Practice Sheet 1

1. Consider the falling and rolling motion of the ball in the following two resistance-free
situations. In one situation, the ball falls off the top of the platform to the floor. In the other
situation, the ball rolls from the top of the platform along the staircase-like pathway to the floor.
For each situation, indicate what types of forces are doing work upon the ball. Indicate whether
the energy of the ball is conserved and explain why. Finally, fill in the correct values for A, B, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K for the 2-kg ball.

Use the following diagram to answer questions #2 - #4. Neglect the effect of resistance forces.

2. As the object moves from point A to point D across the surface, the sum of its gravitational
potential and kinetic energies ____.
a. decreases, only b. decreases and then increases
c. increases and then decreases d. remains the same

3. The object will have a minimum gravitational potential energy at point ____.
a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E

4. The object's kinetic energy at point C is less than its kinetic energy at point ____.
a. A only b. A, D, and E c. B only d. D and E
5. Determine American ski jumper Lee Ben Fardest's (a mass of approximately 50 kg) speed at
locations B, C, D and E.

6. An object which weighs 10 N is dropped from rest from a height of 4 meters above the
ground. When it has free-fallen 1 meter its total mechanical energy with respect to the ground is
____.
a. 2.5 J b. 10 J c. 30 J d. 40 J

7. I want to push my tarantula’s 8.7kg cage across the table. I push with 29N of force, and there
is a force due to friction of 8N between the table and the cage. Determine how much the cage
will accelerate.

8. Ramy pushes a 3.2 kg box with 1.5N force. What is the acceleration of the box?

9. You and your brother are pushing a car with a dead battery with forces of 20 N and 25 N in
the same direction. What is the net force applied on the car?

10. What is the net force on the airplane?

11. 4 people are playing a tug of war. Two are pulling on the right side. Two are pulling on the
left side. On the right side, one is pulling with a force of 60 N and the other with a force of 70 N.
On the left side, one is pulling with a force of 30 N. How much force should the second person
on the left apply to keep the rope in equilibrium (net force zero)?

12. An object with a mass of 2 kg is traveling along with a velocity of 3 m/s when a 5N net force
acts upon it. What will become the object's velocity if the force acts for 7 seconds?
Answers Sheet 1:
1. The only force doing work is gravity. Since it is an internal or conservative force, the total
mechanical energy is conserved. Thus, the 100 J of original mechanical energy is present at each
position. So the KE for A is 50 J.
The PE at the same stairstep is 50 J (C) and thus the KE is also 50 J (D).
The PE at zero height is 0 J (F and I). And so the kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill is 100 J
(G and J).
Using the equation KE = 0.5*m*v2, the velocity can be determined to be 7.07 m/s for B and E
and 10 m/s for H and K.

2. The answer is D. The total mechanical energy (i.e., the sum of the kinetic and potential
energies) is everywhere the same whenever there are no external or nonconservative forces (such
as friction or air resistance) doing work.

3. The answer is B. Gravitational potential energy depends upon height (PE=m*g*h). The PE is a
minimum when the height is a minimum. Position B is the lowest position in the diagram.

4. The answer is C. Since the total mechanical energy is conserved, kinetic energy (and thus,
speed) will be greatest when the potential energy is smallest. Point B is the only point that is
lower than point C. The reasoning would follow that point B is the point with the smallest PE,
the greatest KE, and the greatest speed. Therefore, the object will have less kinetic energy at
point C than at point B (only).

5. B: KE = 0.5 •m • v2
20 000 J = 0.5 • (50 kg) • v2
v = 28.3 m/s

C: KE = (0.5 •m • v2
35 000 J = 0.5 • (50 kg) • v2
v = 37.4 m/s

D: same as postition B
v = 28.3 m/s

E: KE = 0.5 •m • v2
50 000 J = 0.5 • (50 kg) • v2
v = 44.7 m/s

6. The answer is D.
Energy is conserved in free-fall situations (no external forces doing work). Thus, the total
mechanical energy initially is everywhere the same. Whatever total mechanical energy (TME) it
has initially, it will maintain throughout the course of its motion. The object begins with 39.2 J of
potential energy (PE = m * g * h = 1 kg * 9.8 m/s/s * 4 m = 39.2 J) and no kinetic energy. The
total mechanical energy (KE + PE) is 39.2 J.

7. First, draw a free body diagram.

Since nothing is happening along the y-axis, we can ignore the Fg and FN forces.

FNET = Fa + Ff

= 29N + -8N

FNET = 21N

I had to make the friction a negative force because it is pointing in the direction opposite to the
applied force.

When you want to calculate the acceleration of an object, always use the net force acting on it.

FNET = ma

a = FNET / m

= (21N) / (8.7kg)

a = 2.4 m/s2

8. F=ma, F= 3.2 x 1.5 = 4.8 m/s2

9. Since you are pushing the car in the same direction, the forces will be added together.
Net force = 20 N + 25 N
Net force = 45 N.

10. The airplane is moving with a force of 800 N. However, there are two forces moving in
opposite directions on the airplane.
Just add these two forces: 40 N + 60 N = 100 N
Subtract to get the net force: 800 N - 100 N = 700 N
The net force is 700 N.
The airplane will move with a force of 700 N as a result of air friction and wind.

11. The rope will be in equilibrium is the net force is 0.

The forces on the right is equal to 60 N + 70 N = 130 N
Let x be the force that must be applied by the second person on the left.
30 N + x = 130 N
Since 30 N + 100 N = 130 N, x = 100 N
The other person should pull with a force of 100 N to keep the rope in equilibrium.

12. vf = vi + at

vf = vi + (F/m)t, from newton’s second law F=ma

vf = (3 m/s) + (5 N / 2 kg)(7 s)

vf = (3 m/s) + (2.5 m/s2)(7 s)

vf = (3 m/s) + (17.5 m/s)

vf = 20.5 m/s

Note:

a = F/m

a = (5 N) / (2 kg)

a = 2.5 m/s2