Tag Archives: College Physics Solutions

Problem 1-11: Solving for the uncertainty given mass and percent uncertainty

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PROBLEM:

Suppose that your bathroom scale reads your mass as 65 kg with a 3%  uncertainty. What is the uncertainty in your mass (in kilograms)?

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SOLUTION:

The uncertainty is computed as 

\delta _m=\frac{3\:\%}{100\:\%}\times 65\:\text{kg}=1.95\:\text{kg} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

Therefore, the uncertainty in the given mass is 1.95 kg.

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Problem 1-10: The average speed of the earth in its orbit in kilometers per second and in meters per second

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PROBLEM:

a) The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is  108 km. Calculate the average speed of the Earth in its orbit in kilometers per second. 

b) What is this is meters per second?

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SOLUTION:

Part A

We assume that the earth revolves around the sun in a circular manner. Therefore, the distance between the earth and the sun will be the radius of its orbit.

The total distance traveled the earth in full revolution is

\begin{align*}
d & =2\pi r \\
& = 2\pi \left(10\right)^8\:\text{km} \\
\end{align*}

The total time of travel is

\begin{align*}
t & =365.25\:\text{days}\left(\frac{24\:\text{hr}}{1\:\text{day}}\right)\left(\frac{3600\:\text{s}}{1\:\text{hr}}\right) \\
& = 3.15576\times 10^7\:\text{sec} \\
\end{align*}

Therefore, the average speed is

\begin{align*}
\text{speed} & =\frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}=\frac{d}{t} \\
 & = \frac{2\pi \left(10\right)^8\:\text{km}}{3.15576\times 10^7\:\text{s}} \\
& = 19.91\:\text{km/s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}

Therefore, the average speed of the earth is 19.91 km/s.

Part B

Convert 19.91 km/s to m/s.

\begin{align*}
s & =\left(19.91\:\frac{\text{km}}{\text{s}}\right)\left(\frac{1000\:\text{m}}{1\:\text{km}}\right) \\
& =19\,910\:\text{m/s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \\
\end{align*}

Therefore, the velocity is 19 910 m/s. 

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Problem 1-9: The distance moved in 1 sec and the speed in kilometers per million years of tectonic plates

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PROBLEM:

Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth’s crust that move slowly. Suppose that one such plate has an average speed of 4.0 cm/year.
(a) What distance does it move in 1.0 s at this speed?
(b) What is its speed in kilometers per million years?

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SOLUTION:

Part A

We know that the formula for the distance traveled, d, if we are given rate, r, and time, t is given by d=r\times t.

The rate in cm/s is 

\begin{align*}
r & =\left(4\:\frac{\text{cm}}{\bcancel{\text{year}}}\times \frac{1\:\bcancel{\text{year}}}{365\:\frac{1}{4}\:\bcancel{\text{days}}}\times \frac{1\:\bcancel{\text{day}}}{24\:\bcancel{\text{hours}}}\times \frac{1\:\bcancel{\text{hour}}}{60\:\bcancel{\text{mins}}}\times \frac{1\:\bcancel{\text{min}}}{60\:\text{s}}\right) \\
& = 1.2675 \times 10^{-7} \  \text{cm/s}
\end{align*}

The distance traveled is

\begin{align*}
d & = r \times t \\
d & = \left( 1.2675\times 10^{-7} \ \text{cm/s} \right)\left( 1.0  \ \text{s} \right) \\
d & = 1.3\times 10^{-7} \ \text{cm} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}

Part B

We need to convert 4.0 cm/year to km/My.

\begin{align*}
4.0 \ \frac{\text{cm}}{\text{year}} & = 4.0\:\frac{\bcancel{\text{cm}}}{\bcancel{\text{year}}}\times \frac{1\:\bcancel{\text{m}}}{100\:\bcancel{\text{cm}}}\times \frac{1\:\text{km}}{1000\:\bcancel{\text{m}}}\times \frac{1\:000\:000\:\bcancel{\text{years}}}{1\:\text{My}} \\ \\
& =40\:\text{km/My} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}

Therefore, the speed of the tectonic plates is 40 km/My. 

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Problem 1-8: The speed of sound in km/h

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PROBLEM:

The speed of sound is measured to be  342 m/s on a certain day. What is this in km/h?

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SOLUTION:

We know that 1 km=1000 m and 1 hr=3600 sec.

Convert 342 m/s.

\begin{align*}
342\:\text{m/s} & =\left(342\:\frac{\bcancel{\text{m}}}{\bcancel{\text{s}}}\right)\left(\frac{1\:\text{km}}{1000\:\bcancel{\text{m}}}\right)\left(\frac{3600\:\bcancel{\text{s}}}{1\:\text{hr}}\right) \\
& =1231.2\:\text{km/hr} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}

Therefore, the speed of sound in km/hr is 1231.2 km/hr.

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Problem 1-7: The height of Mount Everest in kilometers

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PROBLEM:

Mount Everest, at 29,028 feet, is the tallest mountain on the Earth. What is its height in kilometers? (Assume that 1 kilometer equals 3,281 feet.)

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SOLUTION:

Convert 29028 ft to km

29,028\:\text{ft}=\left(29\:028\:\text{ft}\right)\left(\frac{1\:\text{km}}{3281\:\text{ft}}\right)=8.847\:\text{km} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

Therefore, the height of Mount Everest is 8.847 kilometers.

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Problem 1-6: The height of a 6 ft 1 in tall person in meters

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PROBLEM:

What is the height in meters of a person who is 6 ft 1.0 in. tall? (Assume that 1 meter equals 39.37 in.)

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SOLUTION:

First, convert 6 ft to inches

6\:\text{ft}=\left(6\:\text{ft}\right)\left(\frac{12\:\text{in}}{1\:\text{ft}}\right)=72\:\text{in}

Add the 1.0 inch

72\:\text{in}\:+1\:\text{in}=73\:\text{inches}

So, the total height of the person is 73 inches. We convert this to meters to come up with the desired unit.

73\:\text{in}=\left(73\:\text{in}\right)\left(\frac{1\:\text{m}}{39.37\:\text{in}}\right)=1.85\:\text{m} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

So, the height of the person is 1.85 meters.

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Problem 1-5: Soccer field dimensions in feet and inchess

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PROBLEM:

Soccer fields vary in size. A large soccer field is 115 m long and 85 m wide. What are its dimensions in feet and inches?

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SOLUTION:

The length in feet and inches are

\begin{aligned}
115\ \text{m} & = 115\ \bcancel{\text{m}} \times \frac{1\ \text{ft}}{0.3048\ \bcancel{\text{m}}} \\ \\
& =377.3\ \text{feet} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)\\
\\
115\ \text{m} & = 115\ \bcancel{\text{m}} \times \frac{1\ \bcancel{\text{ft}}}{0.3048\ \bcancel{\text{m}}} \times \frac{12\ \text{inches}}{1\ \bcancel{\text{ft}}} \\ \\
& =4528\ \text{inches} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)\\
\end{aligned}

The width in feet and inches are

\begin{aligned}
85\ \text{m} & = 85\ \bcancel{\text{m}} \times \frac{1\ \text{ft}}{0.3048\ \bcancel{\text{m}}}\\ \\
& =278.9\ \text{ft}\ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)\\
\\
85\ \text{m} & = 85\ \bcancel{\text{m}} \times \frac{1\ \bcancel{\text{ft}}}{0.3048\ \bcancel{\text{m}}} \times \frac{12\ \text{in}}{1\ \bcancel{\text{ft}}}\\ \\
& =3346\ \text{inches} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{aligned}
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Problem 1-4: The length of the American football field in meters

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PROBLEM:

American football is played on a 100-yard-long field, excluding the end zones. How long is the field in meters? (Assume that 1 meter equals 3.281 feet.)

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SOLUTION:

\begin{aligned}
100 \ \text{yard} & = 100 \ \bcancel{\text{yard}} \times \frac{3\ \bcancel{\text{feet}}}{1 \ \bcancel{\text{yard}}}\times \frac{1 \ \text{m}}{3.281\ \bcancel{\text{feet}}} \\
\\
& =91.4 \ \text{m} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{aligned}
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Problem 1-3: Converting 1.0 m/s to 3.6 km/h

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PROBLEM:

Show that 1.0 m/s=3.6 km/h.

Hint: Show the explicit steps involved in converting 1.0 m/s=3.6 km/h.

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SOLUTION:

We know that 1 hr = 3600 s, and 1 km = 1000 m. 

\begin{aligned}
1.0 \ \text{m/s} & = 1.0 \ \frac{\bcancel{\text{m}}}{ \bcancel{\text{s}}} \times \frac{3600 \ \bcancel{\text{s}}}{1 \ \text{hr}}\times \frac{1 \ \text{km}}{1000 \ \bcancel{\text{m}}} \\
\\
& =3.6 \ \text{km/hr} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

\end{aligned}
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Problem 1-2: Converting car speed of 33 m/s to kilometers per hour and determining if it exceeds the speed limit

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PROBLEM:

A car is traveling at a speed of 33 m/s.
(a) What is its speed in kilometers per hour?
(b) Is it exceeding the 90 km/h speed limit?

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SOLUTION:

Part A

\begin{aligned}
33 \ \text{m/s} & =33\ \frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}} \times \frac{1\ \text{km}}{1000 \ \text{m}} \times \frac{3600\ \text{s}}{1 \ \text{hr}} \\
\\
& =118.8 \ \text{km/hr} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{aligned}

Part B

At 118.8 km/h, the car is traveling faster than the speed limit of 90 km/h. (Answer)

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