Assignment 6

course Phy 201

??????????M???assignment #006

006. Using equations with uniformly accelerated motion.

Physics I

02-28-2008

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15:41:31

`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 -->

change in velocity = 20 m/s

v0=0

aAVE=(20 m/s)/(15s)=1.33m/s^2

vf=(0+1.33m/s^2)*15s

vf=20 m/s

vf = v0 + a `dt = 10 m/s + 1.33 m/s^2 * 15 s = 10 m/s + 20 m/s = 30 m/s.

However this doesn't tell you anything you didn't already know; it's pretty much equivalent to your (correct) calculation of acceleration.

confidence assessment:

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15:42:12

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: 2

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15:42:30

`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 -->

Use of a flow chart or diagram

confidence assessment: 3

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15:42:46

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 -->

Done

self critique assessment: 3

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15:46:16

`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 -->

(6m/s+0)/2*`80m

=.0375s

(6m/s+0)/2*`80m = 3 m/s * 80 m = 240 m.

A string of divisions and multiplications must be performed in order, so after adding 6 m/s and 0 m/s you divide by 2; then you multiply the result by 80 m.

However this result is not consistent with the given information that the object travels 80 meters.

The contradiction occurs because the initial velocity isn't zero; that was not stated in the problem and as the above shows it's not consistent with the given information.

confidence assessment: 0

You can't assume initial velocity v0 = 0. You are already given three of the five quantities v0, vf, a, `dt and `ds.

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15:46:32

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: 3

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15:47:49

`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 -->

vf-v0

confidence assessment: 3

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15:48:30

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: 3

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15:50:36

`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 -->

`ds=0(`80m)+.5(8m/s)=9.17

confidence assessment: 0

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15:50:56

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 -->

Ok

self critique assessment: 3

&#

In your self-critique you need a phrase-by-phrase analysis of the given solution, detailing everything you do and do not understand.

Deconstruct the given solution and explain in detail what you do and do not understand about every part.

. &#

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15:51:16

`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 -->

ok

confidence assessment: 3

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15:51:34

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 -->

ok

self critique assessment: 3

&#

You did not answer the given question. You need to always at least explain what you do and do not understand about the question. A phrase-by-phrase analysis is generally required when you cannot otherwise answer a question.

&#

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15:55:48

`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 -->

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

-v0^2=2(2m/s^2)(`80m)/20m/s^2

You should be solving this in symbols before you substitute your known quantities. It's easier to follow the algebra and identify errors if you use symbols. Also it's less writing.

On the other hand the numbers you get often have meanings that can be interpreted, and this can enhance insight.

My recommendation is to solve in symbols first. Then if you wish go ahead and solve the way you did here, and see if the two agree.

In the current problem, you did almost everything right, but you made one error in your algebra. That last step should be

-v0^2=2(2m/s^2)(`80m) - 20m/s^2

and the result won't come out 16 m. However your expression 2(2m/s^2)(`80m)/20m/s^2 does come out 16 m, which shows good use of units. The fact that you came out with units of meters, when you should have ended up with units of v0^2, should have been an indication that you needed to go back and double-check your algebra.

I think you'll see the error. It's probably not a good idea to combine two algebraic operations in one step.

=16m

confidence assessment: 2

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15:56:43

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: 3

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15:56:58

`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 -->

ok

confidence assessment: 3

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15:57:14

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

self critique assessment: 3

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15:58:35

`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 -->

88.9 m south of it intial starting position with uniform speed

confidence assessment: 0

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15:59:05

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 -->

ok

self critique assessment: 3

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See my notes.

You are making a good effort here and are about 3/4 of the way to getting these problems. Still a little ways to go, but not too far.

Do self-critique in the manner described. I'm still not sure exactly what you do and do not understand.