October 13, 2011

Physics 130 - a

Dr. Schmidt

Midterm 1 Answer Key

Write you name on the cover of the blue book. Put all your answers in the blue book. Start a new page for each problem. Partial
credit will be given for incomplete answers. At the conclusion of the exam fold this exam in half and place in your blue book and
turn in your blue book.
1. (15 points) For motion in free fall in 2 Dimensions, answer True or False to the following statements. If false, change the
statement to make it true.
a) The horizontal component of velocity is a constant of the motion. True.
b) The acceleration of gravity is a constant of motion. True.
not
c) The vertical component of velocity is ^ a constant of motion. False.
parabola
d) The shape of the curve of y-position vs. x-position is a straight line. False.
e) The shape of the curve of y-velocity vs. time is a straight line. True.
2. (10 points) Answer each, Yes or No and give an example or brief explanation for your answer.
a) Is it possible to have motion in the absence of a force? Yes. Objects will move at a constant velocity when no force is
acting on them.
b) Is it possible to have a force in the absence of motion? Yes. If a force is balanced by an equal and opposite force, there
may be no motion.
c) If a single force acts on an object, does the object accelerate? Yes. An unbalanced force will cause acceleration.
d) If an object experiences acceleration, is a force acting on it? Yes. Acceleration is caused by an unbalanced force.
e) If an object experiences no acceleration are no forces acting on it? No. If a force is balanced by an equal and opposite
force, there will be no acceleration.
3. (15 points) Two runners are side by side at a certan point in a race. Runner A is moving at a greater speed than B, but runner B
has a greater acceleration than A. Who is passing who? Explain.
At this specific position the runner A wth the greatest speed will travel the furthest in an instant of time and therefore will
pass the slower runner B. In time runner B will experience a greater increase in speed and may catch up to runner A. At
the point B catches A runner B will pass runner A. At that point in the race where B is side by side to A, runner B will
have the greater speed.
4. (15 points) A worker is on the roof cleaning out the gutters 4.0 m off the ground and notices a loose shingle. He asks you to
get him a hammer. You throw it up vertically and it passes him moving at 2.1 m/s. He misses it both times.
a) (5 points) How fast did you launch the hammer releasing it about 1.1 m above the ground?
v2 = vo2 - 2g(y yo)
vo2 = v2 + 2g(y yo)
vo = [v2 + 2g(y yo)] = [(2.1 m/s)2 + 2(9.8 m/s2)(4.0 m 1.1 m)] = 7.826 m/s 7.8 m/s
b) (5 points) How high did the hammer go?
v = 0 at the top.
v2 = vo2 - 2g(y yo) = 0
vo2 = 2g(y yo)
y yo= vo2/2g
y = yo + vo2/2g = 1.1 m + (7.826 m/s)2/2(9.8 m/s2) = 4.2248 m 4.2 m
c) (5 points) How fast was the hammer moving when it hit the ground?
v = [vo2 - 2g(y yo)] = [(7.826 m/s)2 - 2(9.8 m/s2) (0 1.1 m)] = 9.0998 m/s 9.1 m/s
5. (15 points) A motor boat is 0.50 km directly south of the harbor entrance. The speed of the boat in still water is 6.5 m/s. A
tidal surge is creating a cross current of 5.0 m/s. The pilot steers a course to keep him going directly toward the harbor
entrance. How long will it take the boat to reach the harbor?
vBL = [vBW2 - vWL2] = [(6.5 m/s)2 (5.0 m/s)2]= 4.153 m/s
t = x/vBL = 0.50 km/s(1000 m/1 km)/4.153 m/s = 120 s(1 min /60 s) = 2.0 min (Note: 1.3 min w/o current)

6. (15 points) A four man relay team runs a 4 mile race in which the times of the first three runners are 5.4 min, 5.1 min, and 4.4
min over each of their respective mile legs. How fast must the fourth runner complete his mile run for the team to average
0.20 mi/min?
t = x/v = 4.0 mi/ 0.20 mi/min =20 min
t4= t (t1+ t2 + t3) = 20 min (5.4 mn + 5.1 min + 4.4 min) = 5.1 min
v4 = x4/t4 = 1.0 mi/5.1 min = 0.196 min(60 s/1 min) = 11.76 s 12 sec
7. (15 points) An Angstrom is 10-10 m. The radius of a Hydtrogen atom is 1.3 Angstroms. What is the radius as measured in feet?
Recall that 2.54 cm = 1 inch, 12 inchs = 1 ft
r = 1.3 (10-10 m/1)(100 cm/1 m)(1 in/2.54 cm)(1 ft/12 in) = 4.265 x 10-10 ft 4.3 x 10-10 ft