Physics 121B Midterm 2, Practice - Solutions

Instructor: Nikolai Tolich February 6, 2010

Part I 1
You can ask a question, if F is a bit weaker, which way would the block move? Since F is applied up the incline just enough to prevent the mass from sliding down, if F is a bit weaker, the block will slide down the incline. The static friction is preventing the block from sliding down by acting on the block up the incline in direction b.

2
Since the tires are not skidding, static friction is supplying the centripetal force necessary for the car to turn the corner. The minimum radius of curvature is achieved when the static friction is the maximum, i.e., fs max = s Fn , (1)

where Fn is the normal force on the car by the road. Since the car is on a un-banked road, and the car is not accelerating vertically, Fn is given by mg , where m is the mass of the car, and g is the acceleration of gravity. Therefore Eq. (1) becomes fs max = s mg. (2)

Since the static friction is the only horizontal force acting on the car, using Newtons 2nd law, Fnet = ma, in horizontal direction by plugging Eq. (2) 1

into it yields fs max = ma s mg = ma s g = a Centripetal acceleration of the car is given by a= v2 r (4) (3)

where v is the velocity of the car, and r is the radius of the curvature. Plugging Eq. (4), into Eq. (3) and solving for r, we get s g = r = r = v2 r v2 s g (5)

(25 m/s)2 (0.70) (9.806 m/s2 ) = 91 m

(6)

3
For a two-body system, the center of mass, xcm , can be calculated by xcm = m1 x1 + m2 x2 . m1 + m2 (7)

Let body 1 to be the Earth, and body 2 be the Moon, and the position x be with respect to the center of the Earth. Then Eq. (7) yields xcm = 5.97 1024 kg (0 m) + 7.35 1022 kg 3.84 105 m (5.97 1024 kg) + (7.35 1022 kg) = 4.67 103 m

(8)

4
Work done on an object by a constant force, F , acting on it over its displacement in a straight line, x, is given by W = F x = F x cos , 2 (9)

where is the angle between F and x. Since the normal force on the object by the incline is perpendicular to x, cos = cos 90 is zero. Therefore, the work done by the normal force is zero.

5
There are two ways of solving this problem. The rst way is to calculate the force of gravity in the direction of the incline, and calculate the work done by using Eq. (9). Dene positive x-direction to be down along the incline. Then the component of the gravitational force along the x-direction is given by Fg x = mg sin (10) where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration of gravity, and is the angle of the incline from horizontal. Since the object moved x = 10.0 m along the incline, the work done on the object is W = Fg x x = (mg sin ) x = (5.00 kg) 9.806 m/s2 (sin 30.0 ) (10.0 m) = 245 J (11)

The second way to solve this problem is to use the potential energy function denition. Since gravitational force is a conservative force, gravitational potential energy function is dened by U = W (12)

where W is the work done on the object by the gravitational force. U of the system as the object slides down the incline is given by U = mg y (13)

where y is the change in height. The object slides down along the incline for 10.0 m, where the incline is angled at 30.0 from horizontal, the height that the object fell is y = (10.0 m) sin (14) Combining Eqs. (12), (13), and (14), we get W = U 3

= (mg y ) = {mg [ (10.0 m) sin ]} = (5.00 kg) 9.806 m/s2 (10.0 m) (sin 30.0 ) = 245 J (15)

6
The girls power output is the work divided by the duration of her work, t. Since she runs up at a constant rate, she exerts a constant force, mg , on the steps so that she lifts herself up the height, h. Her power output is given by P = W t mgh = t (80.0 kg) 9.806 m/s2 (120 steps) (0.250 m/step) = 60 s 1 minute 1 minute = 392 W

(16)

7
You can solve this problem using the work-energy theorem. Dene a system consisting of the block and the Earth. Since there is no external force acting on the system, and there is no friction on the incline, the potential energy available initially is fully converted into kinetic energy. Dening U = 0 at the bottom of the incline, we have Wext = Emech Wnc 0 = (U + K ) 0 Ui + Ki = Uf + Kf 1 mgh + 0 = 0 + mv 2 2 v = 2gh = 2 (9.806 m/s2 ) (1.0 m) (17) = 4.4 m/s

8
We can nd the acceleration of the block while it is sliding on the rough surface using
2 vf = vi2 + 2ax,

(18)

where vf is the nal speed, which is zero since the block stops, vi is the initial speed when the block reaches point B, which we calculated in problem 7, a is the acceleration of the block while sliding after point B, and x is the displacement from point B to the point where the block stops. Here we dene the positive direction to be to the right. Solving for a, we have a= vi2 2x (19)

Now, we combine Eq. (19) with Newtons 2nd law for the horizontal motion of the block, keeping in mind that the kinetic friction, fk , is the only horizontal force acting on the block. Fnet = ma fk = m k Fn = m vi2 2x (20)

vi2 , 2x

where Fn is the normal force on the block by the oor. Since the block is on a horizontal surface, Fn is mg . k mg = m k = Using vi = 2gh from problem 7, k = 2gh 2xg h = x 1.0 m = 2.5 m = 0.40 5 vi2 2x (21)

vi2 2xg

(22)

9
In a perfectly inelastic collision without external force acting on the system, the colliding objects stick together after the collision and move at the same velocity as the initial center of mass velocity due to the conservation of momentum. Dening the positive velocity to be moving to the right, we have vcm = m1 v1 + m2 v2 m1 + m2 (2.0 kg) (8.0 m/s) + (3.0 kg) (2.0 m/s) = (2.0 kg) + (3.0 kg) = 2.0 m/s

(23)

Therefore the system moves at 2.0 m/s to the right after the collision.

10
Since this is an one dimensional collision without external force applied to the system of two gliders, we can use conservation of momentum and the concept of speed of approach = speed of separation. Noting that both gliders have the same mass, conservation of momentum yields Pi = Pf mA vA i + mB vB i = mA vA f + mB vB f vA i + vB i = vA f + vB f (24)

Subtracting the equation for the the concept of speed of approach = speed of separation, vA i vB i = vB f vA f , from Eq. (24), we get 2vB i = 2vA f vB i = vA f = 10 m/s (25)

11
The impulse that the wall imparts to the wall is given by the change in momentum of the ball. Therefore, we have I = p 6

= pf pi = mv (mv ) = 2mv (26)