II.

PROBLEM SOLVING
Instruction. Calculate what is asked in each item. Show your solutions.
1. A horse pulls a cart with force of 40 lb at an angle of 30 above the horizontal and moves along
at a speed of 6.0 mi/h. (a) How much work does the force do in 10 min? (b) What is the average
power (in horsepower) of the force?
Given: Required:
Force (F): 40 lb (a) Work in 10 minutes
Angle at which the force acts: 30 degrees (b) Average power in horsepower
v = 6.0 miles per hour
t = 10 minutes
Solution:
(a) (b)
Using the formula for work with respect to the angle: Using the formula for power:
W
W = F*dcosɵ P=
t
182904.57 ft .lb
W = Fdcos 30° - equation 1 P=
600 seconds
Calculate the distance travelled: P = 304.84 ft.lb/s
Convert mi/h to ft/s: Converting P to horsepower:
6.0 miles
∗5280 ft
1 hour 8.8 feet ft . lb 1 hp
v= ∗1 hour = 304.84 *
1 mile second s 550 ft .lb/ s
3600 sec
Convert minutes to seconds:
t = 10 minutes = 600 seconds Power (in hp) = 0.55 hp
Solve for distance traveled:
d = v*t
8.8 feet
d= *600 seconds
second
d = 5280 feet
Solving work using equation 1:
W = F*dcos 30°
W = (40 lb)(5280 feet)(cos 30°)
W = 182,904.57 ft.lb

Answer: (a) W = 182,904.57 ft.lb (b) Power (in hp) = 0.55 hp

2. If a car of mass 1200 kg is moving along a highway at 120 km/h, what is the car’s kinetic
energy as determined by someone standing alongside the highway?
Given: Required:
Car mass: 1200 kg Kinetic energy (Ek)
V = 120 km/h
Solution:
Convert km/h to m/s:
km 1 hr 1000 m
V = 120 * *
hr 3600 sec 1 km
100
V= m/s
3
Using the formula for kinetic energy:
1
Ek = mv2
2
1 100
Ek = (1200 kilograms)( m/s)2
2 3
Ek = 666,666.67 Joules

Answer: Ek = 666,666.67 Joules

3. A father racing his son has half the kinetic energy of the son, who has half the mass of the
father. The father speeds up by 1.0 m/s and then has the same kinetic energy as the son. What are
the original speeds of (a) the father and (b) the son?
Given:
1
Kf (Kinetic energy of the father) = Ks (Kinetic energy of the son)
2
1
ms (mass of the son) = m (mass of thr father)
2 f
s = 1.0 m/s
Required: (a) original speed of the father (vf) (b) original speed of the son (vs)
Solution:
Kinetic energy equation:
1
K = mv2
2
Equating the kinetic energies of the father and son:
1 1
mfvf2 = ( ¿ ¿ msvs2)
2 2
1
mfvf2 = msvs2
2
1
Substituting ms = mf:
2
1 1
mfvf2 = mv2
22 f s
Cancelling mf, we have:
1
vf2 = vs2
4
After the father speeds up by 1.0 m/s, their kinetic energies both got equal:
vf2 = vf + 1.0 m/s
 So the equation will be:
1 1
mf (vf + 1.0 m/s)2 = ms vs2
2 2
(vf + 1.0 m/s)2 = ms vs2
Since the mass of the father is two times the mass of the son:
1
mf (vf + 1.0 m/s)2 = mf vs2
2
1
(vf + 1)2 = vs2
2
Solving for the original speed of the father: Solving for the original speed of
son:
1 1
vf2 = vs2 vf2 = vs2
4 4
4 vf2 = vs2 4 vf2 = vs2
4 vf2 = 2 (vf + 1)2 4 (2.41)2 = vs2
2 vf2 = (vf + 1)2 vs = √ 23.23 m/s
2 vf = vf + 2vf + 1
2 2
vs = 4.82 m/s
vf2 - 2vf - 1 = 0
Using the quadratic equation to get vf:
a = 1; b = -2; c = -1
−b ± √ b −4 ac
2
vf =
2a
−(−2) ± √(−2) −4 (1)(−1)
2
vf =
2(1)
2± √ 4+ 4 2± 2 √ 2
vf = = = 1± √ 2
2 2
Getting only the positive x because speed is positive:
vf = 1+√ 2 m/s
vf = 2.41 m/s
Answer: (a) vf (father) = 2.41 m/s (b) vs (son)= 4.82 m/s

4. If a ski lift raises 100 passengers averaging 660 N in weight to a height of 150 m in 60.0 s, at
constant speed, what average power is required of the force making the lift?
Given: Required:
Number of passengers = 100 Average power
Weight of passengers = 660 N
Raised to the height of 150 meters
t = 60.0 s
v = constant speed
Solution:
Total weight raised by the ski lift:
Wg = 100 x 660 N = 66,000 N
 Wg = weight of the passengers
Since the speed of the ski lift is constant, net force is zero.
Two forces act on the ski lift: Wg and the lift force (Fl)
Fnet = 0
W g + Fl = 0
Fl = -Wg

Hence, the lift force is equal to the weight on passengers in opposite directions.
The average power required of the force making the lift:
dWl Fl∗dx∗cosɵ
P= = = Fl*v*cos ɵ
dt dt
150m
P = 66,000 * * cos 0°
60 sec
P = 165,000 Watts

Answer: P = 165,000 Watts