Tag Archives: College Physics

Grantham PHY220 Week 2 Assignment Problem 8

If a car is traveling at 50 m/s and then stops over 300 meters (while sliding), what is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires of the car and the road?

SOLUTION:

Draw the free-body diagram of the car

week 2 problem 8

Consider the vertical direction

\sum F_y=ma_y

F_N-mg=0

F_N=mg

Consider the motion in the horizontal direction

Solve for the acceleration of the car.

v^2=\left(v_0\right)^2+2a_x\Delta x

a_x=\frac{v^2-\left(v_0\right)^2}{2\Delta x}=\frac{0-50^2}{2\left(300\right)}=-4.17\:m/s^2

Solve for the coefficient of kinetic friction

\sum F_x=ma_x

-F_{fr}=ma_x

-\mu _kF_N=ma_x

\mu _k=\frac{ma_x}{-F_N}=\frac{m\:\left(-4.17\right)}{-m\left(9.80\right)}=\frac{4.17}{9.80}

\mu _k=0.43

College Physics by Openstax Chapter 2 Problem 49


You throw a ball straight up with an initial velocity of 15.0 m/s. It passes a tree branch on the way up at a height of 7.00 m. How much additional time will pass before the ball passes the tree branch on the way back down?


Solution:

The known values are a=-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2; v_o=15.0\:\text{m/s}; y=7.00\:\text{m}

The applicable formula is.

y=v_ot+\frac{1}{2}at^2

Using this formula, we can solve it in terms of time, t.

t=\frac{-v_0\pm \sqrt{v_0^2+2ay}}{a}

Substituting the known values, we have

\begin{align*}
t & =\frac{-v_0\pm \sqrt{v_0^2+2ay}}{a} \\
t & =\frac{-15.0\:\text{m/s}\pm \sqrt{\left(15.0\:\text{m/s}\right)^2+2\left(-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2\right)\left(7.00\:\text{m}\right)}}{-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2} \\
t&=\frac{-15.0\:\text{m/s}\pm 9.37\:\text{m/s}}{-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2}
\end{align*}

We have two values for time, t. These two values represent the times when the ball passes the tree branch.

 t_1=\frac{-15.0\:m/s+9.37\:m/s}{-9.80\:m/s^2}=0.57\:sec \\
t_2=\frac{-15.0\:m/s-9.37\:m/s}{-9.80\:m/s^2}=2.49\:sec

Therefore, the total time between passing the branch is the difference between 2.49 seconds and 0.57 seconds.

t_2-t_1=2.49  \ \text{s} - 0.57 \ \text{s}=1.92 \ \text{s}  \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

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Solution Guides to College Physics Chapter 2 Banner

Chapter 2: Kinematics

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Displacement

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Time, Velocity, and Speed

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Acceleration

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Motion Equations for Constant Acceleration in One Dimension

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Falling Objects

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Graphical Analysis of One-Dimensional Motion


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Solution Guide to College Physics by Openstax Chapter 1 Banner

Chapter 1: Introduction: The Nature of Science and Physics

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Physical Quantities and Units

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Accuracy, Precision, and Significant Figures

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Approximation


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Solution Guides for College Physics by Openstax Banner

College Physics by Openstax

You can browse on the itemized questions with solutions of the College Physics by Openstax below. Also, you can buy the whole Complete Solution Manual here.


College Physics Cover of Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Heat and Heat Transfer Methods

College Physics Cover of Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Thermodynamics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Oscillatory Motion and Waves

College Physics Cover of Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Physics of Hearing

College Physics Cover of Chapter 18

Chapter 18:
Electric Charge and Electric Field

College Physics Cover of Chapter 19

Chapter 19:
Electric Potential and Electric Field

College Physics Cover of Chapter 20

Chapter 20:
Electric Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law

College Physics Cover of Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Circuits and DC Instruments

College Physics Cover of Chapter 22

Chapter 22:
Magnetism

College Physics Cover of Chapter 23

Chapter 23:
Electromagnetic Induction, AC Circuits, and Electrical Technologies

College Physics Cover of Chapter 24

Chapter 24:
Electromagnetic Waves

College Physics Cover of Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Geometric Optics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Vision and Optical Instrument

College Physics Cover of Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Wave Optics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Special Relativity

College Physics Cover of Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Introduction to Quantum Physics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Atomic Physics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Medical Applications of Nuclear Physics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 33

Chapter 33:
Particle Physics

College Physics Cover of Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Frontiers of Physics


Problem 6-1: Odometer reading based on the number of wheel revolutions


Semi-trailer trucks have an odometer on one hub of a trailer wheel. The hub is weighted so that it does not rotate, but it contains gears to count the number of wheel revolutions—it then calculates the distance traveled. If the wheel has a 1.15 m diameter and goes through 200,000 rotations, how many kilometers should the odometer read?


Solution:

The formula for the total distance traveled is

\Delta s=\Delta \theta \times r

Therefore, the total distance traveled is

\begin{align*}
\Delta s & =\left(200000\:\text{rotations}\:\times \frac{2\pi \:\text{radian}}{1\:\text{rotation}}\right)\left(\frac{1.15\:\text{m}}{2}\right) \\
\Delta s & =722566.3103\:\text{m} \\
\Delta s & =722.6\:\text{km} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

\end{align*}

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College Physics by Openstax Chapter 5 Problem 1

A physics major is cooking breakfast when he notices that the frictional force between his steel spatula and his Teflon frying pan is only 0.200 N. Knowing the coefficient of kinetic friction between the two materials, he quickly calculates the normal force. What is it?


Solution:

The formula for friction is

f=\mu _{k\:}N

When we solve for the normal force, N, in terms of the other variables, we have

N=\frac{f}{\mu _k}

The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.04. Therefore, the normal force is

\begin{align*}
N & =\frac{f}{\mu _k} \\
N & =\frac{0.200\:\text{newton}}{0.04} \\
N & =5.00\:\text{newton} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}

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College Physics by Openstax Chapter 4 Problem 1


A 63.0-kg sprinter starts a race with an acceleration of 4.20 m/s2. What is the net external force on him?


Solution:

So, we are given mass, m = 63.0 \ \text{kg} , and acceleration, a = 4.20 \ \text{m/s}^2.

The net force has a formula 

\text{F}=\text{m}a

Substituting the given values, we have

\begin{align*}
F & = \left( 63.0 \ \text{kg} \right)\left( 4.20 \ \text{m/s}^2 \right) \\
F & = 265 \  \text{kg}\cdot \text{m/s}^2 \\
F & = 265 \ \text{N} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}
\end{align*}

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College Physics by Openstax Chapter 3 Problem 1


Find the following for path A in Figure 3.52:
(a) The total distance traveled, and
(b) The magnitude and direction of the displacement from start to finish.

Figure 3.54 The various lines represent paths taken by different people walking in a city. All blocks are 120 m on a side
Figure 3.52 The various lines represent paths taken by different people walking in a city. All blocks are 120 m on a side


Solution:

Part A

The total distance traveled is 

\begin{align*}

\text{d} & =\left(3\times 120\ \text{m}\right)+\left(1\times 120\:\text{m}\right) \\
\text{d} & =480\:\text{m}  \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}\\

\end{align*}

Part B

The magnitude of the displacement is 

\begin{align*}

\text{s }& =\sqrt{\left( s_x \right)^{2\:}+\left( s_y \right)^2} \\
\text{s }& = \sqrt{\left(1\times 120\:\text{m}\right)^2+\left(3\times 120\:\text{m}\right)^2} \\
\text{s }& = 379\ \text{m} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}

\end{align*}

The direction is

\begin{align*}

 \theta & = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{s_x}{s_y}\right) \\
\theta & = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1\times 120\:\text{m}}{3\times 120 \ \text{m}}\right) \\
\theta & =71.6^{\circ} ,\:\text{E of N} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}

\end{align*}

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College Physics by Openstax Chapter 2 Problem 48


A very strong, but inept, shot putter puts the shot straight up vertically with an initial velocity of 11.0 m/s. How long does he have to get out of the way if the shot was released at a height of 2.20 m, and he is 1.80 m tall?


Solution:

The known values are: y_0=2.20\:\text{m}; y=1.80\:\text{m}; v_0=11.0\:\text{m/s}; and a=-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2

We are going to use the formula

 \Delta y=v_0t+\frac{1}{2}at^2

Substituting the given values:

\begin{align*}
 \Delta y & =v_0t+\frac{1}{2}at^2 \\
1.80\:\text{m}-2.20\:\text{m} & =\left(11.0\:\text{m/s}\right)t+\frac{1}{2}\left(-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2\right)t^2 \\
-0.40\:\text{m} & =\left(11.0\:\text{m/s}\right)t-\left(4.90\:\text{m/s}^2\right)t^2 \\
4.90t^2-11t-0.40 & =0
\end{align*}

Using the quadratic formula solve for t, we have

\begin{align*}
t & =\frac{-\left(-11\right)\pm \sqrt{\left(-11\right)^2-4\left(4.90\right)\left(-0.40\right)}}{2\left(4.90\right)} \\
\end{align*}
 t=2.28\:\text{sec}\:\:\:\:\:\text{or}\:\:\:\:\:\:t=-0.04 \ \text{sec}

We can discard the negative time, so

t=2.28\:\text{s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

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