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Physics Problems
Physics Problems
60
seconds, what will be his final velocity and how far will he fall?
Given: Find:
a = t = vi = 0 m/s d = ??
-9.8 2.6 vf = ??
m s
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)
2. 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 = d = a = -1.67 m/s2 t = ??
0 -1.40
m/s m
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
3. If Michael Jordan has a vertical leap of 1.29 m, then what is his takeoff speed and
his hang time (total time to move upwards to the peak and then return to the ground)?
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 vf = 0 d = 1.29 m vi = ??
m/s2 m/s t = ??
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(1.29 m)
0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 25.28 m2/s2
25.28 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 5.03 m/s
To find hang time, find the time to the peak and then double it.
vf = vi + a*t
0 m/s = 5.03 m/s + (-9.8 m/s2)*tup
-5.03 m/s = (-9.8 m/s2)*tup
(-5.03 m/s)/(-9.8 m/s2) = tup
tup = 0.513 s
hang time = 1.03 s
4. A baseball is popped straight up into the air and has a hang-time of 6.25 s.
Determine the height to which the ball rises before it reaches its peak. (Hint: the time
to rise to the peak is one-half the total hang-time.)
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 vf = 0 t = 3.13 s d = ??
m/s2 m/s
1.
(NOTE: the time required to move to the peak of the trajectory is one-half the
total hang time - 3.125 s.)
2.
First use: vf = vi + a*t
0 m/s = vi + (-9.8 m/s2)*(3.13 s)
0 m/s = vi - 30.7 m/s
vi = 30.7 m/s (30.674 m/s)
Now use: vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = (30.7 m/s)2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(d)
0 m2/s2 = (940 m2/s2) + (-19.6 m/s2)*d
-940 m2/s2 = (-19.6 m/s2)*d
(-940 m2/s2)/(-19.6 m/s2) = d
d = 48.0 m
5. The observation deck of tall skyscraper 370 m above the street. Determine the time
required for a penny to free fall from the deck to the street below.
Given: Find:
vi = 0 d = a = -9.8 m/s2 t = ??
m/s -370 m
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
-370 m = (0 m/s)*(t)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(t)2
-370 m = 0+ (-4.9 m/s2)*(t)2
(-370 m)/(-4.9 m/s2) = t2
75.5 s2 = t2
t = 8.69 s
6. A stone is dropped into a deep well and is heard to hit the water 3.41 s after being
dropped. Determine the depth of the well.
Given: Find:
a = -9.8 t = 3.41 vi = 0 m/s d = ??
m/s2 s
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0 m/s)*(3.41 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(3.41 s)2
d = 0 m+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(11.63 s2)
d = -57.0 m
(NOTE: the - sign indicates direction)
7. An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s until is finally lifts
off the ground. Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.
Given: Find:
a = t = vi = 0 m/s d = ??
+3.232.8
m/s2s
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
8. 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:
d = t = vi = 0 m/s a = ??
1105.21
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
9. 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 = vf = t = 2.47 s d = ??
18.5 46.1 a = ??
m/s m/s
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
(Note: the d can also be calculated using the equation vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d)
10. Rocket-powered sleds are used to test the human response to acceleration. If a
rocket-powered sled is accelerated to a speed of 444 m/s in 1.83 seconds, then what is
the acceleration and what is the distance that the sled travels?
Given: Find:
vi = vf = t = 1.83 s a = ??
0 444 d = ??
m/s m/s
a = (Delta v)/t
a = (444 m/s - 0 m/s)/(1.83 s)
a = 243 m/s2
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0 m/s)*(1.83 s)+ 0.5*(243 m/s2)*(1.83 s)2
d = 0 m + 406 m
d = 406 m
(Note: the d can also be calculated using the equation vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d)
11. A bike accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 7.10 m/s over a distance of
35.4 m. Determine the acceleration of the bike.
Given: Find:
vi =vf = d = 35.4 m a = ??
0 7.10
m/s m/s
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(7.10 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(35.4 m)
50.4 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (70.8 m)*a
(50.4 m2/s2)/(70.8 m) = a
a = 0.712 m/s2
12. An engineer is designing the runway for an airport. Of the planes that will use the
airport, the lowest acceleration rate is likely to be 3 m/s2. The takeoff speed for this
plane will be 65 m/s. Assuming this minimum acceleration, what is the minimum
allowed length for the runway?
Given: Find:
vi =vf =a = 3 m/s2 d = ??
0 65
m/s m/s
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(65 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(3 m/s2)*d
4225 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (6 m/s2)*d
(4225 m2/s2)/(6 m/s2) = d
d = 704 m
13. A car traveling at 22.4 m/s skids to a stop in 2.55 s. Determine the skidding
distance of the car (assume uniform acceleration).
Given: Find:
vi = vf = t = 2.55 s d = ??
22.4 0
m/s m/s
d = (vi + vf)/2 *t
d = (22.4 m/s + 0 m/s)/2 *2.55 s
d = (11.2 m/s)*2.55 s
d = 28.6 m
14. A kangaroo is capable of jumping to a height of 2.62 m. Determine the takeoff
speed of the kangaroo.
Given: Find:
a = vf =d = 2.62 m vi = ??
-9.8 0
m/s2m/s
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(2.62 m)
0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 51.35 m2/s2
51.35 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 7.17 m/s
15. A bullet leaves a rifle with a muzzle velocity of 521 m/s. While accelerating
through the barrel of the rifle, the bullet moves a distance of 0.840 m. Determine the
acceleration of the bullet (assume a uniform acceleration).
Given: Find:
vi =vf =d = 0.840 m a = ??
0 521
m/s m/s
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(521 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(0.840 m)
271441 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (1.68 m)*a
(271441 m2/s2)/(1.68 m) = a
a = 1.62*105 m /s2
16. A bullet is moving at a speed of 367 m/s when it embeds into a lump of moist
clay. The bullet penetrates for a distance of 0.0621 m. Determine the acceleration of
the bullet while moving into the clay. (Assume a uniform acceleration.)
Given: Find:
vi =vf =d = 0.0621 m a = ??
3670
m/s m/s
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = (367 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(0.0621 m)
0 m2/s2 = (134689 m2/s2) + (0.1242 m)*a
-134689 m2/s2 = (0.1242 m)*a
(-134689 m2/s2)/(0.1242 m) = a
a = -1.08*106 m /s2
(The - sign indicates that the bullet slowed down.)
17. It was once recorded that a Jaguar left skid marks that were 290 m in length.
Assuming that the Jaguar skidded to a stop with a constant acceleration of -3.90 m/s2,
determine the speed of the Jaguar before it began to skid.
Given: Find:
a = vf =d = 290 m vi = ??
-3.900
m/s2 m/s
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-3.90 m/s2)*(290 m)
0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 2262 m2/s2
2262 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 47.6 m /s
18. A plane has a takeoff speed of 88.3 m/s and requires 1365 m to reach that speed.
Determine the acceleration of the plane and the time required to reach this speed.
Find:
a = ??
t = ??
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(88.3 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(1365 m)
7797 m2/s2 = (0 m2/s2) + (2730 m)*a
7797 m2/s2 = (2730 m)*a
(7797 m2/s2)/(2730 m) = a
a = 2.86 m/s2
vf = vi + a*t
88.3 m/s = 0 m/s + (2.86 m/s2)*t
(88.3 m/s)/(2.86 m/s2) = t
t = 30. 8 s
19. A dragster accelerates to a speed of 112 m/s over a distance of 398 m. Determine
the acceleration (assume uniform) of the dragster.
Given: Find:
vi =vf = 112 m/sd = 398 m a = ??
0
m/s
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(112 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(398 m)
12544 m2/s2 = 0 m2/s2 + (796 m)*a
12544 m2/s2 = (796 m)*a
(12544 m2/s2)/(796 m) = a
a = 15.8 m/s2
20. With what speed in miles/hr (1 m/s = 2.23 mi/hr) must an object be thrown to
reach a height of 91.5 m (equivalent to one football field)? Assume negligible air
resistance.
Given: Find:
a = vf = d = 91.5 m vi = ??
-9.8 0 t = ??
m/s2 m/s
First, find speed in units of m/s:
vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(91.5 m)
0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 1793 m2/s2
1793 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 42.3 m/s
Now convert from m/s to mi/hr:
vi = 42.3 m/s * (2.23 mi/hr)/(1 m/s)
vi = 94.4 mi/hr