Solution for General Physics (phys-1011) worksheet one

1. A rectangular building lot is 100.0 ft by 150.0 ft. Determine the area of this lot
in m2 with appropriate significant figure?

The area of a rectangle is just the product of its length and width. So, the area of the
lot is:
A = (100.0 ft) (150.0 ft) = 1.500 × 104 ft2
To convert this to units of m2 we can use the relation

1 m = 3.281 ft

but the conversion factor needs to be applied twice so as to cancel “ft2 ” and get “m2 ”. We
write:
1.500 x 104 ft2 = (1.500 x 104 ft2) 1m2/3.281 ft = 1.393 x 103 m2

The area of the lot is 1.393 × 103 m2 .

2. The Earth is approximately a sphere of radius 6.37 × 106 m. (a) What is its
circumference in kilometers? (b) What is its surface area in square
k i l o m e t e r s ? (c) What is its volume in cubic kilometers?

(a) The circumference of the sphere of radius R, i.e. the distance around any “great circle”
is C = 2πR. Using the given value of R we find:

C = 2πR = 2π (6.37 × 106 m) = 4.00 × 107 m.

To convert this to kilometers, use the relation 1 km = 103 m as a conversion factor:

1 km
C = 4.00 × 107 m = (4.00 × 107 m) · = 4.00 × 104 km
103 m

The circumference of the Earth is 4.00 × 104 km.

(b) The surface area of a sphere of radius R is A = 4πR2 . So we get

A = 4πR2 = 4π (6.37 × 106 m)2 = 5.10 × 1014 m2

Again, use 1 km = 103 m but to cancel out the units “m2 ” and replace them with “km2 ” it
must be applied twice:
2
14 2 14 2 1 km
A = 5.10 × 10 m = (5.10 × 10 m ) · 3 = 5.10 × 108 km2
The surface area of the Earth is 5.10 × 108 km2 .
(c) The volume of a sphere of radius R is V = 43 πR3 . So we get

V = 43 πR3 = 43 π (6.37 × 106 m)3 = 1.08 × 1021 m3

Again, use 1 km = 103 m but to cancel out the units “m3 ” and replace them with “km3 ” it
must be applied three times:

3
1 km
V = 1.08 × 1021 m3 = (1.08 × 1021 m3 ) · = 1.08 × 1012 km3

The volume of the Earth is 1.08 × 1012 km3 .

3. One gallon of paint (volume = 3.78 × 10-3 m3 ) covers an area of 25.0 m3 . What
is the thickness of the paint on the wall?

We will assume that the volume which the paint occupies while it is covering the wall is
the same as it has when it is in the can. (There are reasons why this may not be true, but
let’s just do this and proceed.)
The paint on the wall covers an area A and has a thickness τ ; the volume occupied is the
area time the thickness:
V = Aτ .
We have the values of V and A; we just need to solve for τ :

V 3.78 × 10-3 m3
τ = = = 1.51 × 10-4 m.
A 25.0 m2
The thickness is 1.51 × 10-4 m. This quantity can also be expressed as 0.151 mm.

4. A certain brand of house paint claims a coverage of 460 ft2/gl. (a) Express this quantity in
square meters per liter. (b) Express this in SI base units. (c) What is the inverse of the original
quantity, and what is its physical significance?

(a) Use the following relations in forming the conversion factors: 1 m = 3.28 ft and 1000
liter = 264 gal. To get proper cancellation of the units we set it up as:
ft2 ft2 1 m 2 264 gal
460 gal = (460 gal ) · · = 11.3
3.28 ft 1000 L
(b) Even though the units of the answer to part (a) are based on the metric system,
They are not made from the base units of the SI system, which are m, s, and kg.
To make the complete conversion to SI units we need to use the relation 1 m3 = 1000
L. Then we get:
m2 m2 1000 L
11.3 = (11.3 L) · = 1.13 × 104 m-1
L
1 m3
So the coverage can also be expressed (not so meaningfully, perhaps) as 1.13 × 104
m-1 .
(c) The inverse (reciprocal) of the quantity as it was originally expressed is
-1
ft2
460 gal = 2.17 × 10-3 gal
ft2
.
Of course when we take the reciprocal the units in the numerator and denominator also
switch places!
Now, the first expression of the quantity tells us that 460 ft2 are associated with every
gallon, that is, each gallon will provide 460 ft2 of coverage. The new expression tells us that
2.17 × 10-3 gal are associated with every ft2 , that is, to cover one square foot of surface with
paint, one needs 2.17 × 10-3 gallons of it.
5. Vector A has magnitude 5.0m and is directed east. Vector B has magnitude 4.0m and
is directed 35o west of north. What are (a) the magnitude and direction of A + B? (b)
what are the magnitude and direction of B – A? (c) draw a vector diagram for each
combination. (d) Put A + B and A – B in unit vector form.

(a) The vectors are shown in Fig. above. (On the axes are shown the common directions N,
S, E, W and also the x and y axes; “North” is the positive y direction, “East” is the
positive x direction, etc.) Expressing the vectors in i, j notation, we have:
a = (5.00 m)i

and
b = -(4.00 m) sin 35◦ +(4.00 m) cos 35c irc
= (-2.29 m)i + (3.28 m)j

So if vector c is the sum of vectors a and b then:

cx = ax + bx = (5.00 m) + (-2.29 m) = 2.71 m

cy = ay + by = (0.00 m) + (3.28 m) = 3.28 m

The magnitude of c is

c= c2x + c2y = (2.71 m)2 + (3.28 m)2 = 4.25 m

If the direction of c, as measured counterclockwise from the +x axis is θ then

cy 3.28 m
tan θ = cx = = 1.211
2.71 m
cx
θ = tan-1 (1.211) = 50.4◦
and since vector c must lie in the first quadrant this angle is correct. We note that this angle
is
90.0◦ - 50.4◦ = 39.6◦

just shy of the +y axis (the “North” direction). So we can also express the direction by
saying it is “39.6◦ East of North”.

Figure: (a) Vector diagram showing the addition a + b. (b) Vector diagram showing b - a.

A vector diagram showing a, b and c is given in Fig. (a).

(b) If the vector d is given by d = b - a then the components of d are given by

dx = bx - ax = (-2.29 m) - (5.00 m) = -7.29 m

dy = b y - ay = (3.28 m) - (0.00 m) = 3.28 m

The magnitude of d is

d= d2x + d2y = (-7.29 m)2 + (3.28 m)2 = 8.00 m

If the direction of d, as measured counterclockwise from the +x axis is θ then

dy 3.28 m
tan θ = = = -0.450
dx -7.29 m
Naively pushing buttons on the calculator gives

θ = tan-1 (-0.450) = -24.2◦

which can’t be right because from the signs of its components we know that d must lie in the
second quadrant. We need to add 180◦ to get the correct answer for the tan-1 operation:
θ = -24.2◦ + 180.0◦ = 156◦

But we note that this angle is

 180◦ - 156◦ = 24◦
shy of the -y axis, so the direction can also be expressed as “24◦ North of West”.
A vector diagram showing a, b and d is given in Fig. (b).
(c) The diagrams are drawn above
(d) In unit vector form
For A + B,
𝒄 𝟐. 𝟕𝟏 𝒊 + 𝟑. 𝟐𝟖 𝒋
𝒄̂ = = = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟒 𝒊 + 𝟎. 𝟕𝟕 𝒋
|𝒄| 𝟒. 𝟐𝟓
And for B – A,

𝒅 −𝟕. 𝟐𝟗 𝒊 + 𝟑. 𝟐𝟖 𝒋
̂=
𝒅 = = −𝟎. 𝟗𝟏 𝒊 + 𝟎. 𝟒𝟏 𝒋
|𝒅| 𝟖. 𝟎𝟎

6. If a - b = 2c, a + b = 4c and c = 3i + 4j, then what are a and b?

We notice that if we add the first two relations together, the vector b will be cancelled:

(a - b) + (a + b) = (2c) + (4c)

which gives:
2a = 6c =⇒ a = 3c
and substituting for c; we get

a = 3c = 3(3i + 4j) = 9i + 12j

Then the value of b can be calculated as:

b = a - 2c = (9i + 12j) - 2(3i + 4j)

= (9 - 6)i + (12 - 8)j
= 3i + 4j

So we have found:
a = 9i + 12j and b = 3i + 4j
7. If A = (6.0i - 8.0j) units, B = (-8.0i + 3.0j) units, and C = (26.0i + 19.0j)
units, determine a and b so that aA + bB + C = 0.

The condition on the vectors given in the problem:

 aA + bB + C = 0

is a condition on the individual components of the vectors. It implies:

aAx + bBx + Cx = 0 and aAy + bBy + Cy = 0.

So that we have the equations:

6.0a - 8.0b + 26.0 = 0 and

-8.0a + 3.0b + 19.0 = 0
We have two equations for two unknowns so we can find a and b. The are lots of ways
to do this; one could multiply the first equation by 4 and the second equation by 3 to get:

24.0a - 32.0b + 104.0 = 0

-24.0a + 9.0b + 57.0 = = 0

Adding these gives

-23.0b + 161 = 0 =⇒ b = -161.0 = 7.0

-23.0
-23.0
and then the first of the original equations gives us a:

30.0
6.0a = 8.0b - 26.0 = 8.0(7.0) - 26.0 = 30.0 =⇒ a= = 5.0
6.0

and our solution is

a = 7.0 b = 5.0

8. A vector B, when added to the vector C = 3.0i + 4.0j, yields a resultant vector
that is in the positive y direction and has a magnitude equal to that of C.
What is the magnitude of B?

If the vector B is denoted by B = Bx i + By j then the resultant of B and C is

B + C = (Bx + 3.0)i + (By + 4.0)j .

We are told that the resultant points in the positive y direction, so its x component must
be zero. Then:
Bx + 3.0 = 0 =⇒ Bx = -3.0.
Now, the magnitude of C is
 C = Cx2 + Cy2 = (3.0)2 + (4.0)2 = 5.0

so that if the magnitude of B + C is also 5.0 then we get

|B + C| = (0)2 + (By + 4.0)2 = 5.0 =⇒ (By + 4.0)2 = 25.0 .

The last equation gives (By + 4.0) = ±5.0 and apparently there are two possible answers

By = +1.0 and By = -9.0

but the second case gives a resultant vector B + C which points in the negative y direction
so we omit it. Then with By = 1.0 we find the magnitude of B:

B= (Bx )2 + (By )2 = (-3.0)2 + (1.0)2 = 3.2

The magnitude of vector B is 3.2.

9. The head of a rattlesnake can accelerate 50 m/s2 in striking a victim. If
a car could do as well, how long would it take to reach a speed of 100 km/hr
from rest?
First, convert the car’s final speed to SI units to make it easier to work with:
km km 1000 m 1 hr m
100 hr = 100 x x = 27.8
hr 1 km 3600 s s

The acceleration of the car is 50 m/s2 and it starts from rest which means that v0 = 0. As
we’ve found, the final velocity v of the car is 27.8 m/s. Let us solve for the time t:

v = v0 + at t = (v – vo)/a
= [(28.7 -0) m/s] / 50 m/s2
= 0.55 s
If a car had such a large acceleration, it would take 0.55 s to attain the given speed.
10. An electron with initial velocity vo = 1.50 x 105 m/s enters a region 1.0cm long where it is
electrically accelerated, as shown in the figure below. It emerges with velocity v = 5.70 x
106 m/s. what was its acceleration, assumed constant? (such a process occurs in the electron
gun in a cathode ray tube, used in television receivers and oscilloscopes.)

- the acceleration of the electron is constant,

 - let its initial coordinate be x0 = 0 then the final coordinate is x = 1.0 cm = 1.0 ×
10-2 m.
v 2 - v02
v 2 = v02 + 2a(x - x0 ) a=
=⇒ a = 2(x - x0 )

Substitute and get:

(5.70 × 106 ms )2 - (1.50 × 105 m 2
s
)
a =
2(1.0 × 10-2 m)
=
= 1.62 × 1015 m/s2
The acceleration of the electron is 1.62 × 1015 m
(while it is in the accelerating region).
s2

11. With what speed must a ball be thrown vertically from ground level to
rise to a maximum height of 50 m? How long will it be in the air?

(a) First, let us decide a coordinate system, where the y axis points upward and the origin is
at ground level as shown in the figure. The ball starts its flight from ground level so its initial
position is y0 = 0. When the ball is at maximum height its coordinate is y = 50 m, but we
also know its velocity at this point . At maximum height the instantaneous velocity of the ball
is zero. So if our “final” point is the time of maximum height, then v = 0.
So for the trip from ground level to maximum height, we know y0 , y, v and the acceleration
a = -9.8 m s2
= -g, but we don’t know v0 or the time t to get to maximum height.
From our list of constant–acceleration equations, we c a n s o l v e f o r the initial velocity
v0 :
2
v 2 = v02 + 2a(y - y0 ) =⇒ v0 = v 2 - 2a(y - y0 )

Substitute, and get:

v02 = (0)2 - 2(-9.8 m )(50 m - 0) = 980 m2
s2 s2
The next step is to “take the square root”. Since we know that v0 must be a positive number,
2
we know that we should take the positive square root of 980 ms2 . We get:
m
v0 = +31 s

m
The initial speed of the ball is 31 s

(b) We want to find the total time that the ball is in flight. What do we know about the
ball when it returns to earth and hits the ground? We know that its y coordinate is equal to
zero. (So far, we don’t know anything about the ball’s velocity at the time it returns to
ground level.) If we consider the time between throwing and impact, then we do know y0 ,
y, v0 and of course a.

y = yo + vot + at2
 2
0 = 0 + (31m/s ) t + (-9.8m / s ) t2

It is not hard to solve this equation for t. We can factor it to give:

t[(31 ms ) + 12 (-9.8 m
s2
)t] =0

which has two solutions. One of them is simply t = 0. This solution is an answer to the
question we were asked, namely “When does y = 0?” because the ball was at ground level
at t = 0. But it is not the solution we want. For the other solution, we must have:

(31 ms ) + 12 (-9.8 m
s2
)t = 0

which gives
m
2(31 s )
t= = 6.4 s
9.8 m
s2

The ball spends a total of 6.4 seconds in flight.

12. A student throws a set of keys vertically upward to her friend in
a window 4.00 m above. The keys are caught 1.50 s later by the friend’s
outstretched hand. (a) With what initial velocity were the keys
thrown? (b) What was the velocity of the keys just before they
were caught?

(a) The problem did not say that the keys were caught while they were going up
or going
down. For all we know at the moment, it could be either one! Let us assume
she is throwing it upward as shown.

We will put the origin of the y axis at the point where the keys were thrown. This
simplifies things in that the initial y coordinate of the keys is y0 = 0. Of course, since this
is a problem about free–fall, we know the acceleration: a = -g = -9.80 m s2
.
What mathematical information does the problem give us? We are told that when
t = 1.50 s, the y coordinate of the keys is y = 4.00 m. Is this enough information to solve
the problem? We write the equation for y(t):

y = y0 + v0 t + 12at2
= v0 t - 12 gt2

where v0 is presently unknown. At t = 1.50 s, y = 4.00 m, so:

4.00 m = v0 (1.50 s) - 12 (9.80 m

s2
)(1.50 s)2 .

Now we can solve for v0 . Rearrange this equation to get:

v0 (1.50 s) = 4.00 m + 12(9.80 m

s2
)(1.50 s)2 = 15.0 m .

So:

15.𝑜 𝑚
𝑣𝑜 = = 10.0 m/s
1.50 𝑠

(b) We want to find the velocity of the keys at the time they were caught, that is, at
t = 1.50 s. We know v0 ; the velocity of the keys at all times follows,

v = v0 + at = 10.0 M
S
– (9.80 m
s2
) t

So at t = 1.50 s,
v = 10.0 ms - 9.80 m
s2 (1.50 s) = -4.68 m/s
So the velocity of the keys when they were caught was -4.68 m/s. Note that the keys had
a negative velocity; this tells us that the keys were moving downward at the time they were
caught!
13. A ball is thrown with a speed of 25.0 m/s at an angle of 40.0◦ above the horizontal
directly toward a wall. The wall is 22.0 m from the release point of the ball.
(a) How long does the ball take to reach the wall? (b) How far above the
release point does the ball hit the wall? (c) What are the horizontal and
vertical components of its velocity as it hits the wall? (d) When it hits, has it
passed the highest point on its trajectory?

(a) We will use a coordinate system which has its origin at the point of firing, which we take
to be at ground level. What is the mathematical condition which determines when the ball
hits the wall? It is when the x coordinate of the ball is equal to 22.0 m. Then let’s write out
the x-equation of motion for the ball. The ball’s initial x- velocity is
v0x = v0 cos θ0 = (25.0 ms ) cos 40.0◦ = 19.2 ms

and of course ax = 0, so that the x motion is given by

x = x0 + vox t + ax t2 = 19.2 t
 x = x0 + vox t + 1/2ax t2 = ( 19.2 m/s)t

We solve for the time at which x = 22.0 m:

m
x = ( 19.2 m/s) t = 22.0 m 22.0 m
t= m = 1.15 s
19.2 s

The ball hits the wall 1.15 s after being thrown.

(b) We will be able to answer this question if we can find the y coordinate of the ball at the
time that it hits the wall, namely at t = 1.15 s.
We need the y equation of motion. The initial y velocity of the ball is

v0y = v0 sin θ0 = 25.0 m

s sin 40.0◦ = 16.1 m
s

and the y acceleration of the ball is ay = -g giving:

y = y0 + v0y t + 1 ay t2 = 16.1 ms t - 1 gt2

2 2

which we use to find the y coordinate at t = 1.15 s:

y = (16.1 m )(1.15 s)
s - 1 (9.80 m2 )(1.15 s)2 = 12.0 m
2 s

which tells us that the ball hits the wall at 12.0 m above the ground level (above the release
point).
(c) The x and y components of the ball’s velocity at the time of impact, namely at t = 1.15 s
are found as follows:
 vx = v0x + ax t = 19.2 ms + 0 = 19.2 ms

and
m m m
vy = v0y + ay t = 16.1 s + (-9.80 s2)(1.15 s) = +4.83 s .

(d) Has the ball already passed the highest point on its trajectory? Suppose the ball was
on its way downward when it struck the wall. Then the y component of the velocity would
be negative, since it is always decreasing and at the trajectory’s highest point it is zero. (Of
course, the x component of the velocity stays the same while the ball is in flight.) Here we
see that the y component of the ball’s velocity is still positive at the time of impact. So the
ball was still climbing when it hit the wall; it had not reached the highest point of its (free)
trajectory.

14. The launching speed of a certain projectile is five times the speed it has at its
maximum height. Calculate the elevation angle at launching.

As shown in the diagram below of the projectile’s motion, t he launch speed is v0 , and
the projectile is launched at an angle θ0 upward from the horizontal.
We might start this problem by solving for the time it takes the projectile to get to maxi-
mum height, but we can note that at maximum height, there is no y velocity component, and
the x velocity component is the same as it was when the projectile was
launched . Therefore
at maximum height the velocity components are

vx = v0 cos θ0 and vy = 0
and so the speed of the projectile at maximum height is v0 cos θ0 .

Now, we are told that the launching speed (v0 ) is five times the speed at maximum height.
This gives us:
1
v0 = 5v0 cos θ0 =⇒ cos θ0 =
5

which has the solution θ0 = 78.5◦

So the elevation angle at launching is θ0 = 78.5◦ .
15. Do heavier objects fall more slowly than lighter objects? Explain.

This is some tricky question that needs some deep thinking about the force of attraction occurred
between the objects and the Earth. In fact, you might think of the medium between, whether it is
vacuum or air filled. Using Newton’s universal law of gravitation, you can find the amount of
attraction force between the objects and the Earth.
In this regard, the heavier object will experience a larger force of attraction from Earth, or if we
reverse the frame of reference, the Earth will be attracted by the heavier object with a relatively
larger force. Hence, we can conclude that, the heavier object will reach at the surface of the Earth
faster than the lighter object.
16. When a moving car encounters a pitch of ice the brakes are applied. Why is it desirable
to keep the wheels rolling on the ice without locking up?
Static friction is greater than kinetic friction.

Static friction exists if the wheels keep rolling on the ice without locking up, resulting in maximum
braking force. However, if the wheels lock up then kinetic friction takes over since there is relative
slipping between wheel and ice. This reduces the braking force and the car takes longer to stop.

Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on a vehicle prevent the wheels from locking up when the brakes are
applied, thus minimizing the amount of time it takes for the vehicle to reach a complete stop. Also, by
preventing the wheels from locking up you have greater control of the vehicle.

17. When an electron revolves around a nucleus, it always keeps its trajectory without slipping.
What prevents the electron not to take spiral path and stick to the nucleus (Note: the force
acting between is Weak nuclear force)? The same is true for Earth when revolving around
the Sun (Gravitational force).
Here we cannot treat the two systems, electron revolving around the nucleus and Earth revolving
around the Sun, similarly as they are completely different systems. Since electrons are microscopic
and charged particles, their behavior cannot be explained using the classical mechanics, rather
using quantum.
The problem, though, was that according to the classical physics of the time, if an electrical charge is
accelerating (as anything spinning around in an orbit does), then it must radiate energy (as light). A
calculation shows that in that case, the electrons would spiral into the nucleus within a tiny fraction of
a second. Since the electron clouds are responsible for chemical bonding, this means that all matter
would simply collapse and the universe we live in would cease to exist.
So, the best way to solve the problem is by just thinking about the energy conversion. As you know,
the potential energy of an electron becomes more negative as it moves toward the attractive field of the
nucleus; in fact, it approaches negative infinity. However, because the total energy remains constant (a
hydrogen atom, sitting peacefully by itself, will neither lose nor acquire energy), the loss in potential energy
is compensated for by an increase in the electron's kinetic energy (sometimes referred to in this context as
"confinement" energy) which determines its momentum and its effective velocity.

But in case of Earth and Sun system, it is just the balance between centripetal and centrifugal forces.
18. Fig. represents three vectors A, B and C. Draw a sketch diagram for the given vectors to
represent a vector D as the sum of the three vectors A, B and C.

A+B+C=D

19. In a simple electrical circuit, two measurements are made as a = 2.50 ± 0.05 and b = 4.7 ± 0.1.
What will be the uncertainty for i) a + b and ii) a/b?
i) a = 2.50  0.05, b = 4.7  0.1

Uncertainty for a + b= 0.05+0.1=0.15

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛 2.50+0.05 2.50−0.05

𝑎 − −
𝑏𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑚𝑎𝑥 4.7−0.1 4.7+0.1
ii) The Uncertainty for = = = 0.021965
𝑏 2 2
𝑎
Since 𝑏
= 0.53𝟎. 𝟎𝟐

20. A vector quantity V is resolved into two perpendicular components X and Y. The angle between
V and component X is θ as shown below. The angle between component X and the vector V is
increased from 0° to 90°. How do the magnitudes of X and Y change as the angle θ is increased in
this way?
Since Y = V sin and X = V cos

When  does increase Sin increase and hence Y-component increases

Cos decreases and hence X-component decreases