Chapter2

MotioninOneDimension
CLICKERQUESTIONS
QuestionA2.01
Description:Introducingtheconceptofaveragespeed.
Question
Michaelisgoingtothestore6milesaway.Herideshisbikeat12mphforthefirsthalfofthetrip,thenwalksat4mphfor
theremainder.
Michaelsaveragespeedforthetriptothestoreisclosestto:
1.

2mph

2.

4mph

3.

6mph

4.

8mph

5.

10mph

6.

12mph

7.

14mph

8.

Exactlyhalfwaybetweentwoofthevaluesabove

9.

Impossibletodetermine

Commentary
Purpose:Tointroduceorhonetheconceptofaveragespeed.
Discussion:Theaveragespeedisthetotaldistancetraveleddividedbythetotaltimeneededtotravelthatdistance.
Inthiscase,weknowthetotaldistanceis6miles,butwedonotknowthetotaltime.
Ifyouassumethatfirsthalfofthetripmeansafter3miles,thenittakesMichael1/4hourtogothefirst3miles(at12mph)
and3/4hourtogothesecond3miles(at4mph),foratotalof1hourandanaveragespeedof6mph.

Page2.1

Chapter2
Ifyouassumethatfirsthalfofthetripmeansthathespentthesameamountoftimeateachspeed,thentheaveragespeed
istheaverageof12mphand4mph,or8mph.Letsgetthisanotherway:Lettbethetimeneededtocompleteeachhalfof
thetrip(inhours).Thetotaldistanceistherefore(12t+4t),whichmustbeequalto6miles,or16t=6.Buttheaveragespeed
issimplythetotaldistancedividedbythetotaltime,or6/(2t)=3/t=8(mph).
Sincethemeaningofthefirsthalfofthetripisambiguousheredoesitrefertodistanceortime?answers(3),(4),and
(9)arealldefensible.
KeyPoints:

Theaveragespeedforajourneyisequaltothetotaldistancetraveleddividedbythetotaltimerequired.

Sometimeseverydaylanguagelikethefirsthalfofthetripisnotpreciseenoughforphysicsuse.

ForInstructorsOnly
Moststudentswillsimplyaverage12mphand4mphtoget8mph,soeventhoughthereisavalidassumptionthatwilllead
tothisanswer,moststudentswillnothavethoughtmuchaboutit.Youwillneedtofindoutwhystudentspickedeachchoice.
Notethattheaveragespeedisproperlyinterpretedasatimeweightedaverage,thoughmoststudentswillnotappreciate
whatthismeans.Onagraphofspeedvs.time,theaverageistheareabelowthegraph(totaldistance)dividedbythelength
ofthebase(totaltime).
Somestudentsmighthavelearnedatechniqueforcorrectlycomputingaveragespeedwithouthavinganycluewhyitworks.
Theybreakthetripintowellchosenequaltimeintervals,thenaveragethe(constant)speedsduringtheintervals.Inthecase
ofequaldistances,ifwebreakthetripintofour15minuteintervals,thespeedsare12,4,4,and4mph,foranaverageof(12
+4+4+4)/4=6(mph).

QuestionA2.02
Description:Honingtheconceptofaveragespeed.
Question
Wendywalks10minonedirectionat2m/s,thenruns6minthesamedirectionat6m/s.Next,shestopsfor4seconds,and
finallywalksintheoppositedirectionat4m/sfor6seconds.
Wendysaveragespeedisclosestto:

Page2.2

Chapter2

1.

m/s

2.

1m/s

3.

1 1 2 m/s

4.

2m/s

5.

2 1 2 m/s

6.

3m/s

7.

3 1 2 m/s

8.

4m/s

9.

thenegativeofoneofthechoicesabove

10.

impossibletodetermine

Commentary
Purpose:Tohonetheconceptofaveragespeed.
Discussion:Theaveragespeedofsomeoneisthetotaldistancetraveleddividedbythetotaltimeneededtotravelthat
distance.
Inthiscase,Wendywalks10m,thenruns6m,stopsbriefly,andfinallywalks24m,foratotaldistancetraveledof40m.
Directiondoesnotmatter.IttakesWendyatotalof16secondstotravelthatdistance,foranaveragespeedof2.5m/s.
Notethatyoucannotignorethe4secondsduringwhichWendyisnotmoving.Thatisstillpartofhermotion.
KeyPoints:

Theaveragespeedofanobjectisthetotaldistanceittravels(thetotallengthofthepathalongwhichitmoves,
regardlessofdirection)dividedbythetotaltimeoftravel.

Averagespeedisnevernegative.

Averagespeedisnotthemagnitudeofaveragevelocity.

ForInstructorsOnly
Answer(1)isthemagnitudeoftheaveragevelocity.
Answer(2)istheaverageofthefourvelocitiesmentioned(2,6,0,and4).
Answer(3)isclosesttotheaverageofthethreenonzerovelocities(2,6,and4).
Page2.3

Chapter2
Answer(6)istheaverageofthefourindividualspeeds(2,6,0,and4).
Answer(7)isclosesttotheaveragespeedifthefoursecondsspentatrestareignored.(Somepeopleignorereststopson
longcartripswhencomputingaveragespeed.)
Answer(8)istheaverageofthethreenonzerospeeds(2,6,and4).
Answer(9)wouldfittheaveragevelocity, 1 2 m/s.
Answer(10),impossibletodetermine,mightbechosenbecausedirectionsarenotgiven(whichisirrelevant)orbecause
thetravelsegmentsaredescribedinconsistently(whichmakesthequestionmoredifficultbutnotimpossible).
Ofcourse,studentsmaymakechoicesbasedonalgebramistakesaswell.
Somealternateapproachestoansweringthequestion:

Sketchspeedvs.time,orotherwisebreaktheprocessintosixteen1secondintervals.Averagethese16speedstoget2 1 2
m/s.

Breakthe16secondsintotwo8secondintervals.Wendytravels16mforanaveragespeedof2m/sduringthefirstand
24mforanaveragespeedof3m/sduringthesecond.Theaverageoftheseis2 1 2 m/s.

Breaktheprocessintoanynumberofequaltimeintervalsanddeterminetheaveragespeedduringeach.Sinceaverage
speedisatimeaverage,youcanaveragetheseaverages.

Asketchofspeedvs.time(orevenvelocityvs.time,suitablyanalyzed)shouldhelpstudentsorganizeinformationand
computethecorrectvalue.
Somestudentsmayquestionwhethersomeonecangoimmediatelyfromonespeedorvelocitytoanother.Thequickanswer
isthatweareignoringtheseshortperiodsofacceleration.Alongeransweristhatthegivenspeedsareaveragesforthe
distancesortimesgiven.So,forexample,duringthesecondlegoftheprocess,Wendywouldactuallyreachaspeedlarger
than6m/sduringthe6msheruns.Thebottomlineisthatshecompletesthedistancein1second.
AdditionalDiscussionQuestions
1. WhatisWendysaveragevelocity?
2. SketchWendysvelocityvs.time.

Page2.4

Chapter2
QuestionA2.03a

Description:Distinguishingspeedandvelocity,andconsideringthespeedofaverticalprojectileatthetopofitstrajectory.
Question
Aballisthrownstraightupintotheair.Itspositionat7instantsoftimeareshowninthe
figure;themaximumheightisreachedatposition4.Atwhichofthelabeledpointsisthe
speedoftheballsmallest?
1. point1
2. point2
3. point3
4. point4
5. point5
6. point6
7. point7
8. Exactly2ofthepointsshown
9. Morethan2ofthepointsshown
10. Impossibletodetermine
Commentary
Purpose:Toprobeyourunderstandingofthedifferencebetweenspeedandvelocity,andtoestablishtheideathatthe
velocity(andspeed)ofaverticallylaunchedprojectileatthetopofitstrajectoryiszeroforoneinstantaneouspointintime.
Discussion:Anobjectsvelocityistherateofchangeofrateofchangeofitspositionanddescribesbothhowfasttheobject
ismoving(speed)andinwhichdirection(positiveornegativesignforonedimension,vectordirectionfortwoorthree).
Speedisthemagnitudeofvelocity(absolutevalueinonedimension),andisnevernegative.
Astheballmovesupward,itslowsdownundertheinfluenceofgravity;thatmeansthevelocity(whichispositive)gets
smallerandsmaller.Whenitreacheszero,theballisatrestforoneinstantintime,andimmediatelystartsmovingdownward
withanegativevelocity.Astheballfallsfasterandfasterdownward,thevelocitygetsmorenegative(largerspeedinthe
negativedirection).Thus,thespeedispositiveeverywhereexceptforpoint(4)attheverytop,whereitiszero
instantaneously.
Ifthequestionhadaskedwherethevelocityisleast,thecorrectanswerwouldbe(7):themostnegativenumberistheleast.

Page2.5

Chapter2
KeyPoints:

Velocityistherateatwhichpositionischanging,andhasamagnitudeandadirection.

Speedisthemagnitudeofthevelocity,andisnevernegative.

Anobjectlaunchedverticallyupwardhasapositivevelocitywhilemovingupward(assumingwedefineourcoordinate
systemsoupisthepositivedirection),negativevelocitywhilefallingbackdown,andzerovelocityforjustaninstantas
thevelocitychangesfrompositivetonegative.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisquestionexistslargelytosetupthenexttwoquestionsinthisthreequestionset.
Usethisquestiontoascertainwhetheryourstudentsunderstandthedifferencebetweenvelocityvs.speed,andthatbothare
momentarilyzeroatthetopofthetrajectory.Thenmoveontothenexttoquestions,whicharelikelytobemuchmore
contentiousandproductive.
Oneissuethatmayneeddiscussioniswhatsmaller/largerandless/greatermeaninthecontextofanumberlinewith
positiveandnegativenumbers.Studentsmaynotbeawarethatsmallermeansclosertozeroorsmallerinmagnitude,
whilelessmeansclosertothenegativeendofthenumberline.

QuestionA2.03b
Description:Honingtheconceptofaccelerationforaverticalprojectile,andprobingforacommonmisconception.
Question
Aballisthrownstraightupintotheair.Itspositionat7instantsoftimeareshowninthe
figure;themaximumheightisreachedatposition4.Atwhichofthelabeledpointsisthe
accelerationoftheballsmallest?
1.

point1

2.

point2

3.

point3

4.

point4

5.

point5

6.

point6

Page2.6

Chapter2
7.

point7

8.

Exactly2ofthepointsshown

9.

Morethan2ofthepointsshown

10.

Impossibletodetermine

Commentary
Purpose:Toexploreyourunderstandingoftheconceptofacceleration,probeforthecommonmisconceptionthatanobjects
accelerationiszerowheneveritsvelocityismomentarilyzero,anddevelopyourunderstandingoffreefall.
Discussion:Whiletravelingupandbackdown,theonlysignificantforceaffectingtheballisgravity.Wecallthissituation
freefall(evenfortheupwardpartofthemotion).Thegravitationalforceisaconstant,dependingonlyonthemassofthe
u
r
r
ballandnotontheballspositionormotion.AccordingtoNewtonsSecondLaw, (F net m a) ,theaccelerationofabodyis
proportionaltothenetforceactinguponit.Sincetheforceonabodyinfreefallisconstant,soistheacceleration.Thus,
answer(9)isbest.
(YoullbelearningmoreaboutNewtonsSecondLawsoon;fornow,allyouneedisthebasicideasthataccelerationis
proportionaltototalforce,theonlyforceactingisgravity,andgravityisconstant.)
Youmightbetemptedtothinkthattheaccelerationiszeroattheverytopofthetrajectory,justlikethevelocity.However,if
theaccelerationwerezero,thatwouldmeanthevelocityisnotchanging;soifthevelocitywerezero,itwouldremainzero,
andtheballwouldjusthoverthere.Foraballrestingonatable,theaccelerationandvelocityarebothzero,whichiswhythe
balldoesntmove.
Youmightarguethattheaccelerationisnotconstant,butislargeratpoint1thanpoint7.Thismaybecorrect,ifyour
argumentisbasedonaerodynamicdrag(airresistance):onthewayup,dragopposesthemotionandthusexertsadownward
forcethataugmentsgravity;onthewaydown,dragopposesthemotionandthusexertsanupwardforcethatopposesgravity.
Furthermore,thatforceisstrongerwhentheballismovingfaster,atthestartandendofthetrajectory.So,answer(7)is
defensible.
Ifyoudontmaketheapproximationoflocalgravitybutinsteadtakeintoaccountthefactthatthegravitationalforceon
theballgetsweakerastheballgetsfartherawayfromtheEarth,thenyoucouldarguethattheaccelerationissmallestat
point(4),thetopofthetrajectory.However,thiseffectisincrediblysmall,farsmallerthanairresistance.Ifyouregoingto
bethisexacting,theeffectofairresistancewilldominate,and(7)isabetteranswerthan(4).
KeyPoints:

Page2.7

Chapter2

Anobjectinfreefall(i.e.,travelingundertheinfluenceofgravityalone)hasaconstantdownwardacceleration.

Ifanobjecthaszerovelocityandzeroaccelerationatthesametime,itisremainingstationary.

Thebestanswertothisquestion(andmanyothers)dependsonwhatapproximationsyoumake.Learningwhat
approximationsphysiciststypicallymake,andwhentheymakethem,isanimportantpartoflearningphysics.

ForInstructorsOnly
WorriedaboutaproblemthatrequiresreferringtoNewtonsSecondLawbeforeactuallypresentingit?Remember,these
questionsaretostimulateandorganizelearning,nottoteststudentsonmaterialalreadycovered.Fairisirrelevant;
productiveisthegoal.
Dontbedismayedifstudentsdontneglectairresistance.Partoflearningphysicsislearningtomakethestandard
assumptionsandapproximationsthatpracticingphysicistsdo.Explicitlydiscussingsuchassumptionsandconsideringhow
makingornotmakingthemaffectsanswershelpsthemtodoso.Ifweassertthattheaccelerationisthesameeverywhereand
wedontexplicitlypointoutthatwereignoringairresistanceandthatwhatwesaidisonlytrueinthatapproximation,we
canconfusestudentsratherthanhelpingthem.
Ofcourse,includingairresistanceisnttheonlyreasonwhyastudentmightchooseanswer(7).Asalways,ourfirsttask
whenweseetheanswerhistogramistoelicitascompleteaspossibleaspectrumofstudentsargumentsfortheiranswers.

QuestionA2.03c
Description:Distinguishing,relating,andreasoningwithkinematicquantities.
Question
Aballisthrownstraightupintotheair.Itspositionat7instantsoftimeareshownbelow;
themaximumheightisreachedatposition4.Atwhichofthelabeledpointsisthespeedof
theballlargest?
1.

point1

2.

point2

3.

point3

4.

point4

5.

point5

6.

point6

Page2.8

Chapter2
7.

point7

8.

Exactly2ofthepointsshown

9.

Morethan2ofthepointsshown

10.

Impossibletodetermine

Commentary
Purpose:Toenrichyourunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenacceleration,velocity,displacement,andposition;
developyourqualitativereasoningskills;anddemonstratethepowerofreasoningwithgraphs.
Discussion:Theballslowsdownasitrises,comesmomentarilytorest,andthenfallsbackdownwithincreasingspeed.The
ballsspeedmustthereforebelargestateitherpoint1,point7,orboth.Neglectingairresistance,itseasytoshowthatthe
speedoftheballisthesameatpoints1and7usingtheprincipleofConservationofEnergy.However,wewontbeseeing
thatuntillaterinthecourse.Howcanweconvinceourselvesthatthespeedisthesameatthesetwopointsusingthephysics
wealreadyknow?
Inthepreviousproblem(22b),weestablishedthattheballsaccelerationisconstantsincetheonlyforceactingonitis
gravity,whichisconstant.Accelerationistherateofchangeofvelocity,whichmeansthataccelerationistheslopeofa
velocityvs.timegraph.Ifaccelerationisconstant,thevelocityvs.timegraphmustbeastraightline.

Velocityistherateofchangeofposition,whichmeansthattheareaunderthevelocityvs.timegraphindicatesthe
displacementoftheobject:thechangeinitsposition(xfxi).Areaabovethetaxisindicatespositivedisplacement(increase
ofposition),areabelowindicatesnegativedisplacement(decreaseofposition).Iftheballistoreturntothepointatwhichit
started,itstotaldisplacementmustbezero.Thismeansthatthetoplefttrianglemusthavethesameareaasthebottomright
triangle.Theonlywayforthistohappenisifthetrianglesarethesamesize,whichmeansthatthevelocityattheendhasthe
samemagnitudeasthevelocityatthebeginning.Thus,thespeedatpoints1and7mustbethesame.
Ifwedonotneglectairresistance,accelerationisntquiteconstant,sothevelocityvs.timegraphisslightlycurved,andthe
finalspeedwontbequitethesameastheinitialspeedtomakethetotaldisplacementbezero.

Page2.9

Chapter2
KeyPoints:

Intheabsenceofairresistance,averticalprojectilelandswiththesamespeedatwhichitwaslaunched.

Accelerationistheslopeofavelocityvs.timegraph,anddisplacement(changeinposition)istheareaunderit.

Graphsarehelpfultoolsforreasoningaboutsituationsandansweringquestions.Understandinghowtointerpretthe
slopeofandareaunderagraphispowerful.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thoughwemightbetemptedtosimplyassertthattheballsspeedmustbethesameatstartandfinishperhapsconsidering
italmostselfevidentitsnotnecessarilysoobvioustostudents,especiallywiththetoolstheycurrentlyhavetoworkwith.
Ifwewantstudentstousegraphs,freebodydiagrams,andothernonalgebraicrepresentations,wemustgivethemproblems
wheretheseapproachesareclearlysuperior,andalsomodeltheiruse.

QuestionA2.04a
Description:Understandingthesignofvelocityandacceleration.
Question
Aballisrolledupaninclinesothatitgoespartwayupandthenrollsbackdown.Whichofthegraphsbelowcouldrepresent
itsaccelerationvs.timefromtheinstantitisreleaseduntilitreturnstowhereitstarted?

1.

2.

Page2.10

Chapter2

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.
10.

Noneofthegraphs
Twoormoreofthegraphs

Commentary

Page2.11

Chapter2
Purpose:Tohonetheconceptofacceleration,focusingonitsvectornature,andhowtorepresentitgraphically.Inparticular,
thisquestiontargetsthecommonmisconceptionthatpositiveaccelerationmeansspeedingupandnegativeacceleration
meansslowingdown.
Discussion:Aballrolledupaninclineslowsdown,stopsatthetop,thenspeedsupagainasitrollsbackdown.Itiscommon
butincorrecttothinkthattheaccelerationisnegativewhiletheballslowsdownandpositivewhiletheballspeedsup.
Accelerationisdefinedasthechangeinvelocity.Astheballrollsuptheincline,itsvelocitypointsinitsdirectionofmotion,
paralleltotheplaneanduphill.Astheballslowsdown,thevelocityvectorgetsshorter.Thechangeinthevelocityvector
betweentwosubsequenttimesisthereforeavectorpointingparalleltotheplaneanddownhill.Sotheaccelerationpoints
downhill.
Astheballrollsdownthehill,itsvelocityagainpointsinthedirectionofmotion,whichisnowdownhill.Itisspeedingup,
sothevelocityvectorisgettinglonger.Thechangeinthevelocityvectorbetweentwosubsequenttimesisthereforeavector
pointingparalleltotheplaneanddownhill.Sotheaccelerationagainpointsdownhill.
Evenattheverytopofitsmotion,whentheballstopsrollingupandstartsrollingbackdown,itsvelocityischangingfroma
vectorpointinguptheplanetoonepointingdowntheplane.Heretootheaccelerationpointsdownhill.Throughoutitsentire
motion,theballsaccelerationisnonzeroandpointsdowntheplane.Therefore,answers(1),(2),(4),(5),(6),(7),and(8)
cannotbevalid.
Answer(9)canbevalid,ifwechooseacoordinatesystemsothatthepositivedirectionisdowntheplane.Thismaybean
unusualchoice,butitisvalid.Keepinmindthatcoordinatesystemsarearbitrarymathematicalconstructswedefinetohelp
ussolveproblems;wecanorientthemhoweverwewish.Sincethequestionaskswhichofthegraphscouldrepresentthe
ballsaccelerationvs.time,answer(9)isthebestchoice.
KeyPoints:

Accelerationistherateofchangeofvelocity.

Ifanobjectistravelinginastraightlineandslowingdown,accelerationpointsintheoppositedirectionofitsmotion.If
itisspeedingup,accelerationpointsinthedirectionofmotion.

Positiveandnegativeaccelerationsrefertothedirectionrelativetoacoordinatesystem,nottospeedingupor
slowingdown.

Coordinatesystemsarearbitraryandmaybeorientedhoweverwewish,thoughsomechoicesaremorecommonand
convenientthanothers.

Page2.12

Chapter2
ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisfirstoftwosimilarquestionsexploringgraphsofvelocityandacceleration.Werecommendpresentingbothquestions
backtoback,collectinganswersforeach,beforediscussingorrevealinganythingabouteither.(QuestionA3.07issimilar,
andisintendedforusewhenintroducingcurvilinearmotion.Itexplorestheconceptoftangentialacceleration,whichisclose
tomanystudentsintuitiveideaofacceleration.)
Moststudentsgenerallychooseanswer(2),sincetheyassociateslowingdownwithnegativeaccelerationandspeeding
upwithpositiveacceleration.Theinstructormustleadstudentstoexplicitlyarticulatethisidea,andthenconvincethem
thatitisinconsistentwiththedefinitionofacceleration.
Somestudents,especiallythosewhoaretryingtodealwithcoordinateframesandjustslightlymissingthemark,willpick
(1),orperhapsboth(1)and(2).Thesestudentsmaybemoresensitivethanmosttothefactthatthepositivedirectionis
positive.Forthem,choosingdowntobepositivemakes(1)valid.
Answer(9)isalikelychoiceforstudentswhounderstandthattheaccelerationwillnotchangemagnitudeordirection,but
assumethatthepositivedirectionmustbeuptheplane.Others,lessconfidentintheirthinking,willassumethattheyare
wrongandpickoneoftheotheranswers.
Graph(4)isavalidgraphofspeedvs.time,and(5)isavalidgraphofvelocityvs.time.Ifyouarediscussingthetwo
questionsinthesettogether,thisisagoodconnectiontomake.Ifyouhavenotpresented23byet,werecommendnot
emphasizingthispointuntilyouhave.
Graph(6)isthenegativeofthespeed.(7)ispositionvs.timewiththeinitialheightchosenastheorigin,and(8)isposition
vs.timewiththetopmostpointchosenastheorigin.

QuestionA2.04b
Description:Understandingthesignofvelocityandacceleration.
Question
Aballisrolledupaninclinesothatitgoespartwayupandthenrollsbackdown.Whichofthegraphsbelowcouldrepresent
itsvelocityvs.timefromtheinstantitisreleaseduntilitreturnstowhereitstarted?

Page2.13

Chapter2

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Page2.14

Chapter2
9.
10.

Noneofthegraphs
Twoormoreofthegraphs

Commentary
Purpose:Tohonetheconceptofvelocity,focusingonitsvectornatureandhowtorepresentitgraphically.
Discussion:Weexpecttheballtoslowdown,changedirection,thenspeedupintheoppositedirection,allwithconstant
acceleration.Therearetwovalidwaysofrepresentingthismotion,thoughonlyoneofthemisshown.Graph(5)showsan
objectmovinginthenegativedirectionbutslowingdown,thenstopping(wherethelinecrossesthetaxis)andspeedingup
inthepositivedirection.Ifwechooseacoordinatesystemsuchthatdownhillispositive,anduphillisnegative,thisisa
possiblegraphforthemotionoftheball.So(5)isadefensibleanswer.
Ifuphillwerechosenasthepositivedirection,thevelocityvs.timegraphwouldbeastraightlinewithanegativeslope,
startingabovethetaxisandendingbelowit.Thischoiceisnotincludedamongtheanswers.
Graph(1)depictsaballthattravelsuptheinclinewithconstantvelocity,andthensuddenlyandinstantaneouslyreverses.
Thisgraphwouldbemoreappropriateforaballthatrollsalongahorizontalfloorandthenreboundsoffofawall.(2)isthe
same,butwithpositiveandnegativedirectionsreversed,asifdownhillwerechosenasthepositivedirection.
Graph(4)isavalidrepresentationofspeedvs.time,butnotofvelocityvs.time.Sincethefunctiondepictedisalways
positiveexceptfortheinflectionpoint,theobjectwouldalwaysbemovinginthesamedirection.Thisgraphmightrepresent
acarthatslowsdown,stopsmomentarilyatanintersection,andthenspeedsupagaininthesamedirectionasbefore.
Graph(6)cannotbespeedvs.timeforanycoordinatesystem:speedisnevernegative.Aswith(4),itcouldrepresentacar
slowingandstoppingmomentarilyatanintersectionandtheproceedinginthesamedirection,ifthecarweretravelinginthe
negativedirectionofourcoordinatesystemfortheentiretime.
Notethataccelerationvs.timeistheslopeofvelocityvs.time.Forgraph(5),theslopeisconstantandpositiveatalltimes,
sothecorrespondinggraphofaccelerationvs.timemustbeaconstant,positivevalue,suchasgraph(3).
KeyPoints:

Thesignofanobjectsvelocityindicateswhetheritismovinginthepositiveornegativedirectionasdefinedbya
chosencoordinatesystem.Themagnitudeindicatestheobjectsspeed.

Ifanobjectexperiencesconstantacceleration,itsvelocityvs.timegraphmustbeastraightlinewhoseslopeequalsthe
valueofacceleration.

Thereisnoonerightcoordinatesystemforasituationorproblem.Forconvenienceandoutofhabit,wegenerally

Page2.15

Chapter2
choosethepositivedirectiontobeupwardortotheright,butthatisnotnecessary.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisfirstoftwosimilarquestionsexploringgraphsofvelocityandacceleration.Werecommendpresentingbothquestions
backtoback,collectinganswersforeach,beforediscussingorrevealinganythingabouteither.(QuestionA3.07issimilar,
andisintendedforusewhenintroducingcurvilinearmotion.Itexplorestheconceptoftangentialacceleration,whichisclose
tomanystudentsintuitiveideaofacceleration.)
Mostlikely,themajorityofyourstudentswillselectanswer(9):Noneofthegraphs.Theyaremostlikelylookingfora
graphthatbeginswithapositivevalueofvelocityslopingdowntoanegativevalueattheend,becausetheyareusingthe
conventionthatupispositive.Aprimaryobjectiveofthisquestionistohelpthemappreciatethatthisismerelyachoice,
notanecessity.Ifdownischosentobepositive,then(5)isavalidchoice,andthequestionaskswhichofthegraphscould
representtheballsvelocityvs.time.
Studentsshouldnotbeexpectedtoknowthattheballwillslowdowngoingupandspeeduprollingbackdown,ratherthan
instantaneouslyreversingdirection.Changesinspeedaredifficulttodetectinreallifeobservation,andstudentswhohave
nevertakenphysicsbeforemaynotrealizetheballisinfactslowingdownasitrollsuptheincline.Ifanystudentschoose
answers(1)or(2)forthisreason,itisimportanttoconfirmthattheyarecorrectlyrepresentingtheirphysicalmodelofthe
situationgraphically,thoughtheirphysicalintuitionneedsrefinement.Simplysayingthoseanswersarewrongrisks
confusingsuchstudentstheymightthinktheywerewrongforthewrongreason.

QuestionA2.05a
Description:Honingtheconceptofposition.
Question
Ralphwalks3mtotheleftin2seconds,then4mtotherightin3seconds.Next,hestopsfor3seconds,andfinallywalks5
mtotheleftin4seconds.
Ralphsfinalpositionisclosestto:
1.

0m

2.

2m

3.

4m

4.

6m

Page2.16

Chapter2
5.

8m

6.

10m

7.

12m

8.

14m

9.

Thenegativeofoneofthechoicesabove

10.

Impossibletodetermine

Commentary
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingofposition.
Discussion:Anobjectspositionisitslocationrelativetoacoordinatesystem.WeknowalotaboutthemotionofRalph,
butwedonotknowhisposition,becausewedonotknowwheretoplacetheoriginofthecoordinatesystem.Inotherwords,
wedonotknowRalphsinitialposition.Itistempting,butunjustified,toassumethathebeginsattheorigin.
Also,thequestiondoesnotdefinewhichdirectionispositive.EvenifthequestiontoldusthatRalphbeganattheorigin,
wewouldnotknowwhetherheendedupat4umor4m.Positivetotherightisaconventionweusewhendrawinggraphs
onpaper,butdoesnotnecessarilydescribethecoordinatesystemofRalphsworld.
KeyPoints:

Anobjectspositionisitslocationrelativetoanorigin.

Theoriginofacoordinatesystemisnotnecessarilyanobjectsstartingpoint.

Knowingchangesinpositionisnotenoughtodeterminefinalpositionunlessweknowtheinitialpositionaswell.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisthefirstofthreerelatedquestionsthathelpstudentsdistinguishandrelateposition,distancetraveled,and
displacement.
Studentschoosinganswer(3)aremostlikelyassumingRalphbeginsattheorigin.Studentschoosinganswer(9)maybe
doingthesame,andassumingthatleftmeansinthenegativedirection.
Tohelpstudentsunderstandwhyanobjectsstartingpositionmightnotalwaysbeattheorigin,askhowtheywoulddescribe
asituationwithtwoindividualsbeginningindifferentplaces.

QuestionA2.05b

Page2.17

Chapter2
Description:Honingtheconceptofdistancetraveled.
Question
Ralphwalks3mtotheleftin2seconds,then4mtotherightin3seconds.Next,hestopsfor3seconds,andfinallywalks5
mtotheleftin4seconds.
ThedistanceRalphtravelsisclosestto:
1.

0m

2.

2m

3.

4m

4.

6m

5.

8m

6.

10m

7.

12m

8.

14m

9.

Thenegativeofoneofthechoicesabove

10.

Impossibletodetermine

Commentary
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingofdistancetraveled.
Discussion:Thedistancetraveledbysomeoneisnothowfarthepersonendsupfromhisoriginallocation,butthetotal
amountofdistancecoveredduringtheprocessofmoving.Ifyouwalkfromhometothestoreandthenbackagain,your
distancetraveledistwicethedistancetothestore,eventhoughyouendupwhereyoustarted.Whendrivingacar,the
distancetraveledisthechangeinodometerreading.
Weoftencallthisthetotaldistancetraveled,justtobeclear.
Inthiscase,Ralphwalks3m,then4m,andfinally5m,foratotalof12m.Directiondoesnotmatter,nordoeshisstarting
position.
KeyPoints:

Thedistancetraveledisthetotaldistancemovedduringaspecifiedprocess.Itisthesumofthedistancestraveled
duringeachlegofatrip.

Page2.18

Chapter2

Thedistancetraveledisalwayspositive.Directiondoesnotmatter.

Thedistancetraveleddependsonthepathtakenbetweentwopoints,butitdoesnotdependonhowlongittakesto
complete.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisthesecondofthreerelatedquestionsthathelpstudentsdistinguishandrelateposition,distancetraveled,and
displacement.
Studentswhochooseanswer(3)arelikelydeterminingthedisplacement,oritsmagnitude,ratherthanthedistancetraveled.
Theymaythinkofthisasthenetdistancetraveled.
Studentschoosinganswer(9)maybedeterminingthedisplacementandassumingpositiveistotheright,orapplyingsome
kindofsignconventiontothedistance,orperhapsadifferenterror.

QuestionA2.05c
Description:Honingtheconceptofdisplacement.
Question
Ralphwalks3mtotheleftin2seconds,then4mtotherightin3seconds.Next,hestopsfor3seconds,andfinallywalks5
mtotheleftin4seconds.
Ralphsdisplacementisclosestto:
1.

0m

2.

2m

3.

4m

4.

6m

5.

8m

6.

10m

7.

12m

8.

14m

9.

Thenegativeofoneofthechoicesabove

10.

Impossibletodetermine

Commentary

Page2.19

Chapter2
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingofdisplacement.
Discussion:Anobjectsdisplacementisthechangeinitsposition:finalpositionminusinitialposition.Ithasdirection
associatedwithit,anddoesnotdependonthepathtakenbetweentheinitialandfinalpointsoronthetimeinterval.
Mathematically,ifxdescribesanobjectsposition,werepresentitsdisplacementas x .
Ralphendsup4mtotheleftofhisoriginalposition,sohisdisplacementis4m,left.Ifthepositivedirectionischosento
betotheleft,then4m(answer3)isacceptable;ifpositiveischosentobetotheright,then4m(answer9)is
acceptable.
KeyPoints:

Anobjectsdisplacementisthechangeinitsposition.

Displacementhasadirectionassociatedwithit,representedbythesignofthedisplacement(positiveornegative)inone
dimensionandbyavectordirectionintwoormoredimensions.

Displacementdoesnotdependonhowtheobjectgetsfromtheinitialtothefinalpoint.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisthethirdofthreerelatedquestionsthathelpstudentsdistinguishandrelateposition,distancetraveled,and
displacement.
Studentsmightnotlikethattherearetwoacceptableanswers,andthatthecorrectnessdependsontheassumptionmadeabout
thepositivedirection.

QuestionA2.06a
Description:Honingtheconceptdisplacement,andlinkingtographicalrepresentations.
Question
Amy,Brad,andCatearewalking(orrunning)alongastraightlineasrepresentedbelow.
Whichpeoplehavethesamedisplacement?
1.

None;theyallhavedifferentdisplacements.

2.

AmyandBrad

Page2.20

Chapter2
3.

AmyandCate

4.

BradandCate

5.

Allthreearethesame.

Commentary
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingofdisplacement.
Discussion:Displacementisthechangeinposition.Theintermediatepathdoesnotmatter,buttheoveralldirectiondoes.
Amystartsatx=1mandendsatx=+2m,foradisplacementof3m.Bradstartsatx=2mandendsatx=+1m,fora
displacementof+3m.Catestartsatx=+1mandendsatx=2m,foradisplacementof3m.
So,eventhoughAmyandBradhavecompletelydifferentpaths,andalsostartandendatdifferentpoints,eachpersons
positionchangesby3minthepositivedirection,sotheyhavethesamedisplacement.
KeyPoints:

Displacementxisthechangeinposition,x=xfinalxinitial.

Displacementhasamagnitudeandadirection.Inonedimension,apositiveornegativesignindicatesdirection.Intwoor
moredimensions,weuseavector.

Displacementdoesnotdependuponthedetailsofthemotionbetweentwopoints,orwheretheyarerelativetotheorigin.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisoneofsixquestionsaboutthisgraph.Youdonotneedtousethemall,orinanyparticularorder.
Studentswhochooseanswer(5)areprobablyconsideringonlythemagnitudeofthedisplacement.
Studentswhochooseanswer(1)mightbeconfusingdisplacementwithdistancetraveledorwithfinalposition,orotherwise
takingthepathtraveledintoaccount.
(BradandCatebothhavethesamedistancetraveled3mthoughinoppositedirections.Amytravelsalongertotal
distanceforthesamemagnitudeofdisplacement.)
Dependingonhowmuchexperiencestudentshaveworkingwithgraphicalrepresentations,studentsmayhavedifficulty
interpretingthesepositionvs.timegraphs.(Themoretroubletheyhave,themoretheyneedtowrestlewiththis!)Theymight
thinktheydepictactualtwodimensionalpaths(yvs.x)asseenfromabove.StudentswhothinkthismightstillchooseAmy

Page2.21

Chapter2
andBradashavingthesamedisplacement.Aquestionspecificallyaskingstudentstocomputethedisplacementorthe
distancetraveledwillhelpteasethisapart.

QuestionA2.06b
Description:Honingtheconceptofdisplacement,andlinkingtographicalrepresentations.
Question
Amy,Brad,andCatearewalking(orrunning)alongastraightlineasshownbelow.
Whichpeoplehavethelargestdisplacement?
1.

onlyAmy

2.

onlyBrad

3.

onlyCate

4.

AmyandBrad

5.

AmyandCate

6.

BradandCate

7.

Allarethesame

8.

Impossibletodetermine

Commentary
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingofdisplacement.
Discussion:Displacementisthechangeinposition.Theintermediatepathdoesnotmatter,buttheoveralldirectiondoes.
Amystartsatx=1mandendsatx=+2m,foradisplacementof+3m.Bradstartsatx=2mandendsatx=+1m,fora
displacementof+3m.Catestartsatx=+1mandendsatx=2m,foradisplacementof3m.
Thus,assumingthatlargestreferstothemagnitudeofthedisplacement,allthreehavethesamemagnitudeof3m.
KeyPoints:

Displacementxisthechangeinposition,x=xfinalxinitial.

Displacementdoesnotdependuponthedetailsofthemotionbetweentwopoints,orwheretheyarerelativetotheorigin.

Page2.22

Chapter2

Thelargestofasetofnumbersusuallyreferstotheonewiththegreatestmagnitude,whilethegreatestusuallyrefers
tothemostpositiveorleastnegative(i.e.,theonefarthesttowardsthepositiveendofthenumberline).Peoplearenot
alwaysconsistentaboutthis,however.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisoneofsixquestionsaboutthisgraph.Youdonotneedtousethemall,orinanyparticularorder.
AmyandCateendupfarthestfromtheorigin,each2maway,withAmyatapositivepositionandCateatanegative
position.Studentswhochooseanswers(1)or(5)couldbeconfusingdisplacementwithpositionormagnitudeofposition.
AmyandBradhavethesamepositivedisplacement.Studentswhochooseanswer(4)areperhapsthinkingthat+3islarger
than3.(Wetypicallyinterpretlargest,smallest,largerthan,andsmallerthanasreferringtomagnitudeand
greatest,least,greaterthan,andlessthanasreferringtorelativepositionalonganumberline.So,forexample,3is
lessthanbutalsolargerthan+1.)
Amywalksthefarthestdistance.Studentswhochooseanswer(1)mightthinkthattheyarebeingaskedforthedistance
traveled.
Studentsunaccustomedtopositiontimegraphsmayinterpretthegraphlinesastwodimensionalpathsoryvs.xtrajectories.
Withthisinterpretation,allthreepeoplestillhavethesamemagnitudesofdisplacement.Youcandeterminewhetherthis
mistakeisoccurringbyaskingstudentsduringpostquestiondiscussionwhatnumericalvalueofthedisplacementthey
found.Iftheysaythatthedisplacementsareallabout7mlong,thentheyareprobablyinterpretingthesegraphsasyvs.x
insteadofxvs.t.
QuestionA2.06c
Description:Honingtheconceptofdistancetraveled,andlinkingtographicalrepresentations.
Question
Amy,Brad,andCatearewalking(orrunning)alongastraightlineasshownbelow.
Amysdistancetraveledisclosestto:
1.

1m

2.

3m

3.

5m

4.

7m

Page2.23

Chapter2
5.

9m

6.

11m

7.

13m

8.

15m

9.

17m

10.

Exactlyhalfwaybetweentwoofthevaluesabove

Commentary
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingofdistancetraveled.
Discussion:Thedistancetraveledbyanobjectisthetotallengthofthepathfollowed.Itisanonnegativenumber,withno
directionassociatedwithit.Thedistanceacartravelsistheincreaseinitsodometerreading.
Amystartsatx=1mandfirstwalkstox=+2m,adistanceof3m.Thenshewalkstox=+1m,adistanceof1m.Next,she
standsstillatx=+1mfor2seconds.Finally,shewalksbacktox=+2m,adistanceof1m.Thus,thetotaldistancetraveled
is3+1+0+1=5m.
Notethatthesegraphsarenotyvs.x,butpositionxvs.timet.Thesepeoplearewalkingalongasinglestraightline,andthe
coordinatealongthisstraightlineisx.Thisrepresentationisusefulandcommon,soyoushouldmakesureyouunderstandit.
BradandCatetraveleachtravelatotaldistanceof3m.
KeyPoints:

Distancetraveledreferstothetotallengthofthepathfollowedbyanobject.Itisamagnitudewithnosignor
direction.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisoneofsixquestionsaboutthisgraph.Youdonotneedtousethemall,orinanyparticularorder.
Studentswhochooseanswer(5)orperhaps(6)maybeinterpretingthegraphsasyvs.x(topviews).Ifthegraphdidshowy
vs.x,Amysdistancetraveledwouldbeabout9.8m(andherdisplacementisabout6.7m).
QuestionA2.06d
Description:Honingtheconceptofaveragespeed,andlinkingtographicalrepresentations.

Page2.24

Chapter2
Question
Amy,Brad,andCatearewalking(orrunning)alongastraightlineasshownbelow.
Whichpeoplehavethesameaveragespeedduringthetimeperiodshown?
1.

None;theyallhavedifferentaveragespeeds.

2.

AmyandBrad

3.

AmyandCate

4.

BradandCate

5.

Allthreearethesame.

Commentary
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingofaveragespeed.
Discussion:Theaveragespeedisthetotaldistancetraveleddividedbythetotaltimeneededtotravelthatdistance.Direction
doesnotmatter.
Thetimeperiodisthesameforallthreepeople,sowecanfocusontotaldistancetraveled.Iftwopeopletravelthesame
distance,theymusthavethesameaveragespeed.
Amytravels5min6seconds.BradandCatetravel3min6seconds,eventhoughitisinoppositedirectionsandwith
completelydifferentpatternofspeeds.Thus,BradandCatehavethesameaveragespeed.
KeyPoints:

Anobjectsaveragespeedisthetotaldistanceittravelsdividedbythetotaltimeitistraveling.

Averagespeedisnotthemagnitudeofaveragevelocity!

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisoneofsixquestionsaboutthisgraph.Youdonotneedtousethemall,orinanyparticularorder.
Studentswhoanswer(1)maybeinterpretingthesegraphsasyvs.x,sincewiththatinterpretationallthreehavedifferentpath
lengths.
Studentswhoanswer(5)maybefindingthemagnitudeoftheaveragevelocity,sincethatisthesameforallthreepeople(0.5
m/s).

Page2.25

Chapter2
Studentsarelikelytocomputenumericalvaluesfortheaveragespeeds,notrealizingthatsincethetimesarethesamethey
canfocusonlyondistancetraveled.Werecommendaskingaboutthisduringdiscussion,sotheymayrealizetheycouldhave
savedthemselvessomeworkbythinkingmore.
Ifstudentsarehavingdifficultywiththis,sketchingspeedvs.timeplotsmayhelp.
Analternativetechniquestudentsmayhavelearnedforcomputingaveragespeedistobreakthetimeperiodintosix1second
intervals,andfindthespeedduringeach.Then,theycanaveragethosesixvalues.(Wedontrecommendthisapproach,asit
obscurestheconceptsunderlyingaveragespeedanddoesntgeneralizeeasilytosituationswithnonconstantvelocity.)

QuestionA2.06e
Description:Honingtheconceptofinstantaneousvelocity,andlinkingtographicalrepresentations.
Question
Amy,Brad,andCatearewalking(orrunning)alongastraightlineasshownbelow.
Whichpeoplearemovingtowardtheoriginatt=2s?
1.

None

2.

Amyonly

3.

Bradonly

4.

Cateonly

5.

AmyandBrad

6.

AmyandCate

7.

BradandCate

8.

Allthree

Commentary
Purpose:Tohonetheunderstandingofinstantaneousvelocity,inparticularofitsdirection.
Discussion:Weoftenusepositiveornegativetodescribethedirectionofthevelocity,butpositivedoesnotalways
meanawayfromtheoriginandnegativedoesnotalwaysmeantowardtheorigin.Thesearetrueonlywhenthe
positionispositive.Inthiscase,AmyandCatehavepositivepositionsandnegativevelocitiesatt=2s,sotheyaremoving

Page2.26

Chapter2
towardtheorigin,i.e.,movingtowardx=0.Catereachestheoriginatt=3s.
ButBradisalsomovingtowardx=0.Hispositionisnegativeandhisvelocityispositive.Hereachestheoriginatt=5s.
NotethatAmydoesnotreturntotheoriginafterbeingthereearlier,butthisdoesnotmeansheisnotmovingtowardthe
originatt=2s.Ifshehadcontinuedtowalkat1/2m/s,shewouldhavereachedtheoriginatt=5s,butinsteadshestopsat
t=3sandthenstartstomoveawayfromtheoriginatt=5s.
KeyPoints:

Formotioninonedimension,apositivevelocityisawayfromtheoriginifthepositionispositiveandtowardsthe
originifthepositionisnegative.(Viceversaforanegativevelocity.)

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisoneofsixquestionsaboutthisgraph.Youdonotneedtousethemall,orinanyparticularorder.
Answer(6)canbesurprisinglycommon:studentsoftenassumethatpeopleareonthepositivesideofanorigin,evenifit
mightseemobvioustoyouthatsomeareandsomearent.
Studentswhochooseanswer(7)or(4)maybethinkingthatAmyisntmovingtowardstheoriginbecauseshedoesnt
actuallyreachit;theyareusingadifferentinterpretationofmovingtowards.
Studentschoosinganswer(2)maybeconfusingoriginwithoriginalposition.
Forfollowupdiscussion,youcanaskadditionalquestionssuchasWhichpeoplehaveapositivevelocityatt=4s?

QuestionA2.06f
Description:Honingtheconceptofspeed,andlinkingtographicalrepresentations.
Question
Amy,Brad,andCatearewalking(orrunning)alongastraightlineasshownbelow.
Duringwhich1secondtimeperiod(s)arethereatleasttwopeoplewiththesamespeed?
1. 01s
2. 12s

Page2.27

Chapter2
3. 23s
4. 34s
5. 45s
6. 56s
7. Noneofthetimeintervals
8. Twoofthetimeintervals
9. Threeofthetimeintervals
10.

Fourormoreofthetimeintervals

Commentary
Purpose:Tohoneyourunderstandingof(instantaneous)speed.
Discussion:Thespeedisthemagnitudeofvelocity,anddoesnothaveadirectionassociatedwithit.Anobjectsspeedisthe
rateatwhichitspositionischangingataparticularinstantoftimehowfastitismovingatthatinstant.
Onagraphofpositionvs.time,velocityistheslope,andastraightlinemeansthatthevelocityisconstant.So,forinstance,
duringthefirstsecond,Amyrunsfromx=1mtox=+2m,adisplacementof+3min1second,foravelocityof+3m/s.
Then,duringthenext2seconds,Amywalksfromx=+2mtox=+1m,adisplacementof1m,foravelocityof1/2m/s
duringthat2secondtimeinterval.Meanwhile,Bradhasavelocityof1/2m/sduringthefirst2seconds,soheandAmy
havethesamespeedfromt=1suntilt=2s.
Duringeach1secondtimeinterval,eachpersonsspeedisconstant,sowecancomparethesespeedstoanswerthequestion.
Duringthreeofthetimeintervals,twopeoplehavethesamespeed:(1)fromt=1stot=2s,bothAmyandBradaremoving
atthesamespeedof1/2m/s,thoughinoppositedirections;(2)fromt=4stot=5s,AmyandCatearemovingatthesame
speed,i.e.,theyarebothnotmoving,sotheirspeediszero;and(3)fromt=5stot=6s,AmyandBradareagainmovingat
thesamespeed,thoughthistimeitis1m/s.
KeyPoints:

Speedisthemagnitudeofvelocity.

Twoobjectscanhavethesamespeedbutdifferentvelocities,iftheyaremovingindifferentdirections.

ForInstructorsOnly
Thisisoneofsixquestionsaboutthisgraph.Youdonotneedtousethemall,orinanyparticularorder.

Page2.28

Chapter2
Studentswhoanswer(8),twotimeintervals,andclaimthatthetwointervalsare01sand23saremaybeconfusingposition
withspeed,orinterpretingthegraphasvelocityvstime.Duringtheseintervals,twopeoplecrosspaths.Studentswho
interprettheplotasvelocityvs.timemayalsohavetroubleidentifyingintervals,sinceifthisweresuchagraphAmyand
Catehavethesamespeedattheinstantst=3sandt=6s.
Studentschoosinganswer(8)forintervals45sand56smaybeconsideringthedirectionofthevelocityaswellasits
magnitude,ormaysimplyhaveoverlookedthatinterval.Discussionshouldrevealthis.
Studentsomittinginterval45smaybethinking,explicitlyorimplicitly,thatzeroisnotaspeed.
Askingstudentstoconstructasketchofspeedvs.timemayhelpthemsortouttheideashere.
QUICKQUIZZES
1.

(a) 200yd

(b) 0

(c) 0

(d) 8.00yd/s

2.

(a) False.Thecarmaybeslowingdown,sothatthedirectionofitsaccelerationisoppositethedirectionofits
velocity.
(b) True.Ifthevelocityisinthedirectionchosenasnegative,apositiveaccelerationcausesadecreaseinspeed.
(c) True.Foranacceleratingparticletostopatall,thevelocityandaccelerationmusthaveoppositesigns,sothatthe
speedisdecreasing.Ifthisisthecase,theparticlewilleventuallycometorest.Iftheaccelerationremains
constant,however,theparticlemustbegintomoveagain,oppositetothedirectionofitsoriginalvelocity.Ifthe
particlecomestorestandthenstaysatrest,theaccelerationhasbecomezeroatthemomentthemotionstops.This
isthecaseforabrakingcartheaccelerationisnegativeandgoestozeroasthecarcomestorest.

3.

Thevelocityvs.timegraph(a)hasaconstantpositiveslope,indicatingaconstantpositiveacceleration,whichis
representedbytheaccelerationvs.timegraph(e).
Graph(b)representsanobjectwhosespeedalwaysincreases,anddoessoataneverincreasingrate.Thus,the
accelerationmustbeincreasing,andtheaccelerationvs.timegraphthatbestindicatesthisbehavioris(d).
Graph(c)depictsanobjectwhichfirsthasavelocitythatincreasesataconstantrate,whichmeansthattheobjects
accelerationisconstant.Themotionthenchangestooneatconstantspeed,indicatingthattheaccelerationofthe
objectbecomeszero.Thus,thebestmatchtothissituationisgraph(f).

4.

(b).Accordingtographb,therearesomeinstantsintimewhentheobjectissimultaneouslyattwodifferentx
coordinates.Thisisphysicallyimpossible.

5.

(a) ThebluegraphofFigure2.14bbestshowsthepuckspositionasafunctionoftime.AsseeninFigure2.14a,the
Page2.29

Chapter2
distancethepuckhastraveledgrowsatanincreasingrateforapproximatelythreetimeintervals,growsatasteady
rateforaboutfourtimeintervals,andthengrowsatadiminishingrateforthelasttwointervals.
(b) TheredgraphofFigure2.14cbestillustratesthespeed(distancetraveledpertimeinterval)ofthepuckasa
functionoftime.Itshowsthepuckgainingspeedforapproximatelythreetimeintervals,movingatconstantspeed
foraboutfourtimeintervals,thenslowingtorestduringthelasttwointervals.
(c) ThegreengraphofFigure2.14dbestshowsthepucksaccelerationasafunctionoftime.Thepuckgainsvelocity
(positiveacceleration)forapproximatelythreetimeintervals,movesatconstantvelocity(zeroacceleration)for
aboutfourtimeintervals,andthenlosesvelocity(negativeacceleration)forroughlythelasttwotimeintervals.
6.

(e).Theaccelerationoftheballremainsconstantwhileitisintheair.Themagnitudeofitsaccelerationisthefree
fallacceleration,g=9.80m/s2.

7.

(c).Asittravelsupward,itsspeeddecreasesby9.80m/sduringeachsecondofitsmotion.Whenitreachesthe
peakofitsmotion,itsspeedbecomeszero.Astheballmovesdownward,itsspeedincreasesby9.80m/seach
second.

8.

(a)and(f).Thefirstjumperwillalwaysbemovingwithahighervelocitythanthesecond.Thus,inagiventime
interval,thefirstjumpercoversmoredistancethanthesecond,andtheseparationdistancebetweenthem
increases.Atanygiveninstantoftime,thevelocitiesofthejumpersaredefinitelydifferent,becauseonehada
headstart.Inatimeintervalafterthisinstant,however,eachjumperincreaseshisorhervelocitybythesame
amount,becausetheyhavethesameacceleration.Thus,thedifferenceinvelocitiesstaysthesame.

ANSWERSTOMULTIPLECHOICEQUESTIONS
1.

Oncethearrowhasleftthebow,ithasaconstantdownwardaccelerationequaltothefreefallacceleration,g.
Takingupwardasthepositivedirection,theelapsedtimerequiredforthevelocitytochangefromaninitialvalueof
15.0m/supward(0=+15.0m/s)toavalueof8.00m/sdownwardward(f=8.00m/s)isgivenby

v f v0
8.00 m s 15.0 m s
v

2.35s
a
g
9.80 m s2

Thus,thecorrectchoiceis(d).
2.

Themaximumheight(where=0)reachedbyafreelyfallingobjectshotupwardwithaninitialvelocity0=+225
2
2
m/sisfoundfrom v v0 2a y as

Page2.30

Chapter2

y max

0 v 0
2

2 g

0 225 m s

2 9.80 m s2

2.58 103 m

Thus,theprojectilewillbeatthe y 6.20 10 2 m leveltwice,onceonthewayupwardandoncecomingback

down.Theelapsedtimewhenitpassesthislevelcomingdownwardcanbefoundbyusing y v0 t

1
2

gt 2 and

obtainingthelargestofthetwosolutionstotheresultingquadraticequation:
6.20 102 m 225 m s t

1
9.80 m s 2 t 2
2

or

4.90 m s2 t 2 225 m s t 6.20 102 m 0

Thequadraticformulayields

225 m s

225 m s 2

4 4.90 m s 2

2 4.90 m s2

6.20 10 2 m

withsolutionsoft=43.0sand.t=2.94sTheprojectileisataheightof 6.20 10 2 m andcomingdownwardat

thelargestofthesetwoelapsedtimes,sothecorrectchoiceisseentobe(e).
3.

Thederivationoftheequationsofkinematicsforanobjectmovinginonedimension(Equations2.6,2.9,and2.10
inthetextbook)wasbasedontheassumptionthattheobjecthadaconstantacceleration.Thus,(b)isthecorrect
answer.Anobjecthavingconstantaccelerationwouldhaveconstantvelocityonlyifthataccelerationhadavalue
ofzero,so(a)isnotanecessarycondition.Thespeed(magnitudeofthevelocity)willincreaseintimeonlyin
caseswhenthevelocityisinthesamedirectionastheconstantacceleration,so(c)isnotacorrectresponse.An
objectprojectedstraightupwardintotheairhasaconstantacceleration.Yetitsposition(altitude)doesnotalways
increaseintime(iteventuallystartstofallbackdownward)norisitsvelocityalwaysdirecteddownward(the
directionoftheconstantacceleration).Thus,neither(d)nor(e)canbecorrect.

4.

2
Thebowlingpinhasaconstantdownwardacceleration a g 9.80 m s whileinflight.Thevelocityof

thepinisdirectedupwardontheupwardpartofitsflightandisdirecteddownwardasitfallsbacktowardthe
jugglershand.Thus,only(d)isatruestatement.

Page2.31

Chapter2
5.

Theinitialvelocityofthecaris0=0andthevelocityattimetis.Theconstantaccelerationisthereforegivenby
a v t v v0 t v 0 t v t andtheaveragevelocityofthecaris
v v v0 2 v 0 2 v 2 Thedistancetraveledintimetis x v t vt 2 Inthespecialcasewhere
a 0 andhencev v0 0 , weseethatstatements(a),(b),(c),and(d)areallcorrect.However,inthegeneral
case(a0,andhence v 0)onlystatements(b)and(c)aretrue.Statement(e)isnottrueineithercase.

6.

Wetakedownwardasthepositivedirectionwithy=0andt=0atthetopofthecliff.Thefreelyfallingpebblethen
has v0 0 anda=g=+9.8ms2.Thedisplacementofthepebbleatt=1.0sisgiven:y1=4.9m.Thedisplacement
ofthepebbleatt=3.0sisfoundfrom
y3 v0 t

1 2
1
at 0
9.8 m s2
2
2

3.0 s 2 44m

Thedistancefalleninthe2.0sintervalfromt=1.0stot=3.0sisthen
y y3 y1 44m 4.9m 39m
andchoice(c)isseentobethecorrectanswer.
7.

Inapositionvs.timegraph,thevelocityoftheobjectatanypointintimeistheslopeofthelinetangenttothe
graphatthatinstantintime.Thespeedoftheparticleatthispointintimeissimplythemagnitude(orabsolute
value)ofthevelocityatthisinstantintime.Thedisplacementoccurringduringatimeintervalisequaltothe
differenceinxcoordinatesatthefinalandinitialtimesoftheinterval ( x x t f x ti ) .
Theaveragevelocityduringatimeintervalistheslopeofthestraightlineconnectingthepointsonthecurve
correspondingtotheinitialandfinaltimesoftheinterval [ v x t ( x f xi ) (t f ti )] Thus,weseehow
thequantitiesinchoices(a),(e),(c),and(d)canallbeobtainedfromthegraph.Onlytheacceleration,choice(b),
cannotbeobtainedfromthepositionvs.timegraph.

8.

Theelevatorstartsfromrest(0=0)andreachesaspeedof=6m/safterundergoingadisplacementofy=30
2
2
m.Theaccelerationmaybefoundusingthekinematicsequation v v0 2a y as

Page2.32

Chapter2
v2 v02
6 m s 0 0.6 m s2

2 y
2 30m
2

Thus,thecorrectchoiceis(c).
9.

Thedistanceanobjectmovingatauniformspeedof=8.5m/swilltravelduringatimeintervalof
t 1 1 000s 1.0 10 3 s isgivenby

x v t 8.5 m s 1.0 10 3 s 8.5 10 3 m 8.5mm

sotheonlycorrectanswertothisquestionischoice(d).
10.

Onceeitherballhasleftthestudentshand,itisafreelyfallingbodywithaconstantaccelerationa=g(taking
upwardaspositive).Therefore,choice(e)cannotbetrue.Theinitialvelocitiesoftheredandblueballsaregivenby
viR v0 andviB v0 respectively.Thevelocityofeitherballwhenithasadisplacementfromthelaunch
2
2
pointofy=h(wherehistheheightofthebuilding)isfoundfrom v vi 2 a y asfollows:

2 2a y
vR viR
R

v0 2

2 g h v02 2 gh

2 2 a y
vB viB
B

v0 2

2 g h v02 2 gh

and

Notethatthenegativesignwaschosenfortheradicalinbothcasessinceeachballismovinginthedownward
directionimmediatelybeforeitreachestheground.Fromthis,weseethatchoice(c)istrue.Also,thespeedsofthe
twoballsjustbeforehittingthegroundare
vR v02 2 gh

v02 2 gh v0

and

v B v02 2 gh

v02 2 gh v0

Therefore, vR v B ,sobothchoices(a)and(b)arefalse.However,weseethatbothfinalspeedsexceedthe
initialspeedorchoice(d)istrue.Thecorrectanswertothisquestionisthen(c)and(d).
11.

Atgroundlevel,thedisplacementoftherockfromitslaunchpointisy=hwherehistheheightofthetowerand

Page2.33

Chapter2
2
2
upwardhasbeenchosenasthepositivedirection.From v v0 2a y thespeedoftherockjustbefore

hittingthegroundisfoundtobe
v v02 2 a y

v02 2 g h

12 m s 2

2 9.8 m s2

40.0m

30 m s

Choice(b)isthereforethecorrectresponsetothisquestion.
12.

Oncetheballhasleftthethrowershand,itisafreelyfallingbodywithaconstant,nonzero,accelerationofa=g
Sincetheaccelerationoftheballisnotzeroatanypointonitstrajectory,choices(a)through(d)areallfalseand
thecorrectresponseis(e).

ANSWERSTOEVENNUMBEREDCONCEPTUALQUESTIONS
2.

Yes.Zerovelocitymeansthattheobjectisatrest.Iftheobjectalsohaszeroacceleration,thevelocityisnot
changingandtheobjectwillcontinuetobeatrest.

4.

No.Theycanbeusedonlywhentheaccelerationisconstant.Yes.Zeroisaconstant.

6.

(a)

IntheFigure,theimagesarefartherapartforeachsuccessivetimeinterval.Theobjectismovingtowardthe
rightandspeedingup.Thismeansthattheaccelerationispositivein(c).

(b)

InFigure(a),thefirstfourimagesshowanincreasingdistancetraveledeachtimeintervalandthereforea
positiveacceleration.However,afterthefourthimage,thespacingisdecreasingshowingthattheobjectis
nowslowingdown(orhasnegativeacceleration).

(c)

InFigure(b),theimagesareequallyspacedshowingthattheobjectmovedthesamedistanceineachtime
interval.Hence,thevelocityisconstantin(b).

8.

(a)

Atthemaximumheight,theballismomentarilyatrest.(Thatis,ithaszerovelocity.)Theacceleration
remainsconstant,withmagnitudeequaltothefreefallaccelerationganddirecteddownward.Thus,even
thoughthevelocityismomentarilyzero,itcontinuestochange,andtheballwillbegintogainspeedinthe
downwarddirection.

(b)

Theaccelerationoftheballremainsconstantinmagnitudeanddirectionthroughouttheballsfreeflight,
fromtheinstantitleavesthehanduntiltheinstantjustbeforeitstrikestheground.Theaccelerationis
directeddownwardandhasamagnitudeequaltothefreefallaccelerationg.

10.

(a)

Successiveimagesonthefilmwillbeseparatedbyaconstantdistanceiftheballhasconstantvelocity.

Page2.34

Chapter2
(b)

Startingattherightmostimage,theimageswillbegettingclosertogetherasonemovestowardtheleft.

(c)

Startingattherightmostimage,theimageswillbegettingfartherapartasonemovestowardtheleft.

(d)

Asonemovesfromlefttoright,theballswillfirstgetfartherapartineachsuccessiveimage,thencloser
togetherwhentheballbeginstoslowdown.

PROBLEMSOLUTIONS
2.1

Weassumethatyouareapproximately2mtallandthatthenerveimpulsetravelsatuniformspeed.Theelapsed
timeisthen

2.2

x
2m

2 10 2 s 0.02s
v
100 m s

8
Atconstantspeed, c 3 10 m s thedistancelighttravelsin0.1sis

1mi 1 km
x c t 3 108 m s 0.1s 3 10 7 m
2 10 4 mi
1.609 km
103 m

ComparingthistothediameteroftheEarth,DE,wefind

x
x
3.0 10 7 m

DE
2 RE
2 6.38 106 m

2.3

2.4 (withRE=Earthsradius)

Distancestraveledbetweenpairsofcitiesare
x1 =v1 t1 80.0 km h 0.500h 40.0km
x2 =v2 t2 100 km h 0.200h 20.0km
x3 = v3 t3 40.0 km h 0.750h 30.0km
Thus,thetotaldistancetraveledx=(40.0+20.0+30.0)km=90.0km,andtheelapsedtimeist=0.500h+
0.200+0.750h+0.250h=1.70h).

Page2.35

Chapter2

2.4

x
90.0km

52.9 km h
t
1.70h

(a)

(b)

x=90.0km(seeabove)

(a)

1 yr
x
20 ft
1m
7

2 10 m s

7
t
1 yr 3.281 ft 3.156 10 s

orinparticularlywindytimes,

(b)

Thetimerequiredmusthavebeen

2.5

(a)

1 yr
x
100 ft
1m
6

1 10 m s

7
t
1 yr 3.281 ft 3.156 10 s

x
3 103 mi 1609 m 103 mm

5 108 yr
v
10 mm yr 1 mi

1 m

BoatArequires1.0htocrossthelakeand1.0htoreturn,totaltime2.0h.BoatBrequires2.0htocrossthe
lakeatwhichtimetheraceisover.

BoatAwins,being60kmaheadofBwhentheraceends
(b)

Averagevelocityisthenetdisplacementoftheboatdividedbythetotalelapsedtime.Thewinningboatis
backwhereitstarted,itsdisplacementthusbeingzero,yieldinganaveragevelocityofzero.

2.6

Theaveragevelocityoveranytimeintervalis

(a)

x f xi
x

t
t f ti

x
10.0m 0

5.00 m s
t
2.00s 0

Page2.36

Chapter2

2.7

(b)

x
5.00m 0

1.25 m s
t
4.00s 0

(c)

x
5.00m 10.0m

2 .50 m s
t
4.00s 2.00s

(d)

x
5.00m 5.00m

3.33 m s
t
7.00s 4.00s

(e)

x x1
x
00
2

0
t
t2 t1
8.00s 0

(a)

1h

Displacement x 85.0 km h 35.0min

130km 180km
60.0min

(b)

Thetotalelapsedtimeis

1h

t 35.0min 15.0min
2.00h 2.84h
60.0min

so,

2.8

x
180km

63.4 km h
t
2.84h

Theaveragevelocityoveranytimeintervalis

(a)

x f xi
x

t
t f ti

x
4.0m 0

4.0 m s
t
1.0s 0

Page2.37

Chapter2

2.9

(b)

x
2 .0m 0

0.50 m s
t
4.0s 0

(c)

x
0 4.0m

1.0 m s
t
5.0s 1.0s

(d)

x
00

0
t
5.0s 0

Theinstantaneousvelocityatanytimeistheslopeofthexvs.tgraphatthat
time.Wecomputethisslopebyusingtwopointsonastraightsegmentofthe
curve,onepointoneachsideofthepointofinterest.

2.10

x 1.0s x t 0

4.0m
4.0 m /s
1.0s

6.0m
4.0 m s
1.5s

0
0
1.5s

2 .0m
2. 0 m /s
1.0s

(a)

v 0.50s

(b)

v 2.0s

(c)

v 3.0s

(d)

v 4.5s

(a)

x
Thetimeforacartomakethetripis t v .Thus,thedifferenceinthetimesforthe

1.0s 0

x 2 .5s x 1.0s
2 .5s 1.0s

x 4.0s x 2 .5s
4.0s 2 .5s

x 5.0s x 4.0s
5.0s 4.0s

twocarstocompletethesame10miletripis

t t1 t2

10mi
x
x
10mi 60min

2.3 min
v1
v2
70 mi h
55 mi h
1h

Page2.38

Chapter2
(b)

Whenthefastercarhasa15.0minlead,itisaheadbyadistanceequaltothattraveledbytheslowercarina
timeof15.0min.Thisdistanceisgivenbyx1=1(t)=(55mi/h)(15min).
Thefastercarpullsaheadoftheslowercaratarateof

relative=70mi/h55mi/h=15mi/h
Thus,thetimerequiredforittogetdistancex1aheadis

t =

x1

vrelative

55 mi h 15min =55min
15.0 mi h

Finally,thedistancethefastercarhastraveledduringthistimeis
1h
x2 =v2 t 70 mi h 55min
64mi
60min

2.11

Thedistancetraveledbythespaceshuttleinoneorbitis
CircumferenceofOrbit 2 r 2 Earthsradius+200miles
2 3963 200 mi 2 .61 10 4 mi
Thus,therequiredtimeis
t

2.12

Circumference
2 .61 10 4 mi

1.32h
averagespeed
19 800 mi h

x1
t 1

(a)

v1

(b)

v2

(c)

vtotal

(d)

ave.speed trip

x2
t 2

L
L t1
t1

L
L t2
t2

x total
t total

x1 x 2
t1 t2

L L
0

0
t1 t2
t1 t2

totaldistancetraveled

t total

x1

Page2.39

x2

t1 t2

L L
t1 t2

2L
t1 t2

Chapter2
2.13

Thetotaltimeforthetripist=t1+22.0min=t1+0.367h,wheret1isthetimespent
travelingat1=89.5km/h.Thus,thedistancetraveledis x v1 t1 v t ,whichgives
x 89.5 km h t1 77.8 km h t1 0.367h 77.8 km h t1 28.5km
or

89.5 km

h 77.8 km h t1 28.5km

Fromwhich,t1=2.44foratotaltimeof. t t1 0.367h 2.80h

Therefore, x v t 77.8 km h 2.80h 218km .
2.14

(a)

Attheendoftherace,thetortoisehasbeenmovingfortimetandthehareforatimet2.0min=t120s.The
speedofthetortoiseist=0.100m/s,andthespeedofthehareish=20t=2.0m/s.Thetortoisetravels
distancext,whichis0.20mlargerthanthedistancexhtraveledbythehare.Hence,
xt xh 0.20m

whichbecomes
vt t vh t 120s 0.20m
or

0.100 m s t

2 .0 m s t 120s 0.20m

Thisgivesthetimeoftheraceas t 1.3 102 s

(b)

2.15

xt vt t 0.100 m s 1.3 10 2 s 13m

Themaximumallowedtimetocompletethetripis

t total

totaldistance
1 600m 1 km h

23.0s
requiredaveragespeed
250 km h 0.278 m s

Page2.40

Chapter2
Thetimespentinthefirsthalfofthetripis

t1

half distance
800m 1 km h

12 .5s
v1
230 km h 0.278 m s

Thus,themaximumtimethatcanbespentonthesecondhalfofthetripis
t 2 t total t1 2.30 s 12.5 s 10.5 s
andtherequiredaveragespeedonthesecondhalfis

v2

2.16

(a)

half distance
800m

76.2 m
t2
10.5s

1 km h
= 274 km h \
0.278 m s

Inorderforthetrailingathletetobeabletocatchtheleader,hisspeed( 1)mustbegreaterthanthatofthe
leadingathlete(2),andthedistancebetweentheleadingathleteandthefinishlinemustbegreatenoughto
givethetrailingathletesufficienttimetomakeupthedeficientdistance,d.

(b)

Duringatimettheleadingathletewilltraveladistanced2=2tandthetrailingathletewilltraveladistance
d1=1t.Onlywhend1=d2+d(wheredistheinitialdistancethetrailingathletewasbehindtheleader)will
thetrailingathletehavecaughttheleader.Requiringthatthisconditionbesatisfiedgivestheelapsedtime
requiredforthesecondathletetoovertakethefirst:
d1 d2 d or v1t v2 t d
giving

v1t v2 t d ort

(c)

d
v1 v2

Inorderforthetrailingathletetobeabletoatleasttieforfirstplace,theinitialdistanceDbetweentheleader
andthefinishlinemustbegreaterthanorequaltothedistancetheleadercantravelinthetimetcalculated
above(i.e.,thetimerequiredtoovertaketheleader).Thatis,wemustrequirethat

v1 v2

D d2 v2 t v2

2.17

or

v2 d
v1 v2

Theinstantaneousvelocityatanytimeistheslopeofthexvs.tgraphat

Page2.41

Chapter2
thattime.Wecomputethisslopebyusingtwopointsonastraight
segmentofthecurve,onepointoneachsideofthepointofinterest.

2.18

(a)

vt 1.00s

10.0m 0
5.00 m s
2 .00s 0

(b)

vt 3.00s

5.00 10.0 m
4.00 2 .00 s

2 .50 m s

(c)

vt 4.50s

5.00 5.00 m
5.00 4.00 s

(d)

vt 7.50s

(a)

Afewtypicalvaluesare

t(s)

x(m)

1.00

5.75

2.0

8.00 7.00 s

5.00 m s

16.0

3.00

35.3

4.00

68.0

5.00

119

6.00

192

(b)

0 5.00m

Wewillusea0.400sintervalcenteredatt=4.00s.Wefindatt=3.80s,x=60.2mandatt=4.20s,x=
76.6.Therefore,
v

x
16.4m

41.0 m / s
t
0.400s

Usingatimeintervalof0.200s,wefindthecorrespondingvaluestobe:att=3.90s,x=64.0mandatt=
4.10s,x=72.2m.Thus,

x
8.20m

41.0 m / s
t
0.200s

Page2.42

Chapter2
Foratimeintervalof0.100s,thevaluesare:att=3.95s,x=66.0m,andatt=4.05s,x=70.1m
Therefore,

(c)

x
4.10m

41.0 m / s
t
0.100s

Att=4.00s,x=68.0m.Thus,forthefirst4.00s,

x
68.0m 0

17.0 m / s
t
4.00s 0

Thisvalueismuchlessthantheinstantaneousvelocityatt=4.00s.
2.19

Chooseacoordinateaxiswiththeoriginattheflagpoleandeastasthepositivedirection.Then,using
x x0 v0 t

1
2

at 2 witha=0foreachrunner,thexcoordinateofeachrunnerattimetis

x A 4.0mi 6.0 mi h t and x B 3.0mi 5.0 mi h t

Whentherunnersmeet,xA=xB,giving4.0mi+(6.0mi/h)t=3.0mi+(5.0mi/h)t,
Or(6.0mi/h+5.0mi/h)t=3.0mi+4.0mi.Thisgivestheelapsedtimewhentheymeetas

7.0mi
0.64h
11.0 mi h

Atthistime, x A xB 0.18mi .Thus,theymeet0.18miwestoftheflagpole.

2.20

(a)

Using=0+atwithaninitialvelocityof0=13.0m/sandaconstantaccelerationofa=4.00m/s2,the
velocityafteranelapsedtimeoft=1.00sis

v v0 at 13.0 m s 4.00 m s2 1.00s 9.00 m s

(b)

2
Atanelapsedtimeoft=2.00s, v 13.0 m s 4.00 m s

(c)

2
Whent=2.50s, v 13.0 m s 4.00 m s

2.50s

Page2.43

2.00s

3.00 m s

5.00 m s

Chapter2

4.00s

(d)

2
Att=4.00s, v 13.0 m s 4.00 m s

(e)

Thegraphofvelocityversustimeforthiscanisterisastraightlinepassingthrough13.0m/satt=0and

3.00 m s .

slopingdownward,decreasingby4.00m/sforeachsecondthereafter.
(f)

Ifthecanistersvelocityattimet=0andthevalueofits(constant)accelerationareknown,onecanpredict
thevelocityofthecanisteratanylatertime.

2.21

Theaveragespeedduringatimeintervalis

distancetraveled
t

Duringanyquartermilesegment,thedistancetraveledis

(a)

1mi 5 280ft
1 320ft

4 1mi

Duringthefirstquartermilesegment,Secretariatsaveragespeedwas

v1

1 320ft
52.4 ft s
25.2s

Duringthesecondquartermilesegment,

v2

1 320ft
55.0 ft s
24.0s

Forthethirdquartermileoftherace,

v3

1 320ft
55.5 ft s
23.8s

Forthefourthfinalquartermile,

v4

1 320ft
56.9 ft s
23.2s

andduringthefinalquartermile,

Page2.44

Chapter2

1 320ft
57.4 ft s
23.0s

v5

(b)

Assumingthat vfinal v5 andrecognizingthat0=0,theaverageaccelerationfortheentireracewas

a
2.22

vfinal v0
57.4 ft s 0

0.481 ft s2
totalelapsedtime
25.2 24.0 23.8 23.2 23.0 s

Froma=/t,therequiredtimeisseentobe

60.0 mi h 0
v
1g

a
7g

9.80 m s 2

2.23

Froma=/t,wehave t

2.24

(a)

0.447 m s
1 mi h

0.391s

60 55 mi h 0.447 m s 3.7 s .
v

1 mi h
a
0.60 m s 2

Fromt=0tot=5.0s,

v f vi
t f ti

8.0 m s 8.0 m s
5.0s 0

Fromtot=15s,

8.0 m s 8.0 m s
15s 5.0s

1.6 m s 2

andfromt=0tot=20s,

(b)

8.0 m s 8.0 m s
20s 0

0.80 m s 2

Atanyinstant,theinstantaneousaccelerationequalstheslopeofthelinetangenttothe vs.tgraphatthat
pointintime.Att=2.0s,theslopeofthetangentlinetothecurveis0.
Att=10s,theslopeofthetangentlineis 1.6 m s 2 ,andatt=18s,theslopeofthetangentlineis0.

2.25

(a)

v
175 mi h 0

70.0 mi h s
t
2.5s

Page2.45

Chapter2
or

mi 1609m 1 h
a 70.0
31.3 m s2
3 600s
h s

1 mi

Alternatively,

m
1g

a 31.3 2
3.19 g

s 9.80 m s2

(b)

Iftheaccelerationisconstant, x v0 t

x 0

1
2

at 2 :

1
m
2
31.3 2 2.50s 97.8m

2
s

or

2.26

3.281ft
321ft

1m

97.8m

Wechooseeastwardasthepositivedirectionsotheinitialvelocityofthecarisgivenby v0 25.0 m s .

(a)

Inthiscase,theaccelerationis a 0.750 m s2 andthefinalvelocitywillbe

v v0 at 25.0 m s 0.750 m s2

8.50s

31.4 m s

or
v 31.4 m s eastward

(b)

Whentheaccelerationisdirectedwestward, a 0.750 m s2 ,thefinalvelocityis

v v0 at 25.0 m s 0.750 m s2
2.27

8.50s

18.6 m s ,or v 18.6 m s eastward .

Choosethedirectionofthecarsmotion(eastward)asthepositivedirection.Then,theinitialvelocityofthecaris

Page2.46

Chapter2
v0 40.0 m s andthefinalvelocity(afteranelapsedtimeof t 3.50s )is v 25.0 m s .
(a)

Thecarsaccelerationis
a

(b)

v v0
v
25.0 m s 40.0 m s

4.29 m s2 or a 4.29 m s 2 westward

t
t
3.50s

Thedistancetraveledduringthe3.50stimeintervalis
v v0
25.0 m s 40.0 m s
t
3.50s 114m

2
2

x vav t

2.28

From v v02 2 a x ,wehave 10.97 103 m s

v2 v02
a

2 x

2.29

(a)

2.30

0 2 a 220m sothat

2.74 10 5 m s2
2 220m

1g
2.74 105 m s2
2.79 10 4 times g !
9.80 m s2

2 .80 m s v0
8.50s ,

40.0m
x vav t v v0 2 t becomes

whichyields

(b)

10.97 103 m s 2

v0

2
40.0m 2 .80 m s 6.61 m s
8.50s

v v0
2 .80 m s 6.61 m s

0.448 m s2
t
8.50s

(a)

(b)

Theknownquantitiesareinitialvelocity,finalvelocity,anddisplacement.TheKinematics
2
2
Equationthatrelatesthesequantitiestoaccelerationis v f vi 2 a x .

Page2.47

Chapter2

(c)

2.31

2 x

v2f vi2

(e)

Using

(a)

2
2
With v 120 km h , v v0 2a x yields

2 x

30.0 m s 2 20.0 m s 2

(d)

2.32

v 2f vi2

a v t

v2 v02
2 x

2 2.00 10 2 m

,wefindthat t

1.25 m s2

v f vi
v
30.0 m s 20.0 m s

8.00s
a
a
1.25 m s2

120 km h 2 0

0.278 m s

1 km h
2 240m

2.32m /s2

v v0
120 km h 0 0.278 m s 14.4s

.
1 km h
a
2 .32 m s2

(b)

Therequiredtimeis t

(a)

Thetimeforthetrucktoreach20m/s,startingfromrest,isfoundfrom: v v0 at :

tspeed
up

v v0
20 m s 0

10s
a
2 .0 m s2

Thetotaltimeforthetripis

(b)

t total tspeed tconstant tbraking 10s 20s 5.0s 35s

up

speed

Thedistancetraveledduringthefirst10sis

x speed
up

v v0
20 m s 0
t

10s 100m

speed
2
2
up

vspeed tspeed

up
up

Thedistancetraveledduringthenext20s(witha=0)is

x constant
speed

v tconstant 20 m s 20s 400m

speed

Thedistancetraveledinthelast5.0sis

Page2.48

Chapter2

x braking

v f v
0 20 m s
5.0s 50m

tbraking

2
2

vbraking t braking

Thetotaldisplacementisthen

x total

x speed
up

x constant x braking
speed

100m 400m 50m 550m

andtheaveragevelocityfortheentiretripis

vtrip

2.33

(a)

(b)

From

(c)

x total
ttotal

550m
16 m s
35s

v v0
24.0 m s2 0

8.14 m s2
t
2.95s

a v t

,therequiredtimeis t

v f vi
a

20.0 m s 10.0 m s
1.23s .
8.14 m s2

Yes. Foruniformacceleration,thechangeinvelocitygeneratedintimetisgivenby=(t).
Fromthis,itisseenthatdoublingthelengthofthetimeintervaltwillalwaysdoublethechangein
velocity.Amoreprecisewayofstatingthisis:Whenaccelerationisconstant,velocityisalinear
functionoftime.

2.34

(a)

Thetimerequiredtostoptheplaneis

(b)

v v0
0 100 m s

20.0 s
a
5.00 m s2

Theminimumdistanceneededtostopis
v v0
t

x v t

0 100 m s

20.0s

1000m

1.00km

Thus,theplanerequiresaminimumrunwaylengthof1.00km.
Itcannotlandsafelyona0.800kmrunway.
2.35

Wechoosex=0andt=0atlocationofSuescarwhenshefirstspotsthevanandappliesthebrakes.Then,the

Page2.49

Chapter2
initialconditionsforSuescarx0S=0areand v0 S 30.0 m s .Herconstantaccelerationfor
t 0is aS 2.00 m s2 .Theinitialconditionsforthevanare x0V 155m, v0V 5.00 m s andits
constantaccelerationis aV 0 .Wethenuse x x x0 v0 t

1
2

at 2 towriteanequationforthex

coordinateofeachvehiclefor t 0 .Thisgives
SuesCar:
xS 0 30.0 m s t

1
2.00 m s2 t 2 or xS 30.0 m s t 1.00 m s2 t 2
2

Van:
xV 155m 5.00 m s t

1
0 t 2 or xV 155m 5.00 m s t
2

Inorderforacollisiontooccur,thetwovehiclesmustbeatthesamelocation i.e., xS xV .Thus,wetestfora

collisionbyequatingthetwoequationsforthexcoordinatesandseeiftheresultingequationhasanyrealsolutions.

xS xV 30.0 m s t 1.00 m s2 t 2 155m 5.00 m s t

or

1.00 m s2 t 2 25.00 m s 155m 0

Usingthequadraticformulayields

25.00 m s

25.00 m s 2

2 1.00 m

4 1.00 m s 2 155m

s2

13.6sor 11.4s

Thesolutionsarereal,notimaginary,so acollisionwilloccur .Thesmallerofthetwosolutionsisthecollision

time.(Thelargersolutiontellswhenthevanwouldpullaheadofthecaragainifthevehiclescouldpassharmlessly
througheachother.)Thexcoordinatewherethecollisionoccursisgivenby

xcollision xS
2.36

t 11.4s

xV

t 11.4s

155m 5.00 m s 11.4s 212m

Thevelocityattheendofthefirstintervalis

Page2.50

Chapter2
v v0 at 0 (2 .77 m s) 15.0s 41.6 m s
Thisisalsotheconstantvelocityduringthesecondintervalandtheinitialvelocityforthethirdinterval.

(a)

From x v0 t

x total

1 2
at ,thetotaldisplacementis
2

x 1 x 2 x 3
1

0
2 .77 m s2
2

15.0s 2

41.6 m s 123s 0

41.6 m s 4.39s
9.47 m s 2
2

4.39s 2

or

x total

(b)

x1
t1

x2
t2

x3

t3

312m 5.11 10 3 m 91.2m 5.51 10 3 m 5.51km

312m
20.8 m s
15.0s

5.11 103 m
41.6 m s
123s

91.2m
20.8 m /s
4.39s

andtheaveragevelocityforthetotaltripis

vtotal

2.37

x total
t total

5.51 103 m
38.7 m s
15.0 123 4.39 s

Usingtheuniformlyacceleratedmotionequation x v0 t
x 20 m s 40s

1
2

1.0 m s2 40s 2

1
2

at 2 forthefull40sintervalyields

0 ,whichisobviouslywrong.Thesourceoftheerrorisfound

bycomputingthetimerequiredforthetraintocometorest.Thistimeis

Page2.51

Chapter2

v v0
0 20 m s

20s
a
1.0 m s2

Thus,thetrainisslowingdownforthefirst20sandisatrestforthelast20softhe40sinterval.
Theaccelerationisnotconstantduringthefull40s.Itis,however,constantduringthefirst20sasthetrainslows
torest.Applicationof x v0 t
x 20 m s 20s

2.38

1
2

1
2

at 2 tothisintervalgivesthestoppingdistanceas

1.0 m s2 20s 2

mi 0.447 m s

v0 0and v f 40.0
17.9 m s

h 1 mi h

(a)

Tofindthedistancetraveled,weuse
v f v0
t
2

x v t

(b)

17.9 m s 0

12 .0s

107m

Theconstantaccelerationis

2.39

200 m

v f v0
t

17.9 m s 0
1.49 m s2
12.0s

Attheendoftheaccelerationperiod,thevelocityis

v v0 ataccel 0 1.5 m s2

5.0s

7.5 m s

Thisisalsotheinitialvelocityforthebrakingperiod.

(a)

2
Afterbraking, v f v at brake 7.5 m s 2.0 m s

(b)

Thetotaldistancetraveledis

Page2.52

3.0s

1.5 m s .

Chapter2

xtotal x accel x brake v t accel v t brake

7.5 m s 0
1.5 m s 7.5 m s
5.0s

2
2

xtotal

2.40

v v0

accel
2

3.0s

v f v

tbrake
2

32m

Fortheaccelerationperiod,theparametersforthecarare:initialvelocity=ia=0,acceleration=aa=a1,elapsed
time=(t)a=t1andfinalvelociety=fa.Forthebrakingperiod,theparametersare:initialvelocity=ib=final
vel.ofaccel.Period=fa,acceleration=ab=a2,andelapsedtime=(t)b=t2.
(a)

Todeterminethevelocityofthecarjustbeforethebrakesareengaged,weapply v f vi a t tothe
accelerationperiodandfind
vib v fa via aa t a 0 a1t1 orvib a1t1

(b)

Wemayuse x vi t

1
2

a t todeterminethedistancetraveledduringtheaccelerationperiod
2

(i.e.,beforethedriverbeginstobrake).Thisgives

x a
(c)

via t a

1
2

aa t a 0
2

1 2
at
2 11

or

x a

1 2
at
2 11

Thedisplacementoccurringduringthebrakingperiodis

x b

vib t b

1
2

ab t b a1t1 t2
2

1
a t2
2 22

Thus,thetotaldisplacementofthecarduringthetwointervalscombinedis

x total

2.41

x a x b

1 2
1
a1t1 a1t1t2 a2 t22
2
2

ThetimetheThunderbirdspendsslowingdownis

Page2.53

Chapter2

t1

x1
v1

2 x1
v v0

2 250m
0 71.5 m s

6.99s

Thetimerequiredtoregainspeedafterthepitstopis

t2

2 x2
2 350m
x2

9.79s
v2
v v0
71.5 m s 0

Thus,thetotalelapsedtimebeforetheThunderbirdisbackuptospeedis
t t1 5.00s t2 6.99s 5.00s 9.79s 21.8s
Duringthistime,theMercedeshastraveled(atconstantspeed)adistance
x M v0 t 71.5 m s 21.8s 1 558m
andtheThunderbirdhasfallenbehindadistance
d x M x1 x2 1 558m 250 m 350 m= 958m

2.42

Thecarisdistancedfromthedogandhasinitialvelocity v0 whenthebrakesareapplied,givingitaconstant
accelerationa.
Apply v x t v v0 2 totheentiretrip(forwhichx=d+4.0m,t=10s,and=0)toobtain

0 v0
d 4.0 m
d 4.0 m

or v0
10 s
2
5.0 s

[1]

2
2
2
Then,applying v v0 2a x totheentiretripyields 0 v0 2 a d 4.0m .

Substitutefor v0 fromEquation[1]tofindthat

d 4.0 m 2
25

s2

2 a d 4.0m and a

d 4.0 m
50 s2

Page2.54

[2]

Chapter2
Finally,apply x v0 t

1
2

at 2 tothefirst8.0softhetrip(forwhich x d ).

Thisgives
d v0 8.0 s

1
2

a 64 s2

[3]

SubstituteEquations[1]and[2]intoEquation[3]toobtain

d 4.0 m
1
d 4.0 m
8.0 s 2 50 s2
5.0 s

64 s2

0.96 d 3.84m

whichyieldsd=3.84m/0.04=96m.
2.43

(a)

Take t 0 atthetimewhentheplayerstartstochasehisopponent.Atthistime,theopponentisdistance

d 12 m s 3.0s 36m infrontoftheplayer.Attime t 0 ,thedisplacementsoftheplayersfromtheir

initialpositionsare
xplayer v0 player t

1
1
a
t2 0
4.0 m s2 t 2
2 player
2

[1]

and
xopponent v0 opponent t

1
a
t 2 12 m s t 0
2 opponent

[2]

Whentheplayersaresidebyside,
xplayer xopponent 36m

[3]

SubstitutingEquations[1]and[2]intoEquation[3]gives
1
4.0 m s2 t 2 12 m s t 36m
2

or

Applyingthequadraticformulatothisresultgives

Page2.55

t 2 6.0s t 18s2 0

Chapter2

6.0s

6.0s 2
2 1

4 1 18s2

whichhassolutionsoft=2.2sandt=8.2sSincethetimemustbegreaterthanzero,
wemustchooset=8.2sastheproperanswer.

(b)

2.44

xplayer v0 player t

1
1
a
t2 0
4.0 m s2
2 player
2

8.2s 2

1.3 10 2 m

Theinitialvelocityofthetrainis v0 82 .4 km h andthefinalvelocityis v 16.4 km h .Thetimerequired

forthe400mtraintopassthecrossingisfoundfrom
x v t v v0 2 t as

2.45

(a)

2 x

v v0

v 2 v02

3 600s
29.1s

1h

2a

0 25.0 m s

2 9.80 m s2

31.9 m

v v0
0 25.0 m s

2.55 s
a
9.80 m s2

Thetimerequiredfortheballtofall31.9m,startingfromrest,isfoundfrom

y 0 t

(d)

8.10 10 3 h

Thetimetoreachthehighestpointis

t up

(c)

2 0.400km

82 .4 16.4 km h

2
2
From v v0 2a y with v 0 ,wehave

y max

(b)

1 2 as t
at
2

2 y
a

2 31.9m
9.80 m s2

2.55s

Thevelocityoftheballwhenitreturnstotheoriginallevel(2.55safteritstartstofallfromrest)is

Page2.56

Chapter2

v v0 at 0 9.80 m s2

2.46

(a)

2 .55s

25.0 m/s

2
Fortheupwardflightofthearrow, v0 100 m s , a g 9.80 m s ,andthefinalvelocityis

2
2
v 0 .Thus, v v0 2a y yields

y max
(b)

0 100 m s
v 2 v02

2a
2 9.80 m s2

510 m

Thetimefortheupwardflightis

t up

y max
vup

2 y max
vo v

2 510 m

100 m s 0

10.2 s

2
Forthedownwardflight, y y max 510 m, v0 0, and a 9.8 m s Thus,

y v0 t

1
2

at 2

gives tdown

2 y
a

2 510 m
9.80 m s2

10.2 s

andthetotaltimeoftheflightisttotal=tdowntdown=10.2s10.2s=20.4s.

2.47

Thevelocityoftheobjectwhenitwas30.0mabovethegroundcanbedeterminedbyapplying y v0 t

1
2

at 2

tothelast1.50softhefall.Thisgives

30.0 m v0 1.50 s

1
m
2
9.80 2 1.50 s

2
s

or

v0 12.7 m s

Thedisplacementtheobjectmusthaveundergone,startingfromrest,toachievethisvelocityatapoint30.0m
2
2
abovethegroundisgivenby v v0 2a y as

y 1

v2 v02
12.7 m s 0 8.23 m

2a
2 9.80 m s2
2

Page2.57

Chapter2
Thetotaldistancetheobjectdropsduringthefallis

y total
2.48

(a)

y 1 30.0 m

38.2m

Considertherocksentireupwardflight,forwhich v0 7.40 m s , v f 0 , a g 9.80 m s2 ,

yi 1.55m (takingy=0atgroundlevel),andyf=hmax=maximumaltitudereachedbyrock.Then
2
2
applying v f vi 2a y tothisupwardflightgives

0 7.40 m s 2 9.80 m s2
2

hmax

1.55m

andsolvingforthemaximumaltitudeoftherockgives

hmax 1.55m

7.40 m s 2

2 9.80 m s2

4.34m

Sincehmax>3.65m(heightofthewall).therockdoesreachthetopofthewall.

(b)

2
2
Tofindthevelocityoftherockwhenitreachesthetopofthewall,weuse v f vi 2 a y andsolvefor

v f whenyf=3.65m(startingwith vi 7.40 m s at yi 1.55m ).Thisyields

vf

(c)

vi2 2a y f yi

7.40 m s 2

2 9.80 m s2

Arockthrowndownwardataspeedof 7.40 m s

vi

3.65m 1.55m

3.69 m s

7.40 m s fromthetopofthewallundergoesa

displacementof(y)=yfyi=1.55m3.65m=2.10mbeforereachingtheleveloftheattacker.Its
velocitywhenitreachestheattackeris
v f vi2 2 a y

7.40 m s 2

2 9.80 m s2

2.10m

9.79 m s

sothechangeinspeedofthisrockasitgoesbetweenthe2pointslocatedatthetopofthewallandthe
attackerisgivenby

Page2.58

Chapter2
speed down v f vi
(d)

9.79 m s 7.40 m s 2.39 m s

Observethatthechangeinspeedoftheballthrownupwardasitwentfromtheattackertothetopofthewall
was
speed up v f vi

3.69 m s 7.40 m s 3.71 m s

Thus,thetworocksdonotundergothesamemagnitudechangeinspeeds.Asthetworockstravelbetween
theleveloftheattackerandthelevelofthetopofthewall,therockthrownupwardundergoesagreater
changeinspeedthandoestherockthrowndownward.Thereasonforthisisthattherockthrownupwardhas
asmalleraveragespeedbetweenthesetwolevels:

up

vi

up

vf

up

7.40 m s 3.69 m s
5.55 m s
2

and

vdown

vi

down

vf

down

7.40 m s 9.79 m s
8.60 m s
2

Thus,therockthrownupwardspendsmoretimetravellingbetweenthetwolevels.withgravitychangingits
speedby9.80m/sforeachsecondthatpasses.
2.49

Thevelocityofthechildsheadjustbeforeimpact(afterfallingadistanceof0.40m,startingfromrest)isgivenby
v2 v02 2a y as

vI v02 2a y 0 2 9.8 m s2

0.40 m

2.8 m s

If,uponimpact,thechildsheadundergoesanadditionaldisplacementy=hbeforecomingtorest,the
2
2
accelerationduringtheimpactcanbefoundfrom v v0 2a y tobe a (0 vI2 ) 2( h) vI2 2h .The

durationoftheimpactisfoundfrom v v0 at as t v a vI vI2 2h) ,or t 2h vI .

Applyingtheseresultstothetwocasesyields:
HardwoodFloor(h=2.0103m):

Page2.59

Chapter2

2.8 m s
vI2

2.0 103 m/s2

2h
2 2.0 10 3 m
2

2 2.0 10 3 m
2h

1.4 10 3 s 7.1 ms
vI
2.8 m s

and t

CarpetedFloor(h=1.0102m):

2.8 m s 3.9 102 m/s2

v2
a I
2h
2 1.0 10 2 m
2

and t

2.50

(a)

2 1.0 10 2 m
2h

7.1 10 3 s 7.1 ms
vI
2.8 m s

After2.00s,thevelocityofthemailbagis

vbag v0 at 1.50 m s 9.80 m s2

2 .00s

21.1 m s

Thenegativesigntellsthatthebagismovingdownwardandthemagnitudeofthevelocitygivesthespeedas
21.1m/s.
(b)

Thedisplacementofthemailbagafter2.00sis

y bag

21.1 m s 1.50 m s
v v0
t

2
2

2 .00s

22 .6m

Duringthistime,thehelicopter,movingdownwardwithconstantvelocity,undergoesadisplacementof

y copter

v0 t

1 2
at 1.5 m s 2 .00s 0 3.00m
2

Thedistanceseparatingthepackageandthehelicopteratthistimeisthen
d

y p y h

22.6m 3.00m 19.6m 19.6m

Page2.60

Chapter2

(c)

Here, v0 bag v0 copter 1.50 m s and abag 9.80 m s2 whileacopter=0.After2.00s,the

velocityofthemailbagis

vbag 1.50

m
m
m
9.80 2 2.00s 18.1
s
s

anditsspeedis

vbag 18.1

m
s

Inthiscase,thedisplacementofthehelicopterduringthe2.00sintervalis
ycopter 1.50 m s 2.00s 0 3.00m
Meanwhile,themailbaghasadisplacementof

y bag

vbag v0
18.1 m s 1.50 m s
t

2
2

2 .00s

16.6m

Thedistanceseparatingthepackageandthehelicopteratthistimeisthen
d
2.51

(a)

y p y h

16.6m 3.00m 19.6m 19.6m

Theinstanttheballleavestheplayershanduntilitiscaught,theballisafreelyfallingbodywithan
accelerationof
a g 9.80 m s2 9.80 m s2 downward

(b)

Atitsmaximumheight,theballcomestorestmomentarilyandthenbeginstofallbackdownward.Thus,
vmax

height

(c)

Considertherelation y v0 t

1
2

at 2 witha=g.Whentheballisatthethrowershand,the

displacementisy=0,giving 0 v0 t

1
2

gt 2

Page2.61

Chapter2
Thisequationhastwosolutions,t=0whichcorrespondstowhentheballwasthrown,and t 2v0 g
correspondingtowhentheballiscaught.Therefore,iftheballiscaughtatt=2.00s,theinitialvelocitymust
havebeen

9.80 m s2
gt

2
2

v0

(d)

(a)

9.80 m/s

2
2
From v v0 2a y ,with v 0 atthemaximumheight,

y max
2.52

2 .00s

v2 v02
2a

0 9.80 m s

2 9.80 m s2

4.90 m

Lett=0betheinstantthepackageleavesthehelicopter,sothepackageandthehelicopterhaveacommon
initialvelocityof vi v0 .(Choosingupwardaspositive).
Attimest0,thevelocityofthepackage(infreefallwithconstantaccelerationap=g)isgivenby
v vi at as v p v0 gt vo gt and speed v p vo gt

(b)

Afteranelapsedtimet,thedownwarddisplacementofthepackagefromitspointofreleasewillbe

y p

vi t

1
1
1

a t 2 v0 t gt 2 v0 t gt 2

2 p
2
2

andthedownwarddisplacementofthehelicopter(movingwithconstantvelocity,oraccelerationah=0)
fromthereleasepointatthistimeis

y h

vi t

1
a t 2 v0 t 0 v0 t
2 h

Thedistanceseparatingthepackageandthehelicopteratthistimeisthen

(c)

y p y h

1
1 2

v0 t gt 2 v0 t
gt

2
2

Ifthehelicopterandpackagearemovingupwardattheinstantofrelease,thenthecommoninitialvelocityis
vi v0 .Theaccelerationsofthehelicopter(movingwithconstantvelocity)andthepackage(afreely

Page2.62

Chapter2
fallingobject)remainunchangedfromthepreviouscase(ap=gandah=0).
Inthiscase,thepackagespeedattimet0is1 v p vi a p t v0 gt gt v0
Atthistime,thedisplacementsfromthereleasepointofthepackageandthehelicopteraregivenby

y p

vi t

1
1
a p t 2 v0 t gt 2
2
2

and

y h

vi t

1
a t 2 v0 t 0 v0 t
2 h

Thedistanceseparatingthepackageandhelicopterattimetisnowgivenby

2.53

(a)

y p y h

v0 t

1 2
1 2
gt v0 t
gt (thesameasearlier!)
2
2

Afteritsenginesstop,therocketisafreelyfallingbody.Itcontinuesupward,slowingundertheinfluenceof
gravityuntilitcomestorestmomentarilyatitsmaximumaltitude.ThenitfallsbacktoEarth,gainingspeed
asitfalls.

(b)

Whenitreachesaheightof150m,thespeedoftherocketis
v

v02 2a y

50.0 m s 2

2 2 .00 m s2 150m 55.7 m s

Aftertheenginesstop,therocketcontinuesmovingupwardwithaninitialvelocityof v0 55.7 m s and

accelerationa=g=9.80m/s2.Whentherocketreachesmaximumheight, v 0 .Thedisplacementofthe
rocketabovethepointwheretheenginesstopped(thatis,abovethe150mlevel)is

v2 v02
2a

0 55.7 m s

2 9.80 m s2

158m

Themaximumheightabovegroundthattherocketreachesisthengivenby
hmax 150 m 158 m 308 m .
(c)

Thetotaltimeoftheupwardmotionoftherocketisthesumoftwointervals.Thefirstisthetimeforthe
rockettogofrom v0 50.0 m s atthegroundtoavelocityof v 55.7 m s atanaltitudeof150m.This
timeisgivenby

Page2.63

Chapter2

t1

y 1

y 1
v v0

v1

2 150m

55.7 50.0 m s

2 .84s

Thesecondintervalisthetimetorise158mstartingwith v0 55.7 m s andendingwith v 0 .This

timeis

t2

y 2
v2

y 2
v v0

2 158m
0 55.7 m s

5.67s

Thetotaltimeoftheupwardflightisthen t up t1 t2 2 .84 5.67 s 8.51 s

(d)

Thetimefortherockettofall308mbacktotheground,with v0 0 andaccelerationa=g=9.80m/s2,
isfoundfrom y v0 t

tdown

1
2

2 y
a

at 2 as

2 308m
9.80 m s2

7.93s

sothetotaltimeoftheflightis tflight tup tdown 8.51 7.93 s 16.4s .

2.54

(a)

Thecamerafalls50mwithafreefallacceleration,startingwith v0 10 m s .Itsvelocitywhenit
reachesthegroundis
v

v02 2 a y

10 m s 2

2 9.80 m s2

50m

33 m s

Thetimetoreachthegroundisgivenby

(b)
2.55

33 m s 10 m s
v v0

2.3 s
a
9.80 m s2

Thisvelocitywasfoundtobe v 33 m s inpart(a)above.

Duringthe0.600srequiredfortherigtopasscompletelyontothebridge,thefrontbumperofthetractormovesa

Page2.64

Chapter2
distanceequaltothelengthoftherigatconstantvelocityof v 100 km h .Therefore,thelengthoftherigis

km 0.278 m s
Lrig vt 100

h 1 km h

0.600s

16.7m

Whilesomepartoftherigisonthebridge,thefrontbumpermovesadistance
x Lbridge Lrig 400m 16.7 m
Withaconstantvelocityof,thetimeforthistooccuris

2.56

(a)

Lbridge Lrig
v

From x v0 t

1
2

400m 16.7m 1 km h
= 15.0s
0.278 m s
100 km h

at 2 ,wehave 100m 30.0 m s t

1
2

3.50 m s2 t 2 .Thisreducesto

3.50 t 2 ( 60.0s) t (200s2 ) 0 ,andthequadraticformulagives

60.0s

60.0s 2 4 3.50 200s2

2 3.50

Thedesiredtimeisthesmallersolutionoft=4.53s.Thelargersolutionoft=12.6sisthetimewhenthe
boatwouldpassthebuoymovingbackwards,assumingitmaintainedaconstantacceleration.
(b)

Thevelocityoftheboatwhenitfirstreachesthebuoyis

v v0 at 30.0 m s + 3.50 m s2

2.57

(a)

14.1 m/s

Theaccelerationofthebulletis
2
v
2 v
300m/s 400m/s
0

2 x
2 0.100m
2

(b)

4.53s

.50 10 5 m/s2

Thetimeofcontactwiththeboardis

Page2.65

Chapter2

2.58

v v0
300 400 m s 2.86 10 4 s

a
3.50 10 5 m s2

Weassumethatthebulletbeginstoslowjustasthefrontendtouchesthefirstsurfaceoftheboard,andthatit
reachesitsexitvelocityjustasthefrontendemergesfromtheoppositefaceoftheboard.
(a)

Theaccelerationis
2
vexit
v02
280 m s 420 m s

2 x
2 0.100m
2

(b)

4.90 105 m s2

Theaveragevelocityasthefrontofthebulletpassesthroughtheboardis

vexit v0
280 m s 420 m s

350 m s
2
2

andthetotaltimeofcontactwiththeboardisthetimeforthefrontofthebullettopassthroughplustheaddi
tionaltimeforthetrailingendtoemerge(atspeed vexit ),

(c)

x board
v

Lbullet
0.100m
0.0200m

3.57 10 4 s
vexit
350 m s
280 m s

2
2
From v v0 2a x ,with v 0 ,givestherequiredthicknessis

0 420 m s
v 2 v02

2a
2 4.90 10 5 m s2
2

2.59

(a)

0.180m 18.0cm

Thekeyshaveaccelerationa=g=9.80m/s2fromthereleasepointuntiltheyarecaught1.50slater.Thus,
y v0 t

1
2

at 2 gives

4.00m 9.80 m s2
y at 2 2
v0

t
1.50s
or

Page2.66

1.50s 2

10.0 m s

Chapter2
v0 10.0 m s upward
(b)

Thevelocityofthekeysjustbeforethecatchwas

v v0 at 10.0 m s 9.80 m s2 1.50s 4.68 m s

or
v 4.68 m s downward
2.60

(a)

Thekeys,movingfreelyundertheinfluenceofgravity(a=g),undergoaverticaldisplacementof
y h intimet.Weuse y vi t

h vi t

1
2

at 2 tofindtheinitialvelocityas

1
g t2
2

giving

vi

(b)

h gt 2 2
h
gt

t
t
2

Thevelocityofthekeysjustbeforetheywerecaught(attimet)isgivenby v vi at as
gt
h
gt
h
gt
h
v
g t

gt

t
2
t
2
t
2

2.61

(a)

2
2
From v v0 2a y ,theinsectsvelocityafterstraighteningitslegsis

v02 2a y

0 2 4 000 m s2

2.0 10 3 m

4.0 m s

andthetimetoreachthisvelocityis
t

(b)

v v0
4.0 m s 0

1.0 10 3 s 1.0ms
a
4 000 m s2

Theupwarddisplacementoftheinsectbetweenwhenitsfeetleavethegroundanditcomestorest

Page2.67

Chapter2
momentarilyatmaximumaltitudeis
4.0 m s
v2 v02
0 v02

2a
2 g
2 9.8 m s2

2.62

0.82m

Thedistancerequiredtostopthecarafterthebrakesareappliedis

x stop

mi 1.47 ft s
0 35.0

h 1 mi h

2 9.00 ft s2

v2 v02

2a

147ft

Thus,ifthedeerisnottobehit,themaximumdistancethecarcantravelbeforethebrakesareappliedisgivenby

x before

200ft x stop 200ft 147ft 53.0ft

Beforethebrakesareapplied,theconstantspeedofthecaris35.0mi/h.Thus,thetimerequiredforittotravel53.0
ft,andhencethemaximumallowedreactiontime,is

tr max

2.63

x before
v0

53.0ft

mi 1.47 ft s
35.0

h 1 mi h

1.03 s

Thefallingballmovesadistanceof 15m h beforetheymeet,wherehistheheightabovethegroundwhere

theymeet.Apply y v0 t

15m h 0

Applying y v0 t

1
2

1
2

1
2

at 2 ,with a g ,toobtain

gt 2

h 15m

or

1
2

gt 2

[1]

at 2 totherisingballgives

h 25 m s t

1
2

gt 2

[2]

Combiningequations[1]and[2]gives

Page2.68

Chapter2

25 m s t

1 2
1
gt 15m gt 2
2
2

or
t

2.64

15m
0.60s
25 m s

Theconstantspeedthestudenthasmaintainedforthefirst10minutes,andhenceherinitialspeedforthefinal500
yarddash,is

v0

x10
5 280 ft 1 500 ft 1 m 1.9 m s
1.0mi 500 yards

3.281 ft
t
10 min
600 s

Withaninitialspeedof v0 1.9 m s andconstantaccelerationofa=0.15m/s2,themaximumdistancethe

studentcantravelintheremaining2.0min(120s)ofherallottedtimeis
m
1

m
amax t 2 1.9 120 s 0.15 2
s

s
2

x2.0 max

v0 t

x2.0 max

1.3 103 m

1
2

120 s 2

1.3 103 m

or

3.281 ft 1 yard

1.4 103 yards

1m
3 ft

Since x2.0 max isconsiderablygreaterthanthe500yardsshemuststillrun,shecaneasilymeettherequirment

ofrunning1.0milesin12minutes.
2.65

WesolvePart(b)ofthisproblemfirst.
(b)

Whentheeitherballreachestheground,itsdisplacementfromthebalconyisy=19.6m(takingupward

aspositive).Theinitialvelocitiesofthetwoballswere v01 14.7 m s and v02 14.7 m s ,so v02 hasthe

valueof(14.7m/s)2foreitherball.Also,a=gforeachball,givingthedownwardvelocityofeitherballwhenit
reachesthegroundas
veither v02 2 a y
ball

14.5 m s 2

2 9.80 m s2

Page2.69

19.6m

24.5 m s

Chapter2
(a)

Thetimeforeitherballtoreachtheground(andhenceachievethevelocitycomputedabove)isgivenby
veither v0
t

ball

24.5 m s v0
24.5 m s v0

g
9.80 m s2

where v0 istheinitialvelocityoftheparticularballofinterest.
Forball1, v0 14.7 m s ,giving

t1

24.5 m s 14.7 m s
1.00s
9.80 m s2

Forball2, v0 14.7 m s ,and

t2

24.5 m s 14.7 m s
4.00s
9.80 m s2

Thedifferenceinthetimeofflightforthetwoballsisseentobe
t t2 t1 4.00 1.00 s 3.00s
(c)

Att=0.800s,thedisplacementofeachballfromthebalcony(atheighthaboveground)is
y1 h v01t

1 2
gt 14.7 m s 0.800s 4.90 m s 2
2

0.800s 2

y2 h v02 t

1 2
gt 14.7 m s 0.800s 4.90 m s 2
2

0.800s 2

Thesegivethealtitudesofthetwoballsatt=0.800sasy1=h14.9mandy2=h8.62m.
Thereforethedistanceseparatingthetwoballsatthistimeis
d y2 y1 h 8.62m h 14.9m = 23.5m
2.66

(a)

Whileintheair,bothballshaveaccelerationa1=a2=g(whereupwardistakenaspositive).Ball1(thrown
downward)hasinitialvelocity v01 v0 ,whileball2(thrownupward)hasinitialvelocity v02 v0 .
Takingy=0atgroundlevel,theinitialycoordinateofeachballisy01=y02=+h.Applying

Page2.70

Chapter2
y y yi vi t

1
2

at 2 toeachballgivestheirycoordinatesattimetas

Ball1:
y1 h v
0t

1 2
1
g t 2 ory1 h v0 t gt

2
2

Ball2:
y2 h v0 t

1 2
1
g t 2 ory2 h v0 t gt

2
2

(b) Atgroundlevel,y=0.Thus,weequateeachoftheequationsfoundabovetozeroandusethequadratic
formulatosolveforthetimeswheneachballreachestheground.Thisgivesthefollowing:

Ball1:

0 h v0 t1

1 2
gt1
2

2v0

2v

so
t1

gt12 2v0 t1 2h 0

4 g 2h

2g

v
v
2h
0 0
g
g
g

Usingonlythepositivesolutiongives

v
v
2h
t1 0 0
g
g
g

0 h v0 t2

Ball2:

1 2
gt2
2

gt22 2v0 t2 2h 0

and

t2

2v0

2v
0

4 g 2h

2g

Again,usingonlythepositivesolution

Page2.71

v
v
2h
0 0
g
g
g

Chapter2

t2

v
v0
2h
0
g
g
g

Thus,thedifferenceinthetimesofflightofthetwoballsis

t t2 t1

(c)

v
v0
v v
2h
0
0 0
g
g g g
g

2v0
2h

g
g

2
2
Realizingthattheballsaregoingdownward v 0 astheyneartheground,weuse v f vi 2a y with

y=htofindthevelocityofeachballjustbeforeitstrikestheground:

(d)

Ball1:

v1 f v12i 2a1 h

Ball2:

v2 f v22i 2a2 h

2 g h v02 2 gh

2 g h v02 2 gh

Whilebothballsarestillintheair,thedistanceseparatingthemis
1
1

d y2 y1 h v0t gt 2 h v0t gt2 2vot

2
2

2.67

(a)

2
2
Firstballisdroppedfromrest(01=0)fromtheheighthofthewindow.Thus, v f v0 2a y givesthe

speedofthisballasitreachestheground(andhencetheinitialvelocityofthesecondball)as
2
v f v01
2a1 y1 0 2 g h 2 gh .Whenball2isthrownupwardatthesametimethatball1

2
1
isdropped,theirycoordinatesattimetduringtheflightsaregivenby y yo v0t 2 at as

Ball1:

y1 h 0 t

Ball2:

y2 0

1
2

g t2

2 gh t

1
2

or

y1 h 12 gt 2

g t 2 ory2

Whenthetwoballspass,y1=y2,or

Page2.72

2 gh t 12 gt 2

Chapter2

1
2

gt 2

2 gh t

1
2

gt 2

giving

(b)

2g

1
g
2

h
2 g

2 gh

28.7 m

2 9.80 m s 2

1.21 s

Whentheballsmeet,

h
2g

and

y1 h

h 3h

4
4

Thus,thedistancebelowthewindowwherethiseventoccursis
3h h 28.7 m

7.18 m
4
4
4

d h y1 h
2.68

Wedonotknoweithertheinitialvelocitynorthefinalvelocity(thatis,velocityjustbeforeimpact)forthetruck.
Whatwedoknowisthatthetruckskids62.4min4.20swhileacceleratingat5.60m/s2.
Wehave=0atand x v t [(v v0 ) / 2] t .Appliedtothemotionofthetruck,theseyield

v v0 5.60 m s 2 4.20 s 23.5 m s

v v0 at or

[1]

and
v v0

2 x
t

2 62.4 m
4.20 s

29.7 m s

Addingequations[1]and[2]givesthevelocityjustbeforeimpactas

Page2.73

[2]

Chapter2
2 v 23.5 29.7 m s ,
or v 3.10 m s
2.69

Whenreleasedfromrest(0=0),thebillfallsfreelywithadownwardaccelerationduetogravity(a=g=9.80
m/s2).Thus,themagnitudeofitsdownwarddisplacementduringDavids0.2sreactiontimewillbe

y v0t

1 2
1
2
at 0 9.80 m s 2 0.2 s 0.2 m 20 cm
2
2

Thisisovertwicethedistancefromthecenterofthebilltoitstopedge(8cm),so.Davidwillbeunsuccessful.
2.70

(a)

Thevelocitywithwhichthefirststonehitsthewateris

m
2
v1 v01
2 a y 2.00 2 9.80 2

s
s

50.0 m

31.4

m
s

Thetimeforthisstonetohitthewateris

t1

(b)

v1 v01 31.4 m s 2.00 m s

3.00 s
a
9.80 m s 2

Sincetheyhitsimultaneously,thesecondstonewhichisreleased1.00slaterwillhitthewaterafteranflight
timeof2.00s.Thus,

2
y at22 2 50.0 m 9.80 m s 2.00 s
v02

t2
2.00 s

(c)

15.2 m s

Frompart(a),thefinalvelocityofthefirststoneis v1 31.4 m s .
Thefinalvelocityofthesecondstoneis

v2 v02 at2 15.2 m s 9.80 m s 2 2.00 s 34.8 m s

2.71

(a)

2
Thesledsdisplacement,x1,whileacceleratingat a1 40 ft s fortimet1is

x1 0 t1 12 a1t12 20 ft s 2 t12

or

Page2.74

x1 20 ft s 2 t12

[1]

Chapter2
Attheendoftimet1,thesledhadachievedavelocityof

v v0 a1t1 0 40 ft s 2 t1

v 40 ft s 2 t1

or

[2]

Thedisplacementofthesledwhilemovingatconstantvelocityvfortimet2is

x2 vt2 40 ft s 2 t1 t 2

x2 40 ft s 2 t1t 2

or

[3]

Itisknownthat x1 x2 17 500 ft ,andsubstitutionsfromEquations[1]and[3]give

2
2
2
20 ft s t1 40 ft s t1t2 17500 ft

t12 2t1t2 875 s 2

or

[4]

Also,itisknownthat

t1 t2 90 s

[5]

SolvingEquations[4]and[5]simultaneouslyyields
t12 2t1 90 s t1 875 s 2

t12 180 s t1 875 s 2 0

or

Thequadraticformulathengives

t1

180 s

180 s 2 4 1 875 s 2
2 1

withsolutions t1 5.00 s

and t

90 s 5.0 s 85 s ort1 175 s

and t

85 s .

Sinceitisnecessarythatt2>0,thevalidsolutionsaret1=5.0sandt2=85s.

(b)

2
2
FromEquation[2]above, v 40 ft s t1 40 ft s 5.0 s 200 ft s .

(c)

Thedisplacementx3ofthesledasitcomestorest(withaccelerationa3=20ft/s2)is

0 v 2 200 ft s

1 000 ft
2a3
2 20 ft s 2
2

x3

Page2.75

Chapter2
Thus,thetotaldisplacementforthetrip(measuredfromthestartingpoint)is

xtotal x1 x2 x3 17 500 ft 1 000 ft 18 500 ft

(d)

Thetimerequiredtocometorestfromvelocityv(withaccelerationa3)is

t3

0 v 200 ft s

10 s
a3
20 ft s 2

sothedurationoftheentiretripis ttotal t1 t2 t3 5.0 s 85 s 10 s 100 s .

2.72

(a)

From y v0t

1 2
at with0=0,wehave
2

2 y
a

2 23m
9.80 m s2

2.2 s

(b)

2
2
Thefinalvelocityis v 0 9.80 m s m s 2.2 s 21m/s .

(c)

Thetimeittakesforthesoundoftheimpacttoreachthespectatoris

tsound

y
vsound

23 m
6.8 10 2 s
340 m s

sothetotalelapsedtimeis.ttotal=2.2s6.8102s2.3s

2.73

(a)

Sincethesoundhasconstantvelocity,thedistanceittraveledis
3
x vsound t 1100 ft s 5.0 s 5.5 10 ft

(b)

Theplanetravelsthisdistanceinatimeof5.0s10s=15s,soitsvelocitymustbe

Page2.76

Chapter2

v plane

(c)

x 5.5 103 ft

3.7 10 2 ft s
t
15 s

Thetimethelighttooktoreachtheobserverwas

tlight

x
5.5 103 ft 1 m s

5.6 10 6 s
vlight 3.00 108 m s 3.281 ft s

Duringthistimetheplanewouldonlytraveladistanceof0.002ft.

2.74

1
Thedistancetheglidermovesduringthetimetdisgivenby x l v0 td 2 a td ,where0isthegliders
2

velocitywhentheflagfirstentersthephotogateandaistheglidersacceleration.Thus,theaveragevelocityis
v0 td 12 a t d
l
1
vd

v0 a td

td
td
2
2

(a)

Theglidersvelocitywhenitishalfwaythroughthephotogateinspace i.e., when x l 2 isfoundfrom

v 2 v02 2a x as
v1

v02 2a l 2

v02 a l

v02 a vd t d

v02 avd t d

Notethatthisisnotequaltovdunlessa=0,inwhichcase1=d=0.

(b)

Thespeed2whenthegliderishalfwaythroughthephotogateintime(i.e.,whentheelapsedtimeis
t2=td/2)isgivenby=0atas

v v0 at2 v0 a td 2 v0

1
a td
2

whichisequaltodforallpossiblevaluesof0=a.
2.75

Thetimerequiredforthestuntmantofall3.00m,startingfromrest,isfoundfrom y v0 t

Page2.77

1
2

at 2 as

Chapter2

1
t

3.00 m 0 9.80 m s 2 t 2 so
2

(a)

2 3.00 m
9.80 m s 2

Withthehorsemovingwithconstantvelocityof10.0m/s,thehorizontaldistanceis
x vhorse t 10.0 m s 0.782 s 7.82 m

(b)

0.782 s

Therequiredtimeist=0.782sascalculatedabove.

Page2.78