Homework Set 3: Solutions

Due: Monday, February 25, 2013

Chapter 6
Q6.4

5 points

If it takes total work W to give an object a speed v and kinetic energy K, starting
from rest, what will be the objects speed (in terms of v) and kinetic energy (in terms
of K) if we do twice as much work on it, again starting from rest?

By the work-kinetic energy

theorem, if we do twice as much work on the object (that is, W = 2W ),

then K = 2K and v = 2v.

Q6.16

5 points

When a book slides along a tabletop, the force of friction does negative work on it.
Can friction ever do positive work? Explain. (Hint: Think of a box in the back of an
accelerating truck.)
Friction can do positive work. One example of friction doing positive work (discussed in class)
occurs when you pull a tablecloth out from under a set of dishes.

6.4

8 points

Suppose the worker in Exercise 6.3 pushes downward at an angle of 30 below the
horizontal. (a) What magnitude of force must the worker apply to move the crate
at constant velocity? (b) How much work is done on the crate by this force when
the crate is pushed a distance of 4.5 m? (c) How much work is done on the crate by
friction during this displacement? (d) How much work is done on the crate by the
normal force? By gravity? (e) What is the total work done on the crate?
(a) The kinetic frictional force exerted on the crate by the floor has a magniutde
fk = k N , where
P
N = mg + F sin . In order to move the crate at a constant velocity
Fx = 0 = F cos fk .
Solving for F , we find that
F =

k mg
(0.25)(30.0 kg)(9.8 m/s2 )
= 99.2 N.
=
cos k sin
cos 30 (0.25) sin 30

(b) The work done by this force is W = F d = (99.2 N)(4.5 m) 450 J.

(c) The work done by friction during this displacement is the negative of the work calculated in
part (b) [namely W = 450 J].
(d ) No work is done on the crat by the normal force or by gravity.

(e) The total work done on the crate is zero.

6.22

6 points

A mass m slides down a smooth inclined plane from an initial vertical height h, making
an angle with the horizontal. (a) The work done by a force is the sum of the work
done by the components of the force. Consider the components of gravity parallel and
perpendicular to the surface of the plane. Calculate the work done on the mass by
each of the components, and use these results to show that the work done by gravity
is exactly the same as if the mass had fallen straight down through the air from a
height h. (b) Use the work-energy theorem to prove that the speed of the mass at the
bottom of the incline is the same as if it had been dropped from height h, independent
of the angle of the incline. Explain how this speed can be independent of the slope
angle. (c) Use the results of part (b) to find the speed of a rock that slides down an
icy frictionless hill, starting from rest 15.0 m above the bottom.
(a) The work done by the component of gravity perpendicular to the surface of the plane is zero.
The work done by the component of gravity parallel to the surface of the plane is
W = (mg sin )(h/ sin ) = mgh,
which is the same as if the mass had been dropped from height h.
(b) By the work-kinetic energy theorem, W = K, so the speed of the mass at the bottom of
the incline is the same as if it had been dropped from height h. Decreasing the slope angle also
decreases the component of the gravity paralle to the surface, while also increasing the distance
through which the mass slides [see part (a)]. These two effects cancel.
c) The speed of the rock is
v=

6.48

5 points

q
p
2gh = 2(9.8 m/s2 )(15.0 m) = 17.1 m/s.

A crate on a motorized cart starts from rest and moves with constant eastward acceleration of a = 2.80 m/s2 . A worker assists the cart by pushing on the crate with
a force that is eastward and has a magnitude that depends on time according to
F (t) = (5.40 N/s)t. What is the instantaneous power supplid by this force at t = 5.00 s?
The instantaneous power supplied by the force is
h
i
2
P = F v = F v = [(5.40 N/s)t] (2.80 m/s )t = (15.12 W/s2 )t2 .
Therefore, at t = 5.00 s, the instantaneous power is 378 W.

6.76

8 points

A proton with mass 1.67 1027 kg is propelled at an initial speed of 3.00 105 m/s
directly toward a uranium nucleus 5.00 m away. The proton is repelled by the uranium
nucleus with a force of magnitude F = /x2 , where x is the separation between the
two objects and = 2.12 1026 Nm2 . Assume that the uranium nucleus remains at
rest. (a) What is the speed of the proton when it is 8.00 1010 m from the uranium
nucleus? (b) As the proton approaches the uranium nucleus, the repulsive force slows
down the proton until it comes momentarily to rest, after which the proton moves
away from the uranium nucleus. How close to the uranium nucleus does the proton
get? (c) What is the speed of the proton when it is again 5.00 m away from the
uranium nucleus?
(a) The work done on the proton by the uranium nucleus is
xf


Z xf

1
dx
1
=  =

W =
2
x
xi
xf
xi x
xi




1
1
26
2

= 2.12 10
Nm
5.00 m 8.00 1010 m
=

2.65 1017 J.

(1)
(2)
(3)

Using the work-kinetic energy theorm, K = W , so

s
r
2W
2(2.65 1017 )
+ v02 =
+ (3.00 105 )2 = 2.4 105 m/s.
v=
m
1.67 1027 kg
(b) Using the work-kinetic
energy theorem, W = K = 7.52 1017 J. Using the work above
R
(namely, that W = F dx, and solving for xf , we find that
xf =

6.92

6 points

xi
(2.12 1026 N m2 )(5.00 m)
=
= 2.82 1010 m.
W xi
2.12 1026 N m2 + (7.52 1017 J)(5.00 m)

(4)

(c) Do to symmetry, the speed of the proton when it is again 5.00 m away from the uranium
nucleus is 3.00 105 m/s.

All birds, independent of their size, must maintain a power output of 1025 watts
per kilogram of body mass in order to fly by flapping their wings. (a) The Andean
giant hummingbird has mass 70 g and flaps its wings 10 times per second hovering.
Estimate the amount of work done by such a hummingbird in each wingbeat. (b) A
70-kg athlete can maintain a power output of 1.4 kW for no more than a few seconds;
the steady power output of a typical athlete is only 500 W or so. Is it possible for a
human-powered aircraft to fly for extended periods by flapping its wings? Explain.

(a)) The power output necessary for a 70 g Andean giant hummingbird to fly is 0.701.75 watts.
Therefore, if the hummingbird flaps its wings 10 times per second, each wingbeat must do 0.07
0.175 joules of work.
(b) The power output necessary for a 70-kg athlete to fly is 7001750 watts, which is outside the
steady power output of a typical athlete. Thus, constructing a human-powered aircraft that flies
by flapping its wings is not feasible.

Chapter 7
Q7.4

5 points

An egg is released from rest from the roof of a build and falls to the ground. Its fall
is observed by a student on the roof of the build, who uses coordinates with origin
at the roof, and by a student on the ground, who uses coordinates with origin at
the ground. Do the two students assign the same or different values to the initial
gravitational potential energy, the final gravitational potential energy, the change in
gravitational potential energy, and the kinetic energy of the egg just before it strikes
the ground? Explain.
Due to their different coordinates systems, the students assign different values to the initial and
final gravitational potential energies. They agree, however, on the change in gravitational potential
energy, and the kinetic energy of the egg just before it strikes the ground.

Q7.10

5 points

A rock of mass m and a rock of mass 2m are both released from rest at the same
height and feel no air resistance as they fall. Which statements about these rocks
are true? (There may be more than one correct choice.) (a) Both have the same
initial gravitational potential energy. (b) Both have the same kinetic energy when
they reach the ground. (c) Both reach the ground with the same speed. (d) When it
reaches the ground, the heavier rock has twice the kinetic energy of the lighter one.
(e) When it reaches the ground, the heavier rock has four times the kinetic energy of
the ligher one.
Statements (c) and (d) are true.

Q7.14

5 points

A box slides down a ramp and work is done on the box by the forces of gravity and
friction. Can the work of each of these forces be expressed in terms of the change in
a potential-energy function. For each force explain why or why not.
The force of gravity is conservative, while friction is nonconservative. The work done by a conservative force can always be expressed in terms of the change in a potential-energy function.
For example, the work done by gravity can be expressed in terms of the change in gravitational
potential energy.

7.5

6 points

A baseball is thrown from the roof of a 22.0-m-tall building with an initial velocity of
magnitude 12.0 m/s and directed at an angle of 53.1 above the horizontal. (a) What
is the speed of the ball just before it strikes the ground? Use enery methods and
ignore air resistance. (b) What is the answer for part (a) if the initial velocity is at
an angle of 53.1 below the horizontal? (c) If the effects of air resistance are included,
will part (a) or (b) give the higher speed?
(a) Using conservation of mechanics energy, E1 = E2 so K1 + U1 = K2 + U2 . Solving for the final
speed v2 (using K2 = 12 mv22 ), we find that
v2

=
=

2
(K1 + U1 U2 ) =
m
24.0 m/s.

q
q
2
2
v1 + 2g(h1 h2 ) = (12.0 m/s)2 + 2(9.8 m/s )(22.0 m 0)

(b) Even if the initial velocity is at an angle of 53.1 below the horizontal, the speed of the ball
just before it strikes the ground is the same as in part (a).
(c) If theh effects of air resistance are included, part (b) will give a higher speed (in this case, the
ball spends less time in the air, so air resistance has a smaller effect).

7.12

6 points

Tarzan, in one tree, sights Jane in another tree. He grabs the end of a vine with
length 20 m that makes and angle of 45 with the vertical, steps off his tree limb,
and swings down and then up to Janes open arms. When he arrives, his vine makes
an angle of 30 with the vertical. Determine whether he gives her a tender embrace
or knocks her off her limb by calculating Tarzans speed just before he reaches Jane.
You can ignore air resitance and the mass of the vine.
The mechanical energy E1 = K1 + U1 of the Tarzan-Earth system the instant he steps off the tree
limb (measure gravitational potential energy from the top of the vine) is E1 = mg cos 1 , where
= 20 m is the length of the vine and 1 = 45 . The mechanical energy E2 = K2 + U2 of the
Tarzan-Earth system the instant he arrives at Jane is E2 = K2 mg cos 2 , where 2 = 30 . By
conservation of mechanical energy, E1 = E2 . Solving for v2 , we find that
q
p
v2 = 2g (cos 2 cos 1 ) = 2(9.8 m/s2 )(20 m) (cos 30 cos 45 ) = 7.9 m/s,
which is pretty quick (poor Jane).

7.26

10 points

A 2.50-kg block on a horizontal floor is attached to a horizontal spring that is initially

compressed 0.0300 m. The spring has force constant 840 N/m. The coefficient of
kinetic friction between the floor and the block is k = 0.40. The block and spring are
released from rest and the block slides along the floor. What is the speed of the block
when it has moved a distance of 0.0200 m from its initial position? (at this point the
spring is compressed 0.0100 m.)
The mechanical energy E1 = K1 + U1 of the block-spring system the instant the block is released
is E1 = 21 kx21 , where x1 = 0.0300 m. The mechanical energy E2 = K2 + U2 when the spring has
moved a distance of 0.0200 m is E2 = K2 + 12 kx22 , where x2 = 0.0100 m. Using E = fk d where
d = 0.0200 m is the distance the block slides, and solving for v2 , we find that
r
k 2
(x x22 ) 2k gd
v2 =
m 1
s
840 N/m
2
=
[(0.0300 m)2 (0.0100 m)2 ] 2(0.40)(9.8 m/s )(0.0200 m) = 0.33 m/s.
2.50 kg

7.30

10 points

In an experiment, one of the forces exerted on a proton is F = x2i, where = 12

N/m2 . (a) How much work does F do when the proton moves along the straightline path from the point (0.10 m, 0) to the point (0.10 m, 0.40 m)? (b) Along the
straight-line path from the point (0.10 m, 0) to the point (0.30 m, 0)? (c) Along the
straight-line path from the point (0.30 m, 0) to the point (0.10 m, 0)? (d) Is the force
F conservative? Explain. If F is conservative, what is the potential-energy function
for it? Let U = 0 when x = 0.
(a) No work is done along this straight-line path.
(b) The work done along this straight-line path is
W

xf

xi

Fx dx =
2

xf

xi

xf


x3 
3
x dx =
xi x3f
 =
3 
3
2

xi


12 N/m 
(0.10 m)2 (0.30 m)2 = 0.104 J.
3

(c) The work done along this straight-line path is the negative of the work calculated in part (b)
[namely, W = 0.104 J].
(d ) Force F is conservative because the work done on a particle is path independent. Its corresponding potential-energy function is
Z
x3
U = Fx dx =
.
3

7.46

10 points

A car in an amusement park ride rolls without friction around the track shown in Fig.
P7.46. It starts from rest at point A at a height h above the bottom of the loop. Treat
the car as a particle. (a) What is the minimum value of h (in terms of R) such that the
car moves around the loop without falling off at the top (point B)? (b) If h = 3.50R
and R = 20.0 m, compute the speed, radial acceleration, and tangential acceleration of
the passengers when the car is at point C, which is at the end of a horizontal diameter.
Show these acceleration components in a diagram, approximately to scale.
(a) Using Newtons second law on the particle at the top of the loop, we find that
N + mg = m

v2
.
R

If the car (particle) is traveling

the loop at its minimum speed such that it successfully completes
2
+mg(2R).
the-loop, N = 0 and vmin = gR. By conservation of mechanical energy, mgh = 21 mvmin
Solving for h, we find that
h = 2R + 12 R = 52 R.
(b) Using conservation of mechanical energy, the speed of the car at point C is
q
p
p
v = 2g(h hC ) = 5gR = 5(9.8 m/s2 )(20.0 m) = 31.2 m/s.
The radial acceleration at point C is
ar =

v2
(31.2 m/s)2
2
=
= 49 m/s .
R
20.0 m

The tangential acceleration at point C is at = 9.8 m/s2 .