Physics 1401

Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3

Conceptual Questions
G
G
G
G
CQ3. (a.) B must be the same as A . (b.) Direction of B must be oppposite the direction of A . So
G
G
graphically A and B might look like:
G
B
G
A
G
G
To add these two vectors graphically, we could pick up B and move it so that its tail is at the tip of A , as follows:

G G
A+ B

G
B

G
A

G G
G
G
Then the vector A + B is the vector drawn from the tail of A to the tip of B . This is just the single point shown
G
above. This vector, which consists of just a single point, is called the zero vector, 0 . In component form, the zero
G
G
G
vector is written 0 = 0 x + 0 y . Suppose A were expressed in component form as A = Ax x + Ay y . Then in order for
G G
G
G
G
G
A + B to give the zero vector, B must be B = Ax x Ay y . In other words, B must be the negative of A .

G
G
G
CQ4. No. Consider a vector A given in component form by A = Ax x + Ay y . The magnitude of A is
G
A = Ax2 + Ay2 , which is always at least as big as Ax or Ay (actually, the absolute value of Ax or of Ay ). To put
G
G
it another way, Ax = A cos and Ay = A sin , but neither cos nor sin is ever greater than 1.

Problems
6. The problem is pictured below. Doing a quick unit conversion, I find that 530 ft = 0.100 mi.

1.2 mi

530 ft (0.100 mi)

0.100
D
(a.) = sin 1
= 4.8
1.2

(b.) When Ive gained an additional 150 ft of elevation, my elevation will be 680 ft (0.129 mi), so Ill have:
sin 4.8D =

0.129 mi
,
d

Physics 1401
Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3

in which d is the total distance I will have driven. So d =

0.129 mi

= 1.54 mi . So I have to drive 0.34 mi

sin 4.8D
farther (after driving 1.2 mi) to gain the additional 150 ft of elevation.

8.

(a.)

r = 75 m
35.0

ry = ( 75 m ) sin 35.0 = 43 m
D

rx = ( 75 m ) cos 35.0 = 61 m
D

( )
= ( 75 m ) sin ( 65.0 ) = 68 m

(b.) rx = ( 75 m ) cos 65.0D = 32 m

ry

G
16. The situation is as shown below. The first displacement from the starting point is d1 (15.0 m north... the red
G
vector). There are two choices for the second displacement d 2 , shown in blue: 22.0 m east or 22.0 m west.
N (y)

5.00 m

G
d3

22.0 m

22.0 m

G
5.00 m d 3

G
R3

G
d3

G
d2

G
d2

G
d1

5.00 m

G
d 3 5.00 m

G
R2

15.0 m

G
R4

G
R1

E (x)

S
G
G
For each choice of d 2 , there are two choices for the third displacement d 3 : 5.00 m north or south (green
G
G
vectors). The purple vectors show the four possible net displacements from the starting point, R1 through R4 .
G
For the net displacement R1 , we have, in component form:
G
d1 = (15.0 m ) y
G
d 2 = ( 22.0 m ) x

Physics 1401
Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3
G
d 3 = (5.00 m ) y

Adding all these up, I get:

G G
G
G
R1 = d1 + d 2 + d3 = ( 22.0 m ) x + (10.0 m ) y .

In magnitude and direction, I get:

G
R1 =

( 22.0 m )2 + (10.0 m )2

= 24.2 m

R1 y
1 10.0 m
D
= tan
= 24.4 above +x axis.
R
22.0
m

1x

= tan 1

But the book asked us for the direction relative to north, so should give the angle as 65.6 east of north.
G
G
By appealing to symmetry, we can see that R4 is the same in magnitude as R1 , but its direction will be 74.4 to
G G
G
G
the west of north. To see this more formally, write down d1 , d 2 , and d 3 . (Note that only d 2 changes.):
G
d1 = (15.0 m ) y
G
d 2 = ( 22.0 m ) x
G
d 3 = (5.00 m ) y

So we have:

G G
G
G
R4 = d1 + d 2 + d3 = ( 22.0 m ) x + (10.0 m ) y .

In magnitude and direction:

G
R4 =

( 22.0 m )2 + (10.0 m )2

= 24.2 m

R4 y
1 10.0 m
D
= tan
= 24.4 .
22.0
m
R

4x

= tan 1

Notice that the angle my calculator gives is 24.4. With reference to the picture above, its clear that the angle
G
that the calculator found is the angle between R4 and the x axis. This angle is 24.4 in magnitude. The minus
sign in the result from the calculator occurs for the following reason: It is customary, for reasons that have to
do with ensuring that the tangent is a continuous function over some restricted domain to refer to angles
G
below the x axis as negative. Now, in addition to the angle that R4 makes with the x axis, there is another
angle this one 24.4 below the +x axis, in the 4th quadrant for which the tangent is 10.0 m 22.0 m .
Following convention in the assigning the algebraic sign of angles below the x axis, we would refer to this angle
10.0 m
as 24.4. When you type in tan 1
on your calculator, your calculator cannot tell whether you
22.0 m
mean the angle in the 4th quadrant or the angle in the 2nd quadrant after all, they both have tangents of (-10/22)
so it assumes you mean the angle in the 4th quadrant. This is why the calculator gives the answer 24.4. In
situations like this, you simply need to draw a picture and keep it clearly in mind when interpreting the result
that your calculator gives you.
G
So the final result, then, is that R4 is 24.2 m in magnitude and is directed at an angle of 24.4 to the north of
west, or 65.6 to the west of north.

Physics 1401
Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3
G
For R2 , we have:

G
d1 = (15.0 m ) y
G
d 2 = ( 22.0 m ) x
G
d 3 = (5.00 m ) y

So:

G G
G
G
R2 = d1 + d 2 + d3 = ( 22.0 m ) x + ( 20.0 m ) y .

In magnitude and direction:

G
R2 =

( 22.0 m )2 + ( 20.0 m )2

= 29.7 m

R2 y
1 20.0
D
= tan
= 42.3 above +x axis.
22.0
R2 x

= tan 1

G
So R2 is 29.7 m in magnitude and its direction is 47.7 east of north.
G
By symmetry, R3 will be 29.7 m in magnitude and 47.7 to the west of north.

G
D
D
27. r = ( 54 m ) cos 42 x ( 54 m ) sin 42 y = ( 40 m ) x ( 36 m ) y
G
34. A = (1.5 m ) cos 40 D x + (1.5 m ) sin 40 D y = (1.1 m )x + (0.96 m ) y
G
B = (2.0 m ) cos 19 D x (2.0 m ) sin 19 D y = (1.9 m )x (0.65 m ) y
G
C = (1.0 m ) cos 25 D x + (1.0 m ) sin 25 D y = (0.91 m )x + (0.42 m ) y
G
D = (1.5 m ) y

Physics 1401
Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3
G
G
38. (a.) Take the cats starting place to be at the origin. Then the cats first two displacements are d1 and d 2 , as
shown in the picture below:

N (y)
G
d2
72 m

G
d3

G
d1
120 m

E (x)

S
G
G
G
G G
We want to find the magnitude and direction of d 3 . Well, clearly, d1 + d 2 + d 3 = 0 if the cat returns home to
G
G
his starting point. So lets express d1 and d 2 in component form:
G
d1 = 120 m y
G
d 2 = 72 m x .
G
G
G
G G
So we want the vector d 3 = d 3 x x + d 3 y y such that d1 + d 2 + d 3 = 0 , or:

(d 3 x 72 m )x + (d 3 y + 120 m )y = 0 x + 0 y .
In order for this to be satisfied, the x and y components of the vectors on the LHS and RHS must be separately
equal. So we must have:

(d 3 x 72 m ) = 0
and

(d 3 y + 120 m ) = 0 .

So:

G
d 3 = 72 m x 120 m y .

In magnitude and direction:

G
d 3 = d 32x + d 32y =

(72 m )2 + ( 120 m )2

= 140 m

d3y
120
D
= tan 1
= 59

72
d 3x

= tan 1

Physics 1401
Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3
G
If we imagine extending the direction of d 3 down into the 4th quadrant, as shown by the dashed line in the
G
above picture, then -59 is the angle shown as ... So d 3 is 59 south of east.

(b.) This would not affect the displacement needed to bring it home at all, because the cat would be at the same
G
G
G
place after the first two displacements, no matter whether they are done in the order d1 then d 2 or d 2 then
G G
G G
G
d1 . To put it another way, vector addition is commutative d1 + d 2 = d 2 + d1 .
G
41. The picture is shown below. Note that Ive called the net displacement from the starting point r , so
G
G
G
G
G
r = d1 + d 2 . Note also that vav always points in the same direction as r t is always positive, remember
so it looks something like what Ive shown below.

N (y)

G
r
G
G
r
vav
t

G
d 2 2500 ft

G
d1

E (x)

1500 ft

S
G
G
G
So the direction of vav will just be the direction of r , and the magnitude of vav is given by:

G
r
G
.
vav =
t
G
Lets first find the magnitude of r . According to Pythagoras:

G
r =
G
So the magnitude of vav is:
G
of vav , find the angle :

G 2 G 2
d1 + d 2 = 1500 2 + 2500 2 = 2915 ft .

G
2915 ft
vav =
= 9.7 10 2 ft/min , keeping 2 sig figs. To find the direction
3.0 min

2500
D
= 59.04
1500

= tan 1

G
So vav is directed at an angle of 59.04 north of east.

Physics 1401
Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3

45. Here is a diagram showing the situation. Note that Ive taken the positive x axis to be parallel to the
inclined surface, as shown.
a = g sin = 9.81sin 17.5 = 2.95 m/s
v=0
D

v = ? at t = 3.25 s

= 17.5

x=0

The problem is almost too easy, once you realize that the acceleration is constant. (After all, neither g nor is
changing.) So you just refer to the four facts for one-dimensional motion with constant acceleration. In
particular, I find:
v = v0 + at

So at t = 3.25 s:

v = 2.95 m/s

) ( 3.25 s ) = 9.59 m/s

54. Let the positive x direction be east and the positive y direction be north, as usual. Then we can write the
velocity of the passenger relative to the ferry as:
G
v PF = (1.5 m/s ) y

Also, if the velocity of the passenger relative to the water is 4.5 m/s at an angle of 30.0 west of north, then we
can write this as:
G
v PW = (4 . 5 m/s ) sin 30 D x + (4 . 5 m/s ) cos 30 D y
So the velocity of the ferry relative to the water is:
G
G
G
v FW = v FP + v PW
Note the order of the subscripts: This equation says that the velocity of the ferry relative to the water is the
velocity of the ferry relative to the passenger PLUS the velocity of the passenger relative to the water. Now,
G
theres one hitch in all of this: We arent given the velocity of the ferry relative to the passenger, v FP . But we
can figure out what it is very easily. We know that the passenger is moving relative to the ferry with a velocity
of 1.5 m/s due north. So suppose for a moment that you are the passenger. If you move north at 1.5 m/s
relative to the ferry, what does it look like the ferry is doing, from your perspective? Answer: It looks like the
ferry is moving at 1.5 m/s south! So the velocity of the ferry relative to the passenger is:
G
v FP = (1.5 m/s ) y

So the velocity of the ferry relative to the water is:

G
v FW = (2.25 m/s )x + (2.40 m/s ) y
In magnitude and direction:

Physics 1401
Homework Solutions - Walker, Chapter 3
G
v FW =

(2.25)2 + (2.40)2

= 3.29 m/s

2.40
D
= 46.8
2
.
25

= tan 1

So the direction is 46.8 north of west, or 43.2 west of north.

55. This problem is similar to Example 3-2. Choosing the positive y direction to be upstream and the positive x
direction to be toward the right, we know the velocity of the water relative to the ground is:
G
vWG = (2.8 m/s ) y .
Furthermore, we are given that the velocity of the jet ski relative to the ground is (in component form):
G
v JG = (9.5 m/s ) cos 20.0D x + (9.5 m/s ) sin 20.0D y
G
We want the velocity of the jet ski relative to the water, v JW . We can find it from:
G
G
G
v JW = v JG + vGW .
Now, by the same reasoning used in the previous problem, the velocity of the ground relative to the water is the
negative of the velocity of the water relative to the ground. That is:
G
G
vGW = vWG = (2.8 m/s ) y
So:

G
v JW = (8.9 m/s )x + (6.0 m/s ) y

The speed of the jet ski relative to the water is the magnitude of this velocity:
G
v JW =

(8.9)2 + (6.0)2

= 11 m/s