AP Physics: Homework 9

September 16, 2014

1. A particle moves so that its position (in meters) as
a function of time (in seconds) is r =

i + 4t
2

j + t

k.
Write expressions for (a) its velocity and (b) its ac-
celeration as functions of time.
2. The motion of a particle is given by x = 25 + 6t
2
;
y = 50 20t + 8t
2
. Find x
0
, y
0
,
dx
dt
,
dy
dt
, and v
0
(v
0
is the initial speed, that is, the magnitude of the
initial velocity vector).
3. Find the magnitude and direction of a, the acceler-
ation of the particle in problem 2.
4. A proton initially has v = 4.0

i2.0

j+3.0

k and then
4.0s later has v = 2.0

i 2.0

j +5.0

k (in meters per

second). For that 4.0s, what was the protons av-
erage acceleration, a
avg
(a) in unit vector notation
and (b) as a magnitude and direction? (Hint: cal-
culate the average acceleration for heach component
of the vector rst, then combine the three compo-
nents together)
5. The position r(t) of a particle moving in an xy plane
is given by r(t) = (2.00t
3
5.00t)

i +(6.007.00t
4
)

j,
with r(t) in meters and t in seconds. Determine (a)
r(2), (b) v(2), and (c) a(2).
6. A boat sails across the surface of a lake with a con-
stant acceleration produced by the wind. At a cer-
tain instant, the boats velocity is (6.3

i8.42

j) m/s.
Three seconds later, because of a wind shift, the
boat is instantneously at rest. What is its average
acceleration for this 3 second interval (express your
answer both in unit vector notation and as a mag-
nitude and direction).
7. The velocity v(t) (in meters per second) of a par-
ticle moving in the xy plane is given by v(t) =
(6.0t 4.0t
2
)

i + 8.0

j, where t > 0. (a) What is

the acceleration when t = 3s? (b) When (if ever) is
the acceleration zero? (c) When (if ever) is the ve-
locity zero? (d) When (if ever) does the speed equal
10 m/s? (Hint: Speed is given by |v| =

v
2
x
+ v
2
y
.
To nd this out, determine what v
x
must be in this
problem for |v| to be 10 m/s, then determine if there
is a time at which v
x
is that specied value.)
8. A particle leaves the origin with an initial veloc-
ity v = 3.00

i m/s and a constant acceleration a =

(1.00

i 0.500

j) m/s
2
. When the particle reaches
its maximum x position (what do you know about
the x-component of the objects velocity when it
reaches its maximum x position?), what is (a) its
velocity and (b) its position vector?
9. Is it physically possible for the motion of a particle
to be given by
x = 5 + 10t + 17t
2
+ 4t
3
y = 8 + 9t + 20t
2
6t
3
if the particle is acted on by a constant force? Jus-
tify your response.
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