QA 2

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course Phy 231

If your solution to stated problem does not match the given solution, you should self-critique per instructions at

http://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/geninfo/labrynth_created_fall_05/levl1_22/levl2_81/file3_259.htm

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Your solution, attempt at solution. If you are unable to attempt a solution, give a phrase-

by-phrase interpretation of the problem along with a statement of what you do or do not

understand about it. This response should be given, based on the work you did in completing

the assignment, before you look at the given solution.

At the end of this document, after the qa problems (which provide you with questions and

solutions), there is a series of Questions, Problems and Exercises.

002. Velocity

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Question: `q001. Note that there are 14 questions in this assignment.

If an object moves 12 meters in 4 seconds, then at what average rate is the object moving?

Explain how you obtained your result in terms of commonsense images.

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Your solution:

3m/s

I got this answer by dividing 12 meters by 4 seconds.

If a ball rolls 12 meters and it takes 4 seconds to do so, then the ball has rolled an average

of 3 meters for each of the 4 seconds. 3 meters 4 times, 1 for each second, is 12 meters in 4

seconds or 3 meters per second.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

Moving 12 meters in 4 seconds, we move an average of 3 meters every second.

We can imagine dividing up the 12 meters into four equal parts, one for each second. Each part

will span 3 meters, corresponding to the distance moved in 1 second, on the average.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Self-critique rating: ok

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Question: `q002. How is the preceding problem related to the concept of a rate?

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Your solution:

The distance traveled shows change. The ""ball"" rolled from 0 meters to 12 meters. It happened

over a changing period of time, too. The ball started rolling at 0 seconds and finished at 4

seconds.

A rate is a changing value divided by another changing value. change in distance/change in

time is the rate of velocity.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

A rate is obtained by dividing the change in a quantity by the change in another quantity on

which is dependent. In this case we divided the change in position by the time during which

that change occurred.

More specifically

The rate of change of A with respect to B is defined to be the quantity (change in A) / (change

in B).

An object which moves 12 meters in 3 seconds changes its position by 12 meter during a change

in clock time of 3 seconds. So the question implies

Change in position = 12 meters

Change in clock time = 3 seconds

When we divide the 12 meters by the 3 seconds we are therefore dividing (change in position) by

(change in clock time). In terms of the definition of rate of change:

the change in position is the change in A, so position is the A quantity.

the change in clock time is the change in B, so clock time is the B quantity.

So

(12 meters) / (3 seconds) is

(change in position) / (change in clock time) which is the same as

average rate of change of position with respect to clock time.

Thus

average velocity is average rate of change of position with respect to clock time.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Self-critique rating:ok

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Question: `q003. We are still referring to the situation of the preceding questions:

Is object position dependent on time or is time dependent on object position?

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Your solution:

Time is a quantity that cannot be physically altered. Yes, we can choose an amount of time,

but we cannot physically change time. Time is therefore the independent variable.

The position of the object is the dependent variable, so the position is dependent on time

because we use time as a scale to measure the distance by.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

Object position is dependent on time--the clock runs whether the object is moving or not so

time is independent of position. Clock time is pretty much independent of anything else (this

might not be so at the most fundamental level, but for the moment, unless you have good reason

to do otherwise, this should be your convention).

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Self-critique rating:ok

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Question: `q004. We are still referring to the situation of the preceding questions:

So the rate here is the average rate at which position is changing with respect to clock time.

Explain what concepts, if any, you missed in your explanations.

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Your solution:

If the ball was started from a ""stopped"" position, the ball accelerated. I didn't mention

acceleration at all. Also, if the ball was rolling on an incline, it could be accelerating

also.

The ball could have movedthe entire distance in 3.5 seconds, but due to error the timer wasn't

stopped until 4 seconds. I didn't factor error into the equation.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

Be sure you have reviewed all the definitions and concepts associated with velocity. If

there’s anything you don’t understand, be sure to address it in your self-critique.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Self-critique rating:ok

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Question: `q005. If an object is displaced -6 meters in three seconds, then what is the

average speed of the object what is its average velocity? Explain how you obtained your result

in terms of commonsense images and ideas.

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Your solution:

The average speed is 2m/s. Speed does not account for direction.

The velocity is 2m/s backward. This is denoted by the - sign.

If the ball is rolling -6 meters, then it is traveling away from its intended or assumed

destination. We consider the ball to be rolling backwards.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

Speed is the average rate at which distance changes with respect to clock time. Distance

cannot be negative and the clock runs forward. Therefore speed cannot be negative.

Velocity is the average rate at which position changes with respect to clock time, and since

position changes can be positive or negative, so can velocity.

In general distance has no direction, while velocity does have direction.

Putting it loosely, speed is just how fast something is moving; velocity is how fast and in

what direction.

In this case, the average velocity is

vAve = `ds / `dt = -6 m / (3 s) = -2 m/s.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Self-critique rating:ok

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Question: `q006. If `ds stands for the change in the position of an object and `dt for the

time interval during which its position changes, then what expression stands for the average

velocity vAve of the object during this time interval?

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Your solution:

vAve=`ds/`dt

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

Average velocity is rate of change of position with respect to clock time.

Change in position is `ds and change in clock time is `dt, so average velocity is expressed in

symbols as

vAve = `ds / `dt.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Self-critique rating:ok

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Question: `q007. How do you write the expressions `ds and `dt on your paper?

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Your solution:

I would write a standard lowercase d and a subscript s or t. I could also use a delta, or a

triangle in place of the d.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

You use the Greek capital Delta when writing on paper or when communicating outside the context

of this course; this is the symbol that looks like a triangle. See Introductory Problem Set 1.

`d is used for typewritten communication because the symbol for Delta is not interpreted

correctly by some Internet forms and text editors. You should get in the habit of thinking and

writing the Delta symbol when you see `d.

You may use either `d or Delta when submitting work and answering questions.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I didn't need to subscript my t and s. I got that part wrong. The rest was ok.

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Self-critique rating:ok

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Question: `q008. If an object changes position at an average rate of 5 meters/second for 10

seconds, then how far does it move?

How is this problem related to the concept of a rate?

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Your solution:

50 meters

the rate is the speed 5m/s. I used the rate to reasonably estimate position.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

In this problem you are given the rate at which position changes with respect to time, and you

are given the time interval during which to calculate the change in position.

The definition of rate of change states that the rate of change of A with respect to B is

(change in A) / (change in B), which we abbreviate as `dA / `dB. `dA stands for the change in

the A quantity and `dB for the change in the B quantity.

For the present problem we are given the rate at which position changes with respect to clock

time. The definition of rate of change is stated in terms of the rate of change of A with

respect to B.

So we identify the position as the A quantity, clock time as the B quantity.

The basic relationship

ave rate = `dA / `dB

can be algebraically rearranged in either of two ways:

`dA = ave rate * `dB or

`dB = `dA / (ave rate)

Using position for A and clock time for B the above relationships are

ave rate of change of position with respect to clock time = change in position / change in

clock time

change in position = ave rate * change in clock time

change in clock time = change in position / ave rate.

In the present situation we are given the average rate of change of position with respect to

clock time, which is 5 meters / second, and the change in clock time, which is 10 seconds.

Thus we find

change in position = ave rate * change in clock time = 5 cm/sec * 10 sec = 50 cm.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Self-critique rating:ok

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Question: `q009. If vAve stands for the rate at which the position of the object changes with

respect to clock time (also called velocity) and `dt for the time interval during which the

change in position is to be calculated, then how to we write the expression for the change `ds

in the position?

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Your solution:

`ds=vAve * `dt

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

To find the change in a quantity we multiply the rate by the time interval during which the

change occurs.

The velocity is the rate, so we obtain the change in position by multiplying the velocity by

the time interval:

`ds = vAve * `dt.

The units of this calculation pretty much tell us what to do:

We know what it means to multiply pay rate by time interval (dollar / hr * hours of work) or

automobile velocity by the time interval (miles / hour * hour).

When we multiply vAve, for example in in units of cm / sec or meters / sec, by `dt in seconds,

we get displacement in cm or meters. Similar reasoning applies if we use different measures of

distance.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Question: `q010. Explain how the quantities average velocity vAve, time interval `dt and

displacement `ds are related by the definition of a rate, and how this relationship can be used

to solve the current problem.

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Your solution:

Rate is the change in one quantity divided by the change in another quantity. We see that vAve

is a rate because it equals `ds/`dt.

Assuming the current problem is the problem stated in the above question, we can use the rate

`ds/`dt to find the displacement of an object using a given amount of time. The rate is the

standard that we use to find the answer.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

vAve is the average rate at which position changes. The change in position is the displacement

`ds, the change in clock time is `dt, so vAve = `ds / `dt.

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Self-critique (if necessary):ok

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Question: `q011. The basic rate relationship vAve = `ds / `dt expresses the definition of

average velocity vAve as the rate at which position s changes with respect to clock time t.

What algebraic steps do we use to solve this equation for `ds, and what is our result?

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Your solution:

vAve=`ds/`dt

Algebraically, we move `dt to the left of the =, so we multiply it by both sides. Our result

is `ds=vAve * `dt.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

To solve vAve = `ds / `dt for `ds, we multiply both sides by `dt. The steps:

vAve = `ds / `dt. Multiply both sides by `dt:

vAve * `dt = `ds / `dt * `dt Since `dt / `dt = 1

vAve * `dt = `ds . Switching sides we have

`ds = vAve * `dt.

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Self-critique (if necessary):ok

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Question: `q012. How is the preceding result related to our intuition about the meanings of

the terms average velocity, displacement and clock time?

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Your solution:

Average velocity to me means a distance traveled in an amount of time in a certain direction.

Displacement to me means, in this case, a distance traveled

clock time means a set period of time.

That means that we can use the rate of displacement over clock time to calculate the

displacement of an object based on its average velocity and how long it travels.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

For most of us our most direct intuition about velocity probably comes from watching an

automobile speedometer.

We know that if we multiply our average velocity in mph by the duration `dt of the time

interval during which we travel, we get the distance traveled in miles. From this we easily

extend the idea.

Whenever we multiply our average velocity by the duration of the time interval, we expect to

obtain the displacement, or change in position, during that time interval.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

ok

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Question: `q013. What algebraic steps do we use to solve the equation vAve = `ds / `dt for

`dt, and what is our result?

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Your solution:

vAve=`ds/`dt

dt=`ds/vAve

I got that answer by dividing both sides by `ds.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

To solve vAve = `ds / `dt for `dt, we must get `dt out of the denominator. Thus we first

multiply both sides by the denominator `dt. Then we can see where we are and takes the

appropriate next that. The steps:

vAve = `ds / `dt. Multiply both sides by `dt:

vAve * `dt = `ds / `dt * `dt Since `dt / `dt = 1

vAve * `dt = `ds. We can now divide both sides by vAve to get `dt = `ds / vAve.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Question: `q014. How is this result related to our intuition about the meanings of the terms

average velocity, displacement and clock time?

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Your solution:

We can find the amount of time it took to drive somewhere by dividing our distance by our

average speed. I use this equation all the time to see how long a trip will take me,

especially while driving on the interstate where the velocity is constant.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

If we want to know how long it will take to make a trip at a certain speed, we know to divide

the distance in miles by the speed in mph.

If we divide the number of miles we need to travel by the number of miles we travel in hour, we

get the number of hours required. This is equivalent to the calculation `dt = `ds / vAve.

We extend this to the general concept of dividing the displacement by the velocity to get the

duration of the time interval.

When dealing with displacement, velocity and time interval, we can always check our thinking by

making the analogy with a simple example involving miles, hours and miles/hour.

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&#Very good responses. Let me know if you have questions. &#