannonball system is initially at rest, the total
momentum is zero. Hence the backward momentum of the cannon must equal the forward
momentum of the cannonball:
m
c
v
c
= m
b
v
b
v
c
=
m
b
v
b
m
c
=
(5.3 kg)(390 m/s)
1100 kg
= 1.9 m/s
545
Problem 1518. A cannon has a mass of 1500 kg. It res a cannonball with a mass of
5.5 kg at a muzzle velocity of 370 m/s. How fast does the cannon move backward when
the ball is red? Round your answer to two signicant digits.
*(a) -1.4 m/s (b) -2.7 m/s
(c) -11 m/s (d) -22 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Assuming that the cannon-cannonball system is an isolated system that is
initially at rest, the total momentum is zero. Hence by conservation of momentum, the
magnitude of the backward momentum of the cannon must equal the forward momentum
of the cannonball:
P
sys,f
= m
c
v
c
+m
b
v
b
= 0 v
c
=
m
b
v
b
m
c
=
(5.5 kg)(370 m/s)
1500 kg
= 1.4 m/s
Problem 1519. An astronaut with a mass of 80 kg is adrift in space outside of his space
station. Fortunately, he is holding a space wrench with a mass of 2 kg. How fast must
he throw the wrench to give himself a recoil speed of 20 cm/s?
*(a) 8 m/s (b) 16 m/s
(c) 20 m/s (d) 40 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: The initial momentum of the system is zero; so the backward momentum of
the astronaut must equal the forward momentum of the wrench. Dont forget to convert
centimeters to meters. Starting from P
astronaunt
= P
wrench
and ignoring the negative
sign, since we know the two objects move in opposite directions, we have
m
a
v
a
= m
w
v
w
v
w
=
m
a
v
a
m
w
=
(80 kg)(0.2 m/s)
2 kg
= 8 m/s
546
Problem 1520. A cannon with a mass of m
c
is sitting on a frictionless frozen lake. It
res a cannonball with a mass of m
b
horizontally at a speed of v
b
. After it has red the
ball, what is the cannons backward recoil speed?
(a)
m
b
v
2
b
m
b
+m
c
(b)
m
b
v
b
m
b
+m
c
(c)
m
b
v
2
b
m
c
*(d)
m
b
v
b
m
c
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the masses and initial velocities (zero) of the two bodies, and the
nal velocity of the cannonball. We want to know the nal velocity v
c
of the cannon. We
can use conservation of momentum. The initial momentum is zero, so after the cannon
is red, its backward momentum must equal the forward momentum of the ball:
m
c
v
c
= m
b
v
b
mc
v
c
=
m
b
v
b
m
c
Problem 1521. (Lab Problem: The spring-cannon glider - a discrete rocket)
A spring cannon is fastened to a glider at rest on a horizontal frictionless air track. The
spring-cannon-glider assembly has a mass of m
c
. It has been previously determined that
the cannon can launch a ball with a mass of m
b
horizontally at a speed of v
b
. Use the
conservation of momentum to determine the recoil speed of the cannon after it launches
the ball. Take the positive x-axis in the direction of the ball.
(a)
_
m
b
m
g
v
b
(b)
_
m
b
m
b
+m
g
_
v
b
*(c)
m
b
v
b
m
g
(d) v
b
(e) None of these
Solution: We take our system to be the ball-spring-cannon-glider system. Since we
are only interested in the motion of the spring-cannon glider, we can ignore any eects of
gravity on the ball. We can then treat the system as isolated and apply the conservation
of momentum to the system, which gives p
sys,i
= p
sys,f
. Since the system is initially at
rest, p
sys,i
= 0. It follows that
p
sys,f
= m
g
v
g
+m
b
v
b
= 0 v
g
=
m
b
v
b
m
g
.
Note: This problem simulates, in a simple discrete way, the idea behind a rocket. The
main dierence is that a rocket expels gas continuously, where as the spring cannon only
does it once. This type of problem is known as an explosion problem and it acts like a
perfectly inelastic collision in reverse (if we ran the lm backwards).
547
Problem 1522. (Lab Problem) A spring cannon is fastened to a glider at rest on a
horizontal frictionless air track. The combined mass of the cannon and the glider is 400
g. The cannon res a ball with a mass of 20 g horizontally at a speed of 8 m/s. How fast
does the cannon-glider assembly move backward after the cannon is red?
(a) 20 cm/s (b) 25 cm/s
*(c) 40 cm/s (d) 50 cm/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of momentum: p
sys,i
= p
sys,f
. Since the system is initially
at rest, its momentum is zero. After the cannon is red, the forward momentum of the
ball must equal the backward momentum of the cannon. Dont forget to convert units.
m
b
v
b
= m
c
v
c
v
c
=
m
b
v
b
m
c
=
(0.02 kg)(8 m/s)
0.4 kg
= 0.4 m/s = 40 cm/s
548
15.3 Impulse
Problem 1523. An irate constituent throws a pie at a congressman. The pie has a mass
of 1.2 kg and hits the congressman with a horizontal speed of 14 m/s. How large is the
impulse that the pie gives to the congressman? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
(a) 8.4 kg m/s *(b) 17 kg m/s
(c) 120 kg m/s (d) 140 kg m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: The impulse given by the pie is equal to the change p in its momentum.
We assume that the politician is large and heavy compared to the pie, so that the pie
comes to a complete stop when it hits him. Then the nal momentum of the pie is zero;
so the impulse equals the original momentum of the pie:
J = p
pie
= mv = (1.2 kg)(14 m/s) = 17 kg m/s
Problem 1524. An irate constituent throws a pie at a congressman. The pie has a mass
of 1.6 kg and hits the congressman with a horizontal speed of 14 m/s. How large is the
impulse that the pie gives to the congressman? Round your answer to two signicant
gures.
*(a) 22 kg m/s (b) 45 kg m/s
(c) 160 kg m/s (d) 310 kg m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: The impulse given by the pie is equal to the change p in its momentum.
We assume that the politician is large and heavy compared to the pie, so that the pie
comes to a complete stop when it hits him. Then the nal momentum of the pie is zero;
so the impulse equals the original momentum of the pie:
J = p
pie
= mv = (1.6 kg)(14 m/s) = 22 kg m/s
Problem 1525. A golf ball has a mass of 0.071 kg. It is placed on a tee and hit, giving
it a speed of 42 m/s. Golf scientists determine that the club is in contact with the ball
for 0.046 s. Assuming constant acceleration, what is the average force exerted on the ball
by the club? Round your answer to the nearest newton.
(a) 63 N *(b) 65 N
(c) 125 N (d) 1361 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The golf ball starts at rest, so the impulse given it by the club is equal to
its nal momentum. This is J = p = mv. Since were assuming constant acceleration,
the force is the impulse divided by the time:
F =
mv
t
=
(0.071 kg)(42 m/s)
0.046 s
= 65 N
549
Problem 1526. A ball weighing 120 g and moving horizontally at 9.2 m/s strikes a wall
and rebounds horizontally at 8.4 m/s. What is the magnitude of the impulse that the
wall gives to the ball? Round your answer to two signicant digits.
(a) 0.096 kg m/s (b) 0.94 kg m/s
*(c) 2.1 kg m/s (d) 21 kg m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: The impulse is the balls change in momentum. If we take the direction away
from the wall as positive, then the balls initial momentum is p
i
= (0.12 kg)(9.2 m/s);
its nal momentum is p
f
= (0.12 kg)(8.4 m/s). The change in momentum is
p = p
f
p
i
= (0.12 kg)(8.4 m/s) (0.12 kg)(9.2 m/s)
= (0.12 kg)(17.6 m/s) = 2.1 kg m/s
Problem 1527. A ball weighing 290 g and moving horizontally at 14 m/s strikes a wall
and rebounds horizontally at 10 m/s. What is the magnitude of the impulse that the
wall gives to the ball? Round your answer to two signicant digits.
(a) 1.2 kg m/s *(b) 7.0 kg m/s
(c) 14 kg m/s (d) 43 kg m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: The impulse is the balls change in momentum. If we take the direction away
from the wall as positive, then the balls initial momentum is p
i
= (0.29 kg)(14 m/s);
its nal momentum is p
f
= (0.29 kg)(10 m/s). The change in momentum is
p = p
f
p
i
= (0.29 kg)(10 m/s) (0.29 kg)(14 m/s)
= (0.29 kg)(24 m/s) = 7.0 kg m/s
Problem 1528. A large truck travelling down the highway collides with a small station-
ary deer. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) The average force acting on the deer during the collision is greater than the
average force acting on the car.
(b) After the collision, the magnitude of the deers velocity relative to the car is
the same as it was before the collision.
(c) The change in the cars momentum is greater than the change in the deers
momentum.
*(d) The magnitude of the impulse given to the car by the deer is the same as the
magnitude of the impulse given to the deer by the car.
Solution: We are not told whether this collision is elastic or inelastic; and judging by
experience and common sense, its probably not perfectly elastic. Thus we can rule out
(b). We know that momentum is conserved, so we can rule out (a) and (c). That leaves
us with (d), which is true: the changes in momentum of the car and the deer must be
equal and opposite, which means that the impulses acting on them must be equal and
opposite.
550
Problem 1529. A large freight train traveling down the tracks collides with a small,
cute, cuddly stationary squirrel burying a nut. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) The average force acting on the squirrel during the collision is greater than the
average force acting on the train.
(b) After the collision, the magnitude of the squirrels velocity relative to the train
is the same as it was before the collision.
(c) The change in the trains momentum is greater than the change in the squirrels
momentum.
*(d) The magnitude of the impulse given to the train by the squirrel is the same as
the magnitude of the impulse given to the squirrel by the train.
Solution: We are not told whether this collision is elastic or inelastic; and judging by
experience and common sense, its probably not perfectly elastic. Thus we can rule out
(b). We know that momentum is conserved, so we can rule out (a) and (c). That leaves
us with (d), which is true: the changes in momentum of the train and the squirrel must
be equal and opposite, which means that the impulses acting on them must be equal and
opposite.
Problem 1530. (Impulse over long-time period) A crate with a mass of 30 kg is
sliding down a ramp. Starting from rest, it reaches a speed of 3 m/s after 10 s. What
is the magnitude of the net force on the crate? Assume the net force on the crate is
constant.
(a) 3 N *(b) 9 N
(c) 27 N (d) 30 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The crate begins at rest, so the impulse given to it is equal to its nal
momentum. Thus
J = p = Ft = mv F =
mv
t
=
(30 kg)(3 m/s)
10 s
= 9 N
Problem 1531. A golf ball has a mass of 0.071 kg. It is placed on a tee and hit, giving
it a speed of 42 m/s. Golf scientists determine that the club is in contact with the ball
for 0.046 s. Assuming constant acceleration, what is the average force exerted on the ball
by the club? Round your answer to the nearest newton.
(a) 63 N *(b) 65 N
(c) 125 N (d) 1361 N
(e) None of these
Solution: The golf ball starts at rest, so the impulse given it by the club is equal to
its nal momentum. This is J = p = mv. Since were assuming constant acceleration,
the force is the impulse divided by the time:
F =
mv
t
=
(0.071 kg)(42 m/s)
0.046 s
= 65 N
551
Problem 1532. (Similarity Problem) Two railroad cars are standing on two hori-
zontal frictionless tracks. The rst car has mass M; the second car has mass 3M. Each
car is pulled along its track with a force of F for a time of T. At the end of this time,
the momentum of the rst car is P. What is the momentum of the second car?
*(a) P (b) P/3
(c) 3P (d)
3P
(e) None of these
Solution: Since both cars are subjected to the same force F for the same time T,
they have the same nal momentum P. The second car only experiences one-third the
acceleration of the rst, so it only ends up going at one-third the velocity; but since it
has three times the mass, its momentum is the same.
Problem 1533. (Similarity Lab Problem) Two gliders are at rest on parallel
horizontal frictionless air-tracks. Glider 1 has mass m
1
; glider 2 has mass m
2
. Each
glider is pushed with a horizontal force of F
push
for the same total time T. At the end of
this time, glider 1 has kinetic energy K
1
. What is the relationship between the kinetic
energy of glider 2 in terms of the kinetic energy of glider 1?
*(a) K/2 (b) K
(c)
2 K (d) 4K
(e) None of these
Solution: This is a similarity problem. We have two experiments with certain
parameters that are in common to both. Since the same force acts on both gliders for
the same amount of time, both gliders experience the same impulse. This is our common
parameter. Thus p
1,f
p
1,i
= p
1
= J = p
2
= p
2,f
p
2,i
. Since the gliders both start
from rest we have v
1,i
= v
2,i
= 0. Substituting this result into the previous expression
gives
m
1
v
1
= p
1,f
= p
2,f
= m
2
v
2
m
2
v
2
=
m
1
m
2
v
1
.
The kinetic energy of glider 1 is K
1
=
1
2
m
1
v
2
1
; the kinetic energy of glider 2 is
K
2
=
1
2
m
2
v
2
2
=
1
2
m
2
_
m
1
m
2
v
1
_
2
(substitute for v
2
for the above equation)
=
1
2
m
1
v
2
1
_
m
1
m
2
_
=
_
m
1
m
2
_
K
1
Comments:
552
1. Notice that the ratio of the kinetic energies is
K
2
K
1
=
M
1
M
2
This follows directly from the fact that the momentums are the same (p
1
= p
2
), so
K
2
K
1
=
p
2
v
2
p
1
v
1
=
v
2
v
1
=
m
1
m
2
Problem 1534. (Similarity Problem) Two railroad cars are at rest on two horizontal
frictionless tracks. One car is three times as heavy as the other. Each car is pushed with
the same horizontal force of F for the same time T. At the end of this time, the kinetic
energy of the lighter car is K. What is the kinetic energy of the heavier car?
(a) 3K (b)
3K
(c) K/
3 *(d) K/3
(e) None of these
Solution: Let the mass of the light car be M. Well construct a table with the
kinematic properties of the two cars:
Light car Heavy car
Mass M 3M
Acceleration = force/mass F/M F/3M
Speed = acceleration time FT/M FT/3M
Kinetic energy =
1
2
mass speed
2
K =
F
2
T
2
2M
F
2
T
2
6M
=
K
3
Problem 1535. (Similarity Problem) Two carts are at rest on parallel horizontal
frictionless tracks. One cart has mass M; the second has mass 2M. Each cart is pushed
with a horizontal force of F for a time T. At the end of this time, the magnitude of the
rst carts momentum is P. What is the magnitude of the second carts momentum?
(a) P/2 *(b) P
(c) 2P (d) 4P
(e) None of these
Solution: Newtons second law allows us to calculate the accelerations of both
carts. For the rst, A = F/M; for the second, A
2
= F/2M = A/2. Both carts are
pushed for time T; so the speed of the rst is V = AT and the speed of the second
is V
2
= A
2
T = AT/2 = V/2. Then the momentum of the rst cart is P = MV ; the
momentum of the second is P
2
= M
2
V
2
= (2M)(V/2) = MV = P.
553
15.4 Collisions
Problem 1536. (Lab Problem) Two gliders collide on a horizontal frictionless air
track. Which of the following statements must be true regardless of whether the collision
is elastic or inelastic?
(a) Neither momentum nor kinetic energy is necessarily conserved.
(b) Kinetic energy is conserved; momentum is not necessarily conserved.
*(c) Momentum is conserved; kinetic energy is not necessarily conserved.
(d) Momentum and kinetic energy are both conserved.
Solution: In all collisions in an isolated system (no external forces), momentum is
conserved. In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is conserved; in inelastic collisions, it is not.
Problem 1537. (Lab Problem) Two gliders collide on a frictionless horizontal air
track. If the collision is elastic, which of the following statements must be true?
*(a) Momentum and kinetic energy are both conserved.
(b) Momentum is conserved; kinetic energy is not conserved.
(c) Kinetic energy is conserved; momentum is not conserved
(d) Neither momentum nor kinetic energy is conserved.
conserved. In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is conserved (by denition).
Problem 1538. (Lab Problem) Two gliders collide on a horizontal frictionless air
track. If the collision is inelastic, which of the following statements must be true?
(a) Momentum and kinetic energy are both conserved.
*(b) Momentum is conserved; kinetic energy is not conserved.
(c) Kinetic energy is conserved; momentum is not conserved
(d) Neither momentum nor kinetic energy is conserved.
conserved. In inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is not conserved.
554
Problem 1539. Two railroad cars are rolling toward one another on a frictionless hori-
zontal track. The two cars have the same mass and are moving at the same speed. When
they collide, their couplings engage so that they remain attached together. Which of the
following statements is true?
(a) The kinetic energy of the system is conserved during the collision.
(b) The momentum of each car is the same before and after the collision.
*(c) The two cars lose all of their kinetic energy during the collision.
(d) The momentum of the system decreases during the collision.
Solution: Since the two cars have the same mass and the same initial speed in op-
posite directions, the initial momentum of the system is zero. Thus when the cars are
coupled together, their speed must be zero, which means their total kinetic energy is
zero. Thus (c) is true. We can rule out (a) because kinetic energy is lost; (b), because
each car has nonzero momentum before the collision and zero momentum afterward; and
(d), because the total momentum of the system is conserved.
Problem 1540. (Lab Problem) A
glider with a mass of 500 g is at rest on a
frictionless horizontal air track. A second
glider with a mass of 250 g is launched to-
ward it at a speed of V . The second glider
has a spring attached, which is compressed
as it collides with the rst glider. When
the spring is at its maximum compression,
which of the following statements is true?
500 g
250 g
\
\
\
\
\
\
V
(a) The second glider is at rest relative to the ground.
*(b) Both gliders have the same velocity.
(c) Both gliders have the same momentum.
(d) Both gliders have the same kinetic energy.
555
Problem 1541. (Lab Problem) A
glider with a mass of M is at rest on a
horizontal frictionless air track. A second
glider with a mass of m, where m < M, is
launched toward it at a speed of V . The
second glider has a spring attached, which
is compressed as it collides with the rst
glider. When the spring is at its maxi-
mum compression, which of the following
statements is true?
M
m
\
\
\
\
\
\
V
(a) The second glider is at rest relative to the ground.
*(b) Both gliders have the same velocity.
(c) Both gliders have the same momentum.
(d) Both gliders have the same kinetic energy.
track. The rst glider has a mass of 2.0 kg; before the collision, it is moving rightward at
5.0 m/s. The second glider has a mass of 3.0 kg; before the collision, it is at rest. After
the collision, the second glider is moving rightward at 4.0 m/s. What is the velocity of
the rst glider after the collision?
*(a) 1.0 m/s leftward (b) 1.0 m/s rightward
(c) 3.0 m/s leftward (d) 3.0 m/s rightward
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the mass and initial velocity of each glider; and we know the nal
velocity of the second glider. We want to know the nal velocity of the rst glider. We
can use conservation of momentum. Taking rightward as the positive direction, we get:
P = m
1
v
1i
+m
2
v
2i
= m
1
v
1f
+m
2
v
2f
v
2i
=0
m
1
v
1i
= m
1
v
1f
+m
2
v
2f
m
2
v
2f
m
1
v
1f
= m
1
v
1i
m
2
v
2f
m
1
v
1f
=
m
1
v
1i
m
2
v
2f
m
1
=
(2.0 kg)(5.0 m/s) (3.0 kg)(4.0 m/s)
2.0 kg
= 1.0 m/s
Since the sign is negative, the glider is moving leftward.
556
Problem 1543. (Lab Problem) A glider with a mass of 2.0 kg is moving rightward
at a speed of 3.0 m/s on a frictionless horizontal air track. It collides with a stationary
glider whose mass is 4.0 kg. If the collision is elastic, what is the speed of the heavier
glider after the collision? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 0.0 m/s (b) 1.0 m/s
*(c) 2.0 m/s (d) 3.0 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the collision is elastic, both momentum and kinetic energy are
conserved. Since the heavier glider is stationary, the initial momentum and kinetic energy
are only those of the rst glider. Taking the positive direction as rightward, and using
the subscript 1 for the lighter glider and 2 for the heavier, we nd:
p
i
= m
1
v
1i
= (2.0 kg)(3.0 m/s) = 6.0 kg m/s
K
i
=
1
2
m
1
v
2
1i
=
1
2
(2.0 kg)(3.0 m/s)
2
= 9.0 J
By conservation of momentum and kinetic energy, p
f
= p
i
and K
f
= K
i
. For brevitys
sake, we will drop the f subscript and refer to the post-collision velocities as v
1
and v
2
.
m
1
v
1
+m
2
v
2
= p
i
and
1
2
m
1
v
2
1
+
1
2
m
2
v
2
2
= K
i
Substituting numbers, we get
2v
1
+ 4v
2
= 6 and 1v
2
1
+ 2v
2
2
= 9
We want to know the speed of the heavier glider after the collision: v
2
. Well solve the
rst equation for v
1
, then substitute that into the second equation; that will give us an
equation in v
2
alone, which we will solve for v
2
.
Solving the rst equation for v
1
:
2v
1
+ 4v
2
= 6 v
1
=
6 4v
2
2
= 3 2v
2
Substitute this expression for v
1
into the kinetic-energy equation:
v
2
1
+ 2v
2
2
= 9 (3 v
2
)
2
+ 2v
2
2
= 9
Expand to eliminate the parentheses:
9 6v
2
+v
2
2
+ 2v
2
2
= 9 3v
2
2
6v
2
= 0
Factor:
3v
2
(v
2
2) = 0 v
2
= 0 or v
2
= 2
The solution v
2
= 0 refers to the velocity of the glider before the collision; so the velocity
after the collision is 2.0 m/s.
557
track. Glider 1 has a mass of 0.88 kg; glider 2 has a mass of 1.13 kg. Before the collision,
glider 1 is moving rightward at 3.3 m/s; glider 2 is at rest. After the collision, glider 1
is moving rightward at 1.1 m/s. How fast is glider 2 moving? Round your answer to the
nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 1.4 m/s *(b) 1.7 m/s
(c) 2.7 m/s (d) 4.4 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: We dont know if this collision is elastic or inelastic. We know the masses
of both gliders, and the velocities of both before the collision, so we can calculate the
initial momentum. We know the velocity of glider 1 after the collision, so we can use
conservation of momentum to calculate the post-collision velocity of glider 2.
Since the initial velocity of glider 2 is zero, the initial momentum of the system is:
p
i
= p
1,i
+p
2,i
= m
1
v
1,i
+m
2
v
2,i
= m
1
v
1,i
After the collision, the momentum of the system is
p
f
= p
1,f
+p
2,f
= m
1
v
1,f
+m
2
v
2,f
Since momentum is conserved, p
f
= p
i
; so
m
1
v
1,f
+m
2
v
2,f
= m
1
v
1,i
Solve for v
2,f
:
v
2,f
=
m
1
(v
1,i
v
1,f
)
m
2
=
(0.88 kg)(3.3 m/s 1.1 m/s)
1.13 kg
= 1.7 m/s
Problem 1545. A block of wood with a mass of 2300 g is sitting on a frictionless
horizontal tabletop. A rie bullet with a mass of 44 g is red horizontally into the block
at a speed of 270 m/s and stops inside the block. After the collision, what is the speed
of the combined block and bullet? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m/s.
(a) 3.7 m/s (b) 4.1 m/s
(c) 4.6 m/s *(d) 5.1 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since the bullet stops inside the block, we have an inelastic collision. We
use conservation of momentum. If m
b
and v
bi
are the mass and initial speed of the bullet,
and m
w
and v
wi
= 0 are the mass and initial speed of the wood block, then P = m
b
v
bi
.
If v
f
is the speed of block plus bullet after the collision, then
P = (m
b
+m
w
)v
f
v
f
=
P
m
b
+m
w
=
m
b
v
bi
m
b
+m
w
=
(0.044 kg)(270 m/s)
0.044 kg + 2.3 kg
= 5.1 m/s
558
Problem 1546. A block of wood with a mass of 1300 g is sitting on a horizontal tabletop.
The coecient of kinetic friction between the block and the table is
k
= 0.74. A rie
bullet with a mass of 39 g is red horizontally into the block at a speed of 290 m/s and
stops inside the block. How far does the block with the bullet embedded in it slide before
coming to a stop? Round your answer to the nearest 0.1 m.
(a) 4.4 m *(b) 4.9 m
(c) 5.4 m (d) 6.0 m
(e) None of these
Solution: There are two processes going on here: an inelastic collision between the
bullet and the block, followed by the blocks sliding to a halt as friction dissipates its
kinetic energy.
Since the bullet-wood collision is inelastic, we cant use conservation of energy there. We
have to use conservation of momentum. We know the masses and initial velocities of
the bullet and the block: m
b
, v
bi
, m
w
, and v
wi
= 0. (Well use the subscript w for
wood, since block and bullet both begin with the same letter.) We want to know
the kinetic energy K
s
of the block-bullet system immediately after the collision, and we
can calculate that if we know the velocity v
s
at that time. By conservation of momentum,
m
b
v
bi
+m
w
v
wi
= m
b
v
bi
= (m
b
+m
w
)v
s
(m
b
+mw)
v
s
=
m
b
v
bi
m
b
+m
w
Now we can calculate the energy of the system immediately after the collision. There is
no potential energy involved.
K
s
=
1
2
m
s
v
2
x
=
(m
b
+m
w
)(m
b
v
bi
)
2
2(m
b
+m
w
)
2
=
m
2
b
v
2
bi
2(m
b
+m
w
)
As the block-bullet system slides to a halt, the only force working on it is friction. It will
move until the work done against the frictional force equals its initial energy. Since the
tabletop is horizontal, the normal force equals the weight; so the force of kinetic friction
is
F
k
=
k
N =
k
(m
b
+m
w
)g
The work done against friction is the force times the distance x that the block slides:
W = F
k
x. We want to know x; and we can nd it by setting W = K
s
and then solving
for x.
W = F
k
x =
k
(m
b
+m
w
)gx =
m
2
b
v
2
bi
2(m
b
+m
w
)
= K
s
k
(m
b
+mw)g
x =
m
2
b
v
2
bi
2
k
g(m
b
+m
w
)
2
=
(0.039 g)
2
(290 m/s)
2
2(0.74)(9.8 m/s
2
)(0.039 g + 1300 g)
2
= 4.9 m
559
Problem 1547. (Derive Problem) A bullet of mass m
b
with an initial velocity of v
b,i
strikes a wooden block of mass m
w
at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. The bullet
emerges with its speed reduced to v
b,f
. Derive a formula for the resulting velocity v
w,f
of
the block. Assume there is no loss of mass in the wooden block when the bullet passes
through the block.
Solution: This is a collision problem between the bullet and the wooden block. If
we take the system to be the wooden block plus the bullet, then we would like to ap-
ply the conservation of momentum to the system before and after the collision. This
requires demonstrating that we can ignore all of the external forces on the system in
the direction tangent to the surface. Take this to be the x-direction. Since we have
a horizontal frictionless surface, there is no forces due to gravity and friction on the
system in the x-direction, and ignoring any eects due to air drag over this short time
period, we are justied in applying conservation of momentum. We now proceed in steps.
Step 1: Choose the coordinate system.
Choose a xed coordinate system with the x-axis running along the frictionless surface
and the y-direction normal to the surface opposite the direction of gravity.
Step 2: Draw a before and after picture.
Figure 11: Bullet-wooden-block collision.
560
Step 3: Write down what you are given and what you want. Also include any assump-
tions you are making to simplify the problem.
given:
_
_
m
b
= mass of the bullet
m
w
= mass of the wooden block
v
b,i
= initial speed of the bullet (before impact)
v
b,i
= nal speed of the bullet (after impact)
v
w,i
= 0 (initial speed of the wooden block (after impact))
want: v
b,i
= nal speed of the wooden block (after impact)
assumptions: This is a 1-D motion problem; no external forces on the system
Step 4: Apply conservation of momentum to the system: p
sys,i
= p
sys,f
.
m
b
v
b,i
+m
w
v
w,i
= p
sys,i
= p
sys,f
= m
b
v
b,f
+m
w
v
w,f
set v
w,i
=0
m
b
v
b,i
+ 0 = m
b
v
b,f
+m
w
v
w,f
m
b
v
b,f
m
w
v
w,f
= m
b
v
b,i
m
b
v
b,f
mw
v
w,f
=
m
b
m
w
v
b
A faster way would be to use p
w
= p
b
with p
w,i
= 0.
Problem 1548. (Lab Problem: Explosion problem) Two gliders, each with mass
M, are at rest on a frictionless horizontal air track. The gliders are tied together with a
horizontal spring between them; the spring has been compressed so that it stores a po-
tential energy of U. When the string connecting the two gliders is cut, the spring pushes
them apart. After the spring has fully expanded, what is the speed of each glider?
(a)
U
2M
(b)
U
M
(c)
_
2U
M
*(d)
_
U
M
(e) None of these
Solution: There is no friction in the system, so we will use conservation of energy.
Since the gliders are initially at rest, the momentum of the system is zero. Therefore,
since the gliders have the same mass M, they will move at the same speed v in oppo-
site directions after the string is cut. Hence the kinetic energy of each glider will be
K
g
=
1
2
Mv
2
; so the kinetic energy of the whole system will be K
s
= 2K
g
= Mv
2
. By
conservation of energy,
U = K
s
= Mv
2
v
2
=
U
M
v =
_
U
M
561
Problem 1549. Two identical gliders have an elastic collision on a horizontal frictionless
air track. Assume there are no external forces on the two-glider system, and the motion
is one-dimensional. Before the collision, the initial velocity of rst glider is v
1,i
,= 0, and
the initial velocity of the second glider is v
2,i
= 0. Suppose that after the collision the
rst glider is observed to be at rest. What is the velocity of the second glider after the
collision?
*(a) v
1,i
(b) v
1,i
(c) 0 (d) v
1,i
/2
(e) None of these
Solution: This problem gives you extra information. It follows immediately from
conservation of momentum that v
2,f
= v
1,i
. We could have come to the same conclusion
without knowing the nal velocity of the rst glider.
In general, in an elastic collision between two objects of the same mass with one of the
objects initially at rest, the two objects will switch velocities after the collision. To see
this, apply conservation of momentum and K.E.:
_
mv
1,i
+ 0 = mv
1,f
+mv
2,f
m
v
1,i
+ 0 = v
1,f
+v
2,f
1
2
mv
2
1,i
+ 0 =
1
2
mv
2
1,f
+
1
2
mv
2
2,f
(m/2)
v
2
1,i
+ 0 = v
2
1,f
+v
2
2,f
Solving the rst equation for v
2,f
= v
1,i
v
1,f
and substituting this expression into the
second equation leads to
v
2
1,i
v
2
1,f
= (v
1,i
v
1,f
)
2
factor the LHS and (v
1,i
v
1,f
)
v
1,i
+v
1,f
= v
1,i
v
1,f
v
1,f
+v
1,f
2v
1,f
= 0
v
2,f
= v
1,i
.
562
Problem 1550. (Derive Problems) At either end of a horizontal frictionless air track
is a spring. The spring on the left has spring constant k
L
. The spring on the right has
spring constant k
R
. A glider with a mass of m
L
is pressed against the left-hand spring,
compressing it a distance x
L
from equilibrium. The glider is initially at rest and held
in place by a trigger mechanism. The glider is then released, so that the spring propels
it rightward. In the middle of the track is a second glider with a mass of m
R
. The two
gliders have small magnets attached, so when the rst glider strikes the second, they stick
together and slide into the right-hand spring. Let x
R
be the maximum compression of the
right-hand spring. Derive a formula for x
R
. (The diagram shows the situation before the
left-hand glider is released, when the left-hand spring is compressed and neither glider is
moving.)
'
'
'
'
'
'
\
\
\
\
\
\ |
|
|
|
m
L
m
R
Solution: This problem requires several steps.
Step 1: Apply the conservation of mechanical energy to the left-hand-glider-spring sys-
tem.
We will use the compression of the left-hand spring to calculate its potential energy.
When it is released, the potential energy stored in the spring will be converted to kinetic
energy of the left-hand glider; we will use that to determine the initial velocity of the
glider, and hence the gliders initial momentum.
Step 2: Apply the conservation of momentum to the collision of the two gliders.
When the gliders collide, they will not be in contact with either spring, so we can treat
the pair of gliders as an isolated system. The collision will be perfectly inelastic, so
applying the conservation of momentum will give us the speed of the combined gliders
after theyve stuck together.
Step 3: Apply the conservation of mechanical energy to the right-hand-glider-pair-spring
system.
If we know the speed of the pair of gliders after the collision, then we know their kinetic
energy. When the right-hand spring is fully compressed, all of that kinetic energy will
563
be stored in the spring; well use that to determine the compression.
We begin with step 1. Let x
L
be the compression of the left-hand spring. Then the
initial potential energy in the spring, and hence the left-hand glider, is U
L,i
=
1
2
k
L
x
2
L
.
The initial kinetic energy of the left-hand glider is K
L,i
= 0, since the glider is at rest.
After the left-hand spring is released, this energy is completely transferred to the left-
hand glider. The nal kinetic energy of the glider will be K
L,f
=
1
2
m
L
v
2
L
, and its potential
is U
L,f
= 0, since the glider is no longer experiencing any forcing by the spring. Equating
the initial and nal mechanical energy of the left-hand-glider-spring system gives
1
2
k
L
x
2
L
+ 0 = U
L,i
+K
L,i
= U
L,f
+K
L,f
= 0 +
1
2
m
L
v
2
L
v
L
=
k
L
x
2
L
m
L
p
L,i
= m
L
v
L
=
_
m
L
k
L
x
2
L
(initial momentum of left-hand-glider before collision)
p
sys,i
= p
L,i
+p
R,i
=
_
m
L
k
L
x
2
L
(initial momentum of two-glider system before collision)
Notice that the initial momentum of the right-hand glider is zero since it is initially at
rest. This completes step 1 and gives us the initial momentum for step 2.
After the perfectly inelastic collision, the combined gliders will move at a speed v
LR
,
conserving momentum. Well use m
LR
= m
L
+ m
R
for the combined mass of the two
gliders. The subscript LR on the mass and velocity is used to remind us that the masses
are stuck together. Applying conservation of momentum just before and after the collision
yields:
m
LR
v
LR
= p
sys,f
= p
sys,i
=
_
m
L
k
L
x
2
L
v
LR
=
_
m
L
k
L
x
2
L
m
LR
This completes step 2 and begins step 3.
In the last step of the analysis, we again apply the conservation of mechanical energy.
The kinetic energy of the combined gliders will be
K
R,i
=
1
2
m
LR
v
2
LR
=
m
L
k
L
x
2
L
2m
LR
.
Since the right-hand spring is not yet compressed, the initial potential of the mass-spring
system is zero. Thus the initial mechanical energy is
ME
R,i
= K
R,i
+U
R,i
=
m
L
k
L
x
2
L
2m
LR
+ 0
564
When the right-hand spring is fully compressed, all of the kinetic energy in the gliders
will be stored in the right-hand spring. The nal kinetic energy of the mass (gliders)-
spring system is K
R,f
= 0. The nal potential energy of the mass-spring system is
U
R,f
= U
spring
= k
R
x
2
R
/2, where x
R
is to be determined. Thus the nal mechanical
energy of the system is
ME
R,f
= K
R,f
+U
R,f
= k
R
x
2
R
/2 + 0
We now apply the conservation of mechanical energy to arrive at the expression for x
R
:
k
R
x
2
R
2
= U
R,f
+K
R,f
= U
R,i
+K
R,i
=
m
L
k
L
x
2
L
2m
LR
x
R
=
_
k
L
k
R
_
m
L
m
LR
x
L
=
_
k
L
k
R
_
m
L
m
L
+m
R
x
L
Notice that if k
L
= k
R
and m
R
= 0 (no second glider), then x
R
= x
L
.
Comment: Just remember, if you see this problem on an exam, say to yourself: I
want me-mom-me! Use conservation of M.E., then momentum (mom), then one more
application of M.E.
565
Problem 1551. (Dervive Problem [The Ballistic Pendulum])
Below is a sketch of the ballistic pendulum from Pima community colleges physics lab.
The apparatus is designed to measure the speed of the steel ball as it leaves the mouth
of the spring cannon. The ball is red horizontally into a heavy bob attached to a light
rod that is free to pivot at one end like a pendulum. The pendulum catches the ball as it
leaves the muzzle of the cannon. We treat this as a perfectly-inelastic collision between
the ball and the pendulum. The pendulum arm then swings away from the cannon and
upward; a device on the apparatus allows one to measure the angle =
max
that the
rod swings through. When the arm swings, it lifts the ball to a height of h
max
above the
balls initial height when it was in the spring cannon. Although it would be very hard to
measure this height directly, we can use trigonometry to compute the maximum height
of the ball in terms of the measured angle
max
. In the lab we can measure the values
of the mass of the ball M
ball
; the mass of the pendulum M
pend
; the distance between the
pivot point of the pendulum and the center of mass of the ball-pendulum system, which
we shall refer to as the length of the rod L
rod
; and the angle
max
of the swing after the
cannon is red.
(a) Find the initial velocity of the ball as it leaves the muzzle v
0
as a function of the given
data: M
ball
, M
pend
, L
rod
,
max
. Your answer should not explicitly contain h
max
, since it
can be expressed as a function of these data variables. Note: I have used capital let-
ters to denote known parameters that can be measured in the lab prior to the experiment.
(b) If the spring is compressed from its equilibrium position by a distance X, what is the
spring constant of the cannon as a function of the measured quantities?
Hint: This is a 3-step problem. In step 1, use conservation of mechanical energy to nd
the relationship between the spring constant and the velocity of the ball as it leaves the
cannon. In step 2, use conservation of momentum over the inelastic collision. Approx-
imate the collision as a one-dimension collision in the horizontal direction. In step 3,
apply conservation of mechanical energy to the ball-pendulum system. Take the initial
state of the system just after the collision, and the nal state of the system at the point
where the pendulum is momentarily at rest at the highest point of its upswing.
566
Figure 12: Ballistic Pendulum found in lab
Figure 13: Ballistic Pendulum: Stage 1
567
568
16 Rotational kinetic energy and angular momen-
tum
Problem 1552. Two physics students are on a merry-go-round that is rotating friction-
lessly. Each student has a mass of 80 kg. Initially, one student is standing at the center,
while the other is standing at the outer edge. The two change places, walking past one
another at the same speed. How does the angular speed of the merry-go-round change
as the students move?
(a) The speed of the merry-go-round doesnt change.
(b) The speed decreases until the students meet halfway between the edge and the
center; then it increases.
*(c) The speed increases until the students meet halfway between the edge and the
center; then it decreases.
(d) The speed increases during the whole time that the students move, because
they are adding energy to the system.
Solution: There are no external torques, so angular momentum is conserved: L = I.
Hence if I increases, decreases, and vice versa. We want to see if I changes as the
students move. Let R be the merry-go-rounds radius, and m the mass of each student.
When one is at the center and the other is at the edge, I = mR
2
. When both are
halfway from the center to the edge, I = (2m)(R/2)
2
= mR
2
/2. Since I gets smaller as
the students walk toward the halfway point, then gets larger again, the merry-go-round
rst speeds up, then slows down.
569
Problem 1553. A physics instructor has a mass of M; his wife has a mass of M/2.
The two are on a merry-go-round that is rotating frictionlessly. Initially, the instructor
is at the center and his wife is at the outer edge. The two trade places, passing one
another halfway from the center to the edge. At which of the following three points is
the merry-go-rounds angular speed the greatest?
(a) When the instructor is at the center and the wife is at the edge.
(b) When the wife is at the center and the instructor is at the edge.
*(c) When the two are both halfway from the center to the edge.
(d) The merry-go-rounds speed doesnt change.
Solution: There are no external torques on the system, so angular momentum is
conserved: L = I = L/I. The angular speed is the greatest when the
moment of inertia I is the smallest. The contribution of each person to the total moment
of inertia is mr
2
, where m is their mass and r is their distance from the center. Let R
be the radius of the merry-go-round, so that someone at the edge is at r = R. Look at
the three situations:
Instructor at center, wife at edge I = M(0)
2
+
M
2
R
2
=
MR
2
2
Wife at center, instructor at edge I =
M
2
(0)
2
+MR
2
= MR
2
Both halfway from center to edge I = M
_
R
2
_
2
+
M
2
_
R
2
_
2
=
3MR
2
8
Since I changes, the speed of the merry-go-round changes; so we can rule out (d). Since
I is the smallest in situation (c), the merry-go-rounds speed is the greatest in that
situation.
570
Problem 1554. A physics instructor has a mass of M; his wife has a mass of M/2.
The two are on a merry-go-round that is rotating frictionlessly. Initially, the instructor
is at the center and his wife is at the outer edge. The two trade places, passing one
another halfway from the center to the edge. At which of the following three points is
the merry-go-rounds angular speed the smallest?
(a) When the instructor is at the center and the wife is at the edge.
*(b) When the wife is at the center and the instructor is at the edge.
(c) When the two are both halfway from the center to the edge.
(d) The merry-go-rounds speed doesnt change.
Solution: There are no external torques on the system, so angular momentum is
conserved: L = I = L/I. The angular speed is the smallest when the
moment of inertia I is the largest. The contribution of each person to the total moment
of inertia is mr
2
, where m is their mass and r is their distance from the center. Let R
be the radius of the merry-go-round, so that someone at the edge is at r = R. Look at
the three situations:
Instructor at center, wife at edge I = M(0)
2
+
M
2
R
2
=
MR
2
2
Wife at center, instructor at edge I =
M
2
(0)
2
+MR
2
= MR
2
Both halfway from center to edge I = M
_
R
2
_
2
+
M
2
_
R
2
_
2
=
3MR
2
8
Since I changes, the speed of the merry-go-round changes; so we can rule out (d). Since I
is the largest in situation (b), the merry-go-rounds speed is the smallest in that situation.
Problem 1555. A ywheels moment of inertia is 80 kgm
2
. Starting at rest, it is
subjected to a torque of 15 Nm for 6 s. At the end of this time, what is its kinetic
energy? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 41 J (b) 46 J
*(c) 51 J (d) 56 J
(e) None of these
Solution: We know I, , and t. We want to know K. If we knew , we could use
K =
1
2
I
2
. If we knew , we could calculate = t. We know I and , so we can
calculate using = I.
K =
1
2
I
2
=
1
2
I(t)
2
=
1
2
I
_
I
t
_
2
=

2
t
2
2I
=
(15 Nm)
2
(6 s)
2
2(80 kgm
2
)
= 51 J
571
Problem 1556. A wind turbine has three blades. Each blade has a mass of 1000 kg and
a length of 20 m. Each blade can be regarded as a thin rod connected at one end to the
axis. If the turbine is turning at a rate of one revolution every 3.0 s, what is its kinetic
energy? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 8.8 10
5
J (b) 9.7 10
5
J
(c) 1.1 10
6
J (d) 1.2 10
6
J
(e) None of these
Solution: We can calculate the moment of inertia of an individual blade, then multiply
by 3 to get I for the whole turbine. We know the period T, so we can use = 2/T to
calculate . Then we can use K =
1
2
I
2
.
I
blade
=
m
b
R
2
3
I = 3I
blade
= m
b
R
2
K =
1
2
I
2
=
1
2
(m
b
R
2
)
_
2
T
_
2
=
2
2
m
b
R
2
T
2
=
2
2
(1000 kg)(20 m)
2
(3.0 s)
2
= 8.8 10
5
J
Problem 1557. A shaft can be regarded as a solid cylinder with radius 4 cm and mass
120 kg. If the shaft is turning at 20 revolutions per second, what is its kinetic energy?
*(a) 760 J (b) 830 J
(c) 890 J (d) 960 J
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the mass m and radius R of the shaft, and its frequency f. We
want to know its kinetic energy K. If we knew I and , we could use K =
1
2
I
2
. We
can use I = mR
2
/2 and = 2f.
K =
1
2
I
2
=
1
2
_
mR
2
2
_
(2f)
2
=
2
mf
2
R
2
=
2
(120 kg)(20 s
1
)
2
(0.04 m)
2
= 760 J
572
Problem 1558. A windmill whose moment of inertia is I is initially at rest. The wind
begins to blow, producing a torque of about the windmills axis. After a time t, what
is the windmills kinetic energy?
*(a)

2
t
2
2I
(b)
I
2
t
2
2
(c)
t
2
2I
(d)
It
2
2
(e) None of these
Solution: We know I, , and t. We want to know K. If we knew , we could use
K =
1
2
I
2
. If we knew L, we could calculate from L = I. We know and t, and
0
= 0, so we can calculate L = t.
K =
1
2
I
2
=
1
2
I
_
L
I
_
2
=
1
2
I
_
t
I
_
2
=

2
t
2
2I
Problem 1559. Two ywheels, one with moment of inertia 240 kgm
2
and one with
moment of inertia 150 kgm
2
, turn on the same shaft. The rst ywheel is xed on the
shaft; the second one is connected by a clutch, so that it can be made to turn either with
the rst or independently of it. Initially, the rst wheel is turning at 30 rad/s; the second
is at rest. The clutch is then operated, so that both wheels turn together. What is their
common angular speed? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 17 rad/s *(b) 18 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of angular momentum. The initial angular momentum is
that of the rst ywheel, since the second is at rest. After the two are connected, they
turn at the same angular speed. Well use
1
for the initial angular speed of the rst
ywheel, and
c
(for combined) for the nal angular speed.
I
1
1
= (I
1
+I
2
)
c

c
=
I
1
1
I
1
+I
2
=
(240 kgm
2
)(30 rad/s)
240 kgm
2
+ 150 kgm
2
= 18 rad/s
573
Problem 1560. A doors moment of inertia is 8 kgm
2
. A bullet with a mass of 25
g moving at 300 m/s strikes the door perpendicularly at a distance of 75 cm from the
hinges. The bullet remains embedded in the door. What is the doors angular speed after
the collision? Assume that the embedded bullet does not change the doors moment of
inertia. Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 0.63 rad/s *(b) 0.70 rad/s
(c) 0.77 rad/s (d) 0.85 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of angular momentum. The initial angular momentum is
that of the bullet. The nal angular momentum is that of the swinging door.
m
b
v
b
R = I
d
d

d
=
m
b
v
b
R
I
d
=
(0.025 kg)(300 m/s)(0.75 m)
8 kgm
2
= 0.70 rad/s
(In case youre wondering about the validity of the assumption, the correct moment of
inertia for the door with the embedded bullet is
I = I
d
+I
b
= I
d
+m
b
R
2
= 8 kgm
2
+ (0.025 kg)(0.75 m)
2
= 8.014 kgm
2
The dierence is less than 1%; it shouldnt aect the results rounded to two signicant
gures.)
2
. A bullet with a mass of 25 g,
moving horizontally at 300 m/s, strikes the door at an angle of 60
to the doors surface,

at a distance of 75 cm from the hinges. The bullet remains embedded in the door. What
is the doors angular speed after the collision? Assume that the embedded bullet does
not change the doors moment of inertia. Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 0.55 rad/s *(b) 0.61 rad/s
(c) 0.67 rad/s (d) 0.74 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of angular momentum. The initial angular momentum
is that of the bullet. The nal angular momentum is that of the swinging door. Since
the bullet doesnt strike the door at a right angle, we need to calculate the angular
momentum using only the component of its velocity perpendicular to the door.
m
b
v
b
Rcos = I
d
d

d
=
m
b
v
b
Rcos
I
d
=
(0.025 kg)(300 m/s)(0.75 m) cos 30
8 kgm
2
= 0.61 rad/s
574
2
. A ball with a mass of 40
g moving at 30 m/s strikes the door perpendicularly at a distance of 70 cm from the
hinges; the ball bounces backward at 25 m/s. What is the doors angular speed after the
collision? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 0.15 rad/s (b) 0.17 rad/s
(c) 0.19 rad/s (d) 0.21 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of angular momentum. Before the collision, the total
angular momentum of the system is that of the ball. After the collision, it consists of the
angular momentum of the swinging door plus that of the rebounding ball. Well use m
for the mass of the ball, v
i
for its initial velocity, and v
f
for its nal velocity. Well take
v
i
to be positive, so v
f
will be negative.
L
i
= L
f
= mv
i
R = mv
f
R +I
f

f
=
mR(v
i
v
f
)
I
=
(0.040 kg)(0.70 m)[30 m/s (25 m/s)]
10 kgm
2
= 0.15 rad/s
Problem 1563. A merry-go-rounds moment of inertia is 900 kgm
2
; its radius is 2 m.
It is initially at rest. A physics student with a mass of 60 kg is standing on the outer
edge. The student jumps o at 2.5 m/s, in a direction tangent to the outer edge. After
the student has jumped o, how long does it take for the merry-go-round to make one
complete revolution? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 19 s (b) 21 s
(c) 23 s (d) 25 s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of angular momentum. Since the system is initially at
rest, the nal angular momentum of the merry-go-round must match the nal angular
momentum of the student. We want to know the period T that it takes to make one
complete revolution; thats related to the angular velocity by = 2/T.
L
s
= L
m
= mvR = I =
2I
T
T =
2I
mvR
=
2(900 kgm
2
)
(60 kg)(2.5 m/s)(2 m)
= 19 s
575
Problem 1564. A merry-go-rounds moment of inertia is 6000 kgm
2
. It is initially
turning frictionlessly at a rate of one revolution per 15 s. A physics instructor with a
mass of 100 kg is initially standing at the center of the merry-go-round. The instructor
then moves to the outer edge, 4 m from the center. When he has reached the outer
edge, how long does it take for the merry-go-round to make one revolution? Round your
(a) 15 s (b) 17 s
*(c) 19 s (d) 21 s
(e) None of these
Solution: Since no external torques are applied to the system, angular momentum is
conserved: L = I. I increases as the instructor moves outward, so must decrease to
compensate. Well use
i
and
f
to indicate the initial and nal angular velocities; I
m
for
the moment of inertia of the merry-go-round by itself; and I
p
for the physics instructors
contribution to I. We want to know the period T, which is related to by = 2/T.
L
i
= L
f
= I
m
i
= (I
m
+I
p
)
f
=
2I
m
T
i
=
2(I
m
+I
p
)
T
f
T
f
=
(I
m
+I
p
)T
i
I
m
=
(I
m
+mR
2
)T
i
I
m
=
[6000 kgm
2
+ (100 kg)(4 m)
2
](15 s)
6000 kgm
2
= 19 s
Problem 1565. A small wind turbine has a moment of inertia of 400 kgm
2
, and blades
2 m long. The turbine is at rest, with one blade pointing upward at an angle of 30
to the
vertical. A goose with a mass of 8 kg, ying horizontally in the plane of the turbine at 20
m/s, strikes the end of that blade. Upon colliding with the blade, the goose momentarily
comes to a stop before falling to the ground. What is the turbines angular speed after
the collision? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
*(a) 0.69 rad/s (b) 0.76 rad/s
(c) 0.84 rad/s (d) 0.92 rad/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of angular momentum. Initially, the total angular mo-
mentum is that of the goose. After the collision, the goose is at rest, so the total angular
momentum is that of the turbine. The goose doesnt hit the blade at a right angle, so in
calculating its initial angular momentum, we need to use the component of its velocity
perpendicular to the blade. Since the goose is ying horizontally and the blade is inclined
at 30
to the vertical, the goose hits the blade at = 60
.
L
i
= L
f
= mvRsin = I
=
mvRsin
I
=
(8 kg)(20 m/s)(2 m) sin 60
400 kgm
2
= 0.69 rad/s
576
Problem 1566. A hollow pipe has radius R. It is initially at rest on top of a hill with
height y. The pipe is given a nudge so that it rolls down the hill. How fast is it going
when it reaches the bottom?
(a) v =
_
2g(y +R) (b) v =
_
g(y +R)
(c) v =
_
2g
_
y +
R
2
__
1/2
*(d) v =
gy
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of mechanical energy. Initially, the pipe is at rest, so the
total mechanical energy is the gravitational potential energy. At the bottom of the hill,
the potential energy is zero, and the total energy is kinetic: partly the kinetic energy of
the pipes center of mass moving in a line, and partly the kinetic energy of the pipes
rotation. To determine how to partition the kinetic energy among these, use the no-slip
condition: if a point where the pipe touches the ground is at rest relative to the ground,
then relative to the pipes center, a point on the outer surface is rotating with a speed
equal to the centers linear speed relative to the ground. Thus = v/R.
U
0
= K
f
= mgy =
1
2
mv
2
+
1
2
I
2
=
1
2
mv
2
+
1
2
(mR
2
)
_
v
R
_
2
= mv
2
v =
gy
Problem 1567. A thin cylindrical pipe lled with concrete has radius R. It is initially
at rest on top of a hill with height y. The pipe is given a nudge so that it rolls down the
hill. How fast is it going when it reaches the bottom?
(a) v =
_
2g(y +R) (b) v =
_
2g
_
y +
R
2
__
1/2
*(c) v =
_
4gy
3
(d) v =
_
3gy
2
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of mechanical energy. Initially, the pipe is at rest, so the
total mechanical energy is the gravitational potential energy. At the bottom of the hill,
the potential energy is zero, and the total energy is kinetic: partly the kinetic energy of
the pipes center of mass moving in a line, and partly the kinetic energy of the pipes
rotation. To determine how to partition the kinetic energy among these, use the no-slip
condition: if a point where the pipe touches the ground is at rest relative to the ground,
then relative to the pipes center, a point on the outer surface is rotating with a speed
equal to the centers linear speed relative to the ground. Thus = v/R.
U
0
= K
f
= mgy =
1
2
mv
2
+
1
2
I
2
=
1
2
mv
2
+
1
2
_
mR
2
2
_
_
v
R
_
2
=
3mv
2
4
v =
_
4gy
3
577
Problem 1568. (Requires calculus) A physics instructor has mass m
i
; his wife has
mass m
w
. The two are standing on a merry-go-round that is rotating frictionlessly.
Initially, the instructor is standing at the outer edge, at a distance R from the center; the
wife is standing at the center. The two change places, walking past one another at the
same speed in opposite directions. How far from the center will the instructor be when
the merry-go-round is rotating at its maximum speed?
(a)
m
i
R
m
i
+m
w
*(b)
m
w
R
m
i
+m
w
(c)
m
i
R
2
m
i
+m
w
(d)
m
w
R
2
m
i
+m
w
(e) None of these
Solution: There are no external torques, so angular momentum is conserved: L = I.
Hence will be at its maximum when I is at its minimum. If the instructor is at distance
r from the center, his wife is at distance R r; so their contribution to the moment of
inertia is
I(r) = m
i
r
2
+m
w
(R r)
2
To nd the value of r at which I(r) is at a minimum, we want
dI
dr
= 0 = 2m
i
r 2m
w
(R r) = 2(m
i
+m
w
)r 2m
w
R r =
m
w
R
m
i
+m
w
To check that this is really a minimum, note that d
2
I/dr
2
= 2(m
i
+ m
w
) > 0; so I(r) is
concave upward, and therefore has a minimum at our value of r.
578
Part VI
Applications of Mechanics
579
17 Applications of Mechanics
17.1 Harmonic Motion
Problem 1569. A pendulum goes through 20 complete cycles in 60 seconds. What is
its frequency?
*(a)
1
3
Hz (b)
2
3
Hz
(c) 3 Hz (d)
3
2
Hz
(e) None of these
Solution: 1 Hz = 1 cycle/s; so
f =
20 cycles
60 s
=
1
3
Hz
Problem 1570. An oscillator is made using a 10 kg block sliding on a frictionless hori-
zontal surface, attached to a horizontal spring with a force constant of 4000 N/m. The
spring is initially stretched by 10 cm and held for a moment, then released. As the block
oscillates, what is its maximum speed?
(a) 1 m/s *(b) 2 m/s
(c) 4 m/s (d) 8 m/s
(e) None of these
Solution: Use conservation of energy. Initially, the system is not moving, so its total
energy is the potential energy of the spring. When the block is at its maximum speed,
the potential energy of the spring is zero, so the total energy of the system is the kinetic
energy of the block. Hence:
U
0
+K
0
= U
0
=
1
2
kx
2
0
U
f
+K
f
= K
f
=
1
2
mv
2
f
kx
2
0
= mv
2
f
v
2
f
=
kx
2
0
m
v
f
=
_
k
m
x
0
=
_
4000 N/m
10 kg
_
1/2
(0.1 m) = 2 m/s
580
Problem 1571. An oscillator is made using a 5 kg mass sliding on a frictionless hori-
zontal surface, attached to a horizontal spring with a force constant of 20 N/m. What is
the period of the oscillator in seconds?
(a) 1 s *(b) s
(c) 2 s (d) 2 s
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the mass m and the spring constant k. We want to know the
period T. We dont have a formula that gives us the period directly, but we have one for
the angular frequency , and we know that = 2/T.
=
_
k
m
=
2
T
T = 2
_
m
k
= 2
_
5 kg
20 N/m
_
1/2
= s
Problem 1572. An astronaut moves his furniture to Planet X. On Earth, the pendulum
in his grandfather clock has a period of 1.0 s. On Planet X, the pendulums period is 0.5
s. What is the gravitational acceleration g
X
of Planet X in terms of Earths gravity g
E
?
(a) g
E
/4 (b) g
E
/2
(c) 2g
E
*(d) 4g
E
(e) None of these
Solution: We have a formula for the angular frequency of a pendulum given the
mass m and the gravitational acceleration g. We want to know the period T. We know
that = 2/T. We dont know the pendulum length L, but it is the same on both
planets.
=
2
T
=
_
g
L
2
L = T
g = T
E
g
E
= T
X
g
X
T
2
E
g
E
= T
2
X
g
X
g
X
=
T
2
E
g
E
T
2
X
=
_
1.0 s
0.5 s
_
2
g
E
= 4g
E
581
17.2 Mechanical waves and sound
Problem 1573. A tsunami consists of a series of waves travelling at a speed of 800
km/hr, with a wavelength of 200 km. What is the period of the waves?
(a) 15 s (b) 4 min
*(c) 15 min (d) 4 hr
(e) None of these
Solution: Notice that the speed is given in km/hr, and that the wavelength is given
in km. This means that we dont need to convert units. We would have had to do so if,
for instance, the speed had been given in m/s and the wavelength in km.
v =

T
T =

v
=
200 km
800 km/hr
=
1
4
hr = 15 min
Problem 1574. A cable with a linear density of 3 kg/m is stretched between two poles
30 m apart. If the cable is plucked, the resulting transverse wave travels from one pole
to the other in 1 second. What is the tension in the cable?
(a) 100 N (b) 300 N
(c) 900 N *(d) 2700 N
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the linear density of the cable, and we can calculate the speed
v from the length l and the time t. We want the tension F
T
.
v =
F
T
v
2
=
F
T
F
T
= v
2
=
l
2
t
2
=
(30 m)
2
(3 kg/m)
(1 s)
2
= 2700 N
Problem 1575. A violin string is tuned so that its third harmonic has a frequency of
1200 Hz. What is the fundamental frequency of the string?
(a) 150 Hz *(b) 400 Hz
(c) 3600 Hz (d) 9600 Hz
(e) None of these
Solution: f
n
= nf
1
f
1
=
f
n
n
f
1
=
f
3
3
=
1200 Hz
3
= 400 Hz
582
Problem 1576. An obscure stringed instrument has two strings of identical length and
composition, called the P and Q strings. The P string has a tension of T
P
, so that its
fundamental frequency is f
P1
. The Q string is tuned so that its fundamental frequency
f
Q1
is the same as the second harmonic of the P string. What is the tension of the Q
string?
(a) T
P
/2 (b)
2 T
P
(c) 2T
P
*(d) 4T
P
(e) None of these
Solution: We will start by nding the relationship between f
Q1
and f
P1
.
f
Q1
= f
P2
= 2f
P1
Since f
1
= v/2L, and since the strings have equal length (L
P
= L
Q
= L),
f
Q1
=
v
Q
2L
= 2f
P1
=
2v
P
2L
v
Q
= 2v
P
Since the strings have the same composition, they have the same length density:
P
=
Q
= . Hence
v
Q
=
T
Q
= 2v
P
= 2
T
P

T
Q
=
4T
P
T
Q
= 4T
P
Problem 1577. A violinist is playing a note with a frequency of 480 Hz. The violinist
next to him is playing a note with a frequency of 500 Hz. What is the beat frequency
produced by the two notes?
*(a) 20 Hz (b) 460 Hz
(c) 490 Hz (d) 520 Hz
(e) None of these
Solution: f
beat
= f
1
f
2
= 500 Hz 480 Hz = 20 Hz
583
Problem 1578. Two wires of equal length L are stretched between two supports. Both
wires are subjected to the same tension F
T
. The rst wire has a mass of M
A
; the second,
of 3M
A
. If the fundamental frequency of the rst wire is f
A
and that of the second wire
is f
B
, which of the following equations is true?
(a) f
B
=
f
A
3
*(b) f
B
=
f
A
3
(c) f
B
=
3 f
A
(d) f
B
= 3f
A
(e) None of these
Solution: We have an equation for fundamental frequency, which requires the wave
speed v. We have an equation for wave speed, which requires the mass per unit length
= M/L.
f
1
=
v
2L
and v =
F
T
f
1
=
F
T
2L
F
T
L
2L
M
=
F
T
2
LM
In this problem, L and F
T
are the same for both wires; M and f
1
are dierent. We
separate the constant part from the variable one:
f
1
M =
F
T
2
L
= f
A
_
M
A
= f
B
_
3M
A
f
B
=
f
A
M
A
3M
A
=
f
A
3
Problem 1579. At a distance of 4 m from an omnidirectional speaker, the sound inten-
sity is 9 W/m
2
. At what distance is the intensity 1 W/m
2
?
(a) 8 m *(b) 12 m
(c) 18 m (d) 36 m
(e) None of these
Solution: The intensity of sound varies inversely with the square of the distance. Let
r
1
= 4 m, I
1
= 9 W/m
2
, and I
2
= 1 W/m
2
. We want the distance r
2
.
I =
I
0
r
2
I
0
= Ir
2
= I
1
r
2
1
= I
2
r
2
2
r
2
2
=
I
1
r
2
1
I
2
r
2
=
_
I
1
I
2
r
2
=
_
9 W/m
2
1 W/m
2
_
1/2
(4 m) = 12 m
584
Problem 1580. A physics professor is in a car stalled on a railroad track. An oncoming
train sounds its horn, and the professor notes that he hears it at a frequency of f
p
. He
knows that when the train is standing still, its horn has a frequency of f
t
; and that the
local speed of sound is v
0
. How fast is the train approaching him?
(a)
f
p
f
t
f
t
v
0
*(b)
f
p
f
t
f
p
v
0
(c)
f
t
f
p
f
t
v
0
(d)
f
p
f
p
f
t
v
0
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the source frequency f
S
= f
t
and the listener frequency f
L
= f
p
,
the listener speed v
L
= 0, and the local speed of sound v = v
0
. We have a formula
for Doppler shift. We want to know the trains approach speed v
t
. We will modify the
textbooks formula slightly, since in it the source speed is positive when its going away
from the listener; we want v
t
to be the speed toward the professor, so well use v
S
= v
t
.
f
L
=
v +v
L
v +v
S
f
S
substitute
f
p
=
v
0
v
0
v
t
f
t
(v
0
vt)
v
0
f
p
v
t
f
p
= v
0
f
t
+vtfpv
0
ft
v
t
f
p
= v
0
f
p
v
0
f
t
= v
0
(f
p
f
t
)
fp
v
t
=
f
p
f
t
f
p
v
0
17.3 Elasticity
Problem 1581. A mop handle makes an angle of to the horizontal. A force of F is
applied along the mop handle; the mop contacts the oor over an area of A. What is the
pressure exerted by the mop on the oor?
(a)
F
Acos
(b)
F
Asin
(c)
F cos
A
*(d)
F sin
A
(e) None of these
Solution: The component of F perpendicular to the oor is F
y
= F sin . This force
is distributed over an area of A; so the pressure is F
y
/A = F sin /A.
585
Problem 1582. Two wires hang from the ceiling. The wires are identical, except that
one is twice as long as the other. If a 20 kg mass is attached to the shorter wire, it
stretches by 1 mm. If the same mass is attached to the longer wire, how much will it
stretch?
(a) 1 mm (b)
2 mm
*(c) 2 mm (d) 4 mm
(e) None of these
Solution: This is a situation of tensile stress. Since the two wires are identical in
composition, they have the same Youngs modulus Y ; and they have the same cross-
sectional area A. Their lengths are dierent: l
1
and l
2
= 2l
1
. Each is subjected to the
same tensile force, F
= 20 kg g. The rst wire stretches by l

1
= 1 mm. We want to
know the length change l
2
of the second wire.
In this situation, Hookes law is
F
A
= Y
l
l
Since only l and l dier from one wire to the other, we can write:
F
Y A
=
l
l
=
l
1
l
1
=
l
2
l
2
l
2
=
l
2
l
1
l
1
=
2l
1
l
1
l
1
= 2l
1
= 2(1 mm) = 2 mm
586
Problem 1583. Two balls made of dierent materials are dropped from the deck of a
ship and sink to the bottom of an ocean trench. On the surface, the rst ball has a
volume of 60 cm
3
and the second ball a volume of 120 cm
3
. At the bottom of the trench,
the rst has a volume of 50 cm
3
and the second a volume of 110 cm
3
. If the bulk modulus
of the rst ball is B
1
and that of the second is B
2
, which of the following is true?
*(a) B
1
< B
2
(b) B
1
= B
2
(c) B
1
> B
2
(d) Not enough information
(e) None of these
Solution: We know the initial and nal volumes for the two balls. We can calculate
the volume changes:
V
1
= 60 cm
3
50 cm
3
= 10 cm
3
V
2
= 120 cm
3
110 cm
3
= 10 cm
3
We dont know the pressure at the bottom of the trench, but we know that its the same
for both balls. We want to know about the bulk moduli B
1
and B
2
. The relationship
between volume, pressure, and bulk modulus is
P = B
V
V
Since the pressure is the same for both balls, we can write
B
1
V
1
V
1
=
B
2
V
2
V
2
B
1
B
2
=
V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
=
60 cm
3
10 cm
3

10 cm
3
120 cm
3
=
1
2
2B
1
= B
2
Since B is positive, B
1
< B
2
.
Problem 1584. A cable has a cross-sectional area of 4 cm
2
. It will break if subjected
to a tensile stress greater than 2 10
8
Pa. How much force must be applied to the cable
in order to break it?
*(a) 8 10
4
N (b) 5 10
7
N
(c) 8 10
8
N (d) 5 10
12
N
(e) None of these
Solution: Dont forget to convert centimeters to meters. Remember that 1 Pa = 1
N/m
2
.
P =
F
A
F = PA = (2.0 10
8
N/m
2
)(4 10
4
m
2
) = 8 10
4
N
587
17.4 Static Fluids
17.4.1 Pascals Law and Archimedess principle
Problem 1585. Which of the following is a statement of Pascals law?
(a) If a gas is maintained at a constant temperature, then its volume will be
inversely proportional to its pressure.
*(b) Pressure applied to an enclosed uid is transmitted undiminished to every
portion of the uid and to the walls of the container.
(c) A body immersed in a uid is buoyed up with a force equal to the weight of
the uid displaced by the body.
(d) One mole of any ideal gas at standard temperature and pressure will have a
volume of 22.4 liters.
Problem 1586. Which of the following is a statement of Archimedess principle?
(a) If a gas is maintained at a constant pressure, then its volume will be propor-
tional to its absolute temperature.
(b) Pressure applied to an enclosed uid is transmitted undiminished to every
portion of the uid and to the walls of the container.
*(c) A body immersed in a uid is buoyed up with a force equal to the weight of
the uid displaced by the body.
(d) Dont be rude to armed Romans.
17.4.2 Density, specic volume, specic weight
Problem 1587. The density of air is 1.3 kg/m
3
. A room is 5.6 m long by 4.9 m deep by
2.4 m high. What is the mass of the air in the room? Round your answer to the nearest
km.
(a) 62 kg (b) 69 kg
(c) 77 kg *(d) 86 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: The mass equals the density times the volume. We know the density ,
the length l, the width w, and the height h. Hence
m = V = lwh = (1.3 kg/m
3
)(5.6 m)(4.9 m)(2.4 m) = 86 kg
588
Problem 1588. The density of air at sea level is 1.20 kg/m
3
. The living room in your
seaside cottage is 5.0 m wide, 4.0 m deep, and 3.0 m high. What is the weight of the air
in the room? Give your answer to the nearest pound. Recall: 1 lb = 4.448 N.
(a) 18 lb (b) 39 lb
*(c) 160 lb (d) 1752 lb
(e) None of these
Solution: The weight of a volume of gas is the mass times gravity = density times
volume times gravity, and the the volume of a rectangular box is Volume = length
width height:
w = mg = (V )g = glwh = (1.20 kg/m
3
)(5.0 m)(4.0 m)(3.0 m) = 710 N.
Lastly, we must convert Newtons to pounds:
710 N = 710 N
_
1 lb
4.448 N
_
= 160 lb.
Problem 1589. Your new roommate has left the water running in the sink of your
rectangular water-tight dorm room, and the room is now full of water. If the dimensions
of the room are: length = 5.0 m, width = 4.0 m, and height = 3.0 m, and the density of
water is 1.0 10
3
kg/m
3
, then what is the weight of the water in the room? Round your
(a) 6.5 10
6
N *(b) 5.9 10
5
N
(c) 6.0 10
4
N (d) 5.4 10
3
N
(e) None of these
Solution: w
water
= m
water
g =
water
V g, where V is the volume of the container. We
have used the denition of density = m/V to nd the mass of the water. The volume
of a rectangular box is length width height = LWH. Thus
w =
water
V g =
water
LWHg = (10
3
kg
m
3
)(5m)(4m)(3m)gm/s
2
= 6
4
(9.8)N 6
5
.
Problem 1590. Your new roommate has lled his room with nitrous oxide gas, which
has a density of 1.96 kg/m
3
. The room is 4.0 m long by 5.0 m wide by 3.0 m high. What
is the mass of the N
2
O in the room? Round your answer to the nearest kilogram.
(a) 115 kg (b) 57 kg
*(c) 118 kg (d) 164 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: From the denition of density = m/V we have m
N
2
O
=
N
2
O
V , where
the volume of the rectangular room is V = LWH. Thus
m
N
2
O
=
water
LWH = (1.96
kg
m
3
)(4m)(5m)(3m)m/s
2
120kg .
589
Problem 1591. Your new roommate has lled his room with helium, which has a density
of 0.18 kg/m
3
. The room is 4.0 m long by 5.0 m wide by 3.0 m high. What is the mass
of the helium in the room? Round your answer to two signicant gures.
(a) 0.71 kg *(b) 11 kg
(c) 1.0 kg (d) 28 kg
(e) None of these
Solution: From the denition of density and the volume of a rectangular room:
m
helium
=
helium
LWH = (0.18
kg
m
3
)(4m)(5m)(3m)m/s
2
= 10.8 11kg ,
where L = length, W = width, and H = height.
Problem 1592. The mass of an unknown gas mixture in a room that is 3 m 4 m
5 m is known to be 500 kg. What is the density of the gas ( =
m
V
)?
Solution: From the denition of density and the volume of a rectangular room:
=
m
LWH
=
500 kg
(5 m)(4 m)(3 m)
=
25
3
kg
m
3
= 8.33
kg
m
3
,
where m = mass, L = length, W = width, and H = height.
17.4.3 Static Pressure
Problem 1593. A solar-water heating system uses solar panels on the roof of a large
build, 40.0 m above the storage tank. The pressure at the panels is 1 atmosphere. What
is the absolute pressure at the top of the tank?
Solution: Use the formula for static pressure: P
abs
= P
atm
+gh.
Problem 1594. A solar-water heating system uses solar panels on the roof of a large
build 10 m above the top of a large storage tank. The pressure at the panels is 1
atmosphere. What is the gage pressure at the top of the tank? Take the density of water
to be = 1000
kg
m
3
and g = 10
m
s
2
.
(a) 1 kPa (b) 10 kPa
*(c) 10
2
kPa (d) 10
3
kPa
(e) None of these
Solution: Use the equation
P
gage
= P = P
abs
P
atm
= gh = (10
3
kg
m
3
)(10
m
s
2
)(10m) = 10
5
N
m
2
= 10
5
Pa = 10
2
kPa
590
Problem 1595. A town in the middle-of-nowhere is built up around a large 100 meter
hill. Since the hill is in the center of a town, it is proposed at a town-hall meeting that a
water tower be placed at the top of the hill. However, the town barber points out that
when water ows through a pipe there is a great amount of resistance owing to viscosity
and turbulent mixing of the uid. He estimates that the gauge pressure in the pipe at the
bottom of the hill must be at least 100 kPa in order for water to make it to the outskirts
of town. Find what the gauge pressure would be at the bottom of the hill.
Solution: Use P
gage
= P
abs
P
atm
= gh.
Problem 1596. A submarine has a circular top hatch with a 1 m diameter. What is
the force exerted on the hatch from the pressure due to the water above the hatch when
the sub dives down to a depth of 200 m? Take the approximate density of sea water to
be = 1000
kg
m
3
and g = 10
m
s
2
.
Note: we are ignoring atmospheric pressure P
atm
in this problem and we are assuming
the submarine is a rigid body (i.e., we can ignore the pressure from inside the sub).
(a) 2 10
5
N (b) 10
6
N
(c) 2 10
6
N *(d)

2
10
6
N
(e) None of these
Solution: First well nd the pressure on the hatch, then well use the denition of
pressure to nd the force F
hatch
= P
hatch
A
hatch
, where F
hatch
is the force on the hatch
from the pressure of the sea water above the hatch, P
hatch
is the pressure on the hatch,
and A
hatch
is the area of the hatch.
P
hatch
= gh = (10
3
kg
m
3
)(10
m
s
2
)(2 10
2
m) = 2 10
6
Pa = 2 10
6
N
m
2
.
Using the denition of pressure we nd:
F
hatch
= P
hatch
A
hatch
= (r
2
hatch
) P
hatch
=
_
1
2
_
2
m
2
_
2 10
6
_
N
m
2
=

2
10
6
N
Problem 1597. A vertical, frictionless piston-cylinder device contains a gas that is in
equilibrium with the weight of the piston balanced by the internal pressure for the gas.
Suppose the mass of the piston is m
piston
, the area of the piston cylinder is A
cyl
, and the
atmospheric pressure outside the cylinder is P
atm
. Derive a formula for the gas contained
in the cylinder P
gas
in terms of the given information.
Solution: Using a free-body diagram it can be seen that
F
gas
= F
atm
+m
piston
g
A
cyl
P
gas
= P
atm
+
m
piston
g
A
cyl
.
591
Problem 1598. The basic barometer can used to measure the height of a building. To
do this a measurement is made at the bottom of the building at ground level and a second
measurement is taken at the top of the building on the roof. One can then relate these
readings to pressure using the equation for a mercury-lled barometer: P
atm
(h
Hg
) =
Hg
gh
Hg
, where
Hg
= 13, 600 kg/m
3
is the density of mercury, g is the acceleration due
to gravity, and h
Hg
is the height of the mercury column in the barometer measured in
millimeters. The approximate height of the building can then be found by making a few
simplifying assumptions. For moderate sized buildings a reasonable assumption for the
average density of air under fair weather conditions is approximately
air
1.18 Kg/m
3
.
If the barometric readings at the top and bottom of a certain building are 730 mmHg
and 755 mmHg respectively, what is the height of the building?
Solution: See handwritten solutions
Problem 1599. A gas is contained in a vertical, frictionless piston-cylinder device. The
piston has a mass of 4 kg and cross-sectional area of 35 cm
2
. A compressed spring above
the piston exerts a force of 60 N on the piston. If the atmospheric pressure is 95 kPa,
determine the pressure inside the cylinder.
Problem 1600. High-altitude balloons are often lled with helium gas because it weighs
only about one-seventh of what air weighs under identical conditions. The buoyancy
force, which can be expressed as F
b
=
air
gV
balloon
, will push the balloon upward. If we
approximate the shape of the balloon as a sphere with a radius of 5 m and a total payload
of 140kg (including the ropes and cage), determine the acceleration of the balloon when
it is rst released. Assume the density of air is
air
= 1.16 kg/m
3
.
Problem 1601. A glass tube is attached to a water pipe as shown in the gure below.
If the water pressure at the bottom of the tube is 115 kPa and the local atmospheric
pressure is P
atm
= 92 kPa, determine how high the water will rise in the tube, in m.
Assume g = 9.8 m/s
2
at that location and take the density of water to be 10
3
kg/m
3
.
592
direction of fluid flow
h = ?
P
atm
Figure 16: Vertical glass tube attached to horizontal water pipe.
Problem 1602. A pressure cooker cooks a lot faster than an ordinary pan by maintaining
a higher pressure and temperature inside the cooker. The lid of a pressure cooker is well
sealed, and the steam can escape only through an opening in the middle of the lid. A
separate piece of metal, the petcock, sits on top of this opening and prevents steam from
escaping until the pressure inside the cooker provides enough force on the petcock to over
come the weight of the petcock allowing the hot gas to escape. This mechanism provides
a safety device that limits the maximum pressure that can form in the pressure cooker
by providing a periodic release of the high-pressure gas in the container. This in turn
prevents extremely high pressures from building up in the cooker that could lead to a
potentially deadly explosion of hot gas and metal shards.
Assuming that once the cooker reaches the maximum pressure that the gas remains
constant in the pressure cooker, determine the mass of the petcock needed for a pressure
cooker that is designed to have an operation gage pressure of 100 kPa and has an opening
cross-sectional area of 4 mm
2
. Assume an atmospheric pressure of 101 kPa. Be sure and
draw a free-body diagram of the petcock to accompany your solution.
593
18 Introduction to Thermodynamics
18.1 Introductory Concepts and Denitions
18.1.1 What is the study of thermodynamics?
Problem 1603. Which of the following items does not describe the main focus of the
study of thermodynamics.
(a) energy storage
(b) the transfer of energy through heat and work
(c) how energy transforms from one form of energy, such as kinetic, into another form
*(d) how energy is bought and sold on the open market
Solution: While holding down cost and making equipment energy ecient is always
a concern for engineerings, the particulars of how energy is bought and sold is typically
not a concern. Answer (d).
18.1.2 Dening Systems
Problem 1604. Which statement best describes the concept of a system?
*(a) the subject of the analysis
(b) an object with xed set of molecules
(c) a uid together with some sort of solid
(d) an object that radiates heat into its environment
Solution: (a)
Problem 1605. Consider a refrigerator in a kitchen. Take the refrigerator and every-
thing in it to be our system. Which best describes the systems surroundings?
(a) All of the air in the kitchen.
(b) Any one standing in the kitchen.
(c) The air inside the refrigerator.
*(d) Everything in the universe external to the system.
Solution: (d)
Problem 1606. Consider a refrigerator in a kitchen. Take the refrigerator and every-
thing in it to be our system. Which best describes the systems boundary?
(a) All of the air in the kitchen.
(b) The thin region separating the system from everything else.
(c) The air inside the refrigerator.
(d) The walls of the refrigerator.
Solution: Only (b) is correct. The walls are part of the system, but out could think
of the thin metal layer as the boundary in practice.
594
18.1.3 Closed systems
Problem 1607. Identify all of the true statements:
(a) A closed system is necessarily an isolated system
*(b) An isolated system is necessarily a closed system
(c) A system cannot be both closed and isolated.
(d) The concepts of closed and isolated in regards to a system are independent concepts.
Solution: Only (b) is true. In an isolated system no energy can escape. If mass were
to escape, then by e = mc
2
, energy would also escape.
18.1.4 Control volume
Problem 1608. Identify all of the true statements:
*(a) closed system = control mass
(b) closed system = control volume
(c) open system = control mass
*(d) open system = control volume
Solution: Only (a) and (d) are true.
Problem 1609. Which of the following situations would be well suited for using a control
volume in the thermodynamic analysis of the system? Do not worry about the details of
the analysis.
(a) compression of air in a cylinder
(b) expansion of gases in a cylinder after a combustion
(c) the air in a balloon
*(d) lling a bike tire with air from a compressor
Solution: The answer is (d). The bike tire is not a closed system, but the volume is
clearly dened as the inside of the tube in the tire. Notice that the control volume can
change shape.
Problem 1610. Which of the following situations would be well suited for using a control
mass in the thermodynamic analysis of the system? Do not worry about the details of
the analysis.
*(a) compression of air in a sealed cylinder
(b) a window unit air conditioner
(c) a jet engine
(d) a re hose spurting out water
Solution: Only (a) the system in (a) is a closed system.
595
18.1.5 Property, state, and process
Problem 1611. Consider the following two statements:
(i) A system is in steady state if its properties are independent of space.
(ii) A system is in steady state if its properties are independent of time.
Which of the following statements is true:
(a) Statement (i) is true and statement (ii) is true
(b) Statement (i) is true and statement (ii) is false
*(c) Statement (i) is false and statement (ii) is true
(d) Statement (i) is false and statement (ii) is false
Solution: Steady-state time-independent
18.1.6 Extensive and intensive properties
Problem 1612. Which of the following is not an extensive property?
(a) Kinetic Energy (b) Momentum
(c) Mass *(d) Density
(e) None of these
Problem 1613. Which of the following is not an intensive property?
(a) Velocity *(b) Volume
(c) Pressure (d) Temperature
(e) None of these
18.1.7 Equilibrium, quasi-equilibrium, and processes
Problem 1614. Two metal blocks, one at 50
, and the other at 0
are set next to each

other in a perfectly insulted box at time t = 0. At this instant are the blocks in thermal
equilibrium? Now suppose you wait a long time. Are they in equilibrium now?
Solution: At time t = 0 the blocks are not in thermal equilibrium. As time increases
(i.e., t ) the system approaches equilibrium.
Problem 1615. In a quasi-equilibrium process, the pressure in a system
(a) is held constant throughout the entire process
*(b) is approximately spatially uniform throughout the system at each moment in time
(c) increases if volume increases
(d) always varies with temperature
Problem 1616. Which of the following process is a quasi-equilibrium process?
(a) the stirring and mixing of cold creamer in hot coee
(b) a balloon bursting
(c) combustion
*(d) the slow and steady compression of air in a cylinder
596
18.1.8 Base SI units for mass, length, time, Force, energy, and pressure
Problem 1617. Express kinetic energy in terms of the base SI units: the kilogram,
meter, and second. Write your answer in terms of the abbreviations (kg, m, s), and
then identify the resulting derived unit.
Solution: Apply the uninator:
[KE] = [
1
2
mv
2
] = [m] [v]
2
= kg
_
m
s
_
2
=
_
kg
m
s
2
_
m = N m = J
Problem 1618. Express work (force distance) in terms of the base SI units: the
kilogram, meter, and second. Express your answer in terms of the abbreviations (kg, m,
s).
[W] = [F d] = [F] [d] = N m = J
Problem 1619. Express PV , where P is pressure and V is volume, in terms of the
base SI units: the kilogram, meter, and second. Express your answer in terms of the
abbreviations (kg, m, s). Compare this answer to the previous one. What do you notice?
[PV ] =
_
F
A
V
_
=
_
N
m
2
_
m
3
= J
Thus, preesure times volume has the units of work. In fact, it will be the most common
form of work that we will encounter. It is the work done by an expanding gas in moving
a boundary.
Problem 1620. Express power in terms of the base SI units: the kilogram, meter, and
second. Write your answer in terms of the abbreviations (kg, m, s), and then identify
the resulting derived unit.
[T] =
_
W
t
_
=
J
s
= watt
Problem 1621. Express specic weight in terms of the base SI units: the kilogram,
meter, and second. Express your answer in terms of the abbreviations (kg, m, s), and
then identify the resulting derived unit.
[g] =
_
m
V
g
_
=
kg
m
3

N
kg
=
Pa
m
[gh] = Pa,
as expected, since gh is known to be the pressure owing to the weight the uid h units
above the point where the pressure is measured.
597
Problem 1622. Express specic volume in terms of the base SI units: the kilogram,
meter, and second. Express your answer in terms of the abbreviations (kg, m, s).
Solution: The specic volume is just the reciprocal of density. Work it out!
Problem 1623. Which one of the following expressions can be converted to the unit of
a Joule?
(a) Pa m
2
*(b) Pa m
3
(c) Pa/m
2
(d) N/kg
(e) None of these
Solution: Since Pa = N/m
2
and J = Nm, it follows that (b) is the answer.
Problem 1624. Which of the following is not an acceptable extended SI unit? Re-
call: The SI system is the MKS system (Meter, Kilogram, Second), but well allow the
extended SI system to include the cgs system (centimeter, gram, second), but you cant
mix these two systems.
(a) distance measured in centimeters
(b) pressure measured in newtons per square meter
(c) volume measured in cubic meters
*(d) density measured in grams per cubic meter
Solution: Cant mix grams and meters.
598
18.2 Temperature Scales
Use the equations T
C
= T
K
273 and T
F
=
9
5
T
C
+ 32 to answer the following questions.
Round your answers to the nearest integer.
Problem 1625. If heat is added to a system and the temperature of a system increases,
without knowing anything else, which form of energy will be denitely increase?
(a) The kinetic energy of the system
(b) The potential energy of the system
(c) The work done by the system
*(d) The internal energy (i.e., the molecular energy) of the system
Solution: If the temperature increases, then the internal energy, which depends
on temperature, will certainly rise. But adding heat to a system need not result in an
increase in bulk energy of the system. For example, consider a pot of water sitting on
a hot-plate. If we take the water as our system, then clearly heat is being added to the
system, but since the pot is not moving, its potential and kinetic energy are not changing.
Since the boundary of the system is not moving, there is no work being done to, or by
the system.
Problem 1626. Convert 98
F to

C.
(a) 32
C (b) 208
C
(c) 20
C *(d) 37
C
(e) None of these
Solution: T
C
=
5
9
(T
F
32) =
5
9
(9832)
C =
5
9
66
C =
5
3
22
C = (35+
5
3
)
C 37
C
F to

C.
(a) 12
C (b) 17
C
*(c) 20
C (d) 37
C
(e) None of these
Solution: T
C
=
5
9
(T
F
32) = 20
C
F to

C.
(a) 50
C *(b) 43
C
(c) 20
C (d) 37
C
(e) None of these
Solution: T
C
=
5
9
(T
F
32) = 43.3
C 43
C
C to

F.
*(a) 68
F (b) 98
F
(c) 120
F (d) 212
F
(e) None of these
Solution: T
F
=
9
5
T
C
+ 32 = 68
F
599
C to

F.
(a) 68
F (b) 98
F
(c) 120
F *(d) 212
F
(e) None of these
Solution: T
F
=
9
5
T
C
+ 32 = 212
F
C to K.
(a) 253 K *(b) 293 K
(c) 68 K (d) 0 K
(e) None of these
Solution: T
K
= T
C
+ 273 K = (20 + 273) K = 293 K.
Problem 1632. Convert 10 K to

C.
*(a) 263 K (b) 293 K
(c) 68 K (d) 0 K
(e) None of these
Solution: T
C
= T
K
273
C = (10 273)
C = 263
C.
F to

R (degrees rankine).
(a) 460
R (b) 558
R
*(c) 558
R (d) 200
R
(e) None of these
Solution: T
R
= T
F
+ 459.67 T
F
+ 460 = 558
R.
Note: Some books say do not use the degree symbol with the Rankine scale, since its
an absolute scale like the Kelvin scale.
600
Problem 1634. (Measuring wind chill) It is well-known that cold air feels much
colder in windy weather than what the thermometer reading indicates because of the
chilling eect of the wind. This eect is due to the increase in the convection heat
transfer coecient with increasing air velocities. The equivalent wind chill temperature
in

F is given by (all variables with an asterisk superscript (
) are dimensional quantities)

T
equiv,F
(
F) = T
adj,F
(
F) + (T
ambient,F
(
F) T
adj,F
(
F)) f(v
b
)
where f is the dimensionless function (which must have dimensionless arguments in order
to be dimensionally consistent! - for any smooth function this can be proved via a Taylor
series expansion)
f(v
b
) = 0.475 0.0203v
b
+ 0.304
v
b
,
and T
adj,F
= 91.4
F is a temperature adjustment term, v

b
is a dimensionless wind speed
that has been non-dimensionalized by miles per hour (i.e. v
b
= v
b
, (miles/hour and
T
ambient
is the ambient air temperature in

F in calm air, which is taken to be light
winds at speeds of no more than 4 mph. The constant 91.4
F in the above equation is

the mean temperature of a resting person in a comfortable environment. Windy air at
temperature T
ambient
and velocity v will feel as cold as the calm air at temperature T
equiv
.
Notice that the units of the coecients in the second factor of the second term are, in
order: dimensionless, hours per mile, and the square root of hours per mile so that the
resulting second factor is dimensionless after the dimensional variables are substituted
into the equation.
Using proper conversion factors, obtain an equivalent relation in SI units where v
SI
is
the dimensionless wind speed based on m/s and T
ambient
is ambient air temperature in
C.
Hint: When working with physical equations all terms must be dimensionally consistent.
To preserve the dimensional consistency whatever we do to one side of the equation, we
must do to the other, just as you learned in algebra.
Solution: Starting from the original equation we rst transform the dimensional
component (i.e., the temperature component has physical dimensions, but the factor
f(v
b
) is dimensionless).
T
equiv,F
(
F) = T
adj,F
(
F) + (T
ambient,F
(
F) T
adj,F
(
F)) f(v
b
)
32
F
T
equiv,F
(
F) 32
F
= (T
adj,F
(
F) 32
F) + (T
ambient,F
(
F) T
adj,F
(
F)) f(v
b
)
5
C
9
_
5
C
9
F
_
_
T
equiv,F
(
F) 32
F
_
=
_
5
C
9
F
_
(T
adj,F
(
F) 32
F)
+
_
5
C
9
F
_
_
T
ambient,F
(
F) T
adj,F
(
F)
_
f(v
b
) .
601
Using the formula T
C
(
C) =
_
5
C
9
F
_
(T
F
(
F) 32
F) we can rewrite the equation as

T
equiv,C
(
C) = 33
C +
_
5
C
9
F
_
_
T
ambient,F
(
F) T
adj,F
(
F)
_
f(v
b
)
rewrite
T
equiv,C
(
C)
= 33
C +
_
5
C
9
F
_
_
(T
ambient,F
(
F) 32
F) (T
adj,F
(
F) 32
F)
_
f(v
b
)
= 33
C
+
_
_
5
C
9
F
_
(T
ambient,F
(
F) 32
F)
_
5
C
9
F
_
(T
adj,F
(
F) 32
F)
_
f(v
b
)
= 33
C +
_
T
ambient,C
(
C) 33
C
_
f(v
b
)
The last step is to convert the correction factor f(v
b
).

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Wayne Hackers Problem Bank Solutions

(e) None of these

Problem 8. If the area of a circle is A, what is its diameter?

(e) None of these

Problem 9. If the area of a circle is A, what is its circumference?

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

Problem 12. If the circumference of a circle is C, what is its area?

Problem 23. If the circumference of a circle is 4 cm, what is its diameter?

Problem 24. If the area of a circle is 4 m

Problem 26. If the area of a circle is 3 m

1.2 Rectangles and rectangular solids

6 *(d) No real value

5 (d) No real value

Solution: If the equation of a line is written in the form: y = mx + b, then m is the

Solution: If the equation of a line is written in the form: y = mx + b, then m is the

Solution: The equation y = x1 is written in the form: y = mx+b. Here m = 1 > 0

Solution: The equation y = x + 1 is written in the form: y = mx + b. Here

Solution: The equation y = x 1 is written in the form: y = mx + b. Here

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. What is its measurement in radians?

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

. Use a calculator or equivalent to nd its mea-

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

(e) None of these

41 rad (b) 3 rad

14 rad (b) 5/7 rad

41 rad *(d) 4/5 rad

194 rad (d) 13/5 rad

34 rad *(b) 5/3 rad

Problem 350. In the gure at right, cos = ?

Problem 351. In the gure at right, tan = ?

Problem 352. In the gure at right, sin = ?

Problem 353. In the gure at right, cos = ?

Problem 354. In the gure at right, tan = ?

Problem 356. In the gure at right, sin = ?

Problem 357. In the gure at right, cos = ?

Problem 358. In the gure at right, sin = ?

Problem 359. In the gure at right, tan = ?