Physics 71 DQ 6

Discussion Quiz 6 (40 points)

Class No. & Surname:
U  U-1  U-2  U-3  U-4
Answer each question completely in the spaces provided. This is a closed notes quiz and you
are not allowed to discuss with your classmate. Round your final answer properly and box it.
Explicitly state the coordinate system you used. Use g = 9.80 [m/s2 ].

1. [10 pts] An old streetcar rounds a flat corner of radius 9.1 [m], at 16 [km/h]. What
angle with the vertical will be made by the loosely hanging hand straps?

Solution: Assume that +x is rightward and +y is upward. We apply Newton’s

2
law and taking note that a = vR .

v2
T sin θ = m (1)
R
T cos θ = mg (2)

We solve these equation for the angle θ:

−1 v2
θ = tan (3)
Rg

which yields θ = 12◦ .

Physics 71 DQ 6

2. [10 pts] A puck of mass m = 1.50 [kg] slides in a circle of radius r = 20.0 [cm] on a
frictionless table while attached to a hanging cylinder of mass M = 2.50 [kg] by means
of a cord that extends through a hole in the table. What speed keeps the cylinder at
rest?

Solution: For the puck to remain at rest the magnitude of the tension force M of
the cord must equal the gravitational force M g on the cylinder. The tension force
supplies the centripetal force that keeps the puck in its circular orbit, so T = mv 2 /r.
Thus M g = mv 2 /r. We solve for the speed:
√
M gr
v= = 1.81 [m/s] (4)
m
Physics 71 DQ 6

3. A 5.00-[kg] package slides 1.50 [m] down a long ramp that is inclined at 24.0◦ below
the horizontal. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the package and the ramp is
µk = 0.310.
(a) [2 pts] What is the work done on the package by friction?

Solution: The normal force is n = mg cos θ, with θ = 24.0◦ , thus fk = µk n =

µk mg cos θ. The work done by friction is then

W = −fk s = −(µk mg cos θ)s = −20.8 [J] (5)

(b) [2 pts] What is the work done on the package by gravity?

Solution: The component of the weight parallel to the incline is mg sin θ, thus

W = mgs sin θ = 29.9 [J] (6)

(c) [2 pts] What is the work done on the package by the normal force?

Solution: The normal force does no work.

(d) [1 pt] What is the total work done on the package?

Solution:
Wtot = 29.9 − 20.8 = 9.1 [J] (7)

(e) [3 pts] If the package has a speed 2.2 [m/s] of at the top of the ramp, what is its
speed after sliding 1.50 [m] down the ramp?

Solution:

K2 = K1 + Wtot = (1/2)(5.00)(2.2)2 + 9.1 = 21.2 [J] (8)

so √
v2 = 2(21.2)(5.00) = 2.9 [m/s] (9)
Physics 71 DQ 6

4. [10 pts] An 8.0-[kg] object is moving in the positive direction of an x-axis. When it
passes through x = 0, a constant force directed along the axis begins to act on it. The
following figure gives its kinetic energy K versus position x as it moves from x = 0 to
x = 5.0 [m]; K0 = 30.0 [J]. The force continues to act. What is v when the object
moves back through x = −3.0 [m]? (Hint: vf2 = vi2 + 2a∆x)

Solution: The change in kinetic energy is

1 1
∆K = m(vf2 − vi2 ) = ma∆x (10)
2 2
where we used vf2 = vi2 +2a∆x. We see from the figure that ∆K = 0−30 = −30 [J],
when ∆x = 5 [m]. The acceleration can be obtained
∆K
a= = −0.75 [m/s2 ] (11)
m∆x
so
v02 = v 2 − 2a∆x = 7.5 [m/s] (12)
or v0 = 2.7 [m/s]. The speed of the object when x = −3.0 [m] is
√
v = vi2 + 2a∆x = 3.5 [m/s] (13)