Q a 22

course phy 121

ÀâfÕÍããF­z‚­²ÔÐÓ{—´©~Á•žàassignment #022

022. Motion in force field

Physics II

09-26-2008

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16:43:38

`q001. Note that this assignment contains 2 questions, which relate to a force-field experiment which is done using a computer simulation, and could for example represent the force on a spacecraft, where uphill and downhill are not relevant concepts.

. An object with a mass of 4 kg is traveling in the x direction at 10 meters/second when it enters a region where it experiences a constant net force of 5 Newtons directed at 210 degrees, as measured in the counterclockwise direction from the positive x axis. How long will take before the velocity in the x direction decreases to 0? What will be the y velocity of the object at this instant?

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RESPONSE -->

I have no confidence in this answer because it seems too simple...

Fnet * dt = mvf - mvo

5N * dt = (4kg * 0) - (4kg * 10m/s)

5N * dt = 0 - 40kg m/s

dt = - 8s

Since it can't be negative, I'll go with 8 secs.

I didn't take into account the direction of the force, and I feel certain that I should have. I also don't know how to actually deal with the negative.

confidence assessment: 0

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16:58:06

A constant net force of 5 Newtons on a 4 kg object will result in an acceleration of 5 Newtons/(4 kg) = 1.25 meters/second ^ 2. If the force is directed at 210 degrees then the acceleration will also be directed at 210 degrees, so that the acceleration has x component 1.25 meters/second ^ 2 * cosine (210 degrees) = -1.08 meters/second ^ 2, and a y component of 1.25 meters/second ^ 2 * sine (210 degrees) = -.63 meters/second ^ 2.

We analyze the x motion first. The initial velocity in the x direction is given as 10 meters/second, we just found that the acceleration in the x direction is -1.08 meters/second ^ 2, and since we are trying to find the time required for the object to come to rest the final velocity will be zero. We easily see that the change in the next velocity is -10 meters/second. At a rate of negative -1.08 meters/second ^ 2, the time required for the -10 meters/second change in velocity is

`dt = -10 meters/second / (-1.08 meters/second ^ 2) = 9.2 seconds.

We next analyze the y motion. The initial velocity in the y direction is zero, since the object was initially moving solely in the x direction. The acceleration in the y direction is -.63 meters/second ^ 2. Therefore during the time interval `dt = 9.2 seconds, the y velocity changed by (-.63 meters/second ^ t) * (9.2 seconds) = -6 meters/second, approximately. Thus the y velocity changes from zero to -6 meters/second during the 9.2 seconds required for the x velocity to reach zero.

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RESPONSE -->

I read it. I wrote it down. I followed each step. But I don't really understand it.

self critique assessment: 1

The force is directed at 210 degrees, which is into the third quadrant. So for example if the object is moving to the east (corresponding to motion in the positive x direction), the force is acting to the west and south.

The acceleration is in the same direction as the force, so it has a component acting to the west and another acting to the south. The direction of the acceleration is 210 degrees.

The magnitude of the acceleration is (magnitude of force)/mass = 5 N / (4 kg) = 1.25 m/s^2.

An acceleration with magnitude 1.25 m/s^2 and direction 210 deg has x and y components

a_x = 1.25 m/s^2 * cos(210 deg) = -1.08 m/s^2 and

a_y = 1.25 m/s^2 * sin(210 deg) = -.63 m/s^2.

The x motion is therefore characterized by initial velocity 10 m/s and acceleration -1.08 m/s^2. To find the time required to come to rest, let vf = 0 and find the corresponding `dt.

The y motion is characterized by initial velocity zero and acceleration -.63 m/s^2. Combining this with the `dt found from the x motion gives the information we need to find the y displacement and final velocity.

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17:10:46

`q002. Suppose that the mass in the preceding problem encounters a region in which the force was identical to that of the problem, but that this region extended for only 30 meters in the x direction (assume that there is the limit to the extent of the field in the y direction). What will be the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the mass as it exits this region?

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RESPONSE -->

I really have no idea, well I have one...

I might use vf2 =v0^2 + 2a*ds. I could plug in both the x and the y components for acceleration seperately and 30 m for the ds to find the vf for x and vf for y.

Then I might use those in Pythagorean's theorem to find the magnitude and then find the angle using arctan, but I am unwilling to go actually go through all of those mathematical steps when I don't think it is right.

confidence assessment: 0

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17:14:12

As we have seen in the preceding problem the object will have an acceleration of -1.08 meters/second ^ 2 in the x direction. Its initial x velocity is 10 meters/second and it will travel 30 meters in the x direction before exiting the region. Thus we have v0, a and `ds, so that you to the third or fourth equation of uniform accelerated motion will give us information. The fourth equation tells us that vf = +-`sqrt( (10 meters/second) ^ 2 + 2 * (-1.08 meters/second ^ 2) * (30 meters) ) = +-6 meters/second. Since we must exit the region in the positive x direction, we choose vf = + 6 meters/second. It follows that the average x velocity is the average of the initial 10 meters/second and the final 6 meters/second, or eight meters/second. Thus the time required to pass-through the region is 30 meters/(8 meters/second) = 3.75 seconds.

During this time the y velocity is changing at -.63 meters/second ^ 2. Thus the change in the y velocity is (-.63 meters/second ^ 2) * (3.75 seconds) = -2.4 meters/second, approximately. Since the initial y velocity was zero, the y velocity upon exiting the region will be -2.4 meters/second.

Thus when exiting the region the object has velocity components +6 meters/second in the x direction and -2.4 meters/second in the y direction. Its velocity therefore has magnitude `sqrt ( (6 meters/second) ^ 2 + (-2.4 meters/second) ^ 2) = 6.4 meters/second. The direction of velocity will be arctan ( (-2.4 meters/second) / (6 meters/second) ) = -22 degrees, approximately. Thus the object exits at 6.4 meters/second at an angle of 22 degrees below the positive x axis, or at angle -22 degrees + 360 degrees = 338 degrees.

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RESPONSE -->

Well, I was amazingly on the right track. I'm sorry now that I was unwilling to pursue it.

self critique assessment: 3

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You have all tools you need to solve these problems, and are one short step away from doing so. I think you'll be in good shape.