PHYSICS 101 SPRING 2013-2014

Midterm 1

Solutions
Conceptual Question 1 (8 points)
~ B
Consider three vectors A, ~ and C~ in three dimensional space. A
~ is perpendicular to
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B, B is perpendicular to C, and A is also perpendicular to C.
Which of the following statements are true?
They are mutuallay perpendicular.

~·C
(a) (2 pts.) A ~ = 0.
True.
~⇥B
(b) (3 pts.) A ~ must be parallel to C.
~
True.
~ · (A
(c) (3 pts.) C ~ ⇥ B)
~ =0
False.

Conceptual Question 2 (7 points)

A projectile is launched at some angle to the horizontal with some initial speed vi , and
air resistance is negligible.
(a) (3 pts.) Is the projectile a freely falling body?
Yes. The constant acceleration of a freely falling body is called the acceleration
due to gravity.
(b) (2 pts.) What is its acceleration in the vertical?
Downward g.
(c) (2 pts.) What is its acceleration in the horizontal?
There is no acceleration in the horizontal.

Conceptual Question 3 (10 points)

If an object is in equilibrium, which of the following statements are not true?
X
If the object is in equilibrium, it means that ~ i = ~0
F
(a) (2 pts.) The net force acting on the object is zero.
True.
(b) (2 pts.) The acceleration of the object is zero.
X
True. Newton’s second law: if ~ i = ~0 ) ~a = 0
F
(c) (2 pts.) The object must be at rest.
Not True. It may go with a constant velocity.
(d) (2 pts.) The speed of the object remains constant.
True.
(e) (2 pts.) There must be at least two forces acting on the object.
Not true. There may be no force acting.
Problem (1) (25 points)

The position vector for a particle of mass m is given by ~r(t) = A cos(!t) ı̂ + 2A sin(!t) |ˆ
where A and ! are positive constants.
Find

(a) (9 pts.) the velocity ~v(t) of the particle,

d~r(t)
~v(t) = = A! sin(!t)ı̂ + 2A! cos(!t)ˆ
|
dt

(b) (8 pts.) the acceleration ~a(t) of the particle,

d2~r(t) d~v(t)
~a(t) = = = A! 2 cos(!t)ı̂ 2A! 2 sin(!t)ˆ
|
dt2 dt

~ at t = ⇡ .
(c) (8 pts.) the angle between ~v(t) and a(t)
2!

⇡
at t=
2!
⇡ ⇡ ⇡
~v( )= A! sin( )ı̂ + 2A! cos( )ˆ
|= A!ı̂
2! 2 2
⇡ ⇡ ⇡
~a( )= A! 2 cos( )ı̂ 2A2 sin( )ˆ
|= 2A! 2 |ˆ
2! 2 2
⇡ ⇡ ˆ · ( 2A! 2 |)
ˆ =0
~v( ) · ~a( ) = ( A! ı)
2! 2!
~ at t = ⇡ is ⇡ .
so the angle between ~v(t) and a(t)
2! 2
Problem (2) (25 points)

A first-aid equipment is to be delivered by a plane

to a ship that has a length of 80.0 m. The slingshot
system of the plane, which throws the equipment, is
tested on the ground, and the speed of equipment
at the moment it leaves the slingshot is measured as
300 m/s. The ship is approaching to the plane with a
speed of 200 cm/s while the plane is 9.620 km above
the ground, and the plane is flying with a constant
horizontal velocity of 200 m/s towards the ship as
shown. At t = 0 the slingshot throws the equipment
at an angle of 36.9 above the horizontal.
(g=10 m/s2 )
+y

xplane (t) = 200t m vy =240 m/s

+x
vxplane (t) = 200 m/s
yplane (t) = 9620 m
vyplane (t) = 0 m/s
53.1º
xaid (t) = 380t m vplane =200 m/s vx =180 m/s
vxaid (t) = 380 m/s
yaid (t) = (9620 + 240t 5t2 ) m xship (t) = D 2t m

vyaid (t) = 240 10t m/s vxship (t) = 2 m/s

yship (t) = 0 m
vyship (t) = 0 m/s

(a) (5 pts.) Calculate the distance travelled by the plane when the equipment is at the
highest altitude.

when the aid is at the highest point

vyaid (thighest ) = 240 10thighest = 0 m/s
thighest = 24 sec
at that instant
xplane = xplane (thighest ) xplane (0) = 200thighest = 4800 m

(b) (5 pts.) Determine the total distance travelled by the plane and the ship when the
equipment reaches the water level.

when the aid reaches the water level

yaid (twater level ) = 9620 + 240twater level 5t2water level = 0 m
= (twater level + 26)(twater level 74) = 0 m
twater level = 74 sec
at that instant
(c)
xplane = xplane (twater level ) xplane (0) = 200twater level = 14800 m
xship = |xship (twater level ) xship (0)| = |(D 2 · 74) (D)| = 148 m
(8 pts.) For the equipment to reach the ship, determine the range for the value of D
(the horizontal distance between plane and ship at t = 0).

if the aid is to reach the ship

xship (twater level )  xaid (twater level )  xship (twater level ) + 80
D 2 · 74  380 · 74  D 2 · 74 + 80
28188 m  D  28268 m

(d)
(7 pts.) Determine the total vertical distance travelled by the equipment when it reaches
the ship.

aid
(vyaid (thighest ))2 (vyaid (0))2 (0)2 (240)2
y (thighest ) = = = 2880 m
2g 2 · 10
The equipment travels a vertical distance of 2880 m until it reaches its highest
altitude. Then it travels a total vertical distance of (2880+9620) m to reach the
ship level.
Hence, the total vertical distance travelled;
15380 m