October 14, 2010

Physics 130 - a

Dr. Schmidt

Midterm 1 Answer Key

Write you name on the cover of the blue book. Put all your answers in the blue book. Start a new page for each problem. Partial
credit will be given for incomplete answers. At the conclusion of the exam fold this exam in half and place in your blue book and
turn in your blue book.
1. (15 points) A ball is dropped from a certain height. At the same time a ball is released from the
same height with a horizontal velocity. For this scenario answer each of the following statements
with True of False
a. Both balls will land at the same time. True.
b. Both balls will have the same speed just before they hit the ground. False
c. Both balls will undergo the same acceleration during the trip.True
d. Both balls will have traveled the same distance during the trip. False
e. Both balls will be moving in the same direction just before they land. False
a) and c) are True.
2. (10 points) Which pair of plots of velocity v and corresponding acceleration a shows negative acceleration? Which pair shows
deceleration? Choose A), B), C), and/or D) for each The plot of a is shown below the corresponding v plot in each case. Note:
There could be more than one selection for each.

Negative acceleration: C and D

Deceleration: B and C

t
B

t
C

t
D

3.

(15 points) The quote from Man of LaMancha " Whether the pitcher hits the stone or the stone hits the pitcher, its all the
same for the pitcher" is an example of which of Newton's Laws? Explain the meaning of the quote.
The quote paraphrases Newtons Third Law.
One could smash a stone against a pitcher exerting a force on the
pitcher and break it. One could smash a pitcher against a stone exerting a force on the stone but the stone will exert an
equal and opposite force on the pitcher with the same consequence. The pitcher will break.
4.

(15 points) Lexan is a clear polycarbonate resin used to make bulletproof glass. It will produce a drag (deceleration) on a
typical bullet of 1,200,000 m/s2. What minimum thickness Lexan would be needed to bring a bullet moving at a speed of 350
m/s down to a harmless 10.0 m/s?
v2 = vo2 + 2 a (x xo)
x = xo + (v2 - vo2 )/2 a = 0 + ((10.0 m/s)2 (350 m/s)2/2(-1,200,000 m/s2) = 0.051 m = 5.1 cm
5. (15 points) Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Four pecks are in a bushel and 3.52 liters are in a bushel. How many
liters of peppers did Peter Piper pick? Doesnt have quite the same ring to it, does it?
1 peck = 1 pk(1bush/4 pk)(3.52 li/bush) = 0.88 li
6.

(15 points) Hannibal Smith, captain of the A Team, plans to stop the bad guys from escaping by colliding BAs van with
the getaway car. The van and car are separated by 250 m to begin with, heading towards each other, when Hannibal jams a
stick in the gas pedal and lashes the wheel. The van is going 90 km/hr and the car is moving at 140 km/hr. How long does
Hannibal have to get out of the van before they crash into each other?

v1 t = x
v2 t = L-x
v2 t = L v1 t
v2 t + v1 t = L = t(v1 + v2)
t = L/(v1 + v2) = 250 m/(140 km/hr + 90 km/hr)(1000 m/ km)(1 hr/3600 s) = 3.91 s 3.9 s
7. A competition diver on the 10 m high board needs 2.3 s to complete her routine. Ignore any horizontal motion.
a) (9 points) How fast must her initial vertical velocity be to give her that much time in the air?
y = yo +vo t gt2/2
vo t = y yo +gt2/2
vo = [y yo +gt2/2]t = [0 10 m +(9.8 m/s2)(2.3 s)2/2](2.3 s) = 6.92 m/s 6.9 m/s
b) (6 points) How fast will she be moving when she enters the water?
v2 = vo2 - 2 g(y yo) = (6.92 m/s)2 2 (9.8 m/s2)(0 10 m) = 243.886 m2/s2
v = 15.62 m/s 16 m/s
or
v = vo gt = 6.92 m/s (9.8 m/s2)(2.3 s) = 15.62 m/s 16 m/s