OpenQA6

course PHY 121

7/13

006. Using equations with uniformly accelerated motion.*********************************************

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 by step.

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Your solution: 30m/s = 10m/s + (a*15s). 30m/s – 10m/s = 20m/s = a* 15s… (20m/s)/(15s) = 1.33m/s^2.

confidence rating: 3

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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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique rating:

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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: If the velocity changed from 10m/s to 30m/s, the total change is 20m/s. If the object covers the distance in

15 seconds, we can find the rate by dividing the change in velocity by the change in time. 20/15 = 1.33m/s^2.

confidence rating: 3

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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.

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique rating:

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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: 80m = (6m/s + v0)/2 * 10s. 80m/10s = 8m/s = (6m/s+v0)2; 2* 8m/s = 16m/s = 6m/s + v0; 16m/s-6m/s

= 10ms v0.

confidence rating:3

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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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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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: We can use `dt and `ds to find vAve; once we know vAve, we can then solve for v0 by reasoning that the

vAve is the average of 6m/s and another quantity.

confidence rating: 3

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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.

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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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: 80m = v0*(10s)+.5(-2m/s^2)*(`10s^2)

80m = v0*10s+ .5(-2m/s^2)(100s^2)

80m = v0*10s + .5(-200m)

80m = v0*10s +(-100m)

180m = v0*10s

18m/s = v0

confidence rating: 3

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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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique rating:

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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: If it travels for 10 seconds, at a constant acceleration of -2m/s^2, then the change in total velocity is

-20m/s. If the intial velocity is 18m/s, then a change of -20m/s results in a final velocity of -2m/s. the avg is 18+(-2)/2 =

8m/s. If the avg is 8m/s, for ten seconds, then the distance traveled is 80m.

confidence rating: 3

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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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique rating:

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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: (20m/s)^2 = v0^2+ 2(2m/s^2)(80m)

400m^2/s^2 = v0^2 + 2(160m^2/s^2)

400m^2/s^2 = v0^2 + 320m^2/s^2

80m^2/s^2 = vo^2 – take sqrt of both sides

8.9 m/s = v0

confidence rating: 3

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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.).

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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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

(apprx).

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: v0= -8.9m/s, vf = 20m/s, `ds = 80m. vAve = 11.1/2 = 5.55m/s. 80m/5.55m/s = 14.4s. `dv = 28.9m/s,

/14.4s = 2.01m/s^2.

confidence rating: 2/3

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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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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique rating:

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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 heading South, the speed decreases; it eventually changes direction to the North.

confidence rating: 2/3

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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.

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Self-critique (if necessary): I wasn’t able to explain it well myself but I understand what was described in the given

answer.

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Self-critique rating:

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