Chapter 5 Problems

5.1 If the 1 kg standard body has an acceleration of 2.00 m/s2 at 20 degrees to the positive
direction of the x axis, then what are (a) the x component and (b) the y component of the net force
on it and (c) what is the net force in unit-vector notation.
We can compute the magnitude of the net force

F = ma
2
= 1kg 2.00m/ s
= 2N
a), b) Now that we know the magnitude of the force, we can find its components:
Fx = F cos q
= 2N cos20
= 1.88N
Fy = F sin q
= 2N sin20
= 0.684N
c) We now write the force in unit vector notation:
r
F = 1.88 i + 0.684 j N

5.6. Three astronauts, propelled by jet backpacks, push and a guide a 120 kg asteroid toward a
processing dock, exerting the forces shown in Fig. 5-30. What is the asteroids acceleration (a) in
unit vector notation and as (b) a magnitude and (c) a direction.

32N

30 55N

60

41N

a) We begin this problem by writing out each force in component form and then writing the net
force.
 r
F1 = 32cos30 i + 32sin 30 j
r
F2 = 55 i + 0 j
r
F3 = 41cos60i - 41sin 60 j
r
Fnet = (32cos30 + 55 + 41cos60) i + (32 sin30 + 0 - 41sin 60) j
= 118.22 i - 19.51 j

Now that we know the net force, we can find the acceleration.
r
r Fnet 118.22 i - 19.51 j N
a= = = 0.985 i - 0.163 j
m 120kg

The magnitude and direction are:

r
a = 0.985 2 + 0.1632 = 0.998m / s 2
-0.163
tan q = fi q = -9.4
0.985

5.12 Compute the weight of a 75 kg space ranger (a) on Earth, (b) on Mars, where g = 3.8m/ s 2 ,
and (c) in interplanetary space, where g = 0.0m/ s 2 .

(a) On Earth: W = mg = 75kg 9.8m / s2 = 735N

(b) On Mars: W = mg = 75kg 3.8m / s2 = 285N

(c) Interplanetary Space: W = mg = 75kg 0m / s 2 = 0N

The rangers mass remains 75 kg everywhere.

5.13. When a nucleus captures a stray neutron, it must bring the neutron to a stop with the diameter
of the nucleus by means of the strong force. That force, which glues the nucleus is essentially
zero outside the nucleus. Suppose that s tray neutron with an initial speed of 1.4 107 m / s is just
-1 4
barely captured by a nucleus with a diameter d = 1.0 10 m . Assuming that the force on the
neutron is constant, find the magnitude of that force. The neutrons mass is m = 1.67 10 -2 7 kg .

To compute the force, we need to find the acceleration that the neutron must experience to stop in
the distance given. After we know the acceleration,we can find the force.
 7
vi = 1.4 10 m / s
v f = 0.0m / s
x f - xi = 1.0 10-1 4 m
v f 2 = vi2 + 2a(x f - x i )
2 7 2
-vi -(1.4 10 m/ s)
a= = = -9.8 102 7 m/ s 2
2(x f - x i ) 2 1.0 10-1 4 m
F = ma = 1.67 10-2 7kg 9.8 10 2 7m / s 2 = 16.4N

This is a huge force on such a small mass!

5.18 The tension at which a fishing line snaps is commonly called the lines strength. What
minimum strength is need for a line that is to stop a salmon of weight 85N in 11 cm if the fish is
initially drifting at 2.8 m/s? Assume a constant deceleration.

We first calculate the acceleration that the fish experiences. After we know the acceleration, we can
find the force.

xi = 0 2 2
v f = v i + 2 a(x f - x i )
x f = 0.11m 2 2 2 2
v f - vi v f - vi0 2 - (2.8m / s) 2
v i = 2.8m / s a= = =
2 (x f - x i ) 2 (x f - x i ) 2 (0.11m - 0)
vf = 0
= -35.64 m / s 2
W 85N
m= = = 8.67kg
g 9.8m / s 2

F =m a

= 8.67 kg 35.64m / s2
= 309N

5.22. A car traveling at 53 km/h hits a bridge abutment. A passenger in the care moves forward a
distance of 65 cm (with respect to the road) while being brought to rest by an inflated air bag.
What magnitude of force (assumed constant) acts on the passengers upper torso, which has a
mass of 41 kg.
To find the force, we need to know the acceleration that the passenger experienced.
2 2
x f - xi = 0.65m v f = vi + 2a(x f - x i )
2 2
53km 1000m 1h v f - vi 0 2 - 14.72 2
vi = = 14.72m / s a= = = 166.7m / s 2
h 1km 3600s 2(x f - x i ) 2 0.65m
vf = 0 2
Fnet = ma = 41kg 166.7m / s = 6834.7N

...Ouch!

5.29. A sphere of mass 3.0 10-4 kg is suspended from a cord. A steady horizontal breeze pushes
the sphere so that the cord makes an angle of 37 degrees with the vertical when at rest. Find (a) the
magnitude of the push and (b) the tension in the cord.
T

37

37

Fw

mg

In the vertical direction

0 = T cos37 - mg
mg
T=
cos37
In the horizontal direction
 0 = T sin 37 - Fw
Fw = T sin 37

We now substitute in for T.

Fw = T sin 37
mg
=( ) sin37
cos37
= mgtan 37
= 3.0 10 -4 kg 9.8m / s 2 tan 37
= 0.002215N
We now compute the tension
Fw = T sin 37
Fw 0.002215N
T= = = 0.003681N
sin37 sin 37

5.34 Figure 5-36 show four penguins that are being playfully pulled along very slippery
(frictionless) ice by a curator. The masses of three penguins and the tension in two of the cords
are given. Find the penguin mass that is not given.

m 20kg

15kg
12kg

111N 222N

In this problem, we need to think about what mass is being accelerated. We can break this system
of masses up in different ways. No matter how we break up our masses for calculation, all of them
must have the same acceleration.
We begin by considering the entire set of penguins as a single mass. In this case the 222 N is the
only external force that acts on the entire mass of penguins...
 m 20kg

15kg
12kg

111N 222N

We can write ma, the net force.

(12kg + m + 15kg + 20kg) a = 222N

We now consider the force on just the two right most penguins...

m 20kg

15kg
12kg

111N 222N

We write the net force on these masses

(15kg + 20kg) a = 222N -111N

In this second case, we can solve for a. We then use that a to find the missing mass.

 (12kg + m + 15kg + 20kg) a = 222N
(m + 47kg) a = 222N
(15kg + 20kg) a = 222N -111N ma = 222N - 47kg a
111N 222N
a= = 3.12m / s 2 m= - 47kg
35kg a
222N
= - 47kg
a
= 24.15kg

5.38. A worker drags a crate across a factory floor by pulling on a rope tied to the crate. The
worker exerts a force of 450N on the rope, which is inclined at 38 degrees to the horizontal and the
floor exerts a horizontal force of 125 N that opposes the motion. Calculate the magnitude of the
acceleration of the crate if (a) its mass is 310 kg and (b) its weight is 310N.
The net force in the horizontal direction is
Fnet = ma = F0 cos38 - 125N
F0 cos38 - 125N
a=
m
If the mass of the crate is 310 kg,

F0 cos38 - 125N
a=
m
450 Ncos38 - 125N
=
310kg
2
= 0.741m/ s

If the weight is 310N,

310N
m=
9.8m/ s 2
F cos38 - 125N
a= 0
m
450Ncos38 - 125N
=
(310kg / 9.8m / s 2 )
= 7.26m / s2
5.42. A Navy jet (Fig 5-40)with a weight of 231 kN requires an airspeed of 85m/s for liftoff. The
engine develops a maximum force of 107 kN, but that is insufficient for reaching takeoff speed in
the 90m available on an aircraft carrier. What minimum force (assumed constant) is needed from
the catapult that is used to help launch the jet? Assume that the catapult and the jets engine each
exert a constant force of the 90m distance used for takeoff.
We begin by finding the acceleration required. After finding this a, we can find the net force
required and then the force needed from the catapult.
vi = 0 m/ s
v f = 85m / s
x f - xi = 90m
2 2
v f = vi + 2a(x f - xi )
v f2
a=
2(x f - x i )
(85m / s)2
=
2 90m
= 40.14m/ s 2

Now that we know the acceleration, we can find the net force and the piece of the force needed from
the catapult
231,000N
ma = = 23, 571.4kg
9.8m/ s 2
Fnet = ma a = FEngine + Fcat
Fcat = ma a - FEngine
= 23,571.4kg 40.14m / s 2 - 107, 000N
= 839,156N

5.43 A block of mass m1 = 3.70kg on a frictionless inclined plane of angle 30 is connected by a

cord over a massless frictionless pulley to a second block of mass m 2 = 2.3kg hanging vertically.
What are (a) the magnitude of the acceleration of each block and (b) the direction of the
acceleration of m2 ? (c) What is the tension in the cord?

The free-body diagram and forces are shown below.

 N
T

m1

m1g

m1
T
m2
m2

m2g

We will call forces that drive the pulley clockwise positive. First we compute the net force on m2 .

m 2a = m2 g - T

We now write the forces on m1 in the vertical direction:

0 = N - m1 gcos q
N = m1 gcos q

and in the horizontal direction...

m1 a = T - m1gsinq

We now combine the equations to find the acceleration

T = m2 g - m 2a
m1 a = (m2 g - m2 a) - m1gsin q
m2 g - m1gsin q
a=
m1 + m2
2.3kg 9.8m / s2 - 3.7kg 9.8m / s 2 sin30
=
2.3kg + 3.7kg
2
= 0.735m/ s

The mass m2 is downward since downward was defined as positive in this case.

T = m2 g - m2 a
2 2
= 2.3kg 9.8m / s - 3.7kg 0.735m / s
= 19.82N
5.52. A 100 kg crate is pushed at constant speed up the frictionless 30 ramp as shown. What
horizontal force F is required? (b) What force is exerted by the ramp on the crate?

mg
We use a standard (not rotated) x-y coord system. Since the mass is moving with constant speed,
we know that the net force is zero. We write the forces in the vertical and horizontal directions.
0 = N cosq - mg
0 = F - N sin q
We now solve for F and N
mg
N=
cos q
F = N sinq
mg
= sin q
cos q
= mg tan q
= 100kg 9.8m/ s 2 tan 30 = 565.8N
mg 100kg 9.8m/ s 2
N= = = 1131.6N
cos q cos30
5.56 A lamp hangs vertically from a cord in a descending elevator that decelerates at 2.4 m/s2. (a)
If the tension in the cord is 89 N, what is the lamps mass? (b)What is the cords tension when the
elevator ascends wit an upward accelerations of 2.4 m/s2.

a) Since lamp is descending and decelerating, it is accelerating upward at 2.4m/s2. We can write
the net force.

Fnet = ma = T - mg
ma + mg = T
T 89N
m= = = 7.29kg
a + g (2.4 + 9.8)m / s2

b) If the elevator is accelerating upward at 2.4m/s2, the tension is the same as in part a.