DIAGNOSTIC /REMEDIAL TEST 06 VELOCITY AND ACCELERATION This test is one of a series in Introductory Physics made available on the

Website of the School of Physics, Monash University, Australia (www.physics.monash.edu.au/community). This test is !T for the "ur"oses of assessment. It is to assist you in locatin# misconce"tions and misunderstandin#s and #enerally to assist you in your study of Physics. $ou should %or& by yourself and at your o%n "ace follo%in# the directions #iven. It is not necessary to attem"t the test all at once. $ou may li&e to do it bit'by'bit, %aitin# until you have covered a "articular to"ic in class or in your readin# of your te(t boo& or you may li&e to )"lun#e in ) before you be#in your study of the to"ic. *uestions are on the left hand (even'numbered) "a#es. While readin# or %or&in# on these, keep the right hand ( dd!n"#$ered% an&'er page ( )ered* DO NOT +EE, AT T-E ANS.ERS ON T-E RIG-T -AND +AGE / The test %as com"iled by and lar#ely authored by +meritus Professor ,ill -achin#er %ho %ould a""reciate any comments or su##estions for im"rovement. These could be sent to him at bill.rachinger@sci.monash.edu.au or +meritus Professor ,ill -achin#er, School of Physics Monash University, P.!.,o( ./, 0ic 1233 Australia 4ia#rams %ere "roduced by Mr Steve Mc5ausland, formerly of 4e"artment of Physics, Monash University

5!0+- T6+ -I76T 6A 4 (!44' UM,+-+4) PA7+S 4! !T P++8 The follo%in# 9uestions are desi#ned to hel" you to develo" and understand the idea of instantaneous velocity (or s"eed).

;or the "osition'time #ra"h sho%n< (a) What is the avera#e velocity durin# the time interval t = > s to t = ? s@ Ans..... What is the avera#e velocity durin# the time interval t = > s to t = 2 s@

(b)

(c)

Ans..... What is the avera#e velocity durin# the time interval t = > s to t = / s@

(d)

Ans..... What is the avera#e velocity durin# the time interval t = > s to t = A s@

Ans..... 56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

The a""ro(imate values of avera#e velocity are< (a) (b) (c) (d) :.1 ms': = >.3 m CB.3 s 3.? ms': = ..2 m C1.3 s 3.2 ms': = :.> m C..3 s 3./ ms': = 3./ m C:.3 s

These values are all derived from the relation

Avera#e 0elocity = 4is"lacement Time Interval

Alternatively they can be vie%ed as the #radients of the lines A,, A5, A4, A+. #eometrical inter"retation is very useful in inter"retin# the term )instantaneous velocity).

This

The B values of avera#e velocity calculated above are of course different because the body is

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s"eedin# u". If %e %ere interested in the instantaneous velocity at the instant of time t = > s ans%er (d) is a better estimate than ans%er (a). We ma&e closer estimates by choosin# shorter and shorter time intervals and by ma&in# the lines (chords) A,, A5,...shorter and shorter. The limit of this "rocess is that the chord becomes a tan#ent to the "osition'time #ra"h. This leads us to the useful re"resentation of the instantaneous velocity as the #radient of the tan#ent to the "osition'time #ra"h at the "articular instant of time in %hich %e are interested. In the case described above the instantaneous velocity at the instant of time t = > s is the #radient of the tan#ent AT %hich has a value of 3.> &m s ':..

. The motion of a body is de"icted by the "osition'time #ra"h.

(a)

At %hat instant of time is the instantaneous velocity #reatest@ Ans..... (b) What is the value of this velocity@ Ans..... (c) !ver %hat time interval is the instantaneous velocity continuously increasin#@ Ans..... (d) !ver %hat time interval is the instantaneous velocity continuously decreasin#@ Ans..... (e) !ver %hat time interval is the instantaneous velocity constant@ Ans..... (f) At %hat instant of time is the instantaneous velocity Dero@ Ans..... (#) At %hat instant of time does the body reverse its direction of motion@ Ans..... 56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! . 1 In %hich of the follo%in# situations is the instantaneous velocity of the body at some sta#e e9ual to Dero@ A A ball is dro""ed vertically and rebounds from the #round. , A ball thro%n vertically u"%ards into the air %hich then falls to earth. 5 A bun#ie Eum"er on a vertical "ath. 4 A s&y diver o"enin# his "arachute. + A small "iece of a vibratin# #uitar strin#. ; The ti" of the rotatin# blade of a helico"ter. Ans............ 56+58 $!U- A SW+- T! T6IS *U+STI! .

(a) (b)

At the instant of time t = . s. It is here that the #radient of the #ra"h is the #reatest. 13 m s':. this is the value of the #radient of the tan#ent ST %hich is e9ual to
T- 13 m = = 13 ms ': -S :.3 s

(c) ;rom t = 3 s to t = . s . 4urin# this "eriod the #ra"h is becomin# stee"er i.e. its #radient %hich is e9ual to the instantaneous velocity is continually increasin#. (d) ;rom t = . s to t = > s . 4urin# this "eriod the #radient of the #ra"h (%hich is e9ual to the instantaneous velocity) is continually decreasin#. 4urin# the "eriod t = B to t = > it actually decreasesF to ne#ative values. (e) ;rom t = > s to t = 2 s . 4urin# this "eriod the #radient of the #ra"h (%hich is e9ual to the instantaneous velocity) remains constant. The #ra"h is a strai#ht line over this "eriod. (f) At the instant of time t = B s. 6ere the tan#ent to the #ra"h is horiDontal. The #radient is Dero, corres"ondin# to an instantaneous velocity of Dero. (#) At the instant of time t = B s. Gust before this the body is travellin# in the "ositive direction (its "osition value is increasin#) and Eust after it is travellin# in the ne#ative direction. These last t%o 9uestions (f) and (#) illustrate a "oint %hich is often misunderstood, the idea of a body bein# instantaneously at rest. 5onsider a s%in#in# "endulum. At the e(tremities of its motion %here it is chan#in# the direction of its motion it is instantaneously at rest. It is travellin# neither to the ri#ht nor the left. 1 A, ,,5 and +. In each case the body is movin# in a strai#ht line and reverses the direction of its motion. + may not be familiar to you. 4urin# the )side%ays) vibration of a #uitar strin# each "ortion of the strin# oscillates bac& and forth in a strai#ht line reversin# its motion at the e(treme "ositions. In case 4, althou#h the s&ydiver may be slo%ed do%n considerably %hen the "arachute o"ens the s&ydiver %ill not come to rest. In case ;, %hile the blade is rotatin# the velocity of the ti" %ill be non'Dero. ote that in this case the direction of motion is chan#in# and the "oint is not travellin# in a strai#ht line as in our other e(am"les. This more com"licated case of )motion in t%o dimensions) %ill be considered later.

B Seven "osition'time #ra"hs (A'7) are sho%n belo%. Which of these #ra"hs best re"resents < (a) a car travellin# at a constant A3 &m "er hour@ Ans..... (b) a car slo%in# do%n %ith the bra&es a""lied@ Ans..... (c) a car travellin# %ith constant velocity collidin# %ith a bric& %all@ Ans..... (d) a car s"eedin# u"@ Ans..... (e) (f) (#) a %ei#ht oscillatin# u" and do%n on a s"rin#@ a ball thro%n vertically u" in the air and fallin# bac& to earth@ Ans..... Ans.....

a billiard ball stri&in# the cushion and reboundin# bac& alon# the same "ath@ Ans.....

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

B (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) ,. This #ra"h has a constant #radient re"resentin# a constant velocity. +. This #ra"h is stee" at first and becomes less stee". This decrease in #radient re"resents a decrease in velocity. 4. The first "art of this #ra"h de"icts a constant velocity and this is follo%ed by a section de"ictin# a constant "osition. The car is at rest a#ainst the bric& %all. ;. The #radient of the #ra"h increases re"resentin# an increasin# velocity. A. The "osition value chan#es bac& and forth bet%een t%o limits. ote ho% the #radient (velocity) chan#es. It is Dero at the e(treme limits and is #reatest half'%ay bet%een them. Hoo& at some oscillatin# system (a "endulum) and chec& this. 5. In this #ra"h the "osition (hei#ht of the ball) increases to a ma(imum value and then decreases. ote ho% the #radient chan#es. It is at first lar#e re"resentin# the velocity %ith %hich the ball is thro%n and continuously decreases becomin# Dero %hen the ball reaches its ma(imum hei#ht. After this the #radient becomes ne#ative re"resentin# a ne#ative (do%n%ard) velocity the ma#nitude of this increasin# re"resentin# the s"eedin#'u" of the ball as it falls bac& to earth. 7. The first section of this #ra"h re"resents the ball travellin# %ith a uniform "ositive velocity re"resented by the "ositive #radient. The other section re"resents the ball returnin# %ith a ne#ative velocity of the same ma#nitude after it has rebounded from the cushion.

(f)

(#)

I T+-HU4+. 0elocity'time #ra"hs The last fe% 9uestions have sho%n the usefulness of Position'time #ra"hs in describin# motion. 0elocity'time #ra"hs are also very useful and it is im"ortant that you learn ho% to use and inter"ret them and derive them from "osition'time #ra"hs. The &ey to this is sim"ly that the instantaneous velocity at any instant of time is the #radient of the "osition'time #ra"h at that instant of time. The ne(t fe% 9uestions %ill be concerned %ith velocity'time #ra"hs.

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0+H!5IT$'TIM+ 7-AP6S > T%o "osition'time #ra"hs are sho%n belo%. Measure the #radients at the "oints sho%n and hence list the corres"ondin# velocities in the s"aces belo%. ;or 7ra"h o.: 0elocity at t = . s is ......... 0elocity at t = B s is ......... 0elocity at t = A s is ......... 0elocity at t = / s is ......... ;or 7ra"h o.. 0elocity at t = 3 s is ......... 0elocity at t = : s is ......... 0elocity at t = 1 s is ......... 0elocity at t = B s is ......... 0elocity at t = > s is ......... 0elocity at t = A s is ......... 4ra% the corres"ondin# velocity'time #ra"hs in the #ra"h s"ace beneath the "osition'time #ra"hs. $ou should "ut scales of convenient siDe on the vertical a(es of both #ra"hs.

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

::

>

;or 7ra"h o.: the velocities are< t = . s , v = B m s': . t = B s , v = 2 m s': t = A s , v = :. m s': t = / s , v = :B m s': ;or 7ra"h o.. t = 3 s ,v = :1.: m s': t = : s ,v = :..A m s': t = 1 s ,v = ?.. m s': t = B s ,v = A.> m s': t = > s ,v = 1.B m s': t = A s ,v = 3 m s':

The values of velocity sho%n above are "robably more accurate than those %hich you obtained but yours should be a""ro(imately e9ual to these. If they are %ildly different you have "robably not ta&en into account the scales on the #ra"h a(es %hen estimatin# #radients. $our #ra"hs should loo& a""ro(imately li&e those above. ote that the choice of scale in the t%o lo%er #ra"hs ma&es the %hole of the #ra"h s"ace available for the #ra"h. The #ra"hs are not cro%ded into one corner. When dra%in# #ra"hs the choice of scale is im"ortant if you are

:.

to dra% the #ra"hs as accurately as "ossible. These t%o velocity'time #ra"hs above are very im"ortant ones. 7ra"h o.: is ty"ical of uniformly accelerated motion in %hich the velocity chan#es at a constant rate. 7ra"h o.. re"resents a 9uarter cycle of sim"le harmonic motion the motion ty"ical of a mass oscillatin# on s"rin#. 7ra"h o.. %ould re"resent the motion from the mid'%ay "osition to one of the e(treme "ositions. ote that at the e(treme "osition the velocity is Dero. $ou may li&e to dra% the "osition'time and velocity'time #ra"hs for a %hole cycle of motion.

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A A selection of "osition'time #ra"hs %hich you have already seen is sho%n belo%. 4ra% s&etch #ra"hs of the corres"ondin# velocity'time #ra"hs in the s"aces "rovided. ote that "rovision is made for both "ositive and ne#ative values of velocity corres"ondin# to t%o o""osite directions of motion.

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

:B

A Since only s&etch #ra"hs %ere re9uired your #ra"hs %ill not be e(actly the same as those sho%n belo% but they should sho% the same #eneral features. If there are maEor differences loo& carefully at ho% the #radient of the "osition'time #ra"h chan#es and in "articular %hether it is "ositive or ne#ative rememberin# that a "ositive #radient slo"es u" to the ri#ht and a ne#ative #radient slo"es do%n to the ri#ht.

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I T+-HU4+ $ou should no% be able to dra% a velocity'time #ra"h by e(aminin# a "osition'time #ra"h. $ou should also learn to construct a "osition'time #ra"h by e(aminin# and analysin# a velocity'time #ra"h. The follo%in# 9uestions %ill sho% ho% you can obtain information about "osition from a velocity'time #ra"h. /

The velocity'time #ra"h re"resents the motion of a body %hich is travellin# in a Eum"y fashion %ith a "eriod of constant velocity follo%ed by a "eriod %ith a different constant velocity. (a) What is the distance travelled in the first B seconds@ Ans..... (b) What is the distance travelled in the interval of time t = B s to t = 2 s@ Ans..... (c) What is the distance travelled in the interval of time t = 3 s to t = 2 s@ Ans..... (d) What is the distance travelled in the interval of time t = 3 s to t = :2 s@ Ans..... o% loo& bac& at these ans%ers and see ho% they relate to the area under the #ra"h for the "articular time interval. 56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

:A

(a)

2 m. The body travels at a velocity of . ms': for B sec. The distance travelled is (. B) = 2. ote that this is the area under the #ra"h bet%een the times t = 3 and t = B s. This area is sho%n shaded in the fi#ure.

(b)

:. m. 4urin# this ne(t B s "eriod the body is travellin# at 1 ms': and so the distance travelled is (1 B) = :.. !nce a#ain note that this corres"onds to the area under the #ra"h for the time interval t = B to t = 2. .3 m. This is of course Eust the sum of the "revious t%o ans%ers. >3 m. This is the total area under the #ra"h obtained by addin# u" all the rectan#ular areas corres"ondin# to the various time intervals.
(. B) + (1 B) + (: .) + (. .) + (1 .) + (B .) + (> .) = >3

(c) (d)

This 9uestion sho%s ho% the distance travelled in a "articular time interval can be easily calculated from the velocity 'time #ra"h or measured as the area under the #ra"h.

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The #ra"hs re"resent the motions of . bodies A and ,. In both cases the bodies are )s"eedin# u"). A travels %ith a Eer&y motion %ith its velocity increasin# in ste"s. The velocity of , increases smoothly. It is useful to com"are the t%o motions by means of the follo%in# 9uestions.

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (#)

What is the velocity of body A in the time interval t = 3 s to t = . s@ What distance is travelled by body A in the time interval t = 3 s to t = . s@ What is the avera#e velocity of body , in the time interval t = 3 s to t = . s@ What distance is travelled by body , in the time interval t = 3 s to t = . s@ What distance is travelled by body A in the time interval t = 3 s to t = 2 s@ What is the avera#e velocity of body , in the time interval t = 3 s to t = 2 s@ What distance is travelled by body , in the time interval t = 3 s to t = 2 s@

Ans..... Ans..... Ans..... Ans..... Ans..... Ans..... Ans.....

o% dra% the strai#ht line #ra"h for , on to" of #ra"h A. Ma&e a comment about ho% %ell #ra"h A #ives an a""ro(imate descri"tion of the motion of body ,.

o% dra% in the #ra"h s"ace for , a #ra"h %ith smaller )ste"s and stairs) %hich #ives an even better a""ro(imation to ,Is motion. (Thin& about the effect of ma&in# the ste"s smaller and smaller.) (h) Will the a""ro(imation to #ra"h , be better and better as the ste"s #et smaller and smaller@ (i) Ans..... If the velocity'time #ra"h for a body %ere not a sim"le strai#ht line but %ere curved could you still a""ro(imate to it by a ste""ed #ra"h@

Ans..... 5omment on ho% you %ould estimate distance travelled in a "articular time interval from this curved velocity'time #ra"h.

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

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2 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (#)

: ms':. This is read directly from the #ra"h. . m. : ms':. 4urin# the . s interval the velocity of , increases uniformly from 3 to . ms':. The avera#e value is : ms':. . m. This is Eust (avera#e velocity)(time ta&en) 1. m. This is the area under the ste"s in the #ra"h for the 2 s time interval. B ms':. 4urin# the 2 s interval the velocity of , increases uniformly from 3 to 2 ms ':. The avera#e value is B ms':. 1. m. This is Eust (avera#e velocity)(time ta&en)

When the t%o #ra"hs are su"er"osed it is readily seen that #ra"h for A re"resents a motion in %hich the velocity is increasin# but in ste"s rather than the steady increase sho%n by ,. At some instants the velocity of A is #reater than that of , at other times less. !verall A and , travel a""ro(imately the same distance in any "articular time interval.

(h)

The #ra"h %ith smaller ste"s is 9uite clearly a better a""ro(imation to ,Is motion. ,y ma&in# the ste"s smaller and smaller the a""ro(imation can be made closer and closer.

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(i)

As sho%n in the fi#ure a curved #ra"h can also be a""ro(imated to by a ste""ed #ra"h.

The distance travelled in a "articular time interval can be found a""ro(imately by countin# u" the rectan#ular areas under the ste""ed curve. The accuracy of this "rocess can be im"roved if the ste"s are made smaller.

If numerical values of v and t are &no%n, sim"le com"uter "ro#rams can be used to "roduce a table of distance travelled at various times or a "osition'time #ra"h. If an al#ebraic relation bet%een v and t is &no%n the area under the curve and hence distance travelled can be evaluated usin# calculus and an al#ebraic relation bet%een ( and t can be derived.

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I T+-HU4+ We must no% introduce the idea of acceleration, somethin# familiar to you as a )s"eedin#'u") of a car. Acceleration is best defined as the rate at %hich velocity is chan#in# %ith time. In rou#h terms you may thin& of it as the amount by %hich the velocity chan#es "er second. The follo%in# 9uestions are concerned %ith sim"le ideas relatin# to acceleration.

A55+H+-ATI! ? The table belo% is a record of the velocity of a car (v ms': ) at times t s. The car %as travellin# initially at a velocity of .3 ms': t v 3 .3 : .3 . .3 1 .. B .B > .A A .A / .A 2 .1 ? .3 :3 :/

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Is the car acceleratin# at the instant t = : s@ Ans..... Is the car acceleratin# at the instant t = B s@ Ans..... Is the car acceleratin# at the instant t = 2 s@ Ans..... Is the car acceleratin# at the instant t = ? s@ Ans..... If, in the later "art of its Eourney, the car continued chan#in# its s"eed at the same rate, at %hat instant of time %ould its s"eed be > ms':@ Ans.....

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

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? (a) (b) (c) o. The data indicates that the car travels %ith a constant velocity durin# the time interval bet%een t = 3 and t = .. The acceleration of the car is Dero. $es. The velocity of the car is chan#in# bet%een t = . and t = >. A chan#in# velocity is an acceleration. $es. $ou may have ans%ered )no) here,sayin# that since the velocity of the car %as decreasin# it %as )deceleratin#) and not )acceleratin#). Technically the term )acceleration) im"lies a chan#in# velocity %hether increasin# or decreasin#. $es. The s"eed is chan#in# at the instant t = ? s. t = :B s. The data indicates that in the later "art of the Eourney the velocity of the car is decreasin# by 1 ms': each second. This chan#e in velocity "er second is called the acceleration. In calculatin# the ans%er to this 9uestion you %ould have been ma&in# use (maybe unconsciously) of this 9uantity, reducin# the s"eed by 1 ms': for each e(tra second of time beyond t = :3.

(d) (e)

I T+-HU4+

T%o #ra"hs discussed earlier illustrate t%o cases of accelerated motion. In , the velocity is increasin# by : ms': each second. The acceleration is : metre "er second "er second and this is %ritten as : ms'.. The acceleration is the #radient of this velocity'time #ra"h. In 5 the velocity is at first chan#in# slo%ly. It increases by : ms': in the first B seconds. It increases by :.> ms': in the ne(t B'second time interval bet%een t = A and t = 2 At a later sta#e the velocity chan#es more ra"idly as indicated by the increasin# #radient of the #ra"h. In , the acceleration is constant, in 5 it is increasin#.

$ou may have detected a similarity bet%een this and an earlier discussion and realised that the instantaneous acceleration at a "articular instant is the #radient of the velocity'time #ra"h at the "oint corres"ondin# to that instant of time. !nce a#ain #ra"hs "rovide a useful "ictorial re"resentation of motion.

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:3 A very im"ortant e(am"le of motion %ith constant acceleration is the motion of a body such as a ball thro%n in the air.The table belo% sho%s for various times t s the "osition ( m and velocity v ms': of a ball thro%n vertically u"%ards from a "osition ( = 3 %ith a s"eed of :3 ms':.

t ( v

3 3 J:3

3.. :.2 J2

3.B 1.. JA

3.A B.. JB

3.2 B.2 J.

:.3 >.3 3

:.. B.2 '.

:.B B.. 'B

:.A 1.. 'A

:.2 :.2 '2

..3 3 ':3

In the s"aces belo% dra% the "osition'time and velocity'time #ra"hs.

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

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$ou should study these #ra"hs carefully and note their features. Hoo& first at the ('t #ra"h. ote that %hile the ball is risin# it travels a lar#e distance durin# the first second,less durin# the ne(t second and so on. While it is risin# it is slo%in# do%n. After it reaches its hi#hest "osition it be#ins to fall and s"eed'u" travellin# a lar#er distance in each successive second. Hoo& no% at the v't #ra"h. The velocity is continually decreasin#, and this may seem inconsistent %ith the fact that the ball first slo%s do%n and then s"eeds u"K This is a very im"ortant "oint and one %hich you should concentrate on. ote that the ('t #ra"h is dra%n so that ( re"resents the hei#ht above some fi(ed "oint. This defines the u"%ards direction as the "ositive direction. 5onsistent %ith this, the velocity is ta&en as "ositive for u"%ards motion and ne#ative for do%n%ards motion. Hoo&in# no% at the v't #ra"h you see that at first v is lar#e and "ositive, it decreases becomin# Dero %hen the ball reaches its ma(imum hei#ht, and then becomes ne#ative, reachin# lar#e ne#ative values to%ards the end of its fli#ht. The im"ortant thin# to realise is that velocity has both a si#n ("ositive or ne#ative) %hile s"eed %hich is the ma#nitude of velocity is al%ays "ositive. So in this case the s"eed decreases and then increases %hile the velocity is continually decreasin# (becomin# more ne#ative). We should no% e(tend this reasonin# to the si#n of acceleration. -emember that acceleration is a measure of chan#e in velocity "er second. In this case since the velocity is decreasin# the acceleration is ne#ative. ote that the si#ns of velocity and acceleration are )tied to) our initial choice of the )u") direction as bein# the "ositive direction. 6ad %e ori#inally chosen the )do%n) direction as bein# "ositive all the si#ns in the "recedin# discussion %ould be reversed.

.B

:: The #ra"hs in the "revious 9uestion can be re"resented by e9uations and these are commonly used for calculations involvin# motion %ith constant acceleration. !T+< ever use these e9uations for situations in %hich the acceleration is not constant. It is a common error for students to a""ly familiar and %ell'used e9uations to situations for %hich they are not a""ro"riate. 4! IT fall into this tra". The e9uations are<
: ( = vi t + a t . .

vf = vi + a t

%here vi is the initial velocity at t = 3 and vf is the final velocity at the instant of time t. a is the acceleration. $ou should com"are these e9uations %ith your #ra"hs and ans%er the follo%in# 9uestions. (a) (b) (c) Usin# the values vi =:3 ms': and vf = B ms': at t = 3.A s calculate the value of a. Ans Use this value of a in calculatin# the "osition and velocity of the body at t = 3.> s. Ans 5alculate the time at %hich the body "asses a#ain throu#h this same "osition. Is your ans%er consistent %ith the #ra"h on the "revious "a#e@ Ans What is the velocity of the body at this instant@ Is your ans%er consistent %ith the #ra"h@ Ans

(d)

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! . :. A ball is released from rest at the to" of a buildin# at time t = 3. Treatin# the do%n%ard direction as "ositive com"lete the follo%in# table "ayin# "articular attention to the si#ns. ts (m v ms': a ms'. 56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! . 3 3.> :.3 :.>

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:: (a)

;rom the e9uation connectin# vi, vf, a and t it is easily seen that

a=

vf ' vi B ' :3 = = ' :3 ms '. t 3.A

ote the ne#ative si#n of a as discussed earlier. This value of a is very a""ro(imately the acceleration e("erienced by bodies fallin# at the surface of the earth. A more accurate value of the acceleration due to #ravity is ?.2 ms'.. (b) The "osition at t = 3.> s is #iven by<

:. : . v=( i t + ta = (:3)(3.>)J (':3)(3.>) =1./>m . .

The velocity at t = 3.> s is #iven by<
v f = v i + at = :3 J (':3) (3.>) = 5 ms ':

(c)

t = :.> s. The body "asses throu#h the "osition ( = 1./> m t%ice, once %hile risin# and a#ain %hile fallin#. The instants of time for these events are both #iven by the e9uation
: 1./> = :3t J (':3) t . .

from %hich it follo%s that

t . . t + 3./> = 3 (t ' 3.>) (t ' :.>) = 3

t = 3.> s t = :.> s Ins"ection of the #ra"h %ill verify that these t%o values corres"ond to ( = 1./> m. (d) '> ms':. This follo%s directly from the e9uation

vf = :3 J (':3)(:.>)
This is readily seen on the v't #ra"h. :. The sim"le formulae for constant acceleration #ives< ts (m v ms': a ms'. 3 3 3 J:3 3.> J:..> J>.3 J:3 :.3 J>.3 J:3.3 J:3 :.> J::..> J:>.3 J:3

ote that the velocity and acceleration %hich are both in a do%n%ard direction are "ositive.

.A

:1

T%o model rail%ay trac&s run strai#ht and "arallel side by side. 0arious )trials) of t%o model en#ines I and II %ere carried out. The distances of the en#ines from a fi(ed line (ta&en as ( = 3) durin# the trials (A';) are sho%n in the "osition'time #ra"hs belo%.

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (#)

In %hich trial or trials (A';) are the en#ines travellin# in o""osite directions@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) is en#ine II stationary@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) do the en#ines "ass one another@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) does the distance bet%een the en#ines remain constant durin# the trial@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) are the en#ines travellin# %ith the same velocity@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) are the en#ines travellin# %ith the same s"eed@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) is en#ine II travellin# faster than en#ine I@ Ans.....

56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI!

./

:1 (a) 5 and +. In 5, (I is decreasin# i.e. I is movin# to%ards the fi(ed (( = 3) line %hile (II is increasin# i.e. II is movin# a%ay from the line. I has a ne#ative velocity and II has a "ositive velocity. In +, I is movin# a%ay from the line and II to%ards it. I has a "ositive velocity and II has a ne#ative velocity. , and ;. In both cases the "osition of II remains constant. A, 5, + and ;. In all of these cases the #ra"hs cross indicatin# that at some instant of time (I = (II i.e. the en#ines are level %ith one another. , and 4. (I ' (II re"resented by the vertical distance bet%een the #ra"hs remains constant. , and 4. This is essentially the same 9uestion as 4. If the en#ines are travellin# at the same velocity the distance bet%een them %ill remain constant.The case , is a trivial one %here the velocity of both en#ines is Dero. Another %ay of loo&in# at the 9uestion is that the #radient of both #ra"hs is the same (in ma#nitude and si#n). ,, 4 and +. Since s"eed is the ma#nitude of velocity, , and 4 are correct res"onses. In trial + the en#ines are travellin# in o""osite directions %ith the same s"eed since the ma#nitude of the #radients of the t%o #ra"hs are e9ual. 5. This is the only case in %hich the ma#nitude of the #radient of the II #ra"h is #reater than that of I.

(b) (c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(#)

.2

:B The "osition'time #ra"hs belo% relate to another set of trials %ith the model en#ines.

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (#) (h)

In %hich trial(s) do the en#ines "ass each other@ Ans..... Mar& on the time a(is of the #ra"h(s) the instants at %hich these "assin#s occur. Habel these "oints %ith the letter P. Mar& on the time a(is of the #ra"h(s) the instants at %hich the t%o en#ines have the same velocity. Habel these "oints %ith the letter 0. In %hich trial(s) is the acceleration of II al%ays ne#ative@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) is the acceleration of II al%ays "ositive@ Ans..... In %hich trial(s) does the acceleration chan#e si#n@ Ans..... Mar& on the time a(is of the #ra"h(s) the instant at %hich this chan#e of si#n occurs. Habel the "oint %ith the letter A. In %hich trial(s) is the s"eed of II al%ays #reater than the s"eed of I@

Ans..... 56+58 $!U- A SW+-S T! T6IS *U+STI! .

.?

:B

(a),(b). A, , and 5. Passin# occurs %hen (I =(II, de"icted by the "oints of intersection of the #ra"hs. The instants at %hich these "assin#s occur are labelled P on the time a(is. (c) -emember that the velocity is re"resented by the #radient of the ('t #ra"h. The #ra"hs have the same #radient at the instants labelled 0. The #radient of #ra"h II is indicated by the tan#ent lines. A. In this trial the velocity of II is al%ays decreasin#, in the early "art of the trial it is "ositive, it decreases to Dero and then becomes ne#ative. The acceleration is therefore ne#ative. , and 4. The #radient of #ra"h II is continually increasin# in these t%o trials.

(d)

(e)

(f),(#) 5. The #radient of #ra"h II is at first "ositive, it decreases to Dero and then becomes increasin#ly ne#ative (turnin# do%n%ards). At a certain "oint it be#ins to become less ne#ative (it be#ins to turn u"%ards. The instant of time corres"ondin# to this "oint is mar&ed A. At times before this the acceleration is ne#ative. After it the accelerations "ositive. (h) 4. At all times the #radient of #ra"h II is #reater than that of I.

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5!MM+ TS