BENHA UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Computers and Information

Course Code: BSC 125 Course Title: Physics I

Dr/ Ahmad Taher

Assignment 2 Solution

1. For Figure 1

A particle moves along the x axis. Its position varies with time
according to the expression x = -4t + 2t2, where x is in meters
and t is in seconds.

The position–time graph for this motion is shown in Figure 1a.

Because the position of the particle is given by a mathematical
function, the motion of the particle is completely known, unlike
that of the car in Active Figure 1. Notice that the particle moves
in the negative x direction for the first second of motion, is
momentarily at rest at the moment t = 1 s, and moves in the
positive x direction at times t > 1 s.

(A) Determine the displacement of the particle in the time

intervals t = 0 s to t = 1 s and t = 1 s to t = 3 s.

(B) Calculate the average velocity during these two time

intervals.

(C) Find the instantaneous velocity of the particle at t = 2.5 s.

Solution

(A) During the first time interval, the slope is negative and hence the average velocity is negative.
Therefore, we know that the displacement between A and B must be a negative number having units of
meters. Similarly, we expect the displacement between B and D to be positive.

In the first time interval, set ti = tA = 0 and tf = tB = 1 s, then:

xA B= xf-xi=xB xA= [-4(1)+2(1)2]-[-4(0)+2(0)2]= -2 m

In the second time interval (t = 1 s to t = 3 s), set ti = tB = 1 and tf = tD = 3 s, then:

xB D= xf-xi=xD xB= [-4(3)+2(3)2]-[-4(1)+2(1)2]= +8 m

These displacements can also be read directly from the position–time graph.

(B) In the first time interval, t = tf ti = 1 s, then

xA B 2m
vx, avg 2m/s
t 1s

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In the second time interval, t = 2 s, then:
xB D 8m
vx, avg 4m/s
t 2s

(C) Measure the slope of the green line at t = 2.5 s (point C) in Figure 1a:
x 10 m ( 4 m)
sx 6m/s
t 3.8 s 1.5 s

2. A scientist is studying the biomechanics of the human body. She determines the velocity of an
experimental subject while he runs along a straight line at a constant rate. The scientist starts the
stopwatch at the moment the runner passes a given point and stops it after the runner has passed
another point 20 m away. The time interval indicated on the stopwatch is 4.0 s.

(A) What is the runner’s velocity?

(B) If the runner continues his motion after the stopwatch is stopped, what is his position after 10 s has
passed?

Solution

Because the problem states that the subject runs at a constant rate, we can model him as a particle under
constant velocity.
x x f xi 20 m 0
The constant velocity of the runner = 5m/s
t t 4s

(B) The position of the particle at time t = 10 s,

x f xi vx t 0 (5m / s)(10s) 50 m

3. An elevator is initially stationary, then moves upward, and then stops as shown in Fig. 2. Plot
velocity versus time and the acceleration versus time.

Figure 2
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Solution

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4. The velocity of a particle moving along the x axis varies according to the expression:
vx = 40 5t2,
where vx is in meters per second and t is in seconds.
(A) Find the average acceleration in the time interval t = 0 to t = 2.0 s.
(B) Determine the acceleration at t = 2.0 s.

Solution
vx–t graph is created from the velocity versus time expression
given in the problem statement. Because the slope of the entire
vx–t curve is negative, we expect the acceleration to be
negative.

The negative sign is consistent with our expectations: the average acceleration, represented by the slope
of the blue line joining the initial and final points on the velocity–time graph, is negative.
(B)

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Because the velocity of the particle is positive and the acceleration is negative at this instant, the
particle is slowing down.

Notice that the answers to parts (A) and (B) are different. The average acceleration in part (A) is the
slope of the blue line in Figure connecting points A and B. The instantaneous acceleration in part (B) is
the slope of the green line tangent to the curve at point B. Notice also that the acceleration is not
constant in this example

5. A jet lands on an aircraft carrier at a speed of 140 mi/h (< 63 m/s).

(A) What is its acceleration (assumed constant) if it stops in 2.0 s due to an arresting cable that
snags the jet and brings it to a stop?

(B) If the jet touches down at position xi = 0, what is its final position?

Solution

A careful reading of the problem reveals that in addition to being given the initial speed of 63
m/s, we also know that the final speed is zero.
Because the acceleration of the jet is assumed constant, we model it as a particle under constant
acceleration. We define our x axis as the direction of motion of the jet.
Notice that we have no information about the change in position of the jet while it is slowing
down.

(B) The final position is:

6. A car traveling at a constant speed of 45.0 m/s passes a trooper on a motorcycle hidden behind
a billboard. One second after the speeding car passes the billboard, the trooper sets out from the
billboard to catch the car, accelerating at a constant rate of 3.00 m/s2.

How long does it take her to overtake the car?

Figure 3

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Solution

First, we write expressions for the position of each vehicle as a function of time. It is convenient to
choose the position of the billboard as the origin and to set t B = 0 as the time the trooper begins
moving. At that instant, the car has already traveled a distance of 45.0 m from the billboard because it
has traveled at a constant speed of vx = 45.0 m/s for 1 s. Therefore, the initial position of the speeding
car is xB = 45.0 m.

The car’s position at any time t:

A quick check shows that at t = 0, this expression gives the car’s correct initial position when the
trooper begins to move:

Then, the position at any time t is:

7. A stone thrown from the top of a building is given an initial velocity of 20.0 m/s straight
upward. The stone is launched 50.0 m above the ground, and the stone just misses the edge of the
roof on its way down as shown in Figure 4.

(A) Using tA = 0 as the time the stone leaves the thrower’s hand at position A, determine the time
at which the stone reaches its maximum height.
(B) Find the maximum height of the stone.
(C) Determine the velocity of the stone when it returns to the height from which it was thrown.
(D) Find the velocity and position of the stone at t = 5.00 s.

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Solution

The time at which the stone reaches its maximum

height:

(B) As in part (A), choose the initial and final

points at the beginning and the end of the upward
flight.

Set yA = 0

(C) Choose the initial point where the stone is

launched and the final point when it passes this
position coming down.

When taking the square root, we could choose either a positive or a negative root. We choose the
negative root because we know that the stone is moving downward at point C. The velocity of the stone
when it arrives back at its original height is equal in magnitude to its initial velocity but is opposite in
direction.

(D) Choose the initial point just after the throw and the final point 5.00 s later. Then,

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The choice of the time defined as t = 0 is arbitrary and up to you to select as the problem solver. As an
example of this arbitrariness, choose t = 0 as the time at which the stone is at the highest point in its
motion. Then solve parts (C) and (D) again using this new initial instant and notice that your answers
are the same as those above.

8. A position–time graph for a particle moving along the x axis is shown in Figure 5
(A) Find the average velocity in the time interval t = 1.50 s to t = 4.00 s.
(B) Determine the instantaneous velocity at t = 2.00 s by measuring the slope of the tangent line
shown in the graph.
(C) At what value of t is the velocity zero?

Solution

9. A baseball is hit so that it travels straight upward after being struck by the bat. A fan observes
that it takes 3.00 s for the ball to reach its maximum height. Find (a) the ball’s initial velocity and
(b) the height it reaches.

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Solution

10. A student throws a set of keys vertically upward to her sorority

sister, who is in a window 4.00 m above. The second student
catches the keys 1.50 s later. (a) With what initial velocity were the
keys thrown? (b) What was the velocity of the keys just before
they were caught?

Solution