PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR TOPIC 2

1. .

(b) b. At position C the speed of the block reaches zero. The time taken for the block to
fall between B and C is 0.759s. The mass of the block is 80.0kg
(i) Determine the magnitude of the average resultant force acting on the block between
B and C. ( 3 )
 (ii) (ii) Calculate the magnitude of the average force exerted by the rope on the block between
B and C. ( 2 )

c. For the rope and block, describe the energy changes that take place
(i) Between A to B. ( 2 )

(ii) Between B to C. ( 2 )

d. The length reached by the rope at C is 77.4m. Suggest how energy considerations
could be used to determine the elastic constant of the rope. ( 2 )
2. .

b. Calculate the speed of the block at A. ( 2 )

 c. Describe the motion of the block
(i) from A to B with reference to Newton's first law. ( 1 )

(ii) from B to C with reference to Newton's second law ( 1 )

d. The spring decompression takes 0.42s. Determine the average force that the spring
exerts on the block. ( 3 )

3. .

4. .
A glider is an aircraft with no engine. To be launched, a glider is uniformly accelerated
from rest by a cable pulled by a motor that exerts a horizontal force on the glider
throughout the launch.
 a. The glider reaches its launch speed of 27.0 m s^–1 after accelerating for 11.0 s.
Assume that the glider moves horizontally until it leaves the ground. Calculate
the total distance travelled by the glider before it leaves the ground..

b. The glider and pilot have a total mass of 492 kg. During the acceleration the
glider is subject to an average resistive force of 160 N. Determine the average
tension in the cable as the glider accelerates.

c. The cable is pulled by an electric motor. The motor has an overall efficiency of
23%. Determine the average power input to the motor.

d. The cable is wound onto a cylinder of diameter 1.2 m. Calculate the angular
velocity of the cylinder at the instant when the glider has a speed of 27 m s–1.
Include an appropriate unit for your answer.

5. .
 (ii) Deduce that the average power output of the battery is about 240 W.

(iii) Friction and air resistance act on the bicycle and the girl when they move. Assume
that all the energy is transferred from the battery to the electric motor. Determine the total
average resistive force that acts on the bicycle and the girl.

6. .
 (ii) average power delivered to the ball during the impact.

(i) Calculate the time it takes the tennis ball to reach the net.

(ii) Show that the tennis ball passes over the net.

(iii) Determine the speed of the tennis ball as it strikes the ground.
7. .
8. .
10.
Ion-thrust engines can power spacecraft. In this type of engine, ions are created in a
chamber and expelled from the spacecraft. The spacecraft is in outer space when the
propulsion system is turned on. The spacecraft starts from rest.

The mass of ions ejected each second is 6.6 × 10^–6 kg and the speed of each ion is 5.2 ×
10^4 m s^–1 . The initial total mass of the spacecraft and its fuel is 740 kg. Assume that
the ions travel away from the spacecraft parallel to its direction of motion.
a. Determine the initial acceleration of the spacecraft.

b. n initial mass of 60 kg of fuel is in the spacecraft for a journey to a planet. Half of

the fuel will be required to slow down the spacecraft before arrival at the
destination planet.
(i) Estimate the maximum speed of the spacecraft. ( 2 points )

(ii) Outline why scientists sometimes use estimates in making calculations. ( 1

point)