course phy 121

åÊ{—‰÷¢Ìzº}Ôæ™v«¥lÖ—ÉÞwMËÅ„±Ä~assignment #006

006. Using equations with uniformly accelerated motion.

Physics I

07-02-2008

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15:35:35

`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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RESPONSE -->

vi=10m/s

vf=30m/s

T=15s

a=?

thirty subtracted by 10 gives me 20m/s and the 20m/s divided by 15s gives me 1.33333m/s^2

confidence assessment: 3

Good reasoning but you have to also be able to solve the equation.

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15:36:14

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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RESPONSE -->

ok

self critique assessment: 1

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15:39:02

`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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RESPONSE -->

from the information given i can tell that it takes 15s to accelerate from 10m/s to 30m/s i know that this is an increase and my acceleration is positive

confidence assessment: 1

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15:39:38

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.

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RESPONSE -->

that is an equation just in words what is the difference?

self critique assessment: 2

This is a two-step reasoning process motivated by the definition of average acceleration as the average rate of change of velocity with respect to clock time.

The calculations are the same; but the equations can be used without understanding, and understanding is the primary goal here.

Understanding combined with equations is more powerful and more reliable than either by itself.

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15:51:49

`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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RESPONSE -->

rewriting the equation to x=.5(vi+vf)T makes the equation easier so you would take 80=1/2(vi+6)10 10 *1/2=5 so 80=5(vi+6) 80/5=16 so 16=vi+6 vi=10m/s

confidence assessment: 2

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15:52:09

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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RESPONSE -->

ok

self critique assessment: 2

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15:57:56

`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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RESPONSE -->

i do not understand how to explain this problem without an equation. the only way that i could figure out how to get it would be take distance divided by time to get a velocity.

that's a good start, but the velocity you get should be identified as average velocity, to distinguish it from initial velocity, final velocity or change in velocity.

confidence assessment: 0

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15:58:39

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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RESPONSE -->

ok

self critique assessment: 1

&#

Your response did not agree with the given solution in all details, and you should therefore have addressed the discrepancy with a full self-critique, detailing the discrepancy and demonstrating exactly what you do and do not understand about the given solution, and if necessary asking specific questions (to which I will respond).

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16:11:50

`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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RESPONSE -->

80m=vi*10s+.5-2m/s^2*10^2s

.5*-2*10=-100

180/10=18

vi=18m/s

confidence assessment: 3

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16:12:03

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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RESPONSE -->

hey i got it

self critique assessment: 2

No surprise there. You're good with the equations.

Recommendation: solve the equations before you plug in the quantities.

Then reconcile your work by reasoning in terms of the definitions of average velocity and average acceleration.

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16:18:48

`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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RESPONSE -->

v=d/t 80divided by 10 equals 8m/s

v = d / t is not a good equation. It requires the unstated condition that v = 0 when t = 0, which might or might not be the case in a given situation. d is not a good letter to use for distance or displacement or for any other quantity in a situation involving rates,, because of the near-universal use of d for the differential.

The definitions of velocity and acceleration used in this course apply to motion over some interval of time, and can be translated to the form

vAve = `ds / `dt

aAve = `dv / `dt.

if you are going 18m/s have an acceleration of -2m/s^2 you are deceleraing

That is true in this case. In general deceleration occurs when acceleration is in the direction opposite the velocity. The word could be applied to an object with positive acceleration and negative velocity, or to an object with negative acceleration and positive velocity.

One example of confusion caused by the word 'deceleration' is that of an object thrown upward, which if nothing interferes with it will eventually come to rest and fall back downward. It decelerates going up, accelerates coming down, seeming to imply that there are two different accelerations involved. There is only one acceleration involved here, though, and that is the downward acceleration of gravity. Gravity accelerates objects in the downward direction, whether or not the object is rising or falling. The entire concept of deceleration confuses this issue.

You may do so, as long as you don't get confused as a result. The author of your text does, though most authors do not. For the reasons outline above, I do not use the word 'deceleration' in my solutions or responses. I speak of acceleration and specify its direction, and do the same with velocity.

confidence assessment:

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16:19:53

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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RESPONSE -->

i was getting to this point but i hit the wrong button

self critique assessment: 1

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16:25:47

`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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RESPONSE -->

20^2=vi^+2*2*80

400=vi^2+320

80=vi^2

vi=8.94m/s

confidence assessment: 2

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16:26:25

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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RESPONSE -->

ok

self critique assessment: 2

You missed the +- in your solution. Both solutions are possible and both must be considered. In many situations one or the other will not fit the conditions, but you don't know for sure until you have considered both.

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16:33:51

`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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RESPONSE -->

20^2=-8.9^2+(2*2)x

400/-8.9^2

320/4

80m

confidence assessment: 2

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16:34:49

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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RESPONSE -->

ok it makes more sense now

self critique assessment: 2

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16:36:36

`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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RESPONSE -->

starts out going south and changes direction as it speeds up and changes direction to go north

confidence assessment: 2

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16:37:13

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.

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RESPONSE -->

i got it

self critique assessment: 2

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&#

Good responses. See my notes and let me know if you have questions. &#