Open QA 5

course Phy 121

005. Uniformly Accelerated Motion

Preliminary notes:

On any interval there are seven essential quantities in terms of which we analyze the motion of a nonrotating object:

• the time interval `dt between the beginning and the end of the interval

• the displacement `ds of the object during the interval

• the initial velocity v0, the velocity at the beginning of the interval

• the final velocity vf, the velocity at the end of the interval

• the average velocity vAve of the object during the interval

• the change `dv in the velocity of the object during the interval

• the average acceleration a_Ave of the object during the interval

You should remember these symbols and their meanings. You will be using them repeatedly, and you will soon get used to them.

• You should at any time be able to list these seven quantities and explain the meaning of each.

• In any question or problem that involves motion, you should identify the interval of interest, think about what each of these quantities means for the object, and identify which quantities can be directly determined from the given information.

You will of course improve your understanding and appreciation of these quantities as you work through the qa and the associated questions and problems.

Note also that `dt = t_f - t_0, where t_f represents the final clock time and t_0 the initial clock time on the interval, and that `ds = s_f - s_0, where s_f represents the final position and t_0 the initial position of the object on the interval.

Further discussion of symbols (you can just scan this for the moment, then refer to it when and if you later run into confusion with notation)

the symbol x is often used instead of s for the position of an object moving along a straight line, so that `dx might be used instead of `ds, where `dx = x_f - x_0

some authors use either s or x, rather that s_f or x_f, for the quantity that would represent final position on the interval; in particular the quantity we express as `dx might be represented by x - x_0, rather than x_f - x_0

some authors use t instead of `dt; there are good reasons for doing so but at this point in the course it is important to distinguish between clock time t and time interval `dt; this distinction tends to be lost if we allow t to represent a time interval

the quantity we refer to as `dt is often referred to as 'elapsed time', to distinguish it from 'clock time'; once more we choose here to use different symbols to avoid confusion at this critical point in the course)

If the acceleration of an object is uniform, then the following statements apply. These are important statements. You will need to answer a number of questions and solve a number of problems in order to 'internalize' their meanings and their important. Until you do, you should always have them handy for reference. It is recommended that you write a brief version of each statement in your notebook for easy reference:

1. A graph of velocity vs. clock time forms a straight line, either level or increasing at a constant rate or decreasing at a constant rate.

2. The average velocity of the object over any time interval is equal to the average of its velocity at the beginning of the time interval (called its initial velocity) and its velocity at the end of the time interval (called its final velocity).

3. The velocity of the object changes at a constant rate (this third statement being obvious since the rate at which the velocity changes is the acceleration, which is assumed here to be constant).

4. The acceleration of the object at every instant is equal to the average acceleration of the object.

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

Suppose that an object increases its velocity at a uniform rate, from an initial velocity of 5 m/s to a final velocity of 25 m/s during a time interval of 4 seconds.

• By how much does the velocity of the object change?

• What is the average acceleration of the object?

• What is the average velocity of the object?

(keep your notes on this problem, which is continued through next few questions)

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Your solution:

Velocity Changes by 20m/s. Acceleration = Change in velocity/ time = 20m/s / 4 seconds = 5m/s^2. Average Velocity = 5m/s + 25m/s = 30m/s/2 = 15m/s

confidence rating #$&*

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Given Solution:

The velocity of the object changes from 5 meters/second to 25 meters/second so the change in velocity is 20 meters/second. The average acceleration is therefore (20 meters/second) / (4 seconds) = 5 m / s^2. The average velocity of the object is the average of its initial and final velocities, as asserted above, and is therefore equal to (5 meters/second + 25 meters/second) / 2 = 15 meters/second (note that two numbers are averaged by adding them and dividing by 2).

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Got it!

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Self-critique rating #$&*3

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Question: `q002. How far does the object of the preceding problem travel in the 4 seconds?

Your solution:

With no acceleration = 5m/s *4 = 20meters. But it is accelerating at 5m/s, so over 4 seconds, the object travels an additional 20meters, for a total of 40 meters.

confidence rating #$&*

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Given Solution:

The displacement `ds of the object is the product vAve `dt of its average velocity and the time interval, so this object travels 15 m/s * 4 s = 60 meters during the 4-second time interval.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Using Average velocity apparently works better. Average velocity makes better sense too.

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Self-critique rating #$&*3

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Question: `q003. Explain in commonsense terms how we determine the acceleration and distance traveled if we know the initial velocity v0, and final velocity vf and the time interval `dt.

Your solution:

If we know initial velocity and final velocity, then we can figure out the change in velocity which is final – initial. Once we have the change in velocity, we divide it by the time interval, and get acceleration. If we have both initial and final velocity, we can figure out the average velocity, and then multiply average velocity by the time interval to get distance traveled.

confidence rating #$&* 3

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Given Solution:

In commonsense terms, we find the change in velocity since we know the initial and final velocities, and we know the time interval, so we can easily calculate the acceleration. Again since we know initial and final velocities we can easily calculate the average velocity, and since we know the time interval we can now determine the distance traveled.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Not Necessary

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Self-critique rating #$&*

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Question: `q004. Symbolize the situation by first giving the expression for the acceleration in terms of v0, vf and `dt, then by giving the expression for vAve in terms of v0 and vf, and finally by giving the expression for the displacement in terms of v0, vf and `dt.

Your solution:

A = (vf – v0) / ‘dt

Average Velocity = (v0 + vf)/2

Average Velocity * time interval = displacement

confidence rating #$&* 2

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Given Solution:

The acceleration is equal to the change in velocity divided by the time interval; since the change in velocity is vf - v0 we see that the acceleration is a = ( vf - v0 ) / `dt.

The average velocity is the average of the initial and final velocities, which is expressed as (vf + v0) / 2.

When this average velocity is multiplied by `dt we get the displacement, which is `ds = (v0 + vf) / 2 * `dt.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Not Necessary

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Self-critique rating #$&*

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Question: `q006. This situation is identical to the previous, and the conditions implied by uniformly accelerated motion are repeated here for your review: If the acceleration of an object is uniform, then the following statements apply:

1. A graph of velocity vs. clock time forms a straight line, either level or increasing at a constant rate or decreasing at a constant rate.

3. The velocity of the object changes at a constant rate (this third statement being obvious since the rate at which the velocity changes is the acceleration, which is assumed here to be constant).

4. The acceleration of the object at every instant is equal to the average acceleration of the object.

Describe a graph of velocity vs. clock time, assuming that the initial velocity occurs at clock time t = 0.

At what clock time is the final velocity then attained?

What are the coordinates of the point on the graph corresponding to the initial velocity (hint: the t coordinate is 0, as specified here; what is the v coordinate at this clock time? i.e., what is the velocity when t = 0?).

What are the coordinates of the point corresponding to the final velocity?

Your solution:

The initial velocity occurring at t=0, means the straight line of velocity vs clock time would have a y-intercept, because here, t (or the x value) would be 0. SO for clock time vs velocity, the coordinate would be (0s, 5m/s)

Final Velocity is obtained at the final clock time. Final clock time is 4 seconds, and the final velocity is 25m/s, so the coordinate for the final velocity id (4s, 25m/s).

confidence rating #$&* 3

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Given Solution:

The initial velocity of 5 m/s occurs at t = 0 s so the corresponding graph point is (0 s, 5 m/s). The final velocity of 25 meters/second occurs after a time interval of `dt = 4 seconds; since the time interval began at t = 0 sec it ends at at t = 4 seconds and the corresponding graph point is ( 4 s, 25 m/s).

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Not Necessary

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Self-critique rating #$&*3

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Question: `q007. Is the v vs. t graph increasing, decreasing or level between the two points, and if increasing or decreasing is the increase or decrease at a constant, increasing or decreasing rate?

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Your solution:

The graph would be level between the two points. It is increasing at a constant rate.

confidence rating #$&*

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Given Solution:

Since the acceleration is uniform, the graph is a straight line. The graph therefore increases at a constant rate from the point (0, 5 m/s) to the point (4 s, 25 m/s)

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Not Necessary

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Self-critique rating #$&*3

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Question: `q008. What is the slope of the graph between the two given points, and what is the meaning of this slope?

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Your solution:

Slope is rise/run. The rise is from 5m/s to 25 m/s or 20 m/s. The run is from clock time 0 to clock time 4, or 4 seconds. The slope is 20m/s / 4s = 5m/s^s. The slope is the acceleration.

confidence rating #$&* 3

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Given Solution:

The rise of the graph is from 5 m/s to 25 m/s and is therefore 20 meters/second, which represents the change in the velocity of the object. The run of the graph is from 0 seconds to 4 seconds, and is therefore 4 seconds, which represents the time interval during which the velocity changes. The slope of the graph is rise / run = ( 20 m/s ) / (4 s) = 5 m/s^2, which represents the change `dv in the velocity divided by the change `dt in the clock time and therefore represents the acceleration of the object.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Not Necessary

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Self-critique rating #$&* 3

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Question: `q009. The graph forms a trapezoid, starting from the point (0,0), rising to the point (0,5 m/s), then sloping upward to (4 s, 25 m/s), then descending to the point (4 s, 0) and returning to the origin (0,0). This trapezoid has two altitudes, 5 m/s on the left and 25 m/s on the right, and a base which represents a width of 4 seconds. What is the average altitude of the trapezoid and what does it represent, and what is the area of the trapezoid and what does it represent?

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Your solution:

Average Altitude is 5m/s + 25m/s = 30m/s / 2 = 15m/s = this represents the average velocity.

The area of the trapezoid is Average altitude * base = 15m/s*4 = 60 meters which represents how far the object traveled.

confidence rating #$&* 3

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Given Solution:

The two altitudes are 5 meters/second and 25 meters/second, and their average is 15 meters/second. This represents the average velocity of the object on the time interval. The area of the trapezoid is equal to the product of the average altitude and the base, which is 15 m/s * 4 s = 60 meters. This represents the product of the average velocity and the time interval, which is the displacement during the time interval.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Not Necessary

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Self-critique rating #$&*3

&#Good work. Let me know if you have questions. &#

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