Problem Set 1

1. The position of the bumper of a moving car is given by x(t) = a + bt2 − ct6 where a =
2.17 m, b = 4.80 m/s2, and c = 0.100 m/s6.

Given:

- x(t) = a + bt2 − ct6

- where a = 2.17 m, b = 4.80 m/s2, and c = 0.100 m/s6.
Required:
(a) position
(b) Acceleration at the instants when the car has vx = 0 m/s.
(c) Suppose ax(t) = a + bt2 − ct6, find x(t).

Equation, Sol., And Answer

:x(t) = x(t) = a + bt2 − ct6

dx
:vx(t)= dt [ a + bt2 − ct6]
:vx(t)=[2bt - 6ct5]

√
:(0)=2bt-6ct5 = t=0, t= 4 2 b or 2
6c

a.)Position of the bumper of the moving car

:t=0
:x(0)= x(t) = 2.17 + b(0)2 – c(0)6
:x(0) = 2.17m

b.)Acceleration when the car has vx = 0 m/s

dv
:ax= dt =2b-30ct4
:ax=2(4.8)- 30c(0)4
ax=9.6m/s2
 c.)find x(t)
dv
:ax(t)= dt =a + bt2 – ct6

Hence:
:∫ dv(t) =∫ (a+ bt −c t )dt
2 6

3 7
bt ct
:v(t)= at + -
3 7
dx
:∫ v ( t )=∫ dt
bt 3 ct 7
:∫ dx( t)=∫ (at+ − )dt
3 7

at 2 bt 4 ct 8
x(t) = + -
2 12 56

2. A particle is moving with a velocity that varies with time given by vx(t) = α −βt2,
where α = 5.00 m/s and β = 3.00 m/s3. At t = 0 the particle is at x = 0. (a) Find the
particle’s x(t) and (b) a(t). (c) What is the object’s maximum positive displacement
from the origin?
Given:
vx(t) = α −βt2
 α = 5.00 m/s and β = 3.00 m/s3
Required:
a. Find the particle’s x(t)
b. a(t)
c. What is the object’s maximum positive displacement from the origin?

Equation, Sol., And Answer

a.) Particle position
:vx(t) = α −βt2
dx
: dt =vx(t)= α −βt2

:∫ dx=∫ ¿ ¿ - βt 2)dt
3
Bt
x(t)= αt-
3

b.) a(t)
d d
: dt vx(t)= dt (α −βt2)
dv
a(t)= dt = -2 βt

c.)Maximum positive displacement

:vx(t) = α −βt2 = 0
:α −βt2 = 0
:α = βt2
α
: β = t2

√
: α= t
β
3
Bt
: xmax = x(t) = αt- −
3
 √ √ ()
3
β α
: x( α ) = α α - 2
β β 3 β

√ ()
3
3.0 5
: xmax= 5 5.0 - 2
3.0 3.0 3

: xmax =+ 4.3 m

3. A 15-kg rock is dropped from rest on the earth and reaches the ground in 1.75 s.
When it is dropped from the same height on Saturn’s satellite Enceladus, it reaches
the ground in 18.6 s. (a) What is the acceleration due to gravity on Enceladus? (b)
How long will it take for the rock to reach the ground on Earth if it was released 100
m above the Earth’s surface? (c) in Enceladus?
Given:

m=15 kg
tE= 1.75s
TEn= 18.6s

Required:

a.) gEn=?
b.) TE=?
c.) TEn=?

Equation, sol., and Answer:

1
a.) ∆ y = V0yt + ½at 2 = SE= ut+ 2 gETE2

1
:SE= ut+ 2 gETE2

1
:SEn= ut+ 2 gEnTEn2

:gEnTEn2 = gETE2

:gEn = gETE2 / TEn2

:gEn= (9.8)(1.75)2/(18.6)2

:gEn=8.6 x10−2 m/ s2

b.) TE=? when SE =100m

1
:SE= ut+ 2 gETE2
1
:100m= (0m/s)t+ 2 9.8m/s2 TE2
:100m/4.9m/s2=TE2
 √
: 100 = TE
4.9
:TE =4.5s

c.) c.) TEn=? when SEn =100m

1
:SEn= ut+ 2 gEnTEn2
1
:100m= (0m/s)t+ 2 8.6 x10−2m/ s2 TEn2
:100m/4.3 × 10 /s2=TEn2
-2

√
: 100 = TEn
.043
:TEn =48s

4. Two particles, A and B, are moving in a straight line. Take this to be the x−axis. At t =
0, particle A is trailing particle B, initially at some distance x behind B. Particle B is
accelerating at a constant 2.00 m/s2 and particle A is constantly accelerating at 3.00
m/s2. Particle A was able to overtake B after B has moved 50.0 m. (a) How long does
 it take for particle A to overtake B? (b) Initially, how far was A behind B? (c) How fast
are the two particles moving as soon as they’re at the same position?

Given:
ax1t= 3.00 m/s2
ax2t= 2.00 m/s2
xB=50m
Required:
a.) How long does it take for particle A to overtake B?
b.) Initially, how far was A behind B?
c.) How fast are the two particles moving as soon as they’re at the same position?

Equation, Sol., and Answer:

a.) Time required for B to reach 50m and thus for A to overtake B
:∆ xB=V0xt + ½aBt 2
:∆ xB= 0 + ½at 2
:2∆ xB= at2
2∆xB 2
: =t
a

:
√
2 ∆ xB
aB
=t

:
√
:t=7.07s
2(50−0)
2
=t

b.) Initial distance of A

∆ xA=V0xt + ½aAt 2
:x-x0= 1/2aAt2
:-x0=1/2aAt2-x
 1
: -x0 = 2 (3.0)(7.07)2 -50
1
: -x0 = 2 (3.0)(7.07)2 -50
: -x0 =25m
: x0=-25m

c.)velocity of A and B
VxB= V0x + axt
VxB= 0 +2(7.07)
VxB= 14m/s

VxA= V0x + axt

VxA= 0 +3(7.07)
Vxa= 21m/s

5. A web page designer creates an animation in which a dot on a computer screen has
position~r = [4.0 cm + (2.5 cm/s 2)t2 + (5.0 cm/s)tĴ. (a) Find the magnitude and
direction of the dot’s average velocity between t = 0 and t = 2.0 s. (b) Find the
 magnitude and direction of the instantaneous velocity at t = 0, t = 1.0 s, and t = 2.0 s.
(c) Find ~a.

Given : r = [4.0 cm + (2.5 cm/s2)t2î + (5.0 cm/s)tĴ

Required:

a) Find the magnitude and direction of the dot’s average velocity between t = 0
and t = 2.0 s
b) Find the magnitude and direction of the instantaneous velocity at t = 0, t = 1.0 s,
and t = 2.0 s.
c) Find ~a.

Equation, Sol., and Answers

a.) r = [4.0 cm + (2.5 cm/s2)t2î + (5.0 cm/s)tĴ

when t = 0 s;
x1=[4+ 2.5(0)2] = 4
y1=(5)(0)= 0

when t = 2.0s
x2=[4+ 2.5(2)2] = 14
y2=(5)(2)= 10

x 2−x 1
vav-x= t 2−t 1
14−4
vav-x= 2−0 = 5cm/s

y 2− y 1
vav-y= t 2−t 1
10−0
vav-y= 2−0 =5cm/s
vavg =√ ( v av− x ) + ( v av − y )
2 2

√( )( )
5 cm 2 5 cm 2
vavg = +
s s
 vavg =7.1cm/s

vav− y
tan= vav−x
5 cm/s
tan= 5 cm/s = 45 N of E

d d
b.) v= dt r= dt [4.0 cm + (2.5 cm/s2)t2î + (5.0 cm/s)tĴ
v(t)=((5cm/s)t) î + (5.0 cm/s) Ĵ

v(t=0)=((5cm/s)0) î + (5.0 cm/s) Ĵ

v(t=0)=5cm/s
tan=90 N,no i component, hence it lies in y-axis

v(t=1)=((5cm/s)1) î + (5.0 cm/s) Ĵ

v(t=1)=(5cm/s) î + (5.0 cm/s)Ĵ

√( )( )
2 2
5 cm 5 cm
v= +
s s
v(t=1)=7.1cm/s
vav− y
tan= vav−x = 45 N of E

v(t=2)=((5cm/s)2) î + (5.0 cm/s) Ĵ

v(t=2)=(10cm/s )î + (5.0 cm/s)Ĵ

√( )( )
2 2
10 cm 5 cm
v(t=2)= +
s s
v(t=2)=11cm/s

vav− y
tan= vav−x
5
tan= 10 = 26.56
 dv
c.)ax= dt

d d
dt
v (t)=
dt
((5cm/s)t) î + (5.0 cm/s) Ĵ

ax=5cm/s2 î
6. A ball is fired from the origin with an initial velocity of 60.0 m/s at 70.0◦ above the
x−axis. Ignore air resistance. (a) What are the horizontal and vertical components of
the ball’s initial velocity? (b) Find the maximum height above the ball can reach. (c)
What are the horizontal and vertical components of the ball’s velocity and acceleration
at its maximum height?

Given: V0x= 60m/s at 70.0◦

Required:

a. What are the horizontal and vertical components of the ball’s initial velocity?
b. Find the maximum height above the ball can reach
c. What are the horizontal and vertical components of the ball’s velocity and
acceleration at its maximum height?

Equation, Sol., and Answers:

a.) horizontal and vertical components

Vix=(60.m/s)(cos70◦) =20.5m/s

Viy=(60.m/s)(sin70◦) =56.4m/s

b.)Maximum height

vy2 = v0y2+2gy(ymax)

v y 2−v 0 y
ymax =
2

2 gy

ymax = 02 −¿ ¿

ymax=162.2m
b.) Horizontal and vertical components of the ball’s velocity and acceleration at its
maximum height
The horizontal component of ball’s velocity remains the same, since there is no
horizontal acceleration in the horizontal direction.
vix= 20.5m/s ,
ax= 0

The vertical component of ball’s velocity is zero at its maximum height, while its
acceleration is -9.8m/s2
viy =0
ax= -9.8m/s2