Ambo University

College of Natural and Computational Sciences

Department of Physics
Work sheet-I on the Course General Physics (Phys 1011)
1. Express the following “units” in terms of the basic units
a) Newton (N) e) Coulomb(C) i) oC( degree Celsius)
b) Tesla (T) f) Century j) oF ( degree Fahrenheit)
c) Byte (B) g) Parsec k) metric tone
d) Degree (o) - unit
h) mile
for angle)
2) If a − b = 2c, a + b = 4c and c = 3i + 4j, then what are a and b?
3) The mean radius of the Earth is 6.37 x 106 m, and that of the Moon is 1.74 x 108 cm. From
these data calculate (a) the ratio of the Earth’s surface area to that of the Moon and (b) the
ratio of the Earth’s volume to that of the Moon. Note that the surface area and volume of a
sphere, respectively, are 4r2 and (4/3)r

4) What is the width and its absolute uncertainty of the object being measured in the sketch
below?

5) The analogue voltmeter below measures a voltage on a scale of zero to 5 volts. What is the
measured voltage and what is the absolute uncertainty shown here?

6) The digital stopwatch was started at a time t0 = 0 and then was used to measure ten swings
of a simple pendulum to a time of t s = 17 26s.

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 If the time for ten swings of the pendulum is 17.26s what is the minimum absolute
uncertainty in this measurement?
7) Find the area of a metal plate that is 8.71cm by 3.212cm by considering the rules for
significant digits.
8) How many significant figures are in the following numbers:
a) 3.002 ± 0.01 b) 1.0001 × 10 C) 0.0001 × 10 d) 1.111 × 10 e) 
9) A particle is moving in a circular path
(anti-clock wise direction) of radius
18m. It starts from point A and
completes its journey at B which
covers 25% of the circumference of
the circular path in 10s (see the figure
1). Find
a) The distance that the particle
travelled Figure 1
b) The speed of the particle
c) The displacement of the particle
d) The velocity of the particle
10) Two vectors A and B have precisely equal magnitudes. In order for the magnitude of A + B
to be larger than the magnitude of A - B by the factor n, what must be the angle between
them?
11) If the displacement vectors in m are given as A =12i +25j +13k and B= 3i+7k. Find the
resultant vector and its direction A is subtracted from B.

12) Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of three displacements having rectangular
components (3.00, 2.00) m, (-5.00, 3.00) m, and (6.00, 1.00) m.
13) The position of a particle moving along the x axis varies in time according to the
expression
14) The position of a particle moving along the x axis varies in time according to the
expression x= 3t2 where x is in meters and t is in seconds. Evaluate its position (a) at t=
3.00s and (b) at 3.00s+t. (c) Evaluate the limit of ∆x/ ∆t as ∆t approaches zero, to find the
velocity at t=3.00s.
15) I went for a walk one day. I walked north 6.0 km at 6.0 km/h and then west 10 km at
5.0 km/hr. (This problem is deceptively easy, so be careful. Begin each part by reviewing
the appropriate physical definition.) Determine:
a. the total distance of the entire trip
b. the total displacement of the entire trip
c. the average speed of the entire trip
d. the average velocity of the entire trip
e. average acceleration of the entire trip
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16) A 60 N force acting at 30° east of north and a second 60 N force acting in the direction 60°
east of north are concurrent forces.
A) What is the resultant force?
B) What is the magnitude of the resultant force?
C) What are the directions of the resultant force?
17) A ball is thrown towards a cliff with an initial speed of 30.0 m/s directed at an angle of 60.0◦
above the horizontal. The ball lands on the edge of the cliff 4.0 s after it is thrown. ?
D) What is the height of the cliff?
E) What is the maximum height reached by the ball?
F) What is the ball’s impact velocity?
18) A person initially at rest throws a ball upward at an angle θ0 with an initial speed v0. He tries
to catch up to the ball by accelerating with a constant acceleration a for a time interval ∆t1
and then continues to run at a constant speed for a time interval ∆t2. He catches the ball at
exactly the same height he threw the ball. Let g be the gravitational constant. What was the
person’s acceleration a ?

19) Three blocks of masses m1, m2 and m3 are connected by massless strings as shown in Fig
2, on a frictionless table. They are pulled with a force T3 = 40 N. If m1 = 10 kg, m2 = 6
kg , and m3 = 4 kg, what is T2?

Figure 2

20) A basketball player who is 2.00 m tall is standing on the floor 10.0 m from the basket, as
in Figure 3. If he shoots the ball at a 40.0° angle with the horizontal, at what initial speed
must he throw so that it goes through the hoop without striking the backboard? The basket
height is 3.05 m

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Figure 3
21) A projectile is fired in such a way that its horizontal range is equal its maximum
height. What is the angle of projection?

22) As shown in Fig. 4 below a ball is thrown from top of one building toward a ball building
50m away. The initial velocity of the ball is 20m/s, 400 above horizontal. How far above or
below its original will the ball strike the opposite wall?

Figure 4

23) Three objects are connected on the table as shown in Figure 5 below. The table is rough and
has a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.350. The objects have masses of 4.00 kg, 1.00 kg,
and 2.00 kg, as shown, and the pulleys are frictionless. Draw free-body diagrams of each of
the objects.
a. Determine the acceleration of each object and their directions.
b. Determine the tensions in the two cords.

Figure 5 4
24) A 5.00-kg object placed on a frictionless, horizontal table is connected to a string that passes
over a pulley and then is fastened to a hanging 9.00-kg object, as in Figure 6 below Draw
free-body diagrams of both objects. Find the acceleration of the two objects and the tension
in the string.

Figure 6

25) A block is sliding down on a frictionless plane having an inclination of θ =15.0°. The block
starts from rest at the top and the length of the incline is 2.00 m (see Fig 7). Find
A) the acceleration of the block and
B) Its speed when it reaches the bottom of the incline.

Figure 7

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26) A person going for a walk follows the path shown in Fig. below. The total trip consists of
four straight-line paths. At the end of the walk, what is the person’s resultant displacement
measured from the starting point?

27) Two objects connected by a cord over a pulley as shown in figure below. Mass of object
A = mA, mass f object B = mB and the acceleration of block B is a. Acceleration due to
gravity is g. What is the tension force on block B.

28) In the diagram below, block A weighs 100N. The coefficient of static friction between
the block and the surface on which it rests is 0.40. Find the maximum weight w for which
the system will remain in equilibrium.