PHYS 40: “Classical Mechanics” − Summer 2025

Assignment #2 − Due by Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Name:

Reading assignment:
Study the following topics covered in the textbook, “Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics.

• Chapter 3: Kinematics in Two or Three Dimensions; Vectors − Sections 3.5 − 3.9

• Chapter 4: Dynamics: Newton’s Laws of Motion − Sections 4.1 − 4.6

Problem solving assignment:

Do the following highlighted problems in the attached pages:

• Chapter 3: Problems: 16, 20, 31, 42, 44

• Chapter 4: Problems: 10, 17, 19

1
 7. (II) An airplane is traveling 835 km /h in a direction 41.5° west 3 -6 Vector Kinematics
of north (Fig. 3-37). (a) Find 17. (I) The position of a particular particle as a function of time
the components of the N
is given by ? = (9.601i + 8.85j - 1.00£2k)m . Determine
velocity vector in the particle’s velocity and acceleration as a function of time.
the northerly and v v 41.5° 18. (I) What was the average velocity of the particle in Problem 17
westerly directions. (835 km/h) between t = 1.00 s and t = 3.00 s? What is the magnitude
(b) How far north of the instantaneous velocity at t = 2.00 s?
and how far west
19. (II) W hat is the shape of the path of the particle of
has the plane trav- W -
Problem 17?
eled after 2.50 h?
20. (II) A car is moving with speed 18.0 m /s due south at one
moment and 27.5 m /s due east 8.00 s later. Over this time
interval, determine the magnitude and direction of (a) its
average velocity, (b) its average acceleration, (c) What is its
FIGURE 3 -37 average speed. [Hint: Can you determine all these from the
Problem 7. information given?]
21. (II) A t t = 0, a particle starts from rest at x = 0, y = 0,
8. (II) Let Vl = —6.0i + 8.0j and % = 4.51 - 5.0j. D eter-
and moves in the xy plane with an acceleration
mine the magnitude and direction of (a) Y1? (b) V2,
a = (4.0i + 3.0j) m /s2. Determine (a) the x and y compo-
(c) Yj + V2 and (d) V2 - Vi.
nents of velocity, (b) the speed of the particle, and (c) the
9. (II) (a) Determine the magnitude and direction of the
position of the particle, all as a function of time. (d) Eval-
sum of the three vectors Y i = 4.0i - 8.0j, V2 = i + j, and
uate all the above at t = 2.0 s.
V3 = —2.0i + 4.0j. (b) Determine Yj - V2 + V3.
22. (II) (a) A skier is accelerating down a 30.0° hill at 1.80 m /s2
10. (II) Three vectors are shown in Fig. 3-38. Their magnitudes
(Fig. 3-39). What is the vertical component of her accelera-
are given in arbitrary units. D etermine the sum of the
tion? (b) How long will it take her to reach the bottom of
three vectors. Give the resultant in terms of (a) components,
the hill, assuming she starts from rest and accelerates
(b) magnitude and angle with x axis.
uniformly, if the elevation change is 325 m?

a = 1.80 m/s2

FIGURE 3 -3 8
Problems 10,11,12,13, and 14.
Vector magnitudes are given
in arbitrary units.

11. (II) (a) Given the vectors A and B shown in Fig. 3-38,
determine B - A. (b) Determine A - B without using
your answer in (a). Then compare your results and see if
FIGURE 3 -3 9 Problem 22.
they are opposite.
12. (II) Determine the vector A — C, given the vectors A and C 23. (II) An ant walks on a piece of graph paper straight along the
in Fig. 3-38. x axis a distance of 10.0 cm in 2.00 s. It then turns left 30.0°
13. (II) For the vectors shown in Fig. 3-38, determine (a) B - 2A, and walks in a straight line another 10.0 cm in 1.80 s. Finally,
(b) 2A — 3B + 2C. it turns another 70.0° to the left and walks another 10.0 cm
14. (II) For the vectors given in Fig. 3-38, determine in 1.55 s. Determine (a) the x and y components of the ant’s
(a) A - B + C, (b) A + B - C, and (c) C - A - B. average velocity, and (b) its magnitude and direction.
15. (II) The summit of a mountain, 2450 m above base camp, is 24. (II) A particle starts from the origin at t = 0 with an initial
measured on a map to be 4580 m horizontally from the velocity of 5.0 m /s along the positive x axis. If the accelera-
camp in a direction 32.4° west of north. What are the tion is ( —3.0i + 4.5j)m /s2, determine the velocity and posi-
components of the displacement vector from camp to tion of the particle at the moment it reaches its maximum
summit? What is its magnitude? Choose the x axis east, x coordinate.
y axis north, and z axis up. 25. (II) Suppose the position of an object is given by
16. (Ill) You are given a vector in the xy plane that has a r = (3.012\ — 6.0 £3j) m . (a) Determine its velocity v and
magnitude of 90.0 units and a y component of —55.0 units. acceleration a, as a function of time, (b) Determine r and v
(a) What are the two possibilities for its x component? at time t = 2.5 s.
(b) Assuming the x component is known to be positive, 26. (II) An object, which is at the origin at time t — 0, has
specify the vector which, if you add it to the original one, initial velocity v0 = ( —14.0i - 7.0j)m /s and constant
would give a resultant vector that is 80.0 units long and acceleration a = (6.0i + 3.0j)m /s2. Find the position r
points entirely in the —x direction. where the object comes to rest (momentarily).

76 CHAPTER 3 Kinematics in Two or Three Dimensions; Vectors

27. (II) A particle’s position as a function of time t is given 39. (II) In Example 3-11 we chose the x axis to the right and
by r = (5.01 + 6.011) m i + (7.0 - 3.0£3)m j. A t t = 5.0 s, y axis up. Redo this problem by defining the x axis to the
find the magnitude and direction of the particle’s displace- left and y axis down, and show that the conclusion remains
ment vector Ar relative to the point r0 = (O.Oi + 7.0j) m. the same—the football lands on the ground 40.5 m to the
right of where it departed the punter’s foot.
3 -7 and 3 -8 Projectile Motion (neglect air resistance)
40. (II) A grasshopper hops down a level road. On each hop,
28. (I) A tiger leaps horizontally from a 7.5-m-high rock with a
the grasshopper launches itself at angle 60 = 45° and
speed of 3.2 m/s. How far from the base of the rock will she
achieves a range R = 1.0 m. What is the average hori-
land?
zontal speed of the grasshopper as it progresses down the
29. (I) A diver running 2.3 m /s dives out horizontally from the road? Assume that the time spent on the ground between
edge of a vertical cliff and 3.0 s later reaches the water hops is negligible.
below. How high was the cliff and how far from its base did
41. (II) Extreme-sports enthusiasts have been known to jump
the diver hit the water?
off the top of El Capitan, a sheer granite cliff of height
30. (II) Estimate how much farther a person can jump on the 910 m in Yosemite National Park. Assume a jumper runs
Moon as compared to the Earth if the takeoff speed and horizontally off the top of El Capitan with speed 5.0 m /s
angle are the same. The acceleration due to gravity on the and enjoys a freefall until she is 150 m above the valley
Moon is one-sixth what it is on Earth. floor, at which time she opens her parachute (Fig. 3-41).
31. (II) A fire hose held near the ground shoots water at a (a) How long is the jumper in freefall? Ignore air resistance.
speed of 6.5 m/s. A t what angle(s) should the nozzle point (b) It is important to be as far away from the cliff as
in order that the water land 2.5 m away (Fig. 3-40)? possible before opening the parachute. How far from the cliff
Why are there two different is this jumper when she
angles? Sketch the two opens her chute?
trajectories.
5.0 m/s
\

910 m

,1
FIGURE 3 -4 0 150 m
J #
Problem 31. -2.5 m-

32. (II) A ball is thrown horizontally from the roof of a building FIGURE 3-41
I
9.0 m tall and lands 9.5 m from the base. What was the ball’s Problem 41.
initial speed?
33. (II) A football is kicked at ground level with a speed of 42. (II) Here is something to try at a sporting event. Show that
18.0 m /s at an angle of 38.0° to the horizontal. How much the maximum height h attained by an object projected into
later does it hit the ground? the air, such as a baseball, football, or soccer ball, is approx-
34. (II) A ball thrown horizontally at 23.7 m /s from the roof of imately given by
a building lands 31.0 m from the base of the building. How h ~ 1.212 m,
high is the building?
35. (II) A shot-putter throws the shot (mass = 7.3 kg) with an where t is the total time of flight for the object in seconds.
initial speed of 14.4 m /s at a 34.0° angle to the horizontal. Assume that the object returns to the same level as that from
Calculate the horizontal distance traveled by the shot if it which it was launched, as in Fig. 3-42. For example, if you
leaves the athlete’s hand at a height of 2.10 m above the count to find that a baseball was in the air for t = 5.0 s, the
ground. maximum height attained was h = 1.2 X (5.0)2 = 30 m.
The beauty of this relation is that h can be determined
36. (II) Show that the time required for a projectile to reach its
without knowledge of the launch speed vq or launch
highest point is equal to the time for it to return to its orig-
angle 0O.
inal height if air resistance is neglible.
37. (II) You buy a plastic dart gun, and being a clever physics
student you decide to do a quick calculation to find
its maximum horizontal range. You shoot the gun straight
up, and it takes 4.0 s for the dart to land back at the barrel.
What is the maximum horizontal range of your gun?
38. (II) A baseball is hit with a speed of 27.0 m /s at an angle of
45.0°. It lands on the flat roof of a 13.0-m-tall nearby
building. If the ball was hit when it was 1.0 m above the
ground, what horizontal distance does it travel before it
lands on the building? FIGURE 3 -4 2 Problem 42.

Problems 77
43. (II) The pilot of an airplane traveling 170 km /h wants to 47 (II) Suppose the kick in Example 3-7 is attempted 36.0 m
drop supplies to flood victims isolated on a patch of land from the goalposts, whose crossbar is 3.00 m above the
150 m below. The supplies should be dropped how many ground. If the football is directed perfectly between the
seconds before the plane is directly overhead? goalposts, will it pass over the bar and be a field goal? Show
44. (II) (a) A long jumper leaves the ground at 45° above the why or why not. If not, from what horizontal distance must
horizontal and lands 8.0 m away. What is her “takeoff” this kick be made if it is to score?
speed vq ? (b) Now she is out on a hike and comes to the left 48. (II) Exactly 3.0 s after a projectile is fired into the air from the
bank of a river. There is no bridge and the right bank is ground, it is observed to have a velocity v = (8.6i + 4.8j) m/s,
10.0 m away horizontally and 2.5 m, vertically below. If she where the x axis is horizontal and the y axis is positive
long jumps from the edge of the left bank at 45° with the upward. Determine {a) the horizontal range of the projectile,
speed calculated in (a), how long, or short, of the opposite (b) its maximum height above the ground, and (c) its speed
bank will she land (Fig. 3-43)? and angle of motion just before it strikes the ground.
49. (II) Revisit Example 3-9, and assume that the boy with the
slingshot is below the boy in the tree (Fig. 3-45) and so aims
upward, directly at the boy in the tree. Show that again the
boy in the tree makes the wrong move by letting go at the
moment the water balloon is shot.

2,5 m

10.0 m
FIGURE 3-43 Problem 44.
45. (II) A high diver leaves the end of a 5.0-m-high diving
board and strikes the water 1.3 s later, 3.0 m beyond the end FIGURE 3-45 Problem 49.
of the board. Considering the diver as a particle, determine 50. (II) A stunt driver wants to make his car jump over 8 cars
{a) her initial velocity, v0; (b) the maximum height reached; parked side by side below a horizontal ramp (Fig. 3-46).
and (c) the velocity Vf with which she enters the water. (a) With what minimum speed must he drive off the hori-
46. (II) A projectile is shot from the edge of a cliff 115 m above zontal ramp? The vertical height of the ramp is 1.5 m above
ground level with an initial speed of 65.0 m/s at an angle of the cars and the horizontal distance he must clear is 22 m. (b) If
35.0° with the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3-44. (a) Deter- the ramp is now tilted upward, so that “takeoff angle” is 7.0°
mine the time taken by the projectile to hit point P at above the horizontal, what is the new minimum speed?
ground level. (b) Determine the distance X of point P
from the base of the vertical cliff. At the instant just 22 m
before the projectile hits point P, find (c) the horizontal and Musi dear
the vertical components of its velocity, (d) the magnitude of this print!
the velocity, and (e) the angle made by the velocity vector
with the horizontal. ( /) Find the maximum height above the
cliff top reached by the projectile. FIGURE 3-46 Problem 50.
51. (II) A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a cliff
with initial speed v0 (at t = 0). At any moment, its direction
= 65.0 m/s of motion makes an angle 6 to the horizontal (Fig. 3-47).
Derive a formula for 6 as a function of time, t, as the ball
follows a projectile’s path.

FIGURE 3-44 Problem 46. FIGURE 3-47 Problem 51.

78 CHAPTER 3 Kinematics in Two or Three Dimensions; Vectors

19. Which of the following objects weighs about 1 N: (a) an apple, 23. Mary exerts an upward force of 40 N to hold a bag of
(b) a mosquito, (c) this book, (d) you? groceries. Describe the “reaction” force (Newton’s third
20. According to Newton’s third law, each team in a tug of war law) by stating (a) its magnitude, (b) its direction, (c) on
(Fig. 4-29) pulls with equal force on the other team. What, what object it is exerted, and (d) by what object it is exerted.
then, determines which team will win? 24. A bear sling, Fig. 4-30, is used in some national parks for
placing backpackers’ food out of the reach of bears. Explain
why the force needed to pull the backpack up increases as
the backpack gets higher and higher. Is it possible to pull
the rope hard enough so that it doesn’t sag at all?

FIGURE 4 -2 9 Question 20. A tug of war. Describe

the forces on each of the teams and on the rope.
21. When you stand still on the ground, how large a force does
the ground exert on you? Why doesn’t this force make you
rise up into the air?
22. Whiplash sometimes results from an automobile accident
when the victim’s car is struck violently from the rear.
Explain why the head of the victim seems to be thrown
backward in this situation. Is it really? FIGURE 4 -3 0 Question 24.

| Problems
4 -4 to 4 - 6 Newton's Laws, Gravitational Force, 10. (II) A 20.0-kg box rests on a table, (a) What is the weight of
Normal Force the box and the normal force acting on it? (b) A 10.0-kg box
1 . (I) What force is needed to accelerate a child on a sled is placed on top of the 20.0-kg box, as shown in Fig. 4-31.
(total mass = 55 kg) at 1.4 m /s2? Determine the normal force that the table exerts on the
.
2 (I) A net force of 265 N accelerates a bike and rider at
20.0-kg box and the normal force that the 20.0-kg box exerts
on the 10.0-kg box.
2.30 m /s2. What is the mass of the bike and rider together?
3. (I) What is the weight of a 68-kg astronaut (a) on Earth,
(b) on the Moon (g = 1.7 m /s2), (c) on Mars (g = 3.7 m /s2),
(d) in outer space traveling with constant velocity?
4. (I) How much tension must a rope withstand if it is used
to accelerate a 1210 -kg car horizontally along a frictionless
surface at 1.20 m /s2? 20.0 kg
5. (II) Superman must stop a 120-km/h train in 150 m to keep
it from hitting a stalled car on the tracks. If the train’s mass
is 3.6 X 105 kg, how much force must he exert? Compare to
the weight of the train (give as %). How much force does the FIGURE 4-31
train exert on Superman? Problem 10.
.
6 (II) What average force is required to stop a 950-kg car in .
11 (II) What average force is needed to accelerate a 9.20-gram
8.0 s if the car is traveling at 95 km /h? pellet from rest to 125 m /s over a distance of 0.800 m along
7. (II) Estimate the average force exerted by a shot-putter on the barrel of a rifle?
a 7.0-kg shot if the shot is moved through a distance of 2.8 m 12. (II) How much tension must a cable withstand if it is used
and is released with a speed of 13 m/s. to accelerate a 1200-kg car vertically upward at 0.70 m /s2?
8. (II) A 0.140-kg baseball traveling 35.0 m/s strikes the catcher’s 13. (II) A 14.0-kg bucket is lowered vertically by a rope in
mitt, which, in bringing the ball to rest, recoils backward 11.0 cm. which there is 163 N of tension at a given instant. What is
What was the average force applied by the ball on the glove? the acceleration of the bucket? Is it up or down?
9. (II) A fisherman yanks a fish vertically out of the water with 14. (II) A particular race car can cover a quarter-mile track
an acceleration of 2.5 m /s2 using very light fishing line that (402 m) in 6.40 s starting from a standstill. Assuming the
has a breaking strength of 18N (« 41b). The fisherman acceleration is constant, how many “g’s” does the driver
unfortunately loses the fish as the line snaps. What can you experience? If the combined mass of the driver and race car is
say about the mass of the fish? 535 kg, what horizontal force must the road exert on the tires?

104 CHAPTER 4 Dynamics: Newton7s Laws of Motion

15. (II) A 75-kg petty thief wants to escape from a third-story 23. (II) An exceptional standing jump would raise a person 0.80 m
jail window. Unfortunately, a makeshift rope made of sheets off the ground. To do this, what force must a 68-kg person
tied together can support a mass of only 58 kg. How might exert against the ground? Assume the person crouches a
the thief use this “rope” to escape? Give a quantitative distance of 0.20 m prior to jumping, and thus the upward force
answer. has this distance to act over before he leaves the ground.
16. (II) An elevator (mass 4850 kg) is to be designed so that the 24. (II) The cable supporting a 2125-kg elevator has a maximum
maximum acceleration is 0.0680g. What are the maximum strength of 21,750 N. What maximum upward acceleration
and minimum forces the motor should exert on the can it give the elevator without breaking?
supporting cable? 25. (Ill) The 100-m dash can be run by the best sprinters in
17. (II) Can cars “stop on a dime”? Calculate the acceleration 10.0 s. A 66-kg sprinter accelerates uniformly for the first
of a 1400-kg car if it can stop from 35 km/h on a dime 45 m to reach top speed, which he maintains for the
(diameter = 1.7 cm.) How many g’s is this? What is the remaining 55 m. (a) What is the average horizontal compo-
force felt by the 68-kg occupant of the car? nent of force exerted on his feet by the ground during accel-
eration? (b) What is the speed of the sprinter over the last
18. (II) A person stands on a bathroom scale in a motionless
55 m of the race (i.e., his top speed)?
elevator. When the elevator begins to move, the scale
briefly reads only 0.75 of the person’s regular weight. 26. (Ill) A person jumps from the roof of a house 3.9-m high.
Calculate the acceleration of the elevator, and find the When he strikes the ground below, he bends his knees so
direction of acceleration. that his torso decelerates over an approximate distance of
0.70 m. If the mass of his torso (excluding legs) is 42 kg, find
19. (II) High-speed elevators function under two limitations:
(a) his velocity just before his feet strike the ground, and
(1 ) the maximum magnitude of vertical acceleration that a
(b) the average force exerted on his torso by his legs during
typical human body can experience without discomfort is
deceleration.
about 1 .2 m/s2, and (2) the typical maximum speed
attainable is about 9.0 m/s. You board an elevator on a 4 - 7 U sing N ew ton's L a w s
skyscraper’s ground floor and are transported 180 m above 27. (I) A box weighing 77.0 N rests on a table. A rope tied to the
the ground level in three steps: acceleration of magnitude box runs vertically upward over a pulley and a weight is hung
1.2 m/s2 from rest to 9.0 m/s, followed by constant upward from the other end (Fig. 4-33).
velocity of 9.0 m/s, then deceleration of magnitude 1.2 m /s2 Determine the force that the
from 9.0 m/s to rest, (a) Determine the elapsed time for table exerts on the box if the
each of these 3 stages. (b) Determine the change in the weight hanging on the other side
magnitude of the normal force, expressed as a % of your of the pulley weighs (a) 30.0 N,
normal weight during each stage, (c) What fraction of the (b) 60.0 N, and (c) 90.0 N.
total transport time does the normal force not equal the
person’s weight?
20. (II) Using focused laser light, optical tweezers can apply a
force of about 10 pN to a 1.0-/un diameter polystyrene
bead, which has a density about equal to that of water: a
volume of 1.0 cm3 has a mass of about 1.0 g. Estimate the FIGURE 4-33
bead’s acceleration in g’s. Problem 27.
21. (II) A rocket with a mass of 2.75 X 106kg exerts a vertical 28. (I) Draw the free-body diagram for a basketball player
force of 3.55 X 107N on the gases it expels. Determine (a) (a) just before leaving the
the acceleration of the rocket, (b) its velocity after 8.0 s, and ground on a jump, and (b)
(c) how long it takes to reach an altitude of 9500 m. Assume while in the air. See Fig. 4-34.
g remains constant, and ignore the mass of gas expelled (not
realistic).
22. (II) (a) What is the acceleration of two falling sky divers
(mass = 132 kg including parachute) when the upward force
of air resistance is equal to one-fourth of their weight? (b) After
popping open the parachute, the divers descend leisurely to the
ground at constant speed. What now is the force of air resis-
tance on the sky divers and their parachute? See Fig. 4-32.

FIGURE 4-34
Problem 28.
29. (I) Sketch the free-body diagram of a baseball (a) at the
moment it is hit by the bat, and again (b) after it has left the
FIGURE 4-32 Problem 22. bat and is flying toward the outfield.

Problems 105