Problem 1: Compute your average velocity in the following two cases: (a) You walk

m
DW ≔ 73.2 ⋅ m at a speed of vW ≔ 1.22 ⋅ ― and then run DR ≔ 73.2 ⋅ m at a speed of
s
m
vR ≔ 3.05 ⋅ ― along a straight track. (b) You walk for tWb ≔ 1.00 ⋅ min at a speed of vW
s
and then run for tRb ≔ 1.00 ⋅ min at vR along a straight track. (c) Graph x versus t for both
cases and indicate how the average velocity is found on the graph.

DW DR
((a)) tWa ≔ ―― = 60 s tRa ≔ ―― = 24 s
vW vR

DW m
Vavga ≔ 2 ⋅ ―――= 1.743 ―
tWa + tRa s

((b)) DWb ≔ vW ⋅ tWb = 73.2 m DRb ≔ vR ⋅ tRb = 183 m

Dtot ≔ DWb + DRb = 256.2 m

Dtot m
vavgb ≔ ―――= 2.135 ―
tWb + tRb s

((c)) See_notes

km km
Problem 2: Two trains, each having a speeds of v1 ≔ 38.0 ⋅ ―― , and v2 ≔ 20.0 ⋅ ―― are
hr hr
km
headed at each other on the same straight track. A bird that can fly vb ≔ 68.0 ⋅ ―― flies off
hr
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 km km
Problem 2: Two trains, each having a speeds of v1 ≔ 38.0 ⋅ ―― , and v2 ≔ 20.0 ⋅ ―― are
hr hr
km
headed at each other on the same straight track. A bird that can fly vb ≔ 68.0 ⋅ ―― flies off
hr
the front of one train when they are D ≔ 60.0 ⋅ km apart and heads directly for the other
train. On reaching the other train, the (crazy) bird flies directly back to the first train, and
repeats this process until it can't. What is the total distance the bird travels before the trains
collide?

D ＝ v1 ⋅ t + v2 ⋅ t

D
t ≔ ――― = 1.034 hr
v1 + v2

Dbird ≔ vb ⋅ t = 70.3 km

Problem 3: The position function x(t) of a particle moving along an x axis is

x ((t)) ＝ 4.0 - 6.0 ⋅ t 2 , with x in meters and t in seconds. (a) At what time and (b) where does
the particle (momentarily) stop? At what (c) negative time and (d) positive time does the
particle pass through the origin? (e) Graph x versus t for the range -5s to 5s. (f) To shift the
curve rightward on the graph, should Non-Commercial
we include theUse Only
term +20t or the term -20t in x(t)? (g)
Problem 3: The position function x(t) of a particle moving along an x axis is
x ((t)) ＝ 4.0 - 6.0 ⋅ t 2 , with x in meters and t in seconds. (a) At what time and (b) where does
the particle (momentarily) stop? At what (c) negative time and (d) positive time does the
particle pass through the origin? (e) Graph x versus t for the range -5s to 5s. (f) To shift the
curve rightward on the graph, should we include the term +20t or the term -20t in x(t)? (g)
Does that inclusion increase or decrease the value of x at which the particle momentarily
stops?
(a) This is the turn around point in the motion or the maxima or minima of the motion,
from last chapter we learned that we can find this by taking the derivative and setting it to
zero as follows: Notice that this is the same as asking when the velocity of the partial is
zero, which kind of make sense :).
m 2
x ((t)) ≔ 4.0 ⋅ m - 6.0 ⋅ ― ⋅t
s2

d1
―― x ((t)) → 0.0
d x1

dx ((t))
or ――＝ -12.0 ⋅ t ＝ 0.00
dt
tmax ≔ 0.00 ⋅ sec
((b))

We can now evaluate the position at the time

found in part (a) which in this case is zero.

x ⎛⎝tmax⎞⎠ = 4.00 m

((c - d)) The origin is at x ((t)) ＝ 0.00 ⋅ m so we just need to solve for the time
at which that occurs.
m 2
0.00 ＝ 4.0 ⋅ m - 6.0 ⋅ ― ⋅t
s2

m 2
4.0 ⋅ m ＝ 6.0 ⋅ ― ⋅t
s2

((4.0 ⋅ m)) 2 2.0 2

―――＝ t ＝ ―― s
m 3.0
6.0 ⋅ ―
s2
1
―
3
⎛2⎞
torigin ≔ ⎜―⎟ = 0.874
⎝3⎠
since the time is squared this value holds for positive and negative times.

A plot of x ((t))

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 A plot of x ((t))
((e))
12
6
0
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-6
-12
-18
-24
4.0 - 6.0 ⋅ t0 2
-30
-36
-42
-48
-54

t0

The shifted plot, really a different function

34
25.5
17
8.5
0
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-8.5
-17 4.0 + 20 ⋅ t0 - 6.0 ⋅ t0 2
-25.5
-34
-42.5
-51

t0

34
25.5
17
8.5
0
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-8.5
-17 4.0 - 20 ⋅ t0 - 6.0 ⋅ t0 2
-25.5
-34
-42.5
-51

t0

(f) the answer is clearly +20t

(g) The value of x at which the slope is larger. You can see this using the middle plot where
4.0 + 20 ⋅ t0 - 6.0 ⋅ t0 2

Problem 4: The position of a particle moving along the x axis is given in centimeters by
x ((t)) ≔ 9.75 + 1.50 ⋅ t 3 , where t is in seconds. Calculate (a) the average velocity during the
time interval t2 ≔ 2.00 to t3 ≔ 3.00 ; (b) the instantaneous velocity at t2 ≔ 2.00 ; (c) the
instantaneous velocity at t3 ≔ 3.00 ; (d) the instantaneous velocity at t2.5 ≔ 2.50 ; and (e)
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Problem 4: The position of a particle moving along the x axis is given in centimeters by
x ((t)) ≔ 9.75 + 1.50 ⋅ t 3 , where t is in seconds. Calculate (a) the average velocity during the
time interval t2 ≔ 2.00 to t3 ≔ 3.00 ; (b) the instantaneous velocity at t2 ≔ 2.00 ; (c) the
instantaneous velocity at t3 ≔ 3.00 ; (d) the instantaneous velocity at t2.5 ≔ 2.50 ; and (e)
the instantaneous velocity when the particle is midway between its positions at t2 ≔ 2.00 and
t3 ≔ 3.00 . (f) Graph x versus t and indicate your answers graphically.

((a)) x ⎛⎝t2⎞⎠ = 21.75 x ⎛⎝t3⎞⎠ = 50.25

Δt ≔ t3 - t2 = 1

⎛⎝x ⎛⎝t3⎞⎠ - x ⎛⎝t2⎞⎠⎞⎠

vavg ≔ ――――― = 28.5
Δt

dx ((t)) m
((b)) ――＝ 1.50 ⋅ ― ⋅ 3 ⋅ t2 v ((t)) ≔ 1.50 ⋅ 3 ⋅ t 2
dt s 3

v ⎛⎝t2⎞⎠ = 18.0

((c)) v ⎛⎝t3⎞⎠ = 40.5

((d)) v ⎛⎝t2.5⎞⎠ = 28.1

((e)) We have seen this problem in class and we know that, where I carry and
extra digit.
⎛⎝x ⎛⎝t3⎞⎠ + x ⎛⎝t2⎞⎠⎞⎠
xavg ≔ ――――― = 36.00 xavg ＝ 9.75 + 1.50 ⋅ te 3
2

1
―
3
⎛ ⎛⎝xavg - 9.75⎞⎠ ⎞
te ≔ ⎜――――⎟ = 2.596 vmid ≔ 1.50 ⋅ 3 ⋅ te 2 = 30.3
⎝ 1.50 ⎠

100
90
80
70
60
50
40 x ⎛⎝t0⎞⎠
30
20
10
0
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4

t0

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 Problem 5: The position of a particle moving along the x axis depends on the time
according to the equation x ((t)) ＝ c0 ⋅ t 2 - b0 ⋅ t 3 , where x is in meters and t in seconds.
What are the units of (a) constant c and (b) constant b? Let their numerical values be
3.0 and 2.0, respectively. (c) At what time does the particle reach its maximum positive
x position? From t = 0.0 s to t = 4.0 s, (d) what distance does the particle move and (e)
what is its displacement? Find its velocity at times (f) 1.0 s, (g) 2.0 s, (h) 3.0 s, and (i)
4.0 s. Find its acceleration at times (j) 1.0 s, (k) 2.0 s, (l) 3.0 s, and (m) 4.0 s.

m
(a) since x must be in meters c must have units of ―
s2

m
(b) The same is true of b so the answer is ―
s3

m m
(c) So c0 ≔ 3.0 ⋅ ― 2
and b0 ≔ 2.0 ⋅ ― , then the derivative will give the maxima
s s3
as 2 ⋅ c0 ⋅ t ＝ 3 ⋅ b0 ⋅ t 2 some of the t terms cancel so we must have:
c0
2 ⋅ c0 ＝ 3 ⋅ b0 ⋅ t and we can solve for t as t ≔ 2 ⋅ ―― = 1.0 s
3 ⋅ b0

(d) the distance moved must be D ≔ c0 ⋅ ((4.0 ⋅ s)) 2 - b0 ⋅ ((4.0 ⋅ s)) 3 = -80.0 m ,
since the particle starts at zero the (e) displacement and the distance traveled
must be the same.

(f-i) the velocity is give by v ((t)) ≔ 2 ⋅ c0 ⋅ t - 3 ⋅ b0 ⋅ t 2

m m
v ((1.0 ⋅ s)) = 0 ― v ((2.0 ⋅ s)) = -12 ―
s s
m
v ((4.0 ⋅ s)) = -72 ―
m s
v ((3.0 ⋅ s)) = -36 ―
s
(j) The acceleration is a ((t)) ≔ 2 ⋅ c0 - 6 ⋅ b0 ⋅ t
m m
a ((1.0 ⋅ s)) = -6 ― a ((2.0 ⋅ s)) = -18 ―
s2 s2

m m
a ((3.0 s)) = -30 ― a ((4.0 s)) = -42 ―
s2 s2

m
Problem 6: An electric vehicle starts from rest and accelerates at a rate of aev1 ≔ 2.0 ⋅ ―
s2
m
in a straight line until it reaches a speed of vf ≔ 20.0 ⋅ ―. The vehicle then slows at a
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 m
Problem 6: An electric vehicle starts from rest and accelerates at a rate of aev1 ≔ 2.0 ⋅ ―
s2
m
in a straight line until it reaches a speed of vf ≔ 20.0 ⋅ ―. The vehicle then slows at a
s
m
constant rate of aev2 ≔ 1.0 ⋅ ― until it stops. (a) How much time elapses from start to
s2
stop? (b) How far does the vehicle travel from start to stop?

Start with the kinematic equations and determine knows and unknowns.
vf
((a)) vf ＝ vi1 + aev1 ⋅ t1 so t1 ≔ ―― = 10.0 s
aev1

vf
vf2 ＝ vi2 + aev2 ⋅ t2 so t2 ≔ ―― = 20.0 s
aev2
vi2 ＝ vf

ttot ≔ t1 + t2 = 30 s SF here should be 2 but in the

original version of the problem 20.0
m/s was 20 so 1 SF will be
accepted on HMK only not the quiz
should this problem be selected

aev1
((b)) xf1 ≔ ―― ⋅ t1 2 = 100 m
2

1
xf2 ≔ xf1 + vf ⋅ t2 - ―aev2 ⋅ t2 2 = 300 m
2

or 30E+1 in this case since this represents the total distance

traveled.

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Problem 7: Cars A and B move in the same direction in adjacent lanes. The position x of
car A is given in the figure, from time t1 ≔ 0.00 ⋅ s to t2 ≔ 7.00 s . The figure’s vertical
scaling is set by xs ≔ 32.0 ⋅ m . At t1 ≔ 0.00 ⋅ s , car B is at xbi ≔ 0.00 ⋅ m , with a velocity of
m
vbi ≔ 12.0 ⋅ ― and a negative constant acceleration aB . (a) What must aB be such that
s
the cars are (momentarily) side by side (momentarily at the same value of x) at t4 ≔ 4.0 s ?
(b) For that value of aB , how many times are the cars side by side? (c) Sketch the position
x of car B versus time t on the figure (you can make a copy in your homework). How many
times will the cars be side by side if the magnitude of acceleration aB is (d) more than and
(e) less than the answer to part (a)?

((a))at t4 car a is clearly at xab ≔ 28.0 ⋅ m so this

means that car B must have accelerated so that
it is at this position at this time. This information
is key to solving the problem.

1
xab ＝ xbi + vbi ⋅ t4 + ―aB ⋅ t4 2 so we can get out unknown
2 aB .

1 ⎛⎝2 ⎛⎝xab - xbi⎞⎠ - 2 vbi ⋅ t4⎞⎠

⎛⎝xab - xbi⎞⎠ ＝ vbi ⋅ t4 + ―aB ⋅ t4 2 ―――――――― ＝ aB
2 t4 2

⎛⎝2 ⎛⎝xab - xbi⎞⎠ - 2 vbi ⋅ t4⎞⎠ m

aB ≔ ―――――――― 2
= -2.5 ―
t4 s2

((b)) In order to solve this we need an equation of motion for car A so that we can
match it to that of car B. In this case car A undergoes straight line motion so
that

1
xA ＝ 20 ⋅ m + vA ⋅ t thus 20 ⋅ m + vA ⋅ t ＝ vbi ⋅ t + ―aB ⋅ t 2
2

((32.0 ⋅ m - 20.0 ⋅ m)) m

vA ≔ ――――――― = 2.000 ―
6.00 ⋅ s s
There is only one root to this quadratic but you will need to show that it is
true.

1 solve ⎡ 4.0 ⎤
20 + ((2.0 - 12.0)) ⋅ t + ―⋅ 2.5 ⋅ t 2 ＝ 0 ―― →⎢
2 ⎣ 4.0 ⎥⎦

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((c))

((d - e)) Since the cars are only side by side once we don't need to explore the
math any further.

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Problem 8: A ball of moist clay falls hb ≔ 15.0 ⋅ m to the ground. It is in contact with
the ground for tcont ≔ 20.0 ⋅ ms before stopping. (a) What is the magnitude of the
average acceleration of the ball during the time it is in contact with the ground? (Treat
the ball as a particle.) (b) Is the average acceleration up or down?

(a) there are a few ways that we can solve this problem, the simplest is to use
the kinematic equation vf 2 ＝ vi 2 + 2 ⋅ a ⋅ Δx where Δx is the distance the ball
drops, the initial velocity is zero, and the acceleration is that of gravity, so that
we have: vf 2 ＝ 2 ⋅ g ⋅ hb . This will give use the speed of the ball at the instant
that it hit the ground.
1
―
2 m
vfb ≔ ⎛⎝2 ⋅ g ⋅ hb⎞⎠ = 17.152 ―
s
now that we know the initial velocity at the instant that it hits the ground we
can find the change in velocity and thus the acceleration.
vfb m
aavg ≔ ―― = 858 ―
tcont s2

(b) up as it must be in the opposite direction of gravity.

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 1
Problem 9: An rock fall off a building of height h from rest. If it travels y ＝ ―h in the
2
last t2 ≔ 1.00 ⋅ sec , find (a) the time and (b) the height of its fall. (c) Explain the
physically unacceptable solution of the quadratic equation in t that you obtain.

t2
t1 ≔ ――― = 2.414 s htot ≔ g ⋅ t1 2 = 57.2 m
‾‾
2 -1

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Problem 10: A ball is shot vertically upward from the surface of another planet. A plot of
y versus t for the ball is shown in the figure, where y is the height of the ball above its
starting point and t 0 at the instant the ball is shot. The figure’s vertical scaling is set by
ys ＝ 30.0 ⋅ m . What are the magnitudes of (a) the free-fall acceleration on the planet and
(b) the initial velocity of the ball?

y0 ≔ 25.0 ⋅ m tfall ≔ 2.5 ⋅ sec 2.5 SF is as good as we can

((a)) do
⎛ y0 ⎞ m
ap ≔ ⎜2 ⋅ ―― 2
⎟=8 ―
⎜⎝ tfall ⎟⎠ s2

m
((b)) 0 ＝ vi 2 - 2 ⋅ ap ⋅ y0 vi ≔ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
2 ⋅ ap ⋅ y0 = 20 ―
s

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 Challenge Problem 11: A certain boat moves with a constant velocity
m
v0 ≔ 8.00 ― for ta ≔ 30.0 ⋅ sec . It then shuts off its engines and coasts. Its
s
t1 2
coasting velocity is given by the following equation v (t) ＝ v0 ――
( ) where
t2
t1 ≔ 60.0 ⋅ sec . What is the displacement of the boat for the interval 0 < t < ∞ .
Answer in km!
Looking at Time scales and the nature of t1 , assume some other values for t1 such
as tone ≔ 20.0 ⋅ s , ttwo ≔ 40.0 ⋅ s , and tthree ≔ 50.0 ⋅ s , now lets plot out equation for
v ((t)) and see how each will change the plots.

tone 2 ttwo 2 tthree 2

va ((t)) ≔ v0 ⋅ ―― vb ((t)) ≔ v0 ⋅ ―― vc ((t)) ≔ v0 ⋅ ―――
t2 t2 t2
A plot that shows the effect of the variable t1

2⋅10⁴

1.8⋅10⁴

1.6⋅10⁴

1.4⋅10⁴

1.2⋅10⁴
va ((y)) ((m ⋅ s))
1⋅10⁴

8⋅10³ vb ((y)) ((m ⋅ s))

6⋅10³

4⋅10³ vc ((y)) ((m ⋅ s))

2⋅10³

0
1 1.9 2.8 3.7 4.6 5.5 6.4 7.3 8.2 9.1 10

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((a)) How far does it go in the first 30 seconds? assume
1
x ((t)) ＝ x0 + v0 + ―a ⋅ t 2 x0 ≔ 0.00 ⋅ m
2
xf ≔ v0 ⋅ ta = 240 m ti ≔ 0.00 ⋅ sec
m
ai ≔ 0.00 ⋅ ―
s2
((b)) How far does it go after the motor shuts off. We start be finding the
displacement after the motor is turned off. In this case integration will
serve us well on the interval 0 to tb ≔ ∞ ⋅ sec
tb
⌠
t1 2
⎮ v ⋅ ―― ⎛1 1⎞ ⎛1 1⎞
d t ＝ -v0 ⋅ t1 2 ⎜―- ―⎟ or -v0 ⋅ t1 2 ⎜―- ―⎟ = 960 m
⎮ 0 t2 ⎝ tb ta ⎠ ⎝ tb ta ⎠
⌡
ta

Now that we know the displacement we can find the total distance
that the boat traveled.
⎛1⎞
xtot ≔ v0 ⋅ t1 2 ⎜―⎟ + xf = 1.200 km
⎝ ta ⎠

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