PHYSICS 221

SPRING 2013

FINAL EXAM: May 7, 2013 2:15pm - 4:15pm

Name (printed): ______________________________________________
Recitation Instructor: _________________________
Section #_______
INSTRUCTIONS:
This exam contains 25 multiple-choice questions plus 2 extra credit questions,
each worth 4 points. Choose one answer only for each question. Choose the best
answer to each question. Answer all questions.
Allowed material: Before turning over this page, put away all materials except for pens,
pencils, erasers, rulers and your calculator. There is a formula sheet attached at the end
of the exam. Other copies of the formula sheet are not allowed.
Calculator: In general, any calculator, including calculators that perform graphing, is
permitted. Electronic devices that can store large amounts of text, data or equations (like
laptops, palmtops, pocket computers, PDA or e-book readers) are NOT permitted.
Wireless devices are NOT permitted. If you are unsure whether or not your calculator is
allowed for the exam, ask your TA.
How to fill in the bubble sheet:
Use a number 2 pencil. Do NOT use ink. If you did not bring a pencil, ask for one.
You will continue to use the same bubble sheet that you already used for the first
midterm exam. Bubble answers 55-81 on the bubble sheet for this exam.
Please turn over your bubble sheet when you are not writing on it.
If you need to change any entry, you must completely erase your previous entry. Also,
circle your answers on this exam. Before handing in your exam, be sure that your
answers on your bubble sheet are what you intend them to be. You may also copy down
your answers on a piece of paper to take with you and compare with the posted
answers. You may use the table at the end of the exam for this.
When you are finished with the exam, place all exam materials, including the bubble
sheet, and the exam itself, in your folder and return the folder to your recitation
instructor.
No cell phone calls allowed. Either turn off your cell phone or leave it at home. Anyone
answering a cell phone must hand in their work; their exam is over.

Best of luck,
Drs. Kai-Ming Ho, Eli Rosenberg, and Kerry Whisnant

55) A test rocket is fired straight up from rest with a net acceleration of 20.0 m/s2.
After 4.00 seconds the motor turns off, but the rocket continues to coast
upward with no appreciable air resistance. What maximum elevation does the
rocket reach, in m? You may assume that the acceleration of gravity remains
constant.
A) 320
B) 160
C) 327
D) 408
E) 487
Solution: The distance traveled during acceleration is
y = at 2 / 2 = (20.0)(4.0)2 / 2 = 160 m. The speed at that point is
vy = at = (20.0)(4.0) = 80 m/s. The rocket then coasts under gravity; the distance
2
+ 2a!y , or
traveled during this part of the motion is given by vyf2 = vy0

2
vyf2 " vy0
(0)2 " (80.0)2
!y =
=
= 327 m , where the velocity at the top is zero and the
2a
2("9.8)
acceleration is -9.8 m/s2. The total distance to the top is therefore 487 m.
Answer: E.

56) A 0.60 kg rock is swung in a circular path in a vertical plane on a 0.30 m

length string. At the top of the path, the angular velocity is 12.0 rad/s. What
is the tension in the string, in N, at that point?
A) 5.9
B) 15
C) 20
D) 26
E) 32
Solution: For circular motion, at the top both the tension and gravity act down,
and must combine to give the centripetal acceleration. Thus T + mg = m2R, so
T = m(2R-g) = (0.60)[(12.0)2(0.30)9.8] = 20 N. Answer: C.

57) Tom and Jerry throw identical rocks off a tall building at the same time. The
ground near the building is flat. Tom throws his rock straight downward. Jerry
throws his rock at an initial angle 30o below the horizontal. Jerry throws the
rock with a speed twice that of Tom's rock. If air resistance is negligible, which
rock hits the ground first?
A) Toms rock
B) Jerrys rock
C) They hit at the same time
D) It is impossible to determine without more information
E) It depends on the height of the building

1
Solution: The equation that determines the vertical motion is y = y0 + v0 y t ! gt 2 .
2
The rock with the most negative v0y will hit the ground first. If the speed of Toms
rock is v, then v0y = -v. The vertical component of the velocity of Jerrys rock is v0y
= -(2v)sin30o = -2v(0.5) = -v, i.e., the same. Therefore the two rocks will hit the
ground at the same time. Answer: C.

58) A series of weights connected by very light cords are

given an upward acceleration of 4.00 m/s2 by a pulling
force P, as shown in the figure. A, B, and C are the
tensions in the connecting cords. What is the SMALLEST
of the three tensions, A, B, and C, in N?
A) 483
B) 196
C) 621
D) 276
E) 80.0
Solution: The force P must pull all four masses, the tension C
must pull only the bottom three masses, B the bottom two, and
A only the bottom mass. Since the accelerations are all the
same, A will be the smallest. The net force on the 20.00-kg
mass is A mg = ma, or A = m(g+a) = (20.00)(9.81+4.00) =
276 N. Answer: D.

59) A 2.0 kg box sits on an incline that makes an angle of 20o with respect to the
horizontal (see figure). The coefficient of static friction between the incline and
the box is S = 0.30. What is the horizontal force, F, required to start the box
moving up the incline, in N?
A) 12
B) 15
C) 20
D) 26
E) 32

F
20o

Solution: The net force up the incline is Fcos20o - mgsin20o f, where f is the
friction force; friction acts down the incline, opposing the motion. The net force is
zero when the box just starts to move. Also, when the box is about to move,
friction has its maximum value of f = s N. The normal force is determined from
the net force perpendicular to the incline, N Fsin20o mgcos20o = 0. Then
Fcos20 o ! mgsin20 o = f = s N = s (F sin 20 o + mgcos20 o )
Answer: B.
sin 20 o + s cos20 o
F = mg
= 15 N.
o
o
cos20 ! s sin 20
60) A 2000-kg car is initially moving with speed 30.0 m/s. The driver slams on his
brakes and skids for 5.00 s. If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the
tires and the road is 0.400, how much work was done by friction in slowing
down the car, in J?
A) 7.92x105
B) 3.96x104
C) 2.38x106
D) 3.17x105
E) 0
Solution: The velocity of the car is v = v0 + at, and the acceleration is a = -F/m =
-(kN)/m = -(kmg)/m = -kg. Therefore the final velocity is v = 30.0
(0.400)(5.00)(9.81) = 10.4 m/s. The work done is equal to the change in kinetic
energy,
1
1
1
1
W = mv 2f ! mvi2 = m v 2f ! vi2 = (2000)"#(10.4)2 ! (30.0)2 $% = !7.92x10 5 J.
2
2
2
2
Answer: A.

61) Swimmers at a water park have the choice of two frictionless water slides.
Both slides have the same vertical height, but one slide is straight and the
other is curved (see figure). How does the speed v1 of a swimmer reaching
the end of slide 1 compare with v2, the speed of a swimmer reaching the end
of slide 2?

A) v1 = v2
B) v1 > v2
C) v1 < v2
D) It cant be determined without knowing the curvature of slide 2
E) It cant be determined without knowing the relative mass of the swimmers
Solution: Gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, so mgh =
mv2/2, or v2= 2gh. This doesn't depend on the mass or shape of the slide, only
the height. Since they start from the same height, they have the same speed at
the bottom. Answer: A.

62) A 2000-kg car moves eastward with speed 65 mph. It hits a 6000-kg truck
that is traveling at 20 mph towards the northeast. They bounce off of each
other, with the truck heading directly to the east at 15 mph after the collision.
What is the direction of the car after the collision?
A) 11o south of east
B) 11o north of east
C) directly east
D) 34o north of east
E) 4.0o north of east
Solution: Momentum must be conserved. We take east to be the positive x
direction and north to be the positive y direction. In the x direction we have
mcar v0,car + mtruck v0,truck cos45o = mcar vxf ,car + mtruck v f
(2000)(65) + (6000)(20)(0.707) = (2000)vxf ,car + (6000)(15)
vxf ,car = 62.4 mph.
In the y direction we have

0 + mtruck v0,truck sin 45o = mcar vyf ,car + 0

(6000)(20)(0.707) = (2000)vyf ,car
vyf ,car = 42.4 mph.
Then the angle is arctan(42.4/62.4) = 34o in the first quadrant, which is 34o north
of east. Answer: D.

63) A tire is rolling along a road, without slipping, with a velocity v. A piece of
tape is attached to the tire. When the tape is opposite the road (at the top of
the tire), its velocity with respect to the road is
A) undeterminable without knowing the radius of the tire
B) 0
C) v
D) 1.5v
E) 2v
Solution:The velocity of a point on the tire is equal to the velocity of the CM of
the tire, v, plus the velocity of that point relative to the CM, which for a point on
the top is also v, in the same direction as the tire velocity. Answer: E.
64) A dentists drill has an initial angular speed of 2.15 x 104 rad/s. It undergoes
constant angular acceleration for 2.50 s and reaches an angular speed of
6.75 x 104 rad/s. How many revolutions does the drill bit make during this
period?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

8.55 x 103
1.77 x 104
3.54 x 104
1.11 x 105
2.23 x 105

Solution: The easiest way to solve this is by using avg = (i+f)/2 for constant
acceleration, or avg = (2.15 x 104 + 6.75 x 104)/2 = 4.45 x 104. Then = avg t =
(4.45 x 104)(2.50) = 1.11 x 105 rad. To convert to revolutions, we must divide by
2, to get 1.11 x 105 rad/(2) = 1.77 x 104 revolutions. You could also find the
angular acceleration from /t and then use = 0t + t2/2. Answer: B.

65) A uniform 300-kg beam, 6.00 m long, is

freely pivoted at P, as shown in the figure.
The beam is supported in a horizontal
position by a light strut, 5.00 m long, which
is freely pivoted at Q and is loosely pinned
to the beam at R. A load of mass is
suspended from the end of the beam at S.
A maximum compression of 23,000 N in the
strut is permitted, due to safety. The
maximum mass M of the load is what value,
in kg?
A) 554
B) 789
C) 1020
D) 1090
E) 1320
Solution: The strut makes angle of 53.1o with respect to the beam. The CCW
torque of the strut must cancel the CW torques of the weight of the beam and the
weight of the mass. If the compression of the strut is F, the strut exerts a force
along the direction of the strut of F. Taking torques about the left end of the
beam, we dont need to know the force exerted by the wall on the beam, and we
get
L
L
F sin 53.1o = mg + MgL
2
2
o
F sin 53.1 m (23000)(0.800) 300
M=
! =
!
= 789 kg.
2g
2
2(9.8)
2
Answer: B.
66) The Eiffel Tower, constructed in 1889, is a lattice work structure made of
iron. On a 22 C day the tower is 301 m high. How much smaller, in cm, is
the tower on a day when the temperature is only 0.0 C? The coefficient of
linear expansion of iron is 1.2x10-5/K.
A) 14
B) 4.4
C) 3.0x10-2
D) 1.1x102
E) 8.0
Solution: The change in length is L = LT = (1.2x10-5)(301)(22) = 0.080 m
= -8.0 cm. Answer: E.

67) A 1.50 m long tube closed at one end is filled with air. The speed of sound in
air is 343 m/s. Which one of the following is a resonant frequency of this tube,
in Hz?
A) 114
B) 76
C) 143
D) 286
E) 229
Solution: For a tube closed at one end, the frequencies are f = noddv/(4L) =
nodd(343)/(6.00) = 57, 172, 286, 400, Hz, so the fifth harmonic (nodd = 5) is in
the list. Answer: D.
68) A 100 g block of a metal at 20.00 C is placed into an insulated container
with 400 g of water at a temperature of 0.00 C. The temperature of the metal
and the water ends up at 2.00 C. What is the specific heat of this metal, in
J/kg-K? The specific heat of water is 4.19x103 J/kg-K.
A) 1.16x102
B) 9.32x102
C) 1.86x103
D) 2.36x104
E) 1.51x105
Solution: The heat gained by the water is equal to the heat lost by the metal, so
mmcm(20.00-2.00) = mwcw(2.00-0.00), or cm = mwcw/(9mm) = (400)(4190)/(900) =
1862 J/kg-K. Answer: C.
69) Water near the surface of a tropical ocean has a temperature of 25 C.
Water 700 m below the surface has a temperature of 7 C. What is the
maximum efficiency of a heat engine which uses the warm water as a hot
reservoir and the cool water as cold reservoir?
A) 94%
B) Not enough information is given to know
C) 72%
D) 28%
E) 6.0%
Solution: The maximum possible efficiency is = (TH TC)/TH, where the
temperatures must be in K, so = (298 280)/298 = 0.060, or 6.0%. Answer: E.

70) A pendulum consists of a massive bob suspended from the ceiling by a

massless string. To double the period of the pendulum, you should
A) Quadruple the length of the string
B) Double the length of the string
C) Double the mass of the pendulum bob
D) Halve the length of the string
E) Halve the mass of the pendulum bob
Solution: The period of a pendulum is T = 2! L / g , so to double T you must
quadruple L. Answer: A.

71) A transverse wave is described by y(x, t) = (2.0 cm) sin "#(3.2 m !1 ) ( x ! (4.3m/s)t )$%
What is the frequency of the wave, in Hz?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

2.0
2.2
3.2
4.3
1.3

Solution: The standard form is y(x, t) = A sin "#k ( x ! vt )$% = A sin [ kx ! ! t ] . The
!
kv (3.2)(4.3)
frequency is f =
=
=
= 2.2 Hz. Answer: B.
2" 2"
2"
72) A Carnot engine takes heat in from a reservoir at 100oC and discards heat to
a reservoir at 10oC. If the engine does 140 J of work per cycle, how much
heat does it take in from the hot reservoir per cycle, in J?
A) 140
B) 156
C) 185
D) 580
E) 1080

TH ! TC QH ! QC W
, where the temperatures
=
=
TH
QH
QH
WTH
140(373)
must be expressed in K, so QH =
=
= 580 J. Answer: D.
TH ! TC 373! 283
Solution: For a Carnot engine,

73) The average speed of a molecule in a particular sample of an ideal

monatomic gas is 380 m/s. If the gas is in a 1.20-m3 container at STP, what is
the total mass of the gas, in kg?
A) 1.68
B) 2.14
C) 2.52
D) 3.26
E) 5.79
2
Solution: The average speed (not rms speed) is given by vavg
=
2
where M is the molar mass. Also, RT = PV/n, so vavg
=

nM =

8kT 8RT
,
=
!m !M

8PV
, and the total mass is
! Mn

8PV 8(1.013x10 5 )(1.20)

=
= 2.14 kg. Answer: B.
2
! vavg
3.14(380)2

74) For the pV diagram shown, what is

the work done by the gas for one cycle
(abca), in L-atm? Process bc is
isothermal.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

0.30
0.25
0
0.25
0.30

Solution: The work done during ab is zero, since the volume is constant. The
work done during bc is W = nRT ln(Vc/Vb) = p1V1 ln(Vc/Vb), since bc is isothermal.
Also, pbVb = pcVc, so Vc = 0.80 L (=Va also), and therefore Wbc = (2.0)(0.2) ln(4) =
0.55 L-atm. The work done during the isobaric process ca is just p(Va Vc) =
(0.50)(0.20 0.80) = 0.30 L-atm, so the total work done is 0.25 L-atm. Answer:
D.

75) When an ideal gas is allowed to expand isothermally from volume V1 to a

larger volume V2, the gas does an amount of work equal to W12.
If the same ideal gas is allowed to expand adiabatically from volume V1 to the
same larger volume V2, the gas does an amount of work that is
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

greater than W12

equal to W12
less than W12
either A, B, or C, depending on the ratio V2/V1
either A, B, or C, depending on the final temperature

Solution: An adiabatic process is described by a curve on the pV diagram that

falls off more steeply than an isothermal. Therefore is both processes start at the
same pressure and volume and end at the same volume, the adiabatic process
ends on a lower pressure, and hence has a smaller area under the curve, and
therefore less work. Answer: C.
76) You have 1.00 mol of an ideal monatomic gas and 1.00 mol of an ideal
diatomic gas whose molecules can rotate. The gases are in identical fixed
containers and initially both gases are at the same temperature. If the same
amount of heat flows into each gas, which gas will undergo the greatest
increase in temperature?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

The monatomic gas

The diatomic gas
They have the same increase in temperature
The answer depends on the molar masses on the gases
The answer depends on the value of the initial temperature

Solution: The heat added to change the temperature at constant volume is Q =

nCVT. Since CV is smaller for the monatomic gas (3R/2 versus 5R/2 for a
diatomic gas), its temperature change will be larger for the same amount of heat.
Answer: A.
77) A stationary siren emits sound of frequency 1000 Hz and wavelength 0.343
m. An observer who is moving toward the siren will measure a frequency f and
wavelength for this sound such that
A) f > 1000 Hz and > 0.343 m
B) f > 1000 Hz and < 0.343 m
C) f > 1000 Hz and = 0.343 m
D) f = 1000 Hz and > 0.343 m
E) f = 1000 Hz and < 0.343 m

Solution: The listener is moving towards from the source, so that tends to
increase the frequency. The wavelength is affected by the source motion; since
the source is not moving, the wavelength is unchanged. Answer: C.
78) The side L of a square is measured with an ordinary plastic ruler. The result,
along with the estimated uncertainty, is:
L = 50.0 0.5 mm
Which of the following is the area of the square with the corresponding
propagated uncertainty?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

2500 0.3 mm2

2500 0.5 mm2
2500 1 mm2
2500 2 mm2
2500 50 mm2

Solution: We can write the length of a side as 50.0(1.00 0.01) mm, so the
fractional error is 1%. The area is then (50.0)2 (1.00 0.01)2 mm2, with fractional
error 2%, or 2500(1.00 0.02) = 2500 50 mm2. Answer: E.

79) A 300-g mass oscillates at the end of vertical spring. The vertical position of

the object is measured with a motion detector. The data is shown in the figure
below:

Use the data to estimate the spring constant k of the spring.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

14 N/m
33 N/m
62 N/m
95 N/m
120 N/m

Solution: The spring constant is k = m2 = m(2/T)2. From the graph we

estimate the period to be 0.6 s, so k = (0.300)( 2/0.6)2 = 33 N/m. Answer: B.

80) A cart is pulled by a string on a track. The motion of the cart is monitored with
a motion detector like the ones used in the labs, and the tension in the string is
measured by a force probe mounted on the cart (see figure below). Using the
data of position versus time produced by the motion detector, our software can
compute numerical derivatives of position, so we also have velocity and
acceleration as a function of time.

Motion
detector

Force
probe
T
Cart

Shown below is a graph showing the tension in the string versus the
acceleration of the cart. Based on this data, what is the mass of the cart +
force probe system?

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

1.2 kg
2.6 kg
3.2 kg
3.8 kg
4.4 kg

Tension (N)

Acceleration (m/s2)

Solution: Since F = ma, where F is the tension, so mass is the slope of the F
versus a curve. Estimating the slope from the graph to be !T / !a = 0.6 / 0.5 = 1.2
kg. Answer: A.

81) A flask containing air from the room is closed with a tightly-fitting rubber stop.
The system is then slowly cooled down by placing it in a cold bath. Both the
temperature and the pressure inside the flask are measured throughout the
process. Which of the following graphs is closest to the graph you will obtain with
that data?

p

B
p

C
p

T
D

Solution: Since pV = nRT, if the volume and number of moles remains constant
(the flask does not change size and the stopper keeps all of the gas inside), then
the pressure and temperature must be proportional. This gives a straight line with
positive slope for p versus T. Answer: B.

55 E

64 B

73 B

56 C

65 B

74 D

57 C

66 E

75 C

58 D

67 D

76 A

59 B

68 C

77 C

60 A

69 E

78 E

61 A

70 A

79 B

62 D

71 B

80 A

63 E

72 D

81 B