ConcepTest Clicker

Questions
Chapter 6

Physics, 4th Edition

James S. Walker

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 6.1a Tension I

You tie a rope to a tree and you

a) 0 N

pull on the rope with a force of

b) 50 N

100 N. What is the tension in

c) 100 N

the rope?

d) 150 N
e) 200 N

Question 6.1a Tension I

You tie a rope to a tree and you

a) 0 N

pull on the rope with a force of

b) 50 N

100 N. What is the tension in

c) 100 N

the rope?

d) 150 N
e) 200 N

The tension in the rope is the force that the rope feels
across any section of it (or that you would feel if you
replaced a piece of the rope). Because you are pulling
with a force of 100 N, that is the tension in the rope.

Question 6.1b Tension II

Two tug-of-war opponents each

a) 0 N

pull with a force of 100 N on

b) 50 N

opposite ends of a rope. What

c) 100 N

is the tension in the rope?

d) 150 N
e) 200 N

Question 6.1b Tension II

Two tug-of-war opponents each

a) 0 N

pull with a force of 100 N on

b) 50 N

opposite ends of a rope. What

c) 100 N

is the tension in the rope?

d) 150 N
e) 200 N

This is literally the identical situation to the previous

question. The tension is not 200 N !! Whether the
other end of the rope is pulled by a person, or pulled
by a tree, the tension in the rope is still 100 N !!

Question 6.1c Tension III

You and a friend can
each pull with a force of
20 N. If you want to rip
a rope in half, what is
the best way?

a) you and your friend each pull on

opposite ends of the rope
b) tie the rope to a tree, and you both pull
from the same end
c) it doesnt matterboth of the above are
equivalent
d) get a large dog to bite the rope

Question 6.1c Tension III

You and a friend can
each pull with a force of
20 N. If you want to rip
a rope in half, what is
the best way?

a) you and your friend each pull on opposite

ends of the rope
b) tie the rope to a tree, and you both pull
from the same end
c) it doesnt matterboth of the above are
equivalent
d) get a large dog to bite the rope

Take advantage of the fact that the tree can pull

with almost any force (until it falls down, that is!).
You and your friend should team up on one end,
and let the tree make the effort on the other end.

Question 6.2 Three Blocks

Three blocks of mass 3m, 2m, and

a) T1 > T2 > T3

m are connected by strings and

b) T1 < T2 < T3

pulled with constant acceleration a.

c) T1 = T2 = T3

What is the relationship between

d) all tensions are zero

the tension in each of the strings?

e) tensions are random

a
3m

T3

2m

T2

T1

Question 6.2 Three Blocks

Three blocks of mass 3m, 2m, and

a) T1 > T2 > T3

m are connected by strings and

b) T1 < T2 < T3

pulled with constant acceleration a.

c) T1 = T2 = T3

What is the relationship between

d) all tensions are zero

the tension in each of the strings?

e) tensions are random

T1 pulls the whole set of
blocks along, so it must be

the largest. T2 pulls the last

two masses, but T3 only
pulls the last mass.

3m

T3

2m

T2

T1

Follow-up: What is T1 in terms of m and a?

Question 6.3 Over the Edge

In which case does block m experience a) case (1)
a larger acceleration? In case (1) there b) acceleration is zero
is a 10 kg mass hanging from a rope
c) both cases are the same
and falling. In case (2) a hand is
providing a constant downward force d) depends on value of m
of 98 N. Assume massless ropes.

e) case (2)

m
10 kg

a
F = 98 N

Case (1)

Case (2)

Question 6.3 Over the Edge

In which case does block m experience a) case (1)
a larger acceleration? In case (1) there b) acceleration is zero
is a 10 kg mass hanging from a rope
c) both cases are the same
and falling. In case (2) a hand is
providing a constant downward force d) depends on value of m
of 98 N. Assume massless ropes.

e) case (2)

In case (2) the tension is

case (1) the tension is
less than 98 N because

10 kg

were at rest would the

tension be equal to 98 N.

a
F = 98 N

the block is accelerating

down. Only if the block

98 N due to the hand. In

Case (1)

Case (2)

Question 6.4 Friction

on a frictionless truck bed.

a) the force from the rushing air pushed

it off

When the truck accelerates

b) the force of friction pushed it off

forward, the box slides off

c) no net force acted on the box

the back of the truck

d) truck went into reverse by accident

because:

e) none of the above

A box sits in a pickup truck

Question 6.4 Friction

on a frictionless truck bed.

a) the force from the rushing air pushed

it off

When the truck accelerates

b) the force of friction pushed it off

forward, the box slides off

c) no net force acted on the box

the back of the truck

d) truck went into reverse by accident

because:

e) none of the above

A box sits in a pickup truck

Generally, the reason that the box in the truck bed would move
with the truck is due to friction between the box and the bed.
If there is no friction, there is no force to push the box along,
and it remains at rest. The truck accelerated away, essentially
leaving the box behind!!

Question 6.5 Antilock Brakes

Antilock brakes keep the
car wheels from locking
and skidding during a
sudden stop. Why does
this help slow the car
down?

a) k > s so sliding friction is better

b) k > s so static friction is better
c) s > k so sliding friction is better
d) s > k so static friction is better
e) none of the above

Question 6.5 Antilock Brakes

Antilock brakes keep the
car wheels from locking
and skidding during a
sudden stop. Why does
this help slow the car
down?

a) k > s so sliding friction is better

b) k > s so static friction is better
c) s > k so sliding friction is better
d) s > k so static friction is better
e) none of the above

Static friction is greater than sliding friction, so

by keeping the wheels from skidding, the static
friction force will help slow the car down more
efficiently than the sliding friction that occurs
during a skid.

Question 6.6 Going Sledding

Your little sister wants
you to give her a ride
on her sled. On level
ground, what is the

a) pushing her from behind

b) pulling her from the front
c) both are equivalent

easiest way to

d) it is impossible to move the sled

accomplish this?

e) tell her to get out and walk

Question 6.6 Going Sledding

Your little sister wants
you to give her a ride
on her sled. On level
ground, what is the

a) pushing her from behind

b) pulling her from the front
c) both are equivalent

easiest way to

d) it is impossible to move the sled

accomplish this?

e) tell her to get out and walk

In case 1, the force F is pushing down

(in addition to mg), so the normal
force is larger. In case 2, the force F

is pulling up, against gravity, so the

normal force is lessened. Recall that
the frictional force is proportional to
the normal force.

Question 6.7 Will It Budge?

A box of weight 100 N is at
rest on a floor where s = 0.4.
A rope is attached to the box
and pulled horizontally with
tension T = 30 N. Which way
does the box move?

a) moves to the left

b) moves to the right
c) moves up
d) moves down
e) the box does not move

Static friction
( s = 0.4)

Question 6.7 Will It Budge?

A box of weight 100 N is at
rest on a floor where s = 0.4.
A rope is attached to the box
and pulled horizontally with
tension T = 30 N. Which way
does the box move?

a) moves to the left

b) moves to the right
c) moves up
d) moves down
e) the box does not move

The static friction force has a

maximum of sN = 40 N. The
tension in the rope is only 30 N.

Static friction
( s = 0.4)

So the pulling force is not big

enough to overcome friction.
Follow-up: What happens if the tension is 35 N? What about 45 N?

Question 6.8a Sliding Down I

A box sits on a flat board.
You lift one end of the
board, making an angle
with the floor. As you
increase the angle, the
box will eventually begin
to slide down. Why?

a) component of the gravity force

parallel to the plane increased
b) coefficient of static friction decreased
c) normal force exerted by the board
decreased
d) both #1 and #3
e) all of #1, #2, and #3

Normal
Net Force
Weight

Question 6.8a Sliding Down I

A box sits on a flat board.
You lift one end of the
board, making an angle
with the floor. As you
increase the angle, the
box will eventually begin
to slide down. Why?

a) component of the gravity force

parallel to the plane increased
b) coefficient of static friction
decreased
c) normal force exerted by the board
decreased
d) both #1 and #3
e) all of #1, #2, and #3

As the angle increases, the component of

weight parallel to the plane increases and

Normal

the component perpendicular to the plane

decreases (and so does the normal force).

Net Force

Because friction depends on normal force,

we see that the friction force gets smaller
and the force pulling the box down the
plane gets bigger.

Weight

Question 6.8b Sliding Down II

A mass m is placed on an
inclined plane ( > 0) and
slides down the plane with
constant speed. If a similar
block (same ) of mass 2m
were placed on the same
incline, it would:

a) not move at all

b) slide a bit, slow down, then stop
c) accelerate down the incline
d) slide down at constant speed
e) slide up at constant speed

Question 6.8b Sliding Down II

A mass m is placed on an
inclined plane ( > 0) and
slides down the plane with
constant speed. If a similar
block (same ) of mass 2m
were placed on the same
incline, it would:

a) not move at all

b) slide a bit, slow down, then stop
c) accelerate down the incline
d) slide down at constant speed
e) slide up at constant speed

The component of gravity acting down

the plane is double for 2m. However,
the normal force (and hence the friction
force) is also double (the same factor!).
This means the two forces still cancel
to give a net force of zero.

f
Wy

Wx

Question 6.9 Tetherball

In the game of tetherball,

a) toward the top of the pole

the struck ball whirls

b) toward the ground

around a pole. In what

c) along the horizontal component of the

tension force

direction does the net

d) along the vertical component of the

tension force

force on the ball point?

e) tangential to the circle

Question 6.9 Tetherball

In the game of tetherball,

a) toward the top of the pole

the struck ball whirls

b) toward the ground

around a pole. In what

c) along the horizontal component of the

tension force

direction does the net

force on the ball point?

d) along the vertical component of the

tension force
e) tangential to the circle

The vertical component of the

tension balances the weight. The
horizontal component of tension
provides the centripetal force that

points toward the center of the

circle.

Question 6.10a Around the Curve I

You are a passenger in a
car, not wearing a seat
belt. The car makes a
sharp left turn. From
your perspective in the
car, what do you feel is
happening to you?

a) you are thrown to the right

b) you feel no particular change
c) you are thrown to the left
d) you are thrown to the ceiling
e) you are thrown to the floor

Question 6.10a Around the Curve I

You are a passenger in a
car, not wearing a seat
belt. The car makes a
sharp left turn. From
your perspective in the
car, what do you feel is
happening to you?

The passenger has the tendency to

continue moving in a straight line. From
your perspective in the car, it feels like
you are being thrown to the right, hitting
the passenger door.

a) you are thrown to the right

b) you feel no particular change
c) you are thrown to the left
d) you are thrown to the ceiling
e) you are thrown to the floor

Question 6.10b Around the Curve II

During that sharp left turn,
you found yourself hitting
the passenger door. What
is the correct description of
what is actually happening?

a) centrifugal force is pushing you

into the door
b) the door is exerting a leftward
force on you
c) both of the above
d) neither of the above

Question 6.10b Around the Curve II

During that sharp left turn,
you found yourself hitting
the passenger door. What
is the correct description of
what is actually happening?

a) centrifugal force is pushing you

into the door
b) the door is exerting a leftward
force on you
c) both of the above
d) neither of the above

The passenger has the tendency to

continue moving in a straight line. There
is a centripetal force, provided by the
door, that forces the passenger into a
circular path.

Question 6.10c Around the Curve III

You drive your dads car
too fast around a curve
and the car starts to skid.
What is the correct
description of this
situation?

a) cars engine is not strong enough to

keep the car from being pushed out
b) friction between tires and road is not
strong enough to keep car in a circle
c) car is too heavy to make the turn
d) a deer caused you to skid
e) none of the above

Question 6.10c Around the Curve III

You drive your dads car
too fast around a curve
and the car starts to skid.
What is the correct
description of this
situation?

a) cars engine is not strong enough to

keep the car from being pushed out
b) friction between tires and road is not
strong enough to keep car in a circle
c) car is too heavy to make the turn
d) a deer caused you to skid
e) none of the above

The friction force between tires and

road provides the centripetal force
that keeps the car moving in a circle.
If this force is too small, the car
continues in a straight line!
Follow-up: What could be done to
the road or car to prevent skidding?

Question 6.11 Missing Link

A Ping-Pong ball is shot into a
circular tube that is lying flat
(horizontal) on a tabletop. When
the Ping-Pong ball leaves the
track, which path will it follow?

d
a b c

Question 6.11 Missing Link

A Ping-Pong ball is shot into a
circular tube that is lying flat
(horizontal) on a tabletop. When
the Ping-Pong ball leaves the
track, which path will it follow?

d
a

e
b

Once the ball leaves the tube, there is no longer

a force to keep it going in a circle. Therefore, it
simply continues in a straight line, as Newtons
First Law requires!
Follow-up: What physical force provides the centripetal force?

Question 6.12 Ball and String

Two equal-mass rocks tied to strings are

a) T2 = T1

whirled in horizontal circles. The radius of

b) T2 = T1

circle 2 is twice that of circle 1. If the period

c) T2 = T1

of motion is the same for both rocks, what

d) T2 = 2T1

is the tension in cord 2 compared to cord 1?

e) T2 = 4T1

Question 6.12 Ball and String

Two equal-mass rocks tied to strings are

a) T2 = T1

whirled in horizontal circles. The radius of

b) T2 = T1

circle 2 is twice that of circle 1. If the period

c) T2 = T1

of motion is the same for both rocks, what

d) T2 = 2T1

is the tension in cord 2 compared to cord 1?

e) T2 = 4T1

The centripetal force in this case is given by the tension,

so T = mv2/r. For the same period, we find that v2 = 2v1
(and this term is squared). However, for the
denominator, we see that r2 = 2r1 which gives us the
relation T2 = 2T1.

Question 6.13 Barrel of Fun

A rider in a barrel of fun
finds herself stuck with
her back to the wall.
Which diagram correctly
shows the forces acting
on her?

Question 6.13 Barrel of Fun

A rider in a barrel of fun
finds herself stuck with
her back to the wall.
Which diagram correctly
shows the forces acting
on her?

The normal force of the wall on the

rider provides the centripetal force
needed to keep her going around
in a circle. The downward force of
gravity is balanced by the upward
frictional force on her, so she does
not slip vertically.
Follow-up: What happens if the rotation of the ride slows down?

Question 6.14a Going in Circles I

Youre on a Ferris wheel moving in a
vertical circle. When the Ferris wheel is

a) N remains equal to mg

at rest, the normal force N exerted by

b) N is smaller than mg

your seat is equal to your weight mg.

c) N is larger than mg

How does N change at the top of the

d) none of the above

Ferris wheel when you are in motion?

Question 6.14a Going in Circles I

Youre on a Ferris wheel moving in a
vertical circle. When the Ferris wheel is
at rest, the normal force N exerted by
your seat is equal to your weight mg.
How does N change at the top of the
Ferris wheel when you are in motion?

You are in circular motion, so there has to

be a centripetal force pointing inward. At
the top, the only two forces are mg (down)
and N (up), so N must be smaller than mg.

Follow-up: Where is N larger than mg?

a) N remains equal to mg
b) N is smaller than mg
c) N is larger than mg
d) none of the above

Question 6.14b Going in Circles II

A skier goes over a small round hill

a) Fc = N + mg

with radius R. Because she is in

b) Fc = mg N

circular motion, there has to be a

c) Fc = T + N mg

centripetal force. At the top of the

d) Fc = N

hill, what is Fc of the skier equal to?

e) Fc = mg

Question 6.14b Going in Circles II

A skier goes over a small round hill

a) Fc = N + mg

with radius R. Because she is in

b) Fc = mg N

circular motion, there has to be a

c) Fc = T + N mg

centripetal force. At the top of the

d) Fc = N

hill, what is Fc of the skier equal to?

Fc points toward the center of the

circle (i.e., downward in this case).
The weight vector points down and
the normal force (exerted by the
hill) points up. The magnitude of
the net force, therefore, is
Fc = mg N.

e) Fc = mg

v
mg

R
Follow-up: What happens when
the skier goes into a small dip?

Question 6.14c Going in Circles III

You swing a ball at the end of string

a) Fc = T mg

in a vertical circle. Because the ball

b) Fc = T + N mg

is in circular motion there has to be a

centripetal force. At the top of the

c) Fc = T + mg
d) Fc = T

balls path, what is Fc equal to?

e) Fc = mg

top

Question 6.14c Going in Circles III

You swing a ball at the end of string

a) Fc = T mg

in a vertical circle. Because the ball

b) Fc = T + N mg

is in circular motion there has to be a

centripetal force. At the top of the
balls path, what is Fc equal to?

c) Fc = T + mg
d) Fc = T
e) Fc = mg

Fc points toward the center of the circle

(i.e., downward in this case). The
weight vector points down and the

mg

tension (exerted by the string) also

points down. The magnitude of the
net force, therefore, is Fc = T+ mg.
Follow-up: What is Fc at the bottom of the balls path?