KINEMATICS

Problems and Solutions

1. An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s until it finally lifts off
the ground. Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.

Given: Find:

a = +3.2 m/s2 t = 32.8 s vi = 0 m/s d = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2

d = (0 m/s)*(32.8 s)+ 0.5*(3.20 m/s2)*(32.8 s)2

d = 1720 m

2. A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly over a time of 5.21 seconds for a
distance of 110 m. Determine the acceleration of the car.

Given: Find:

a = ??
d = 110 m t = 5.21 s vi = 0 m/s

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2

110 m = (0 m/s)*(5.21 s)+ 0.5*(a)*(5.21 s)2

110 m = (13.57 s2)*a

a = (110 m)/(13.57 s2)

a = 8.10 m/ s2
 3. Upton Chuck is riding the Giant Drop at Great America. If Upton free falls for 2.60
seconds, what will be his final velocity and how far will he fall?

Given: Find:
a = -9.8 m t = 2.6 s vi = 0 m/s
d = ??
vf = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2

d = (0 m/s)*(2.60 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(2.60 s)2

d = -33.1 m (- indicates direction)

vf = vi + a*t

vf = 0 + (-9.8 m/s2)*(2.60 s)

vf = -25.5 m/s (- indicates direction)

4. A race car accelerates uniformly from 18.5 m/s to 46.1 m/s in 2.47 seconds.
Determine the acceleration of the car and the distance traveled.

Given: Find:

vi = 18.5 m/s vf = 46.1 m/s t = 2.47 s d = ??

a = ??

a = (Delta v)/t

a = (46.1 m/s - 18.5 m/s)/(2.47 s)

a = 11.2 m/s2

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2

d = (18.5 m/s)*(2.47 s)+ 0.5*(11.2 m/s2)*(2.47 s)2

d = 45.7 m + 34.1 m

d = 79.8 m
 5. A feather is dropped on the moon from a height of 1.40 meters. The acceleration of
gravity on the moon is 1.67 m/s2. Determine the time for the feather to fall to the
surface of the moon.

Given: Find:

vi = 0 m/s d = -1.40 m a = -1.67 m/s2 t = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2

-1.40 m = (0 m/s)*(t)+ 0.5*(-1.67 m/s2)*(t)2

-1.40 m = 0+ (-0.835 m/s2)*(t)2

(-1.40 m)/(-0.835 m/s2) = t2

1.68 s2 = t2

t = 1.29 s
FORCE AND MOTION
Problems and Solutions

1. An object is launched at a velocity of 20 m/s in a direction making an angle of 25°

upward with the horizontal.

a) What is the maximum height reached by the object?

b) What is the total flight time (between launch and touching the ground) of the object?

c) What is the horizontal range (maximum x above ground) of the object?

d) What is the magnitude of the velocity of the object just before it hits the ground?

a. The formulas for the components V x and V y of the velocity and components x
and y of the displacement are given by

V
x = V 0 cos(θ) V y = V 0 sin(θ) - g t

x = V 0 cos(θ) t y = V 0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t 2

In the problem V 0 = 20 m/s, θ = 25° and g = 9.8 m/s 2

The height of the projectile is given by the component y, and it reaches its maximum value when
the component V y is equal to zero. That is when the projectile changes from moving upward to
moving downward.(see figure above) and also the animation of the projectile.

V y = V 0 sin(θ) - g t = 0

solve for t

t = V 0 sin(θ) / g = 20 sin(25°) / 9.8 = 0.86 seconds

Find the maximum height by substituting t by 0.86 seconds in the formula for y

maximum height y (0.86) = 20 sin(25°)(0.86) - (1/2) (9.8) (0.86) 2 = 3.64 meters

 b. The time of flight is the interval of time between when the projectile is launched:
t1 and when the projectile touches the ground: t2. At t = t1 and t = t2, y = 0
(ground). Hence

V 0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t 2 = 0

Solve for t

t(V 0 sin(θ) - (1/2) g t) = 0

two solutions

t = t1 = 0 and t = t2 = 2 V 0 sin(θ) / g

Time of flight = t2 - t1 = 2 (20) sin(θ) / g = 1.72 seconds

c. In part c) above we found the time of flight t2 = 2 V 0 sin(θ) / g. The horizontal

range is the horizontal distance given by x at t = t2.

range = x(t2) = V 0 cos(θ) t2 = 2 V 0 cos(θ) V 0 sin(θ) / g = V 02 sin(2θ) / g = 20 2 sin (2(25°)) /

9.8 = 31.26 meters

d. The object hits the ground at t = t2 = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g (found in part b above)

The components of the velocity at t are given by

V x = V 0 cos(θ) V y = V 0 sin(θ) - g t

The components of the velocity at t = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g are given by

V x = V 0 cos(θ) = 20 cos(25°) V y = V 0 sin(25°) - g (2 V0 sin(25°) / g) = - V 0 sin(25°)

The magnitude V of the velocity is given by

V = √[ V x2 + V y2 ] = √[ (20 cos(25°)) 2 + (- V 0 sin(25°)) 2 ] = V0 = 20 m/s

 2. A projectile is launched from point O at an angle of 22° with an initial velocity of 15
m/s up an incline plane that makes an angle of 10° with the horizontal. The projectile hits
the incline plane at point M.

a) Find the time it takes for the projectile to hit the incline plane.

b)Find the distance OM.

a. The x and y components of the displacement are given by

x = V0 cos(θ) t y = V0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t2

with θ = 22 + 10 = 32° and V0 = 15 m/s

The relationship between the coordinate x and y on the incline is given by

tan(10°) = y / x

Substitute x and y by their expressions above to obtain

tan(10°) = ( V0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t2) / V0 cos(θ) t

Simplify to obtain the equation in t

(1/2) g t + V0 cos(θ) tan(10°) - V0 sin(θ) = 0

Solve for t

t= V0 sin(θ) - V0 cos(θ) tan(10°) = 15 sin(32°) - 15 cos(32°) tan(10°) = 1.16 s

0.5 g 0.5 (9.8)

b. OM = √[ (V 0 cos(θ) t) 2 + ( V 0 sin(θ) t - (1/2) g t 2 ) 2 ]

OM (t=1.16)= √[ (15 cos(32) 1.16) 2 + ( 15 sin(32) 1.16 - (1/2) 9.8 (1.16) 2 ) 2 ] = 15 meters
3. A projectile is to be launched at an angle of 30° so that it falls beyond the pond of length 20
meters as shown in the figure.

a) What is the range of values of the initial velocity so that the projectile falls between points M
and N?

a. The range is given by x = V02 sin(2θ) / g

We want to have the range greater than OM and smaller that ON, with OM = 10 + 20 = 30 m and
ON = 10 + 20 + 10 = 40 m

30 < V
2
0 sin(2θ) / g < 40

30 g / sin(2θ) < V02 < 40 g / sin(2θ)

√ [ 30 g / sin(2θ) ] < V0 < √ [ 40 g / sin(2θ) ]

18.4 m/s < V02 < 21.2 m/s

4. A ball is kicked at an angle of 35° with the ground.

a) What should be the initial velocity of the ball so that it hits a target that is 30 meters away at a
height of 1.8 meters?

b) What is the time for the ball to reach the target?

a. x = V0 cos(35°) t

30 = V0 cos(35°) t

t = 30 / V0 cos(35°)

1.8 = -(1/2) 9.8 (30 / V0 cos(35°))2 + V0 sin(35°)(30 / V0 cos(35°))

V0 cos(35°) = 30 √ [ 9.8 / 2(30 tan(35°)-1.8) ]

V0 = 18.3 m/s

b. t = x / V0 cos(35°) = 2.0 s
5. A ball kicked from ground level at an initial velocity of 60 m/s and an angle θ with ground
reaches a horizontal distance of 200 meters.

a) What is the size of angle θ?

b) What is the time of flight of the ball?

a. Let T be the time of flight. Two ways to find the time of flight

1) T = 200 / V 0 cos(θ) (range divided by the horizontal component of the velocity)

2) T = 2 V 0 sin(θ) / g

equate the two expressions

200 / V0 cos(θ) = 2 V0 sin(θ) / g

which gives

2 V02 cos(θ)sin (θ) = 200 g

V02 sin(2θ) = 200 g

sin(2θ) = 200 g / V02 = 200 (9.8) / 602

Solve for θ to obtain

θ = 16.5°

b. Time of flight = 200 / V0 cos(16.5°) = 3.48 s

WORK AND ENERGY
Problems and Solutions

1. Calculate the work done by a force of 30 N in lifting a load of 2kg to a height of 10m (g =
10ms-2)

Given :

Force mg = 30 N ; height = 10 m

Work done to lift a load W = ?

W = F.S (or) mgh

= 30x10

W = 300 J

2. Two different unknown masses A and B collide. A is initially at rest when B has a speed
v. After collision B has a speed v/2 and moves at right angles to its original direction of
motion. Find the direction in which A moves after collision.

Momentum is conserved in both × and y direction.

In x - direction

MBVB = O + MAVA' cosɸ ...(l)

In y - direction

O = MBVB' - MAVA'sinɸ ...(2)

(2)/(1) tanɸ = VB’/VB = 1/2

tan ɸ = ½

ɸ = 26.6° (or) 26° 36' [1° = 60']

θ = 26° 33′
 3. A bullet of mass 20 g strikes a pendulum of mass 5 kg. The center of mass of the
pendulum rises a vertical distance of 10 cm. If the bullet gets embedded into the
pendulum, calculate its initial speed.

Mass of the bullet m1 = 20 g = 0.02 kg.

Mass of the pendulum m2 = 5 kg

Centre of mass of pendulum rises to a height = h = 10 cm = 0.1 m

Speed of the bullet = u1

Pendulum is at rest .:. u2 = 0

Common velocity of the bullet and the pendulum after the bullet is embedded into the object = v

From II equation of motion

v = √[2gh] = √[2x9.8x0.1] = √[1.96] = 1.4 ms^-1

Substitute the value of v in equation (1)

1.4 = 0.02 u1/5.02

u1 = 5.02x1.4 / 0.02

u1 = 351.4 ms^-1

v = 351.4m s^-1
 4. A force of 7 N acts on an object. The displacement is, say 8 m, in the direction of the
force. Let us take it that the force acts on the object through the displacement. What is the
work done in this case?
When a force F acts on an object to move it in its direction through a distance S, the work is done
The work on the body is done by force
Work done = Force × Displacement
W=F×S
Where,
F=7NS=8m
So, work done,
W=7×8
W = 56 Nm
W = 56 J

5. A pair of bullocks exerts a force of 140 N on a plough. The field being ploughed is 15 m
long.
How much work is done in plowing the length of the field?
Work done by the bullocks is given by the expression:
W= F × d
Where,
Applied force, F = 140 N
Displacement, d = 15 m
W = 140 x 15 = 2100 J
Therefore, 2100 J of work is done in plowing the length of the field.
IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM
Problems and Solution

1. What is the momentum of a 0.057−kg small object moving with a constant speed of
30m/s?

Linear momentum in physics is defined as the product of mass times the velocity,

p=mv Thus, we have

P = (0.057)(30) = 1.71 (kg*m)/s

2. A small ball thrown horizontally with a constant speed of 10 m/s. The ball hits the wall
and reflects with the same speed. What is the change of the linear momentum of the ball?

Mass (m) = 0.2 kg

Initial speed (vo) = -10 m/s
Final speed (vt) = 10 m/s

Wanted : the change of the linear momentum (Δp)

Formula of the change of linear momentum:

Δp = m vt – m vo = m (vt – vo)

The change of linear momentum :

Δp = 0.2 (10 – (-10)) = 0.2 (10 + 10)

Δp = 0.2 (20)

Δp = 4 kg m/s
 3. In a billiards game, one player hits the cue ball towards another ball. The cue ball has a
mass of 0.1kg and hits the other ball with a velocity of 2ms. If the collision is completely
elastic and the cue ball travels with a velocity of 0.8ms after the collision, what is the
mass and velocity of the other ball? Since the collision is completely elastic, we know
that both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. We can write the following
equations (initial momentum and energy of the second ball are neglected since it is not
moving:

m1vi = m1vf + m2v2

1/2m1v2i = 1/2m1v2f + 1/2m2v22

Rearrange the first equation for m2 and the second for v2.

m2=m1(vi−vf)/v2

v2_2 = m1(v2i−v2f)/m2

We can rewrite the second equation as: v2_2 = m1(vi+vf)(vi−vf)/m2

Substitute our equation for m2 into the second equation:

v2_2 = m1(vi−vf)(vi+vf)/(m1(vi−vf)/v2)

Rearranging, we get:

v2_2 = m1(vi−vf)(vi+vf)/m1(vi−vf)v−1_2 = (vi+vf)/v−1_2

v2_2 = v2(vi+vf)

v2 = (vi+vf)

Plug in our values for the initial and final velocities:

v2=(2ms+0.8ms)

v2=2.8ms

To solve for mass, we'll use our earlier expression for m2: m2=m1(vi−vf)/v2

m2=(0.1kg)(2ms−0.8ms)/2.8ms = 0.043kg
 4. Two sumo wrestlers are in a match. At the start of the match, they both lunge at each
other. They hit and miraculously come to a stand still. One wrestler was 200 kg and
traveling at a velocity of 2.3ms at the instance of collision. If the other wrestler was
traveling at 2.9ms, what is his mass? It does not matter whether the collision is elastic or
inelastic (although it would be best to assume that it's inelastic). Momentum is conserved
in either type of collision, and is the only value needed for our calculation. Since they
come to a standstill, their momentums at the moment of collision are equal and opposite:

m1v1 = m2v2

Rearrange to solve for m1:

m1 = m2v2v1 P

lug in the given values from the question and solve:

m1 = (200kg)(2.3ms)/2.9ms

m1 = 159kg

5. Two astronauts in space are traveling directly towards each other. Astronaut A has a mass
of 70kg and a velocity of 15ms and Astronaut B has a mass of 60kg and a velocity of
5ms. When the astronauts collide, they grab onto each other. What is the velocity of the
two astronauts after the collision as they continue to grab onto each other? Momentum is
always conserved. Equation for conservation of momentum:

m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)vtotal

There is only one velocity on the right since the two astronauts grab onto each other, thus they
move together at the same velocity. Solve.

(70kg∙15ms)+(60kg(−5ms)) = (70kg+60kg)vtotal

V total = 5.77m
ANGULAR MOTION
Problems and Solution

1. If a ball is traveling in a circle of diameter 10 m with velocity 20m/s, find the angular
velocity of the ball. Using the equation,

ω = vr where

ω = angular velocity, v=linear velocity, and r=radius of the circle.

In this case the radius is 5 (half of the diameter) and linear velocity is 20 m/s.

ω = 20/5 = 4

2. Suppose a car tire rotates 8 times a second. The tire has a diameter of 8 inches. Find the
angular velocity in radians per second. Write the formula for angular velocity.

ω = 2πf The frequency of the tire is 8 revolutions per second. The radius is not used.

Substitute the frequency and solve.

ω =2πf = 2π(8) = 16π

3. What is the angular velocity of a spinning top if it travels π radians in a third of a second?
Write the formula for average velocity.

ω = θ/t

The units of omega are radians per second.

Substitute the givens and solve for omega.

ω = θ/t = π/(1/3) = π*3 = 3π

 4. A 20 in diameter tire on a car makes 9.3 revolutions per second. Find the angular speed
of the car.

Recall that angular velocity = θ/t.

Since the tire revolves 9.3 times/second it would seem that the tire would rotate

9.3(2π)radians/second or 18.6πradians/second.

We use 2π to indicate that the tire is rolling 360 degrees or 2πradians each revolution

Thus, 18.6πradians/second is the final answer.

5. A car wheel of radius 20 inches rotates at 8 revolutions per second on the highway. What
is the angular speed of the tire? Angular speed is the same as linear speed, but instead of
distance per unit time we use degrees or radians. Any object traveling has both linear and
angular speed.

Angular speed = Θ/t

Since our tire completes 8 revolutions per second we multiply by 2π since a full rotation (360°)
equals 2π.

Angular speed = 16π/1s = 16πrad/s