RAFFLES INSTITUTION 2015

Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Tutorial

2 KINEMATICS

H2 PHYSICS

9646

Note: Unless otherwise stated in the question, take acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.81 m s -2

Self - Check Questions

S1

Define the terms displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration, and state whether they are
scalar or vector quantities.

S2

State the significance of the slope and/or the area under the graphs of
(a) displacement time
(b) velocity time, and
(c) acceleration time.

S3

Derive the equations of motion and state the conditions necessary for these equations to be
valid.

S4

Describe qualitatively the motion of an object falling in a uniform gravitational field with air
resistance. Sketch the displacement time, velocity time and acceleration time graphs
for such an object.

S5

Describe what is meant by projectile motion and state the assumptions that are made when
analyzing projectile motion.

S6

State and explain the meaning of the terms trajectory and range.

S7

For projectile motion in the absence of air resistance, state what happens to
(a) the vertical component of velocity at the maximum height, and
(b) the horizontal component of velocity at all points throughout the flight.

S8

Describe the effects of air resistance on the trajectory of projectile motion.

Self - Check Questions

1

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Self - Practice Questions

2.

1.

3.

Answers
1. D
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. A

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

A ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial speed of 20 m s1. Calculate

(a)

the time taken for the ball to return to the thrower,

(b)

the maximum height reached.

[4.1 s ; 20 m]

An aeroplane, flying horizontally with a speed of 140 m s1 at a constant height of 300 m

above the ground, releases a package. Calculate
(a)

the time taken for the package to reach the ground,

(b)

the horizontal distance travelled by the package.

[7.8 s ; 1.1 km]

A shell is fired from a gun with a speed of 45 m s1 at an angle of 30o to the horizontal.
45 m s1
h
30o
R
(a)

(b)

Calculate, for the shell, the initial values of

(i)

the horizontal component of the velocity,

(ii)

the vertical component of the velocity.

Ignoring air resistance, determine

(i)

the maximum vertical height h reached by the shell,

(ii)

the time of flight of the shell for its entire trajectory,

(iii
)

the horizontal range R of the shell.

[39.0 m s1 ; 22.5 m s1 ; 25.8 m ; 4.6 s ; 179 m]

Discussion Questions
1. The figure is a graph of acceleration of a body moving on the x-axis. Sketch the graphs of its
velocity and displacement as functions of time, if x = v = 0 when t = 0.

RAFFLES INSTITUTION 2015

Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

a / m s-2

t/s

v / m s-1

t/s

s/m

t/s

2. A car starts from rest with a constant acceleration of 1.0 m s 2 due north at the moment that a
lorry with a constant velocity of 20 m s 1 due north, passes beside it. Sketch velocity-time graphs
for the lorry and the car using the same axes, and use them to find the time at which the car
overtakes the lorry, and the change of displacement of the car at that time.
[40 s, 800 m]

3. As a motorist travelling at 13 m s1 approaches a traffic light, it turns red when he is 25 m away

from the stop-line. His reaction time (i.e. the interval between seeing the red light and applying
the brakes) is 0.70 s, and the condition of the road and his tyres is such that the car cannot slow
down at a rate of more than 4.5 m s 2. If he brakes fully, how far from the stop-line will he stop,
and on which side of it?

RAFFLES INSTITUTION 2015

Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

[2.9 m]
4. A hot air balloon is travelling vertically upward at a constant speed of 5.0 m s-1. When it is
21.0 m above the ground, a package is released from the balloon.
(a) How long after being released is the package in the air?
(b) What is the velocity of the package just before it hits the ground?
[2.64 s, 20.9 m s-1]
5. A parachuter jumps from a hovering helicopter at an altitude of 1.5 km. For the first 10 s, he falls
freely, and then he pulls the ripcord. The parachute opens and he falls with an upward
acceleration of 20 m s2 until the downward speed is 5 m s 1. Thereafter, he falls at a constant
velocity. How long does the entire trip take?
[169 s]
6. [N05/II/1]
A student wishes to measure the length of a metal plate. The only equipment available is an
electronic timer controlled by a light beam and a rod 1.00 m long.
Using the rod, the student positions the plate so that its lower edge is 1.00 m above the light
beam, as shown in the following figure.

The metal plate is released and the timer starts to record as the light beam is cut. The total time
for the plate to pass through the beam is 0.052 s. The student is told that the local value for the
acceleration of free fall is 9.79 m s-2.
(a) (i)
(ii)

Show that the time for the bottom edge of the plate to reach the light beam is 0.452 s.
Calculate the length of the metal plate, giving your answer to an appropriate number
of significant figures.

(b) Suggest two reasons why the time for the bottom edge of the plate to reach the light beam
may differ from that quoted in (a)(i).
[0.24 m]
7. [N03/III/1(part)]
The following graph shows the variation with time t of the velocity v of a ball from the moment it
is thrown with a velocity of 26 m s-1 vertically upwards.

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

(a) State the time at which the ball reaches its maximum height.
(b) Just after the ball leaves the throwers hand, it has a downward acceleration of
approximately 20 m s-2. Explain how this is possible.
(c) State the time at which the acceleration is g. Explain why the acceleration has this value only
at this particular time.
(d) Sketch an acceleration-time graph for the motion. Show the value of g on the acceleration
axis.
(e) Explain why, for all real vertical throws, the time taken to reach maximum height must be
shorter than the time taken to return to the starting point.
[1.76 s, 1.76 s]

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

8. A ball is projected at an angle of 60 to the horizon. Calculate the fraction of kinetic energy left at
the highest point of its motion. Ignore air resistance.
[0.25]

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Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

9. [modified from N2008/II/1]

A stone of mass 130 g is thrown horizontally from the top of the cliff of height 32 m. The stone
enters the sea with a speed of 34 m s-1 at an angle to the horizon. Assume that air resistance
is negligible.
Determine, for the stone as it hits the sea,
(a) the vertical component of the velocity of the stone,
(b) the angle to the horizontal of the stones path.
[25 m s-1, 47.4]
10. A dive bomber, diving at an angle of 600 with the vertical, releases a bomb at an altitude of
600 m. The bomb hits the ground 5.0 s after being released.
(a) What is the speed of the bomber?
(b) How far did the bomb travel horizontally during its flight?
(c) What is the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the bomb just before striking the
ground?
[190 m s1, 830 m, 220 m s1 at an angle of 41 below the horizontal]
11. Consider an object projected from the ground with speed u at an angle of upwards. It reaches
a maximum height of H at tH and hits the ground at time t.
(a) Obtain an expression in terms of u and for
(i) the objects time of flight t,
(ii) the time taken for the object to reach its maximum height tH and
(iii) the objects horizontal displacement R.
(b) Using your answer in (a)(iii), show that a maximum horizontal displacement is achieved
o
when 45 .

Challenging Question
1. A cannon fires a shot at an angle of up a plane inclined to the horizontal at an angle as
shown. In terms of , at what angle , should the shot be fired in order to maximize the distance
s up the inclined plane? Explain clearly how you obtain your answer.
[ = /4 /2]

RAFFLES INSTITUTION 2015

Yr 5-6 PHYSICS DEPARTMENT