OpenQA10

#$&*

course Phy 121

3.25.11 at 6:16pm

010. Note that there are 10 questions in this set.

Force and Acceleration.

*********************************************

Question: `q001. If a block of mass 10 kg accelerates at 2 m/s^2, then what net force is

acting on the block?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

Fnet= m*a

=10kg *2m/s^2

=20 N

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

The net force on the block is the product F = m * a of its 10 kg mass and its 2 m/s^2

acceleration. The net force is therefore

F = 10 kg * 2 m/s^2 = 20 kg * m / s^2.

The unit of force, which is the product of a quantity in kg and another quantity in m/s^2,

is just the algebraic product kg * m/s^2 of these two units.

This unit, the kg * m / s^2, is called a Newton.

So the net force is 20 Newtons.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q002. How much force must be exerted by someone pulling on it to accelerate a

10 kg object at 2 m/s^2?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

F = m*a

= 10kg * 2m/s^2

=20 N

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

This depends on what forces might be resisting the acceleration of the object.

If the object is accelerating on a surface of some type, then there is a good chance that a

frictional force is opposing the motion. In this case the person would have to exert more

force than if friction was not present.

If the object is being pulled upward against the force of gravity, then force must be

sufficient to counteract the gravitational force, and in addition to accelerate the object

in the upward direction.

If the object is being pulled downhill, the force exerted by gravity has a component in the

direction of motion. The component of the gravitational force in the direction of motion

will tend to assist the force exerted by the person, who will as a result need to exert less

force than would otherwise be required.

In every case the net force, which is the sum of all the forces acting on the object, must

be 20 Newtons, which is the product of its mass and its acceleration. The other forces

might act in the direction of the acceleration or in the direction opposite the

acceleration; in every case person pulling on the object must exert exactly enough force

that the net force will be 20 Newtons.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q003. If friction exerts a force of 10 Newtons in the direction opposite the

motion of a 10 kg object, then how much force must be exerted by someone pulling on it to

accelerate the 10 kg object at 2 m/s^2, with the acceleration in the same direction as the

motion?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

F = m*a

=10kg * 2m/s^2

=20 N

20 N to move object at given acceleration + 10 N to counter the opposing force = 30 N

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

Since the 10 Newton frictional force is in the direction opposite to motion, and since the

acceleration is in the same direction as the motion, the frictional force is opposed to the

accelerating force.

If the direction of motion is taken as positive, then the frictional force will be in the

negative direction and can be denoted

fFrict = - 10 Newtons.

To achieve the given acceleration the net force on the object must be

net force = 10 kg * (+2 m/s^2) = +20 kg * m/s^2 = +20 Newtons.

In order to achieve the +20 Newton net force when there is already a frictional force of -10

Newtons, it should be clear that a force of +30 Newtons is required.

This result can be interpreted as follows: The person must exert 10 Newtons of force to

overcome friction and another 20 Newtons to achieve the required net force.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q004. How can we write an equation to solve this problem? Hint: What equation

would relate the net force Fnet, the force F exerted by the person and the force fFrict of

friction?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

Fnet= m * a + /fFrict/ (absolute value of the friction)

Net force equals the force required to move the mass at the given acceleration plus the force required to 'cancel' the frictional force.

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

If Fnet is the net force and F the force actually exerted by the person, then

Fnet = F + fFrict.

That is, the net force is the sum of the force exerted by the person and the frictional

force.

We know that Fnet is +20 Newtons and fFrict is -10 Newtons, so we have the equation

20 Newtons = F + (-10 Newtons).

Solving for F we see that F = 20 Newtons + 10 Newtons = 30 Newtons.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

The equation I derived is basically the same, but yours is much more straight forward.

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q005. If a constant net force of 12 Newtons acts on a cart of mass 6 kg, then

at what rate does the velocity of the cart change?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

vf^2 = v0^2 + (2fnet/m)'ds

= (2*12/6) 'ds

That's as far as I can go and the only route I can think of to get close to a solution.

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

The velocity of the cart will change at a rate a which is related to the net force and the

mass by Fnet = m * a. Thus

a = Fnet / m

= 12 Newtons / (6 kg)

= 12 kg * m/s^2 / (6 kg)

= 2 m/s^2.

We note that the force unit Newtons is broken down to its fundamental units of kg * m / s^2

in order to perform the unit calculation. Dividing kg * m / s^2 by kg we have

(kg / kg) * m/s^2 = m/s^2.

It is important to always do the unit calculations. This habit avoids a large number of

errors and also can be used to reinforce our understanding of the relationships in a problem

or situation.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

I've seen this formula before but couldn't seem to find it in my notes.

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q006. If a force of 50 Newtons is exerted in the direction of the object's

motion by a person, on a 20 kg object, and if friction exerts a force of 10 Newtons opposed

to the direction of motion, then what will be the acceleration of the object?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

50 N

20 kg

-10 N fFrict

a=Fnet/m

a=(50-10)/20

a=2m/s^2

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

The object will accelerate at a rate determined by Newton's Second Law, Fnet = m * a. The

acceleration will therefore be

a = Fnet / m.

The net force on the object will be the sum of the 50 Newton force in the direction of

motion and the 10 Newton force opposed to the direction of motion. If we take the direction

of motion as positive, then the net force is

Fnet = 50 N - 10 N = 40 N.

It follows that the acceleration is

a = Fnet / m

= 40 N / (20 kg)

= 40 kg m/s^2 / (20 kg)

= 2 m/s^2.

STUDENT COMMENT: Woops. I added the friction instead of subtracting. So if friction is

acting on the object then we subtract it from the force on the object in the direction of

motion? I guess it makes since. ... 'sense', not 'since' (I don't usually comment on grammar

or incorrect words but I see this one a lot)

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

If we take the direction of motion as positive, then the force in the direction of motion is

positive and the frictional force, which acts in the direction opposite motion, is negative.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q007. If a force of 50 Newtons is exerted opposite to the direction of the

object's motion by a person, on a 20 kg object, and if friction exerts a force of 10 Newtons

opposed to the direction of motion, then what will be the acceleration of the object?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

-50 N

20 kg object

+10

a= (-50-10)/20

a = -3m/sec^2

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

If we take the direction of motion to be positive, then since both the 50 Newton force and

the 10 Newton force are opposed to the direction of motion the net force must be

net force = -50 Newtons - 10 Newtons = -60 Newtons.

The acceleration of the object will therefore be

a = Fnet / m

= -60 Newtons / (10 kg)

= -60 kg * m/s^2 / (20 kg)

= -3 m/s^2.

The fact that the acceleration is opposed to the direction of motion indicates that the

object will be slowing down. The force exerted by the person, being in the direction

opposite to that of the motion, is seen to be a retarding force, as is friction. So in this

case the person is aided by friction in her apparent goal of stopping or at least slowing

the object.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q008. If a 40 kg object is moving at 20 m/s, then how long will a take a net

force of 20 Newtons directed opposite to the motion of the object to bring the object to

rest?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

40kg object

20m/s

-20 N = Fnet

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

The force on the object is in the direction opposite its motion, so if the direction of

motion is taken to be positive the force is in the negative direction. We therefore write

the net force as

Fnet = -20 Newtons.

The acceleration of the object is therefore

a = Fnet / m = -20 Newtons / 40 kg

= -20 kg * m/s^2 / (40 kg)

= -.5 m/s^2.

We can therefore describe uniformly accelerated motion of the object as v0 = 20 m/s, vf = 0

(the object comes to rest, which means its velocity ends up at 0), a = -.5 m/s^2. We can

then reason out the time required from the -20 m/s change in velocity and the -.5 m/s^2

acceleration, obtaining `dt = 40 seconds.

We can confirm our reasoning using the equation vf = v0 + a `dt: Solving for `dt we obtain

`dt = (vf - v0) / a

= (0 m/s - 20 m/s) / (-.5 m/s^2)

= -20 m/s / (-.5 m/s^2)

= 40 m/s * s^2 / m = 40 s.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

I once again got to a point and didn't know where to go. Actually, I didn't get far at all. I knew I needed to first solve one equation and then another since none of the equations alone would give the answer I needed.

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q009. If we wish to bring an object with mass 50 kg from velocity 10 m/s to

velocity 40 m/s in 5 seconds, what constant net force would be required?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

We need to increase v by 30m/sec in 5 secs. That is (30m/sec)/5sec = 6m/s^2.

Fnet = m * a

=50kg * 6m/sec^2

=300 Newtons

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

The net force would be Fnet = m * a. The acceleration of the object would be the rate which

its velocity changes. From 10 m/s to 40 m/s the change in velocity is +30 m/s; to

accomplish this in 5 seconds requires average acceleration 30 m/s / (5 s) = 6 m/s^2.

Thus the net force required is

Fnet = m * a

= 50 kg * 6 m/s^2

= 300 kg m/s^2

= 300 Newtons.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question: `q010. If a constant net force of 50 Newtons brings an object to rest in four

seconds from an initial velocity of 8 meters/second, then what is the mass of the object?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

Fnet = 50 N

4 sec

v0=8m/sec

vf = 0

m = ?

a = 'dv/'dt

= -8m/s/4sec

=-2m/s^2

m = Fnet/a

m = 50 N/2m/sec^2

m = 25 kg

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

We know the net force and we have the information required to calculate the acceleration.

We will therefore be able to find the mass using Newton's Second Law Fnet = m * a.

We first find the acceleration. The change in velocity from 8 m/s to rest is -8 m/s, and

this occurs in 4 seconds. The acceleration is therefore -8 m/s / (4 s) = -2 m/s^2.

The 50 Newton net force must be in the same direction as the acceleration, so we have Fnet =

-50 Newtons.

We obtain the mass by solving Newton's Second Law for m:

m = Fnet / a

= -50 N / (-2 m/s^2)

= -50 kg m/s^2 / (-2 m/s^2)

= 25 kg.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

It feels good to actually understand something. I have struggled all the way through the assignements before this one.

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

@& If you keep working on the material, you do get to the point where the light comes on, and it's a good feeling.*@

Questions related to q_a_

1. If a 12 kg object accelerates at 5 m/s^2 and you are exerting a force of -20 N on it,

then what is the sum of the other forces acting on the object? Give a plausible

interpretation of this situation.

2. What force does gravity exert on a 50 kg object? If the object is accelerating upward

at 12 m/s^2, what must be the total of the nongravitational forces acting on it?

Questions related to Introductory Problem Sets

1. If an object of mass 5 Kg and initially at rest is pushed by a net force of 20 Newtons

for 7 seconds, what are its acceleration, its final velocity, its average velocity, and the

distance it travels?

2. An object, initially at rest, is acted upon by a net force of 15 Newtons.

The object has mass 3 kilograms.

The force acts for 7 seconds.

What velocity will the object attain and how far will it travel during this time?

What kinetic energy will it attain?

How much work is done on the object by the net force during this interval?

Questions related to text

Questions/problems for Principles of Physics Students

1. A bee flies at 10 km / hr. How long does it take to fly 12 meters from its hive to your

hat?

2. Convert 35 mi / h to m / s, to km / hr and to ft / s.

3. Between clock times t_1 = 5.0 sec and t_2 = 7.8 sec, a ball travels from position x_1 =

28 cm to position x_2 = -12 cm. What is its average velocity during this interval? Can you

determine its average speed from this information?

4. A dragster accelerates from rest to 150 km / hr is 4.2 s. What is its average

acceleration in km / hr^2, in m/s^2, and in ft / s^2?

5. A car slows from 25 m/s to rest while traveling 100 meters, accelerating at a constant

velocity. What was its acceleration?

6. A car speeds up from rest to 95 km / hr in 6.2 s. What is its average acceleration?

Questions/problems for General College Physics Students

7. Two trains, initially 12.4 km apart, approach one another on parallel tracks. Each is

moving at 80 km / s relative to the ground. How long will it be before they reach one

another?

8. A pickup truck moving at 60 km / hr strikes a tree, bringing the passenger compartment

(and the passenger) to rest in a distance of .50 meters. What is the average acceleration

of the driver? What is this acceleration in 'g's', where a 'g' is 9.8 m/s^2?

Questions/problems for University Physics Students

9. You ride the first 10 miles of a 20-mile ride at average speed 8 m/h. What must be your

average speed on the last 10 miles in order to average 10 m/h for the entire trip? What is

the greatest average speed you could possibly attain, given these conditions?

10. A train moving at 25 m/s is 200 meters behind a train which is moving at 15 m/s, when

the first train hits its brakes. The first train accelerates at -.100 m/s^2 while the

second train continues moving at constant velocity.

Will there be a collision?

If so, where will it take place?

Describe a single graph that depicts the position vs. clock time of the front of the first

train and the back of the second..

11. An automobile and a truck are traveling in the same direction on two lanes of a

highway, both moving at 25 m/s. The automobile is behind the truck. They both hit their

brakes at the same instant. The magnitude of the truck's acceleration is 3 m/s^2, the

magnitude of the car's acceleration is 2 m/s^2. By the time the truck has moved 50 meters,

the car has caught up.

How far behind the truck was the car?

How long did it take for the car to catch the truck?

How fast is each moving at the instant the car overtakes the truck?

Describe the position vs. clock time graph which depicts the motion of both vehicles.

Questions related to key systems

1. If a ball accelerates from rest through a distance of 30 cm while a 'pearl pendulum' of

length 8 cm, released simultaneously with the ball, strikes the bracket 7 times, what is the

average acceleration of the ball?

2. (note that the problems on proportionality in the document at

h

ttp://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/genInfo/qa_query_etc/lib1/lib1_qa29.htm

might be useful in understanding the concept of proportionality and variation).

Suppose we conduct the following experiment:

On a fixed ramp we release an object from rest.

We determine how long it takes the object to travel various distances down this incline.

From this information we calculate the final velocities attained for various distances,

assuming that the acceleration in each case is uniform.

We graph final velocity vs. distance, and find that the graph is clearly not a straight

line.

We then graph the square of the final velocity vs. distance and find that the graph is a

straight line.

We use our data to test two hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: The change in the velocity of a uniformly accelerating object is proportional

to the product of the acceleration and the time interval.

Hypothesis 2: The change in the squared velocity of a uniformly accelerating object is

proportional to the product of the acceleration and the time interval.

Do these results support Hypothesis 1 but not Hypothesis 2, Hypothesis 2 but no Hypothesis

1, both Hypotheses 1 and 2, or neither of the two hypotheses? Explain.

"

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

Questions related to q_a_

1. If a 12 kg object accelerates at 5 m/s^2 and you are exerting a force of -20 N on it,

then what is the sum of the other forces acting on the object? Give a plausible

interpretation of this situation.

2. What force does gravity exert on a 50 kg object? If the object is accelerating upward

at 12 m/s^2, what must be the total of the nongravitational forces acting on it?

Questions related to Introductory Problem Sets

1. If an object of mass 5 Kg and initially at rest is pushed by a net force of 20 Newtons

for 7 seconds, what are its acceleration, its final velocity, its average velocity, and the

distance it travels?

2. An object, initially at rest, is acted upon by a net force of 15 Newtons.

The object has mass 3 kilograms.

The force acts for 7 seconds.

What velocity will the object attain and how far will it travel during this time?

What kinetic energy will it attain?

How much work is done on the object by the net force during this interval?

Questions related to text

Questions/problems for Principles of Physics Students

1. A bee flies at 10 km / hr. How long does it take to fly 12 meters from its hive to your

hat?

2. Convert 35 mi / h to m / s, to km / hr and to ft / s.

3. Between clock times t_1 = 5.0 sec and t_2 = 7.8 sec, a ball travels from position x_1 =

28 cm to position x_2 = -12 cm. What is its average velocity during this interval? Can you

determine its average speed from this information?

4. A dragster accelerates from rest to 150 km / hr is 4.2 s. What is its average

acceleration in km / hr^2, in m/s^2, and in ft / s^2?

5. A car slows from 25 m/s to rest while traveling 100 meters, accelerating at a constant

velocity. What was its acceleration?

6. A car speeds up from rest to 95 km / hr in 6.2 s. What is its average acceleration?

Questions/problems for General College Physics Students

7. Two trains, initially 12.4 km apart, approach one another on parallel tracks. Each is

moving at 80 km / s relative to the ground. How long will it be before they reach one

another?

8. A pickup truck moving at 60 km / hr strikes a tree, bringing the passenger compartment

(and the passenger) to rest in a distance of .50 meters. What is the average acceleration

of the driver? What is this acceleration in 'g's', where a 'g' is 9.8 m/s^2?

Questions/problems for University Physics Students

9. You ride the first 10 miles of a 20-mile ride at average speed 8 m/h. What must be your

average speed on the last 10 miles in order to average 10 m/h for the entire trip? What is

the greatest average speed you could possibly attain, given these conditions?

10. A train moving at 25 m/s is 200 meters behind a train which is moving at 15 m/s, when

the first train hits its brakes. The first train accelerates at -.100 m/s^2 while the

second train continues moving at constant velocity.

Will there be a collision?

If so, where will it take place?

Describe a single graph that depicts the position vs. clock time of the front of the first

train and the back of the second..

11. An automobile and a truck are traveling in the same direction on two lanes of a

highway, both moving at 25 m/s. The automobile is behind the truck. They both hit their

brakes at the same instant. The magnitude of the truck's acceleration is 3 m/s^2, the

magnitude of the car's acceleration is 2 m/s^2. By the time the truck has moved 50 meters,

the car has caught up.

How far behind the truck was the car?

How long did it take for the car to catch the truck?

How fast is each moving at the instant the car overtakes the truck?

Describe the position vs. clock time graph which depicts the motion of both vehicles.

Questions related to key systems

1. If a ball accelerates from rest through a distance of 30 cm while a 'pearl pendulum' of

length 8 cm, released simultaneously with the ball, strikes the bracket 7 times, what is the

average acceleration of the ball?

2. (note that the problems on proportionality in the document at

h

ttp://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/genInfo/qa_query_etc/lib1/lib1_qa29.htm

might be useful in understanding the concept of proportionality and variation).

Suppose we conduct the following experiment:

On a fixed ramp we release an object from rest.

We determine how long it takes the object to travel various distances down this incline.

From this information we calculate the final velocities attained for various distances,

assuming that the acceleration in each case is uniform.

We graph final velocity vs. distance, and find that the graph is clearly not a straight

line.

We then graph the square of the final velocity vs. distance and find that the graph is a

straight line.

We use our data to test two hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: The change in the velocity of a uniformly accelerating object is proportional

to the product of the acceleration and the time interval.

Hypothesis 2: The change in the squared velocity of a uniformly accelerating object is

proportional to the product of the acceleration and the time interval.

Do these results support Hypothesis 1 but not Hypothesis 2, Hypothesis 2 but no Hypothesis

1, both Hypotheses 1 and 2, or neither of the two hypotheses? Explain.

"

&#This looks good. See my notes. Let me know if you have any questions. &#