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course PHY 121

3.9.11 at 3:15pm

006. Using equations with uniformly accelerated motion.

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Question: `q001. Note that there are 9 questions in this assignment.

Using the equation vf = v0 + a * `dt determine the acceleration of an object whose velocity

increases at a uniform rate from 10 m/s to 30 m/s in 15 seconds. Begin by solving the

equation for the acceleration a, then 'plug in' your initial and final velocities. Describe

your work step y step.

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Your solution:

vf=v0+a*'dt Subtract v0 from both side to get:

vf-v0=a*'dt Divide both side by 'dt to get:

(vf-v0)/'dt=a

(30m/s-10m/s)/15sec=a Plugging in our values and solving to get:

1.333m/s^2=a

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Given Solution:

The equation vf = v0 + a * `dt is solved for a by first adding -v0 to both sides to obtain

vf - v0 = v0 + a * `dt - v0, which simplifies to vf - v0 = a * `dt. Both sides are then

divided by `dt to obtain (vf - v0) / `dt = a. Reversing left-and right-hand sides we obtain

the formula a = (vf - v0) / `dt.

We then plug in our given values of initial and final velocities and the time interval.

Since velocity increases from 10 m/s to 30 m/s, initial velocity is v0 = 10 m/s and final

velocity is vf = 30 m/s. The time interval `dt is 15 seconds, so we have a = (30 m/s - 10

m/s) / (15 s) = 20 m/s / (15 s) = 1.33.. m/s^2.

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Question: `q002. It wasn't necessary to use a equation to solve this problem. How could

this problem had been reasoned out without the use of an equation?

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Your solution:

Knowing that in a 15 second span you changed velocity from 10m/s to 30m/s you could reason that you are accelerating at 1.333m/s^2

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

Knowing that acceleration is the average rate at which velocity changes, we would first find

the change in velocity from 10 meters/second to 30 meters/second, which is 20 meters/second.

We would then divided change in velocity by the time interval to get 20 meters/second / (15

sec) = 1.33 m/s^2.

STUDENT QUESTION (about reasoning vs. using the equation)

I understand but the steps taken to get to the acceleration were the steps of the

equation?????

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

The steps outlined here are the steps we could use to derive the equation. However it's

possible to use the equation blindly, without understanding the reasoning behind it. In

fact this is how most student use the equation, if not asked questions of this nature about

the reasoning.

So, this question asks for the reasoning.

The first statement in the given solution is

'Knowing that acceleration is the average rate at which velocity changes, we would first

find the change in velocity from 10 meters/second to 30 meters/second, which is 20

meters/second.'

When using the equation you never explicitly find or reason out the change in velocity,

though of course the change in velocity is there in the equation, represented by the term a

* `dt. In other words, you do find it, but you can use the equation without ever recognizing

that you have done so.

Similarly the step a = (30 m/s - 10 m/s) / 15 s in your equation-based solution does

correctly divide the change in velocity by the time interval, but you can use the equation

to do this without ever recognizing that you have done so.

The direct reasoning solution never mentions or uses the equation, though of course direct

reasoning can be used to derive the equation.

This should help illustrate the difference between direct reasoning and using an equation.

Both skills are important.

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Question: `q003. Use the equation `ds = (vf + v0) / 2 * `dt to determine the initial

velocity of an object which accelerates uniformly through a distance of 80 meters in 10

seconds, ending up at a velocity of 6 meters / sec. begin by solving the equation for the

desired quantity. Show every step of your solution.

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Your solution:

'ds=(vf+v0)/2 *'dt Divide both side by 'dt to geT:

'ds/'dt=(vf+v0)/2 Multiply each side by 2 to get:

2('ds/'dt)=vf+v0 Subtract vf from both side to get:

2('ds/'dt) - vf = v0

2(80m/10sec)-6m/s=v0

16m/s-6m/s-v0

10m/s=v0

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

We begin by solving the equation for v0. Starting with

`ds = (vf + v0) / 2 * `dt, we can first multiply both sides of the equation by 2 / `dt,

which gives us

`ds * 2 / `dt = (vf + v0) / 2 * `dt * 2 / `dt. The right-hand side can be rearranged to

give

(vf + v0) * `dt / `dt * 2 / 2; since `dt / `dt = 1 and 2 / 2 = 1

the right-hand side becomes just vf + v0. The equation therefore becomes

2 * `ds / `dt = vf + v0. Adding -vf to both sides we obtain

v0 = 2 * `ds / `dt - vf.

We now plug in `ds = 80 meters, `dt = 10 sec and vf = 6 m/s to get

v0 = 2 * 80 meters / 10 sec - 6 m/s = 160 meters / 10 sec - 6 m/s = 16 m/s - 6 m/s = 10 m/s.

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Question: `q004. We can reconcile the above solution with straightforward reasoning. How

could the initial velocity have been reasoned out from the given information without the use

of an equation? Hint: two of the quantities given in the problem can be combined to give

another important quantity, which can then be combined with the third given quantity to

reason out the final velocity.

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Your solution:

On average, the object travels at 8m/s (80m/10sec=8m/s)

Knowing vAve and vf, we can figure that 10m/s is the missing value v0.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

The average velocity of the object is the average rate at which its position changes, which

is equal to the 80 meters change in position divided by the 10 s change in clock time, or 80

meters / 10 sec = 8 meters / sec. Since the 8 m/s average velocity is equal to the average

of the unknown initial velocity and the 6 m/s final velocity, we ask what quantity when

average with 6 m/s will give us 8 m/s. Knowing that the average must be halfway between the

two numbers being averaged, we see that the initial velocity must be 10 m/s. That is, 8 m/s

is halfway between 6 m/s and 10 m/s.

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Question: `q005. Using the equation `ds = v0 `dt + .5 a `dt^2 determine the initial

velocity of an object which accelerates uniformly at -2 m/s^2, starting at some unknown

velocity, and is displaced 80 meters in 10 seconds. Begin by solving the equation for the

unknown quantity and show every step.

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Your solution:

'ds=v0 'dt +0.5a 'dt^2 Subtract 0.5a 'dt^2 from both side to get:

'ds - 0.5a 'dt^2 = v0 'dt Divide both side by 'dt to get:

('ds - 0.5a 'dt^2)/'dt = v0

(80m - 0.5(-2m/s^2)(10^2))/10 = v0

(80m-(-100))/10sec=v0

180m/10sec=v0

18m/sec=v0

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

The unknown quantity is the initial velocity v0. To solve for v0 we start with

`ds = v0 `dt + .5 a `dt^2. We first add -.5 a `dt^2 to both sides to obtain

`ds - .5 a `dt^2 = v0 `dt. We then divide both sides by `dt to obtain

(`ds - .5 a `dt^2) / `dt = v0.

Then we substitute the given displacement `ds = 80 meters, acceleration a = -2 m/s^2 and

time interval `dt = 10 seconds to obtain

v0 = [ 80 meters - .5 * (-2 m/s^2) * (10 sec)^2 ] / (10 sec)

= [ 80 meters - .5 * (-2 m/s^2) * 100 s^2 ] / (10 sec)

= [ 80 m - (-100 m) ] / (10 sec)

= 180 m / (10 s) = 18 m/s.

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Question: `q006. Check the consistency of this result by verifying, by direct reasoning

rather than equations, that an object whose initial velocity is 18 m/s and which accelerates

for 10 seconds at an acceleration of -2 m/s^2 does indeed experience a displacement of 80

meters.

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Your solution:

Looking at the table below, at the end of the ten second interval, vf is -2m/sec.

18m/sec

16m/sec at 1 sec

14m/sec at 2 sec

12m/sec at 3 sec

10m/sec at 4 sec

8m/sec at 5 sec

6m/sec at 6 sec

4m/sec at 7 sec

2m/sec at 8 sec

0m/sec at 9 sec

-2m/sec at 10 sec

Averaging v0 and vf, we can determine that the displacement would be 80 meters after ten seconds.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

The change in the velocity of the object will be -2 m/s^2 * 10 s = -20 m/s.

The object will therefore have a final velocity of 18 m/s - 20 m/s = -2 m/s.

Its average velocity will be the average (18 m/s + (-2 m/s) ) / 2 = 8 m/s.

An object which travels at an average velocity of 8 m/s for 10 sec will travel 80 meters.

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Question: `q007. Using the equation vf^2 = v0^2 + 2 a `ds determine the initial velocity

of an object which attains a final velocity of 20 meters/second after accelerating uniformly

at 2 meters/second^2 through a displacement of 80 meters. Begin by solving the equation for

the unknown quantity and show every step.

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Your solution:

vf^2 = v0^2 + 2a'ds Subtract 2a'ds from each side to get:

vf^2-2a'ds=vo^2 Take the sqrt of both sides to get:

sqroot(vf^2-2a'ds)=v0

sqroot((20m/s)^2-2(2m/s^2)80m)=v0

sqroot(400-320)=v0

sqroot(80)=v0

8.944=v0

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

To solve for the unknown initial velocity v0 we start with

vf^2 = v0^2 + 2 a `ds. We first add -2 a `ds to both sides to obtain

vf^2 - 2 a `ds = v0^2. We then reverse the right-and left-hand sides and take the square

root of both sides, obtaining

v0 = +- `sqrt( vf^2 - 2 a `ds).

We then substitute the given quantities vf = 20 m/s, `ds = 80 m and a = 3 m/s^2 to obtain

v0 = +- `sqrt( (20 m/s)^2 - 2 * 2 m/s^2 * 80 m) = +- `sqrt( 400 m^2 / s^2 - 320 m^2 / s^2) =

+- `sqrt(80 m^2 / s^2) = +- 8.9 m/s (approx.).

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Question: `q008. We can verify that starting at +8.9 m/s an object which attains a final

velocity of 20 m/s while displacing 80 meters must accelerate at 2 m/s^2. In this case the

average velocity will be ( 8.9 m/s + 20 m/s) / 2 = 14.5 m/s (approx) and the change in

velocity will be 20 m/s - 8.9 m/s = 11.1 m/s.

At average velocity 14.5 meters/second the time required to displace the 80 meters will be

80 m / (14.5 sec) = 5.5 sec (approx).

The velocity change of 11.1 meters/second in 5.5 sec implies an average acceleration of 11.1

m/s / (5.5 sec) = 2 m/s^2 (approx), consistent with our results.

Verify that starting at -8.9 m/s the object will also have acceleration 2 meters/second^2 if

it ends up at velocity 20 m/s while displacing 80 meters.

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Your solution:

Don't know where to start here...I see where all of the above figures come from and how they are connected but I'm not quite sure how I can explain how they are connected through simple reasoning other than restating what was already written.

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Given Solution:

In this case the average velocity will be ( -8.9 m/s + 20 m/s) / 2 = 5.5 m/s (approx) and

the change in velocity will be 20 m/s - (-8.9 m/s) = 28.9 m/s (approx). At average velocity

5.5 meters/second the time required to displace the 80 meters will be 80 m / (5.5 sec) =

14.5 sec (approx). The velocity change of 28.5 meters/second in 14.5 sec implies an average

acceleration of 28.5 m/s / (14.5 sec) = 2 m/s^2 (approx), again consistent with our results.

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Question: `q009. Describe in commonsense terms the motion of the object in this example if

its initial velocity is indeed -8.9 m/s. Assume that the object starts at the crossroads

between two roads running North and South, and East and West, respectively, and that the

object ends up 80 meters North of the crossroads. In what direction does it start out, what

happens to its speed, and how does it end up where it does?

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Your solution:

It starts out going South and then turns North. Speed will increase initially until the object 'turns around' to head in the opposite direction. Speed would NOT be negative. The object could have been moving up an incline which would cause it to move back in the opposite direction once it reached a certain point.

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Given Solution:

The object ends up at position +80 meters, which is assumed to be 80 meters to the North.

Its initial velocity is -8.9 m/s, with the - sign indicating that the initial velocity is in

the direction opposite to the displacement of the object. So the object must start out

moving to the South at 8.9 meters/second.

Its acceleration is +2 m/s^2, which is in the opposite direction to its initial velocity.

This means that the velocity of the object changes by +2 m/s every second. After 1 second

the velocity of the object will therefore be -8.9 m/s + 2 m/s = -6.9 m/s. After another

second the velocity will be -6.9 m/s + 2 m/s = -4.9 m/s. After another second the velocity

will be -2.9 m/s, after another -.9 m/s, and after another -.9 m/s + 2 m/s = +1.1 m/s. The

speed of the object must therefore decrease, starting at 8.9 m/s (remember speed is always

positive because speed doesn't have direction) and decreasing to 6.9 m/s, then 4.9 m/s, etc.

until it reaches 0 for an instant, and then starts increasing again.

Since velocities after that instant become positive, the object will therefore start moving

to the North immediately after coming to a stop, picking up speed at 2 m/s every second.

This will continue until the object has attained a velocity of +20 meters/second and has

displaced +80 meters from its initial position.{}{}It is important to understand that it is

possible for velocity to be in one direction and acceleration in the other. In this case the

initial velocity is negative while the acceleration is positive. If this continues long

enough the velocity will reach zero, then will become positive.

STUDENT QUESTION

I understood the negative velocity but was unsure how to explain the rest. I am still rather

confused by the last paragraph, expecially where it says that it is possible for velocity to

be in one direction and acceleration in the other.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

If you speed up the acceleration is in the direction of motion.

If you slow down the acceleration is opposite the direction of motion.

To speed up a wagon you can get behind it and push in the direction of its motion, giving it

an acceleration in its direction of motion.

To slow it down you can get in front of it and push it against its direction of motion (not

advisable if it's a big wagon; think of stopping a child in a small wagon), giving it an

acceleration in the direction opposite its motion.

STUDENT COMMENTS

Made relative sense, but still unsure in doubt to my answer that the object was increasing

after it was moving in the

right direction. Being negative, would it have started towards the south at that

acceleration, and moving north would it have

diminished its negativity? It seems this naturally.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

Accelerating to the north (not 'moving' to the north; it does end up moving to the north,

but the object starts out moving to the south), the speed in the southward direction would

have diminished, as you say.

Eventually it comes to rest, just for an instant, somewhere south of its starting point.

Then the northward acceleration will give it an increasing northward velocity.

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&#Very good responses. Let me know if you have questions. &#