KEY QUESTIONS: UNIT ONE

LESSON 1

1. Let :
B = bug
C = chair
G = ground

Let west and north be positive directions.

VBC = 10 mm/s(W)
VCG = 40mm/s(W50⁰N)
VBG = ?

VBG = VBC + VCG

Components of VBC

VBC =10mm/s
VBCx = 10mm/s
VBCy = 0 mm/s

Components of VCG

VCGy VCG
5 50⁰
V5CGx
5
Sin 50⁰ = VCGy 0
VCGx 0
5
VCGy = sin 50⁰( VCG )h
= sin 50⁰ (40) b
= 30.6 mm/s 0

VCGx = cos 50⁰(40)

= 25.7 mm/s
 Adding components of VCG and VBC

VBGx = VBCx + VCGx

= 10 + 25.7
= 35.7 mm/s
= 36 mm/s

VBGy = VBCy + VCGy

= 0 + 31
= 31 mm/s

Using Pythagorean Theorem:

VBG2 = VBGx2 + VBGy2

= √ (36)2 + (31)2
= 48 mm/s
Tan Ꝋ = Opposite
Adjacent
Ꝋ = tan -1 (31/36)
= 41⁰

Since x and y are both positive,

Therefore VBG = 48 mm/s(W41⁰N)
9/9, 9; Your concluding sentence should explain how the result answers the question in proper
English.

2.
W airplane heading direction
I
N
D the direction in which airplane will head.

The plane should head towards the North West direction in order to provide a counter effect to winds
velocity which is pulling the plane in southern direction. Hence it will reach the west coast by using
the north west direction for travelling.
2/3, 11; while you have the right basic idea, you have to watch how you say it. There are many
directions that you could be referring to as the North West direction; they don’t have to head N45W,
they need to head enough north of west that the northward component of the plane’s velocity equals
the southward component of the wind’s velocity.
3. The rockets are launched in the direction of east. Since the earth rotates from west to east direction,
it aides in the launch of rockets. When it is launched in the west to east direction the relative velocity
of the rocket will be the velocity of rocket plus the velocity of the earth. But that is always true.
 Therefore the amount of velocity of rocket will be less and hence the consumption of fuel will be
lower. Therefore the pollution will be comparatively less and hence saving the environment.
4/6, 15; You have to be clear about what the motion is relative to. A rocket in orbit requires an orbital
speed relative to the center of mass of the body that it orbits around. The motion that counts when
finding orbital speeds is the one that is relative to the center of the Earth, not to a point on the
surface.
The rocket begins with the velocity of its launching point. If a rocket is launched from the poles, it has
a relative velocity of 0m/s due to the Earth’s rotation; at the equator, it is over 1675km/h [E]. That
speed becomes the rockets initial speed in the eastward direction, and does exist relative to the
center of mass of the planet that it has to orbit around. This also explains why the launch locations
are as close to the equator as possible; it increases their initial speed.

Ball

4.
dy

dX

2/4, 17; what were the actual measurements?

b) dy = 10m? How did you measure 10m from the ground? Where were you? Some experiments
are going to ask you to carry out the experiment and some just to design it; make certain you do the
ones that require actual observations.
dx = 15m
a = 9.8m/s

Vertically: Horizontally:
v1y = 0 since we have time
t = ? v1x = dx / t
2
dy = v1y + ½ ayt v1x = 15/1
10m = 0(t) + ½ (9.8)t2 v1x = 15 m/s
2
t = 1020/9.8
t = 12 s
2/3, 19; one calculation error, making your horizontal speed 7.5 m/s

c) One error could be the incorrect way of measuring. If the measurement is not taken using tool to
eye technique, (what is that?) it is possible that the observation are slightly inaccurate. Hence it was
made sure that this was done correctly. The other error could be a human error. Such as if the person
observing the landing spot of the ball chooses the wrong spot or is judges it, it will lead to inaccurate
 results. Hence we had couple of people observing the landing spot in order to minimise the error. In
scientific work, error doesn’t mean “mistake” as much as it does “measurement uncertainty or
limitation”. If you do something wrong, you do it again. Think about where the errors might come in
– such as marking where the object lands, or minimizing any motion after it landed, or whether you’re
measuring from the front, center or rear of the object each time (especially if it rotates) and so on.
They’re going to be much more of a problem than parallax (what I think you mean by the “tool to eye
technique”) for instance. What could you have done to minimize these?
½, 20
d) The precaution that we had to consider while conducting the experiment was the safety of public
and also the cars around us. We paid extra attention to make sure that there weren’t people walking
around while we were throwing the ball. Luckily no damage was done and the experiment was
successful.
1/1, 21; also, hopefully you chose a ball that was light and not dense, such as a tennis ball, instead of
a golf ball or a bowling ball.
Conclusion:
When projecting a ball from a height of 10m and the average horizontal range was measured to be
15m and the magnitude of the initial velocity was calculated to be 15m/s.
2/2, 23
5.
a) Vertical velocity is at maximum just before the landing of projectile.
b) Horizontal velocity is same throughout.
c) Vertical velocity is at minimum at the highest point which the projectile reaches when it is 0m/s
momentarily and it switches direction.
d) The acceleration us constant throughout the journey i.e., 9.8 m/s. only difference is while going
upwards it will be negative and while coming down it will be positive.
e) The upward motion will take more time as the landing point is higher than the launch point.

5/5, 28; good answers.

6.
V1x

dy

dx

dy = 4m
v1x = 5m/s
v1y = 0
dx = ?
t =?
let down and right be positive.

Vertically: Horizontally:
 sin 35⁰ = v1y / v1 cos 35⁰ = v1x / v1
v1y = 2.87m/s v1x = 4.1m/s
d = v1y t + ½ ay t2 dx = vx t
4 = 2.87t + ½ (9.8) t2 = (4.1) (1.24)
0 = 4.9t2 - 2.87 – 4 = 5.1m
a = 4.9; b = -2.87; c = -4

t = - b √b2 – 4ac
2a
= 2.87 √ -(2.87)2 – 4 (4.9)(-4)
9.8
= 1.24s

Calculating y component of final velocity

V2y2 = v1y2 + 2ay dy
= (2.87) 2 + 2(9.8)(4)
= 9.3m/s
Putting x & y together
Vy2 = v2x2 + vy2
= 10.17m/s

Ꝋ = tan -1 (9.31/4.1)
= 66⁰
8/10, 36; your numbers are correct. You need sentences to explain how the results you found answer
the question you were given. You also need to get the final velocity; it should be 10.17 m/s [66o below
horizontal], but you only found an angle, not a direction.
7. A basketball player can use projectile motion and velocity concepts to help them achieve a perfect
throw. Like deciding what angle should they choose when shooting from a certain position and also
what should their initial velocity be to make the basket. That’s mostly practice; how does knowing
physics help?
Also when the player wants to make a long pass across the court i.e., he wants to achieve the
maximum distance he can make a throw at a 45⁰ angle. ok
Understanding relative velocity is also useful when trying to shoot while running as the ball will have
the velocity of the player and plus the velocity that it will achieve when it is thrown. Hence a player
can use this concept to increase the chances of scoring.
4/6, 40; You need more detail in your examples. While you’re not wrong, most of this is more
practice than physics. How does physics help with learning these skills? For example, knowing that if
you’re running towards the net you don’t have to give the ball as much horizontal speed as you would
if you were taking a free shot from that distance because you’re already moving forward, and the ball
will have your initial forward speed when you shoot it describes how understanding relative motion is
related to basketball.
8. If an object is in motion there can be two cases:
 Either accelerating or in constant motion.
While accelerating there is a net force in the direction of motion acceleration because of the force of
causing the acceleration (there is no force of acceleration) and during constant motion, the object is
moving but there is no net force. In theory when there is no friction and the object is moving at the
constant speed, the forces acting on it are balanced and hence the net force will be zero.
½, 41; The force on an object causes a net acceleration in that direction, but the acceleration can be in
any direction; throw something in the air and it will accelerate down regardless of whether it is rising
or falling and independent of any horizontal motion. There is no need for the only possibilities to be
constant velocity or a force in the direction of motion as you have discussed.
9.
a. Both boxes will slide together. As the mass doesn’t matters and only the friction and the angle
matter and since the plank is already at an angle both the boxes will start to slide. 1/1, 42;
plausible
b. m1 = 10kg
m2 = 20 kg
µs = 0.4

for m1 :

Fnety = Fn – Fgy
Fn = mg cosꝊ

Along x-axis
Fnet = Ft - Ff
0 = Fgx - Ff
0 = mg sinꝊ - µs Fn
0 = 10(9.8) sin Ꝋ - (0.4)(10)cosꝊ
0 = 98sinꝊ - 39.2cosꝊ
sinꝊ/cosꝊ = 39/98
Ꝋ = 21.8⁰
 For m2 :

Along y-axis
Fnet = Fn – Fgy
0 = Fn - mgcosꝊ
Along x-axis
Fnet = Ft – Ff
0 = Fgx - µFn
0 = mgsinꝊ - (0.4) mgcosꝊ
mgsinꝊ = mgcosꝊ(0.4)
(9.8)(20)sinꝊ = (20)(9.8)cosꝊ(0.4)
196sinꝊ = 78.4cosꝊ
tanꝊ = 78.4/196
Ꝋ = 21.8
5/6, 47; the calculations are correct, what is the answer?
c.

Acceleration force = Ft – Ff

= mgsinꝊ - µk mgcosꝊ

= (10)(9.8)sin21..8 – (0.3)(10)(9.8) cos21.8

= 98sin21.8 – 29.4cos21.8

= 9.108

m = 10 kg

F = ma

a = 9.108/10

= 0.91m/s2 4/5, 51; For a complete answer, you need a sentence to relate your calculation to
the question that is asked.
10.
a. I will be using my cell phone and slide it down a wooden plank. First I will have to find an
angle at which the phone will slide down. After trying it multiple times and taking the average
of the resultant angle of plank along the ground, I will get the require angle to calculate
coefficient. (a protractor was used to calculate the angle.)

b. The cell phone will move only when force of gravity will be slightly more than the force of
static friction and the net force will no longer be 0. In order to solve the problem lets choose
Fnet = 0.
The angle obtained = 35⁰
Along y - axis
Fnet = Fn – Fg cosꝊ
0 = Fn – mg cosꝊ
Fn = mgcos35⁰
Along x – axis
Fnet = Ft – Ff
0 = mgsinꝊ - µFn
0 = mgsin35 - µ mgcos35⁰
µ = sin35/cos35
= tan35
= 0.7
For proving that mass wont affect static force, we can try the experiment with other cell
phones of different weight – only if they have identical surfaces in contact with the plank. Is
that .possible? The result will be same as the static friction depends on forces created by cell
phone and the plank. How do you know? In the calculation part also we can see that the mass
component gets cancelled out and the result is obtained through the angle only. You can’t use
a formula to prove the formula; only measurements can do that. In fact the static coefficient
is an approximation and friction really does depend somewhat on mass, as it does on the
surface areas in contact, the temperature, and other factors. It’s easy to miss what is actually
there because you think you know what you should be seeing. Try it with two pieces of paper
 on the same plane; put a heavy book on one piece. The paper is in contact with your ramp or
table, but you’re going to be surprised when you don’t get the same result …
The problem is that many things could be different. The best way to think about it is to
pretend you tried it with a second cell phone and found a different coefficient of friction.
How could you convince someone that the important difference was not the mass? 5/7, 56
for a) and b).

c. The problems encountered could be the wind in the area creating either a resistance or a
force by pushing the phone. Also factors like wear and tear on the plank creating friction on
the phone in different ways. 0/1, 56; the wind resistance would have to be unrealistically
high. Whatever the surface of the plank, as long as you’re using the same location the wear
and tear will be identical so the results would remain accurate for that plank.

11.
a. Friction is maximised to provide a nice grip for tires to stick to the road. It helps in movement,
break and turning. If there was less friction, it would lead to less control of vehicles and more
accidents.
b. An example could be maglev train. It rises in air due to magnetic properties. As the movement
happens when the train is in air, the friction is minimised making the train travel quickly as
opposed to regular trains.
c. https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/maglev-train.htm.
5/5, 61; good examples.

12. The label “centripetal force” does not appears in a FBD as it is a non-inertial or a fictious force. It is
also equal to the net force and hence not required in the FBD. 2/2, 63
13.

In order to keep the car moving in a circular motion, the road should exert a centripetal force.
If the road is flat than the force should be supplied by the friction between tires and road. But
if the road is flat then some of the normal force can provide the centripetal force required
and help the car turn rather easily without turning the tire too much. 3/3, 66; the explanation
is fine, but the FBD on the right appears to show an unbanked road with no force pointing
towards the center of the curve to provide some of the centripetal force.
14.

r= 25m

v = 10m/s

µs = v2 / rg

= (102)/ (25)(9.8)

= 0.41 4/5, 70; correct, but a complete solution includes a concluding sentence to explain how
this value answers the question.

15. m = 0.1kg
r = 0.25cm
a.
Fg

The minimum force will occur when the keys are at the top and hence the only force acting on
it will be the gravity.

Fc = mv2 / r

Fc = Fg
mv2 / r = mg
v2 = gr
= √ (0.25) (9.8)
 = 1.57m/s
b.

Ft
Fg
Fnet = Ft – Fg
mv2 / r = Ft – mg
Ft = (0.1) (1.57)2 / 0.25 + 0.98
= 1.96 N 8/9, 78; correct numbers, no sentences. Tell me how these answer the questions!
16. Artificial gravity is a force created mechanically that holds a thing or a person to the surface, hence it
appears as if there is a gravity. The idea of this is similar to the centrifugal force. For instance when a
bucket of water is swung around in a vertical circular motion, the water does not fall down when the
bucket is upside down.
It can be created in space using acceleration and centrifugal force. A rotating circular space station
can create artificial gravity for its passengers. The rate of rotation is necessary to duplicate the earths
gravity depends on radius of circle. The astronaut should be in contact with rotating floor in order to
experience this artificial gravity.
2/5, 80; a good start. But why would they want the artificial gravity? Also you need to tell me where
you found your information.

Unit mark is 80/102 or 78%, a good start.