1-D Kinematics - Lesson 6 - Describing Motion with Equations

Sample Problems and Solutions

Kinematic Equations
Kinematic Equations and Problem-Solving
Kinematic Equations and Free Fall
Sample Problems and Solutions
Kinematic Equations and Graphs

Earlier in Lesson 6, four kinematic equations were introduced and discussed. A useful problemsolving strategy was presented for use with these equations and two examples were given that
illustrated the use of the strategy. Then, the application of the kinematic equations and the
problem-solving strategy to free-fall motion was discussed and illustrated. In this part of Lesson
6, several sample problems will be presented. These problems allow any student of physics to
test their understanding of the use of the four kinematic equations to solve problems involving
the one-dimensional motion of objects. You are encouraged to read each problem and practice
the use of the strategy in the solution of the problem. Then click the button to check the answer
or use the link to view the solution.

Check Your Understanding

1.

An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s for 32.8 s until is finally lifts off the ground. Determine the
distance traveled before takeoff.
See Answer
2

See solution below.

2.

A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly over a time of 5.21 seconds for a distance of 110 m.
Determine the acceleration of the car.
See Answer
See solution below.

3.

Upton Chuck is riding the Giant Drop at Great America. If Upton free falls for 2.60 seconds, what will be his
final velocity and how far will he fall?
See Answer
See solution below.

4.

A race car accelerates uniformly from 18.5 m/s to 46.1 m/s in 2.47 seconds. Determine the acceleration of the
car and the distance traveled.
See Answer
See solution below.

5.

A feather is dropped on the moon from a height of 1.40 meters. The acceleration of gravity on the moon is
1.67 m/s . Determine the time for the feather to fall to the surface of the moon.
See Answer
2

See solution below.

6.

Rocket-powered sleds are used to test the human response to acceleration. If a rocket-powered sled is
accelerated to a speed of 444 m/s in 1.83 seconds, then what is the acceleration and what is the distance that the
sled travels?
See Answer
See solution below.

7.

A bike accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 7.10 m/s over a distance of 35.4 m. Determine the
acceleration of the bike.

See Answer
See solution below.

8.

An engineer is designing the runway for an airport. Of the planes that will use the airport, the lowest
acceleration rate is likely to be 3 m/s . The takeoff speed for this plane will be 65 m/s. Assuming this minimum
acceleration, what is the minimum allowed length for the runway?
See Answer
2

See solution below.

9.

A car traveling at 22.4 m/s skids to a stop in 2.55 s. Determine the skidding distance of the car (assume
uniform acceleration).
See Answer
See solution below.

10.

A kangaroo is capable of jumping to a height of 2.62 m. Determine the takeoff speed of the kangaroo.
See Answer
See solution below.

11.

If Michael Jordan has a vertical leap of 1.29 m, then what is his takeoff speed and his hang time (total time to
move upwards to the peak and then return to the ground)?
See Answer
See solution below.

12.

A bullet leaves a rifle with a muzzle velocity of 521 m/s. While accelerating through the barrel of the rifle, the
bullet moves a distance of 0.840 m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet (assume a uniform acceleration).
See Answer
See solution below.

13.

A baseball is popped straight up into the air and has a hang-time of 6.25 s. Determine the height to which the
ball rises before it reaches its peak. (Hint: the time to rise to the peak is one-half the total hang-time.)
See Answer
See solution below.

14.

The observation deck of tall skyscraper 370 m above the street. Determine the time required for a penny to
free fall from the deck to the street below.
See Answer
See solution below.

15.

A bullet is moving at a speed of 367 m/s when it embeds into a lump of moist clay. The bullet penetrates for a
distance of 0.0621 m. Determine the acceleration of the bullet while moving into the clay. (Assume a uniform
acceleration.)
See Answer
See solution below.

16.

A stone is dropped into a deep well and is heard to hit the water 3.41 s after being dropped. Determine the
depth of the well.
See Answer
See solution below.

17.

It was once recorded that a Jaguar left skid marks that were 290 m in length. Assuming that the Jaguar skidded
to a stop with a constant acceleration of -3.90 m/s , determine the speed of the Jaguar before it began to skid.
See Answer
2

See solution below.

18.

A plane has a takeoff speed of 88.3 m/s and requires 1365 m to reach that speed. Determine the acceleration
of the plane and the time required to reach this speed.
See Answer
See solution below.

19.

A dragster accelerates to a speed of 112 m/s over a distance of 398 m. Determine the acceleration (assume
uniform) of the dragster.

20.

With what speed in miles/hr (1 m/s = 2.23 mi/hr) must an object be thrown to reach a height of 91.5 m
(equivalent to one football field)? Assume negligible air resistance.

Solutions to Above Problems

1.)
Given:
a = +3.2 m/s2

Find:
t = 32.8 s

vi = 0 m/s

d = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0 m/s)*(32.8 s)+ 0.5*(3.20 m/s2)*(32.8 s)2
d = 1720 m
Return to Problem 1

2.)
Given:
d = 110 m

Find:
t = 5.21 s

vi = 0 m/s

a = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
110 m = (0 m/s)*(5.21 s)+ 0.5*(a)*(5.21 s)2
110 m = (13.57 s2)*a
a = (110 m)/(13.57 s2)
a = 8.10 m/ s2
Return to Problem 2

3.)
Given:
a = -9.8 m

Find:
t = 2.6 s

vi = 0 m/s

d = ??
vf = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0 m/s)*(2.60 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(2.60 s)2
d = -33.1 m (- indicates direction)
vf = vi + a*t
vf = 0 + (-9.8 m/s2)*(2.60 s)
vf = -25.5 m/s (- indicates direction)
Return to Problem 3

4.)
Given:
vi = 18.5 m/s

Find:
vf = 46.1 m/s

t = 2.47 s

a = (Delta v)/t
a = (46.1 m/s - 18.5 m/s)/(2.47 s)
a = 11.2 m/s2
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (18.5 m/s)*(2.47 s)+ 0.5*(11.2 m/s2)*(2.47 s)2
d = 45.7 m + 34.1 m
d = 79.8 m

d = ??
a = ??

(Note: the d can also be calculated using the equation v f2 = vi2 + 2*a*d)
Return to Problem 4
5.)
Given:
vi = 0 m/s

Find:
d = -1.40 m

a = -1.67 m/s2

t = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
-1.40 m = (0 m/s)*(t)+ 0.5*(-1.67 m/s2)*(t)2
-1.40 m = 0+ (-0.835 m/s2)*(t)2
(-1.40 m)/(-0.835 m/s2) = t2
1.68 s2 = t2
t = 1.29 s
Return to Problem 5

6.)
Given:
vi = 0 m/s

Find:
vf = 44 m/s

t = 1.80 s

a = ??
d = ??

a = (Delta v)/t
a = (444 m/s - 0 m/s)/(1.83 s)
a = 243 m/s2
d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0 m/s)*(1.83 s)+ 0.5*(243 m/s2)*(1.83 s)2
d = 0 m + 406 m
d = 406 m
(Note: the d can also be calculated using the equation v f2 = vi2 + 2*a*d)
Return to Problem 6
7.)
Given:
vi = 0 m/s

Find:
vf = 7.10 m/s

d = 35.4 m

a = ??

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(7.10 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(35.4 m)
50.4 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (70.8 m)*a
(50.4 m2/s2)/(70.8 m) = a
a = 0.712 m/s2
Return to Problem 7

8.)
Given:

Find:

vi = 0 m/s

vf = 65 m/s

a = 3 m/s2
d = ??

v = vi + 2*a*d
(65 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(3 m/s2)*d
2
f

4225 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (6 m/s2)*d

(4225 m2/s2)/(6 m/s2) = d
d = 704 m
Return to Problem 8
9.)
Given:
vi = 22.4 m/s

Find:
vf = 0 m/s

t = 2.55 s

d = ??

d = (vi + vf)/2 *t
d = (22.4 m/s + 0 m/s)/2 *2.55 s
d = (11.2 m/s)*2.55 s
d = 28.6 m
Return to Problem 9

10.)
Given:
a = -9.8 m/s2

Find:
vf = 0 m/s

d = 2.62 m

vi = ??

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(0 m/s) = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(2.62 m)
2

0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 51.35 m2/s2

51.35 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 7.17 m/s
Return to Problem 10
11.)
Given:
a = -9.8 m/s2

Find:
vf = 0 m/s

d = 1.29 m

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(1.29 m)
0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 25.28 m2/s2
25.28 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 5.03 m/s
To find hang time, find the time to the peak and then double it.
vf = vi + a*t
0 m/s = 5.03 m/s + (-9.8 m/s2)*tup

vi = ??
t = ??

-5.03 m/s = (-9.8 m/s2)*tup

(-5.03 m/s)/(-9.8 m/s2) = tup
tup = 0.513 s
hang time = 1.03 s
Return to Problem 11

12.)
Given:

Find:

vi = 0 m/s

vf = 521 m/s

d = 0.840 m

a = ??

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(521 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(0.840 m)
271441 m2/s2 = (0 m/s)2 + (1.68 m)*a
(271441 m2/s2)/(1.68 m) = a
a = 1.62*105 m /s2
Return to Problem 12
13.)
Given:

Find:

a = -9.8 m/s2

vf = 0 m/s

t = 3.13 s

d = ??

(NOTE: the time required to move to the peak of the trajectory is one-half the total
hang time - 3.125 s.)
First use: vf = vi + a*t
0 m/s = vi + (-9.8 m/s2)*(3.13 s)
0 m/s = vi - 30.7 m/s
vi = 30.7 m/s (30.674 m/s)
Now use: vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = (30.7 m/s)2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(d)
0 m2/s2 = (940 m2/s2) + (-19.6 m/s2)*d
-940 m2/s2 = (-19.6 m/s2)*d
(-940 m2/s2)/(-19.6 m/s2) = d
d = 48.0 m
Return to Problem 13

14.)
Given:
vi = 0 m/s

Find:
d = -370 m

a = -9.8 m/s2

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
-370 m = (0 m/s)*(t)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(t)2
-370 m = 0+ (-4.9 m/s2)*(t)2

t = ??

(-370 m)/(-4.9 m/s2) = t2

75.5 s2 = t2
t = 8.69 s
Return to Problem 14
15.)
Given:
vi = 367 m/s

Find:
vf = 0 m/s

d = 0.0621 m

a = ??

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(0 m/s)2 = (367 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(0.0621 m)
0 m2/s2 = (134689 m2/s2) + (0.1242 m)*a
-134689 m2/s2 = (0.1242 m)*a
(-134689 m2/s2)/(0.1242 m) = a
a = -1.08*106 m /s2
(The - sign indicates that the bullet slowed down.)
Return to Problem 15
16.)
Given:
a = -9.8 m/s2

Find:
t = 3.41 s

vi = 0 m/s

d = ??

d = vi*t + 0.5*a*t2
d = (0 m/s)*(3.41 s)+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(3.41 s)2
d = 0 m+ 0.5*(-9.8 m/s2)*(11.63 s2)
d = -57.0 m
(NOTE: the - sign indicates direction)
Return to Problem 16

17.)
Given:
a = -3.90 m/s2

Find:
vf = 0 m/s

d = 290 m

vi = ??

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(0 m/s) = vi2 + 2*(-3.90 m/s2)*(290 m)
2

0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 2262 m2/s2

2262 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 47.6 m /s
Return to Problem 17
18.)
Given:

Find:

vi = 0 m/s

vf = 88.3 m/s

d = 1365 m

a = ??
t = ??

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(88.3 m/s) = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(1365 m)
2

7797 m2/s2 = (0 m2/s2) + (2730 m)*a

7797 m2/s2 = (2730 m)*a
(7797 m2/s2)/(2730 m) = a
a = 2.86 m/s2
vf = vi + a*t
88.3 m/s = 0 m/s + (2.86 m/s2)*t
(88.3 m/s)/(2.86 m/s2) = t
t = 30. 8 s
Return to Problem 18

19.)
Given:
vi = 0 m/s

Find:
vf = 112 m/s

d = 398 m

a = ??

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d

(112 m/s) = (0 m/s)2 + 2*(a)*(398 m)
2

12544 m2/s2 = 0 m2/s2 + (796 m)*a

12544 m2/s2 = (796 m)*a
(12544 m2/s2)/(796 m) = a
a = 15.8 m/s2
Return to Problem 19

20.)
Given:
a = -9.8 m/s2

Find:
vf = 0 m/s

d = 91.5 m

First, find speed in units of m/s:

vf2 = vi2 + 2*a*d
(0 m/s)2 = vi2 + 2*(-9.8 m/s2)*(91.5 m)
0 m2/s2 = vi2 - 1793 m2/s2
1793 m2/s2 = vi2
vi = 42.3 m/s
Now convert from m/s to mi/hr:
vi = 42.3 m/s * (2.23 mi/hr)/(1 m/s)
vi = 94.4 mi/hr
Return to Problem 20

vi = ??
t = ??