Setul I
1. N elastic pool balls of the same mass and size
are arranged on the table. One ball is white
and the other are colored. All balls are initially
at rest. The white ball is then hit by a cue.
Mysteriously, after several collisions with the
colored balls, the white ball stops at the very
point it was originally placed. What is the
minimum value for N that allows for such a
situation? Neglect friction.
2. A passenger who just missed the train stands
on the platform, sadly watching the last two
cars of the train. The next-to-last car takes
time t to pass by the passenger, and the last
one takes time t’ to pass by. How late (T) is
the passenger for the departure of the train?
Assume that the train accelerates at constant
rate.
3. In a strictly scientific experiment, a student
athlete throws rocks out the window in all
directions. All rocks have the same speed v. It
turns out that all rocks’ landing velocities
make angles θ or higher with the horizontal.
Find the height h of the window above the
ground.
4. A ladybug runs along a straight line, starting
from rest, with constant acceleration. After
time t, the ladybug reverses the direction of
the acceleration, while keeping its magnitude
the same. How long (T) would it take the bug
to get back to the starting point?
5. A student has a large quantity of a flexible
cable. If she cuts a piece of that cable and
hangs it vertically, the longest piece that does
not break under its own weight is l. The
student then cuts another piece and places it
on a horizontal smooth table. A small part of
the cable hangs over the edge so that the
cable begins to slide down after being
released. How long (L) can this piece be so
that it does not break during the slide?
6. An object is given a quick push up an inclined
plane. It slides up and then comes back down.
It is known that the ratio of the ascent time
(tup) to the descent time (tdown) is equal to the
coefficient of kinetic friction μ. Find the angle
θ that the inclined plane makes with the
horizontal. Is the situation described possible
for any value of μ? Assume that the
coefficient of static and kinetic friction are
equal.
7. A wooden cube with a side of 𝑑 = 0.10 m is
placed on a horizontal support. A bullet of
mass 𝑚 = 0.010 kg is shot vertically up
through the support and through the cuve. As
the bullet passes through the cube, its speed
decreases from 𝑣 = 120 m/s to 𝑢 = 115 m/
s. Estimate the minimum mass M of the cube
that would allow it not to lose contact with
the support.
8. A dumbbell consists of a light rod with two
small weights of equal masses attached at the
ends. The dumbbell is placed vertically on a
frictionless table. As the dumbbell is released,
the top mass is given a horizontal velocity v
by a quick hit. The bottom mass immediately
loses contact with the table. What is the
maximum length L of the dumbbell that
allows this to occur?
9. A small puck of mass m and velocity v slides
along a horizontal plane. The puck meets a
“hill” of mass 3m and height h that can also
move along the plane. The puck begins to
slide up the hill. If the hill is at rest, what value
of v provides for the maximum subsequent
velocity u of the hill? Assume that all surfaces
are frictionless.
10. A dumbbell consists of a light rod of
length r and two small masses m attached to
it. The dumbbell stands vertically in the
corner formed by two frictionless planes.
After the bottom end is slightly moved to the
right, the dumbbell begins to slide. Find the
speed u of the bottom end at the moment the
top end loses contact with the vertical plane.
11. A sled is given a quick push up the snowy
slope. The sled slides up and then comes back
down; the whole trip takes time t. If the
coefficient of sliding friction between the sled
 and the snow is μ, find the time tu it took the
sled to reach the top point of its trajectory.
The slope makes the angle θ with the
horizontal.
12. The elevator operator has an eight-hour
shift to work. She wants to be sure that she
works exactly eight hours and installs a
pendulum clock in the elevator. Is the
operator going to achieve her goal? Assume
that the upward and downward accelerations
of the elevator have the same magnitude and
that the times of accelerating upward and
downward are the same, according to a
resting clock.
13. Two cars begin to move toward each
other simultaneously along a straight road.
Car 1 starts from point A at a speed v1; car 2
starts at point B at a speed v2. The
acceleration of car 1 is a1; it is directed
toward A. The acceleration of car 2 is a2; it is
directed toward B. In the process of motion,
the cars meet twice; the time interval
between the meetings is t. Find the distance
between A and B.
14. A child in a boat needs to cross the river.
The speed of the current in the river is k times
greater than the speed of the boat in still
water. If a child crosses the river in such a way
as to minimize the lateral displacement, it
takes time t to cross. What is the minimum
time required to cross the river?
15. A rock is launched upward at 45°. A
bumblebee follows the trajectory of the rock
at a constant speed equal to the initial speed
of the rock. What is the acceleration of the
bumblebee at the top point of the trajectory?
For the rock, neglect the air resistance.
16. Projectile 1 is launched vertically upward
with initial velocity v. Projectile 2 is launched
vertically upward t seconds after the launch
of projectile 1. Projectile 2 passes projectile 1
as the latter reaches the top point of its
trajectory. Find the initial velocity Vi2 of
projectile 2. The acceleration due to gravity is
g.
17. An inclined plane of mass M makes an
angle θ with the horizontal. The plane is
placed on a horizontal frictionless surface. A
small block of mass m is placed on the
inclined plane. What horizontal force F must
be applied to the plane so that the force of
friction between the block and the plane is
zero?
18. A particle is moving at a constant velocity
v. A constant force F is then applied to the
particle. After t seconds elapse, the speed of
the particle is halved. After another t seconds
elapse, the speed of the particle is halved
again. What is the speed of the particle vf
after t more seconds elapse?
19. Board A is placed on board B as shown.
Both boards slide, without moving with
respect to each other, along a frictionless
horizontal surface at a speed v. Board B hits a
resting board C “head-on.” After the collision,
boards B and C move together, and board A
slides on top of board C and stops its motion
relative to C in the position shown on the
diagram. What is the length of each board?
All three boards have the same mass, size,
and shape. It is known there is no friction
between boards A and B; the coefficient of
kinetic friction between boards A and C is μk.
20. A small bucket with the mass m rests at
the bottom of a pit that has a depth h. A
winch with an elastic cord is used to lift the
bucket out of the pit. One end of the cord is
attached to the bucket; the other end is
attached to the drum of the winch. There is a
mark on the cord at the height 0.8h from the
bottom of the pit. The cord is vertical and
relaxed but taut. The winch begins to rotate
slowly. It is noticed that the bucket loses
contact with the ground just as the mark on
the cord reaches the drum. How much work
is done by that moment?
21. On the diagram, two blocks of equal
mass are connected by an ideal string. The
values of m, k1, and k2 are given (k1 > k2).
Initially, both springs are relaxed. Then the
left block is slowly pulled down a distance x
and released. Find the acceleration of each
 block immediately after the release. Find all mass is at a height h/2 from the floor; in the
possible answers. “squat” position, the center of mass is at a
height h/4 from the floor. The mass of the
student is m.

22. A spaceship is traveling in outer space at

a constant velocity v =1000 m/s. Suddenly,
the commander observes an asteroid straight
ahead. The distance to the asteroid is L = 9.0
km; the diameter of the asteroid is D = 7.0
km. The commander attempts to take an
evasive maneuver by firing the emergency
rocket. The rocket gives the spaceship a very
quick change in velocity δv = 300 m/s. Is it
possible for the spaceship to avoid the
collision? Assume that the commander can
fire the rocket in any direction.
23. A reel is being pulled along a horizontal
surface by the string wrapped around as
shown. There is no slipping between the reel
and the surface. The string is pulled at a
constant speed v. Find the angular speed ω of
the reel assuming that r and R are given.

24. A student of height h jumps vertically up

from the “squat” position. At the top point of
the jump, the student’s center of mass is at a
height 3h/4 from the ground. Find the
average force F acting on the floor prior to
the moment when the student loses contact
with the floor. It is known that when the
student stands on the floor, the center of