Answer Key to Second Long Quiz

by Joseph Isaiah Miralles

November 10, 2017

Kinematic Equations
v = v0 + at (1)
 
v + v0
x = t (2)
2
1
x = v0 t + at2 (3)
2
1
x = vt at2 (4)
2

v 2 = v0 2 + 2ax (5)

1 The Accelerating Cart

Recall from our previous lectures that it would be wise to identify first the
given quantities in a problem then select among the five kinematic equations for
the most suitable formula to solve the problem. In this item, the cart travels
with an initial velocity v0 = 5.0m/s, and accelerates at a constant rate of
a = 2.0m/s2 , in 6.0 s. We are looking for the displacement x. Since the
given are v0 , a and t, we can directly use equation (3)
1
x = v0 t + at2
2

1
x = (5.0 m/s)(6.0s) + (2.0 m/s2 )(6.0 s)2
2

x = 66 m
Hence, the answer is C

1
2 Case 1 of Freely Falling Objects: Objects being
dropped
In this item, note first that the object is being dropped from the top of a
building. I told you in class that if ever you encounter such a problem you
can set the initial velocity of the object to be zero v0 = 0. Since this is a
problem in free fall, the acceleration due to gravity is always g = 9.81m/s2 .
The height of the building is given which is 20.0 m. Establishing our frame
of reference, we can set its origin at the top of the building where the object
is dropped and thus, the initial position of the object is y0 = 0 The given

Figure 1: Establishing the frame of reference for the problem

are v0 , g and y = y y0 = 20.0 m 0 m so we can directly use equation

(3) without resorting to quadratic formula since the initial velocity
is zero. However, if we use the quadratic formula we can still get the same
answer.
1
y = v0 t + gt2
2
Since v0 = 0 we can cancel out the v0 t term in the right-hand side (RHS) of the
equation and we will be left with,
1 2
y = gt
2

2
Isolating t, we multiply both sides of this equation by 2 to cancel out 2 in the
RHS
2y = gt2
Dividing both sides by g:
2y
= t2
g
Taking the square root of both sides to finally isolate t,
s
2y
t=
g

Substituting the given: s

2(20.0 m)
t=
9.81 m/s2
t = 2.02 s
Thus, the answer is B
In the case that you used the quadratic formula

b b2 4ac
x=
2a
in equation (3), rearrange it first such that it follows the form of the general
quadratic equation,
ax2 + bx + c = 0
Therefore, equation (3) becomes
1 2
gt + v0 t y = 0
2
1
where based in the quadratic formula, a = g, b = v0 , and c = y Substitut-
2
ing these values in the quadratic formula,
p
v0 v0 2 + 2gy
t=
g
p
0 02 + 2(9.81 m/s2 )(20.0 m)
t=
9.81 m/s2
The positive root will give you a negative time value so we can just neglect it.
The negative root yields,
t = 2.02 s
which is exactly the same as the answer before using the quadratic formula.

3
3 Velocity vs. Time Graph
Always remember that based on equation (1), the relationship between the
velocity v and time t for the case of uniform accelerated motion is linear so you
can readily eliminate option C from the choices. Since the object is dropped, its
velocity at time t = 0 (meaning, its initial velocity v0 ) is zero; the graph must
start from the origin (v = 0 at t = 0). Thus, we can eliminate choices B and D.
The answer is A.

4 Its the Cheetah against the Gazelle

In this problem, notice that we have two objects (or animals if you want to
be accurate) in motion that we have to analyze. It is important to recognize,
however, that these two objects are not accelerating so equations (1) to (5) are
not the best choices for this item. Fortunately, we were able to discuss the
mathematical definition of the average velocity vave to solve this problem.
x x x0
vave = = (6)
t t
where x and x0 are the final and initial positions of the object, respectively. The
problem stated explicitly that the gazelle is 70.0 m ahead of the cheetah. For
convenience, we can set the initial position of the cheetah to be at the origin
(x0c = 0 m) of our frame of reference while the initial position of the gazelle at
x0g = 70.0 m. Since we want to determine the time it will take the cheetah to
catch the gazelle, we have to obtain the time it will take for their final positions
to be equal.

Figure 2: Initial positions of cheetah and gazelle

4
 i.e.
xc = xg (7)
where xc and xg are the final positions of the cheetah and the gazelle, respec-
tively. Let us find first an expression for xc . From the equation of average
velocity:
xc = vc tc
xc x0c = vc tc
Since x0c = 0 (the initial position of the cheetah is set to be at the origin),

x c = vc t c (8)

Now, for the equation for xg :

xg = vg tg
xg x0g = vg tg
xg = x0g + vg tg (9)
Referring to equation (7), we equate equations (8) and (9):

vc tc = x0g + vg tg

We can set the starting time of the animals to be equal (tg = tc = t)

vc t = x0g + vg t

vc t vg t = x0g
(vc vg )t = x0g
x0g
t=
vc vg
Substituting the numerical values:
1km
70.0 m
t= 1000 m
100 kph 80 kph

t = 3.5 103 h
Converting this to seconds: t = 12.6 s. Hence, the answer is A

5
5 Case 3 of Freely Falling Objects: Objects thrown
upwards
In contrast with the previous free fall problem, the object here is given an upward
initial velocity v0 = 10.0 m/s thrown from a position 60.0 m above ground
level. Since we want to obtain the maximum height reached by the object as
measured from the ground, let us calculate first the maximum elevation reached
by the object FROM THE TOP OF THE BUILDING then add to the height
of the building. Again, let us set the origin of our frame of reference in the
starting point of the object (See Figure 1). The object is thrown upwards so
the initial velocity and the final position (i.e. the maximum height)
of the object are both POSITIVE. Recall also that at maximum height,
the final velocity v is zero. Enumerating the given: v0 = 10.0 m/s, v = 0, and
g, to determine y we can use equation (5).

v 2 = v0 2 + 2gy

Since y = y y0 and y0 = 0,

v 2 = v0 2 + 2gy

Deriving an equation for y and apply v = 0

0 = v0 2 + 2gy

v0 2 = 2gy
v0 2
y=
2g
(10.0 m/s)2
y=
2(9.81 m/s2 )
y = 5.10 m
This is the maximum height reached by the object as measured from the TOP
of the building. To obtain the maximum height as measured from the ground,
we just have to add this with the height of the building which yields 60.0 m +
5.10 m = 65.1 m. The answer is D.

6 The Average Speed of a Runner on a Circular

Track
To calculate the average speed of the runner we use the mathematical definition
of average speed v:
dt
v= (10)
t

6
where dt is the total distance traveled by the object and t is the total time of
travel. The total distance traveled by the object will be the circumference of
the circular track. Thus, given the diameter D of the track,
D
v=
t
(5.00 102 m)
v=
60 s
15.0 min
1 min
v = 1.745 m/s = 1.75m/s
The (nearest) answer is B.

7 The Average Velocity of a Runner on a Semi-

circular Track
The runner from the previous problem completed the circular track while in
this case, he decided to stop half way the track. Since we are interested in
calculating the average velocity, what matters only is the displacement of the
runner in the first 7 minutes. Remember that the displacement is the shortest

Figure 3: Initial and final positions of the runner who traveled half way the
circular track

straight line path between two points. Hence, at half way across the circular
track, the diameter refers to the displacement of the runner. From the
mathematical definition of average velocity,
x
vave = (11)
t

7
 D
vave =
t
5.00 102 m
vave =
60s
7 min
1min
vave = 1.19 m/s
The answer is B

8 ALL OR NOTHING Derivation

Starting from (1) we solve first for the initial velocity v0 :

v0 = v at

Substitute this in equation (2)

 
v + (v at)
x = t
2
 
2v at
x = t
2
 
2v at
x = t
2 2
Canceling out 2 beside v and distributing t:
1
x = vt at2
2
where in this case, g is interchangeable with a.