Problem Set 2: One dimensional motion -

Answer Key
Physics 71
February 22, 2019

1. Use the y-axis with its origin at the point of dropping. Then,
1
y = y0 + vy0 t − gt2 vy = vy0 − gt where y0 = 0, vy0 = 0
2

at t = 1 s at t = 2 s
vy = −gt vy = −gt
= (−9.8 m/s2 )(1 s) = (−9.8 m/s2 )(2 s)
vy = −9.8 m/s vy = −19.6 m/s

v = 9.8 m/s ↓ v = 19.6 m/s ↓

1 1
y = − gt2 y = − gt2
2 2
1 1
= − (9.8)(1)2 = − (9.8)(2)2
2 2
y = −4.9 m y = −19.6 m

r = 4.9 m below origin r = 19.6 m below origin

1
 at t = 3 s at t = 4 s
vy = −gt vy = −gt
= (−9.8 m/s2 )(3 s) = (−9.8 m/s2 )(4 s)
vy = −29.4 m/s vy = −39.2 m/s

v = 29.4 m/s ↓ v = 39.2 m/s ↓

1 1
y = − gt2 y = − gt2
2 2
1 1
= − (9.8)(3)2 = − (9.8)(4)2
2 2
y = −44.1 m y = −78.4 m

r = 44.1 m below origin r = 78.4 m below origin

2. Use the y-axis with origin at ground level and vy0 = +80 ft/s.

(a) At the highest point, vy = 0 so that

0
v
y
> = vy0 − gt
vy0 80 ft/s
t = =
g 32.2 ft/s2

t = 2.48 s

(b) We can now solve for y, thus

0 1 2
y = 0 + vy0 t − gt
y
>
2
1
= (80)(2.48) − (32.2)(2.48)2
2

y = 99.4 ft

2
 (c) Given that y = 96 ft we can use y = y0 + vy0 t − 21 gt2 to solve for
t thus,
q
 
2
−vy0 ± 2
vy0 − 4(− 21 g)(−y)
0= − 21 g t + (vy0 )t + (−y) ⇒ t =
2(− 12 g)
q
−80 ± 802 − 4( 21 )(32.2)(96)
t=
−32.2

t = 2.03 s or t = 2.94 s

3. Choose +x-axis ⇒ use x-equations for rectilinear motion. Then

(a) given that ax = 9.8 m/s2 , vx0 = 0 m/s;

also that vx = 0.1c = 0.1(3 × 108 m/s) = 3 × 107 m/s,

0 vx 3 × 107 m/s
vx0
vx =  *+ ax t ⇒ t= =
ax 9.8 m/s2

t = 3.061 × 106 s or !
6 hr
= 3.061 × 10
s = 850.3 hr or
3600
s
!
d
hr
= 850.3 
 = 35.4 d
24 hr


(b) Knowing the time elapsed, t, we can now solve for distance trav-
elled thus
0
x
x =  >0 +
*t + 1 ax t2
vx0
0
2
= 12 (9.8 m/s2 )(3.061 × 106 s)2

x = 4.59 × 1013 m or !
13 km
= 4.59 × 10  m
 = 4.59 × 1010 km
1000 
m


3
4. The situation is shown in the figure below.
60 mph 80 mph

−3 ft/s2 −3 ft/s2
train 1 train 2
2 mi

For both trains, we compute the distance travelled till full stop (vx = 0).
For train 1,
!2
mi 5280 ft hr
0 2 60 · ·
2 2 0 vx0 hr mi 3600 s
vx7
 = vx0 − 2ax (x − 
x
0)
> ⇒ x1 = = 2
 2ax 2(3 ft/s )

x1 = 1, 291 ft

Similarly for train 2,

!2
mi 5280 ft hr
80 · ·
hr mi 3600 s
x2 = 2
2(3 ft/s )

x2 = 2, 295 ft

The total distance travelled by the two trains: x1 + x2 = 1, 291 ft +

2, 295 ft = 3, 586 ft = 0.68 mi. Since the total distance < 2 mi, there
will be NO collision.
5. Set the origin at the point when the balloon is dropped, given that
vy0 = +12 m/s. We need to find t when y = −80 m.
1 1
y = y0 + vy0 t − gt2 ⇒ 0 = (− g)t2 + vy0 t + (−y)
q 2 2 q
2 1 2
−vy0 ± vy0 − 4(− 2 g)(−y) −vy0 ± vy0 − 2gy
t = 1 =
2(− 2 g) −g
q
−12 ± 122 − 2(9.8)(−80)
t =
−9.8
t = −3 s or t = +5.45 s