P hysics 2 06 Examples with S olutions

Kinematics
Problem 1 .
A) Near the surface of the earth when the gravitational force of the earth is the only important force
acting, does an object s horizontal velocity change?
Answer : There is no horizontal acceleration so the horizontal velocity does not change.
B) When is the horizontal ( x) position of an object not given by the relation
x = x 0 + v 0 x t + 1 / 2) a x t 2 ?
Answer . The above expression is only valid for net forces and accelerations that are constant in
time and space. For time or position dependent forces the above relation is not true.
C) When air resistance can be neglected, the maximum range of a projectile is achieved for what
launch angle?
v2
Answer : The range is given by the relation R = g 0 sin( 2 0 ) . The maximum is achieved when the
E
sine factor is 1 . This occurs when the launch angle is given by 0 = 45 so that 2 0 = 90 .
D) Where in a projectile s flight is its speed
q the least?
Answer : The speed is given by v =
v x2 + v y2 . The x-component of the velocity does not change
during the flight and so the speed is least when the size of the y-component is least. The y-component of velocity is zero at the top of the flight and so the speed is least at the top of the flight.

Problem 2 . Two trains start a distance of 2000 m apart. Train one is moving with a constant speed of
30 m/ s directly towards train 2 which starts from rest and accelerates with a constant acceleration of
5 m/s 2 directly towards train 1 . When do the trains meet? ( You may use the Mupad solve equation script
to find the answer to this one. )
Solution . Let the train of constant speed be at the origin of coordinates at time t = 0 and let this train be
moving in the positive x-direction. Call the position of this train x 1 and the position of the other train x 2 .
The trains meet when x 1 = x 2 . Using the equations of motion,
x 1 = x 1 0 + v 1 0 x t + ( 1 / 2) a 1 x t 2 = v 1 0 x t
x 2 = x 2 0 + v 2 0 x t + ( 1 / 2) a 2 x t 2 = x 2 0 + ( 1 / 2) a 2 x t 2
From the choice of coordinate system and the given information,
x 2 0 = 2000 m v 1 0 x = 30 m/ s a 2 x = 5 m/s 2

Symbolically, we wabt the time for which,

x1 = x2
1
a2 x t2
2
1
a 2 x t2 v1 0 x t + x 2 0 = 0
2
This is a quadratic equation whose solutions are,
p
p
v 1 0 x v 12 0 x 2 a 2 x x 2 0 30 30 2 2 ( 5 ) ( 2000)
t=
=
s = 34. 9 s or 22. 9 s
a2 x
5
v1 0 x t = x2 0 +

The positive time is the answer we want. The trains meet 22. 9 s after they start 2000 m apart.
Problem 3.
A) Find the constant acceleration needed to allow a car to accelerate in a straight line from a speed of
zero to a speed of 30 m/s in 5 s.
1

Solution : Take the direction of motion to be the positive x-direction. Then the x-component of the
acceleration can be found as,
v x = v0 x + a x t
ax =

v x v 0 x ( 30 m/s 0)
=
= 6 m/s 2
t
5s


a = 6 m/s 2 x

B) An airplane must reach a takeoff speed of 80 m/ s in a 1 000 m long runway. What minimum constant acceleration is required?
Solution : Take the direction of motion to be the positive x-direction and the origin of coordinates
to be the initial position of the plane so that x 0 = 0. The plane starts from rest so v 02 x = 0. The
acceleration can be found as,


v x2 = v 02 x + 2 a x ( x x 0
v 2 v 02 x
ax = x
2 ( x x0)
2
( 80 m/ s) 0
ax =
2 ( 1 000 m 0)
a x = 3. 2 m/s 2


a = 3. 2 m/ s 2 x

Problem 4. A ball is dropped from rest from a height of 1 00 m above ground level. Neglect the effects of
air resistance.
Solution : Take up to be the positive y-direction and the origin to be at the position from which the ball is
dropped. Then a y = 9. 8 m/s 2 , y0 = 0, v 0 y = 0, and ground level is at y = 1 00 m
A) What is the velocity of the ball two seconds after it is dropped?
Solution :


v y = v 0 y + a y t = 0 9. 8 m/ s 2 ( 2 s) = 1 9. 6 m/s
v = ( 1 9. 6 m/ s) y

B) How long does it take for the ball to strike the ground?
Solution : The time is the solution to the equation,
1
y = y0 + v 0 y t + a y t 2
2
r
2y
t=
=
ay
r
2 ( 1 00)
t=
s
9. 8
t = 4. 52 s
C) What is the velocity of the ball when it strikes the ground?
Solution :
v y = v0 y + a y t
v y = 0 ( 9. 8) ( 4. 52) m/ s
v y = 44. 3 m/ s

v = ( 44. 3 m/ s) y
Problem 5. What initial launch speed is required to allow a projectile to have a range of 300 m if it is
launched at an angle of
A) 30 above the horizontal.
2

Solution :
v2
R = 0 sin( 2 0 ) v 0 =
gE
B) 45 above the horizontal.
Solution : As above:

R gE
=
sin( 2 0 )

( 300) ( 9. 8)
m/ s = 58. 3 m/ s
sin( 2 30 )

v0 =

R gE
=
sin( 2 0 )

( 300) ( 9. 8)
m/ s = 54. 2 m/ s
sin( 2 45 )

v0 =

R gE
=
sin( 2 0 )

( 300) ( 9. 8)
m/ s = 58. 3 m/ s
sin( 2 60 )

C) 60 above the horizontal.

Solution : As above:

Problem 6. A ball is launched from the ground with an initial speed of 40 m/ s at an angle of 45 above
the horizontal towards a tall wall that is a horizontal distance of 1 00 m from the launch point.
A) Where does the ball strike the wall?
B) What are the ball s velocity components when it strikes the wall?
C) What is the speed of the ball when it strikes the wall?
Solution : See the figure:

+y

~v0
0

+x

x = xwall = 100m

It is given that v 0 = 40 m/ s and 0 =

45

so that,

v 0 x = v 0 cos( 0 ) = ( 40 m/ s) cos( 45 ) = 28. 3 m/ s

v 0 y = v 0 sin( 0 ) = ( 40 m/ s) sin( 45 ) = 28. 3 m/ s
A) To solve for the height yw all at which the ball strikes the wall, I ll find the time that it takes for the
ball to reach the wall using equations for the x-motion and then use this time in the equation for
the y-position:
x wa ll = v 0 x t w all
t wall = x w all / v ox
t w all = ( 1 00 m) / ( 28. 3 m/ s)
t w all = 3. 53 s
1
yw all = v 0 y t w all gE t w2 all
2
yw all = ( 28. 3 m/ s) ( 3. 53 s) ( 1 / 2) ( 9. 8) ( 3. 53) 2 m
yw all = 38. 84 m
The ball strikes the wall 38. 4 m up the wall.
B) The x-component of the velocity does not change so,
v x , wa ll = 28. 3 m/ s
The y-component of the velocity at the wall is
v y , w all = v 0 y gE t wa ll
v y , w all = 28. 3 m/ s ( 9. 8) ( 3. 53 s)
v y , w all = 6. 29 m/ s
3

C) The speed at the wall is,

v w all =
v wa ll =

v x2 , w all + v 2y , w all

2
2
( 28. 3) + ( 6. 29) m/ s

v w all = 28. 99 m/s

Problem 7. For both parts A) and B) below assume that air resistance is negligible and assume that
the ball is thrown near the surface of the earth.
A) A ball thrown straight up in the air reaches a height of 30 m above the level from which it was
thrown.
i. What is the velocity of the ball when it leaves the hand of the thrower?
ii. What is the velcity of the ball 1 . 5 seconds after it is thrown?
Solution : Choose up as + y and y = 0 as the level from which the ball is thrown:
i.
ii.

v 2y = v 02 y + 2 a y ( y y0 )

v 02 y = 2 a y ( y y0 )
v 0 y = 2( 9. 8) ( 30 0) m/ s = 24. 25 m/s


v y = v 0 y + a y t = ( 24. 25 m/s ( 9. 8) ( 1 . 5) m/ s = 9. 55 m/s
p

B) A ball is launched from a cliff with an initial speed of 40 m/s at an angle of 30 above the horizontal. The launch point is a height of 40 m above the level ground at the bottom of the cliff. ( see
the figure) .
i. How long is the ball in the air?
ii. How far from the base of the cliff is the ball s landing point?
~v0
0

40 m

F igure 1 . P roblem 5 . B )

Take up as positive y, to the right as positive x and place the origin at the launch point. Then,

i.

ii.

x 0 = 0, y0 = 0


v 0 x = v 0 cos( 0 ) = ( 40 m/ s cos( 30 ) = 34. 64 m/ s
v 0 y = ( 40 m/ s) sin( 30 ) = 20 m/ s
1
y = y0 + v 0 y t + a y t 2
2
1
2
a y t + v0 y t y = 0
2
q
p
v 0 y v 02 y + 2 a y y 20 20 2 + 2 ( 9. 8) ( 40)
t=
=
s
ay
9. 8
t = 1 . 47 s, + 5. 55 s
t = 5. 55 s
x = x 0 + v 0 x t = ( 34. 64) ( 5. 55) m = 1 92 m
4

Problem 8. Two trains start a distance of 2000 m apart. Train one is moving with a constant speed of
30 m/ s directly towards train 2 which starts from rest and accelerates with a constant acceleration of
5 m/s 2 directly towards train 1 . When do the trains meet? ( You may use the Mupad solve equation script
to find the answer to this one. )
Solution . Let the train of constant speed be at the origin of coordinates at time t = 0 and let this train be
moving in the positive x-direction. Call the position of this train x 1 and the position of the other train x 2 .
The trains meet when x 1 = x 2 . Using the equations of motion,
x 1 = x 1 0 + v 1 0 x t + ( 1 / 2) a 1 x t 2 = v 1 0 x t
x 2 = x 2 0 + v 2 0 x t + ( 1 / 2) a 2 x t 2 = x 2 0 + ( 1 / 2) a 2 x t 2
From the choice of coordinate system and the given information,
x 2 0 = 2000 m v 1 0 x = 30 m/ s a 2 x = 5 m/s 2

Symbolically, we want the time for which,

x1 = x2
1
a2 x t2
2
1
a 2 x t2 v1 0 x t + x 2 0 = 0
2
This is a quadratic equation whose solutions are,
p
p
v 1 0 x v 12 0 x 2 a 2 x x 2 0 30 30 2 2 ( 5 ) ( 2000)
=
s = 34. 9 s or 22. 9 s
t=
a2 x
5
v1 0 x t = x2 0 +

The positive time is the answer we want. The trains meet 22. 9 s after they start 2000 m apart.
Problem 9.
A) By hand, find the velocity and position as

a function of time for motion in the x-direction characterized by an acceleration of a x = ( 3 m/s 3 t and with the initial conditions,
x( t = 0) x 0 = 0, v x ( t = 0) v 0 x = 5 m/s

B) Find the position and the x-component of velocity of the object of part A) at t = 1 0 s.
Solution :
A) The velocity component is the antiderivative of the acceleration component:


1
vx =
3 m/ s 3 t 2 + C1
2
The initial velocity is 5 m/s so,


1
3 m/s 3 0 2 + C1 = C1 = 5 m/s
v x ( 0) =
2


v x = 1 . 5 m/ s 3 t 2 5 m/ s
The position is the antiderivative of the velocity component,


1
x=
1 . 5 m/ s 3 t 3 ( 5 m/s) t + C2
3

Using the initial x-value to determine C2 gives,

x( 0) = 0 = C2


1
x=
1 . 5 m/s 3 t 3 ( 5 m/ s) t
3
5

B) Evaluating v x and x at t = 1 0 s gives,

v x = 1 . 5 m/ s 3 ( 1 0 s) 2 5 m/ s = 1 45 m/ s


1
x=
1 . 5 m/s 3 ( 1 0 s) 3 ( 5 m/ s) ( 1 0 s) = 450 m
3

Problem 1 0. The distance from the pitcher s mound to home plate is 1 8. 4 m. The mound is 0. 2 m above
the level of the field. A pitcher throws a fastball with an initial speed of 37. 5 m/ s. At the moment the
ball leaves the pitcher s hand, it is 2. 3 m above the mound. What should be the angle between the ball s
initial velocity and the horizontal if the ball is to cross the plate a height of 0. 7 m above the ground?
( Neglect air resistance. )
Solution : If I take the initial position of the ball to be the origin of coordinates and up to be positive y
and towards home plate to be positive x I can use Equation 4. 20 in the text:
y = x tan( 0 )

1
gE
x2
2 v 02 cos 2 0

Where the ( x , y) locates the desired pitch location at home plate. Then x = 1 8. 4 m, y = 1 . 8 m, v 0 =
37. 5 m/ s, and gE = 9. 8 m/s 2 . Using these in the equation above leads to the equation,
1 . 8 = 1 8. 4 tan( 0 )

1.18
cos 2 0

This equation is best solved by some numerical means. One way would be to plot both sides of the equation and look for the crossing point. I do this below. ( Or use Mupad, or just guess and check. . . )
-1.797
-1.8
18.4*tan(x*3.14/180)-1.18/cos(x*3.14/180)/cos(x*3.14/180)
-1.798

-1.799

-1.8

-1.801

-1.802

-1.803

-1.804

-1.805
-1.94

-1.935

-1.93

-1.925

-1.92

Here, in the plotting program I used ( gnuplot) I called the angle x and kept narrowing in the x-range
until I could read off the crossing to the desired precision. Note that the angle is about
The Mupad syntax would be, ( with q = ) ,

0 1 . 93

e q1 : =- 1 . 8=1 8. 4* tan( q) - 1 . 1 8/ c os ( q) / c os ( q) ;
1 . 8 = 1 8. 4 tan( q)

1.18
cos( q) 2

 qrad: =numeri c : : f s ol ve( e q1 , q=- PI / 2. . 0) ;

[ q = 0. 03361 048975]

the ta: =f l oat( rhs ( qrad[ 1 ] ) * 1 80/ PI ) : hol d( the ta) =the ta;

t h e t a = 1 . 92573921

Problem 1 1 .
A projectile is given an initial velocity with magnitude v 0 at an angle above the surface of an incline
which is itself inclined at an angle above the horizontal.
A) Calculate the distance, measured along the incline, from the launch point to the point where the
projectile strikes the inclined plane. Your answer will be in terms of v 0 , gE , , and .
B) What angle gives the maximum range measured along the incline?
Solution : Call the origin of coordinates the launch point with up + y and horizontally across the incline
+ x. We can use Equation 4. 20 to describe the motion of the projectile with 0 = + . The projectile
strikes the plane when y = x tan. Then, 4. 20 gives,
gE
x tan = x tan( + )
x2
2 v 02 cos 2 + )
This equation has the trivial solution x = 0, and the solution of interest,
x = 2 ( v 02 / gE ) cos 2 + ) tan( + ) tan( ) )
Now the distance s up the incline corresponding to this x is,
x/ s = cos s = x/ cos

So, after simplifying a bit,

s = 2 ( v 02 / gE )

cos 2 ( + )
cos

s = 2 ( v 02 / gE )

sin( + ) cos( ) sin( ) cos( + )

cos( + ) cos( )

cos( + )
{ sin( + ) cos( ) sin( ) cos( + ) }
cos 2

A trig identity then gives,

s = 2 ( v 02 / gE )

cos( + ) sin
cos 2

The optimum is determined by setting the derivative of s with respect to to zero:

ds
2 v 02
=
( sin( + ) sin + cos( + ) cos( ) ) = 0
d gE cos 2
A trig identity reduces this to,

( sin( + ) sin + cos( + ) cos( ) ) = 0

cos( + 2 ) = 0 + 2 = 90 = 45 / 2