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SAT II Physics : Linear Motion Calculations

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Linear Motion Calculations

Near the surface of the earth, a projectile is fired from a canon at an angle of $\theta$ degrees above the horizon and an initial velocity of meters per second. Which of the following expressions gives the time it takes the projectile to reach its maximum height?

Possible Answers:

$t = v \sin \frac{\theta }{g}$

$t = v \cos \frac{\theta }{2g}$

$t = -v^{2} \sin \frac{\theta }{g}$

$t = v \cos \frac{\theta }{g}$

$t = v^{2} \sin \frac{\theta }{g}$

Correct answer:

$t = v \sin \frac{\theta }{g}$

Explanation:

At the maximum height of projectile motion, $v_{y}=0$ and because this takes place near the surface of the earth we know a=g which we can plug into the equation:

$v_{y} = v_{0} + at$

$0 = v_{0} + gt$

We can then rearrange for

$t = \frac{v_{0}}{g}$

Next substitute this value into the equation $v_{y} = v \sin \theta$ to get the correct answer

$t = v \sin \frac{\theta }{g}$

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Example Question #61 : Motion And Mechanics

Sam throws a 0.5kg rock off the edge of a 10m tall building at an angle of $35^{\circ}$ from the horizontal. The rock has an initial speed of $30\frac{m}{s}$ .

$\small g=-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}$

How long is the rock in the air?

Possible Answers:

1.12s

4.02s

1.76s

5.05s

2.26s

Correct answer:

4.02s

Explanation:

We first need to find the vertical component of the velocity.

$v_{i}*\sin(\Theta)=v_{iy}$

We can plug in the given values for the angle and the initial velocity to find the vertical component.

$30\frac{m}{s}* \sin(35^{\circ})=v_{iy}$

$30\frac{m}{s}* (0.57)=v_{iy}$

$17.21\frac{m}{s}=v_{iy}$

Now we need to solve for the time that the rock travels upward. We can then add the upward travel time to the downward travel time to find the total time in the air.

Remember that the vertical velocity at the highest point of a parabola is zero. We can use that to find the time for the rock to travel upward.

v_f=v_i+at_1

$0\frac{m}{s}=17.21\frac{m}{s}+(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t_1$

$-17.21\frac{m}{s}=(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}) t_1$

$\frac{-17.21\frac{m}{s}}{-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}}=t_1$

1.76s=t_1

Now let's find the time for the downward travel. We don't know the final velocity for the rock, but we CAN use the information we have been given to find the height it travels upward.

$v_f^2=v_i^2+2a\Delta y$

$(0\frac{m}{s})^2=(17.21\frac{m}{s})^2+2(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})\Delta y$

$(0\frac{m}{s})=(296.18\frac{m}{s})+(-19.6\frac{m}{s^2})\Delta y$

$-(296.18\frac{m}{s})=(-19.6\frac{m}{s^2})\Delta y$

$\frac{-296.18\frac{m}{s}}{-19.6\frac{m}{s^2}}=\Delta y$

$15.11m=\Delta y$

Remember, $\Delta y$ only tells us the vertical CHANGE. Since the rock started at the top of a 10m building, if it rose an extra 15.11m , then at its highest point it is 25.11m above the ground.

This means that our $\Delta y$ will be -25.11m as it will be traveling down from the highest point. Using this distance, we can find the downward travel time.

$\Delta y =v_it+\frac{1}{2}at^2$

$-25.11m=0\frac{m}{s}t+\frac{1}{2}(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$-25.11m=\frac{1}{2}(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$-25.11m=(-4.9\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$\frac{-25.11m}{-4.9\frac{m}{s^2}}=t^2$

5.12s^2=t^2

$\sqrt{5.12s^2}=\sqrt{t^2}$

2.26s=t_2

Add together the time for upward travel and downward travel to find the total flight time.

$t_{total}=t_1+t_2$

$t_{total}=1.76s+2.26s$

$t_{total}=4.02s$

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Example Question #131 : High School Physics

Sam throws a 0.5kg rock off the edge of a 10m tall building at an angle of $35^{\circ}$ from the horizontal. The rock has an initial speed of $30\frac{m}{s}$ .

$\small g=-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}$

What is the horizontal distance that the rock travels?

Possible Answers:

160.52m

25.11m

24.57m

4.66m

98.77m

Correct answer:

98.77m

Explanation:

We first need to find the horizontal component of the initial velocity.

$v_{i}* \cos(\Theta)=v_{x}$

We can plug in the given values for the angle and initial velocity and solve.

$30\frac{m}{s}* \cos(35^{\circ})=v_{x}$

$30\frac{m}{s}* (0.82)=v_{x}$

$24.57\frac{m}{s}=v_{x}$

The only force acting on the rock during flight is gravity; there are no forces in the horizontal direction, meaning that the horizontal velocity will remain constant. We can set up a simple equation to find the relationship between distance traveled and the velocity.

$\Delta x =v_xt$

We know v_x , but now we need to find the time the rock is in the air.

We need to solve for the time that the rock travels upward. We can then add the upward travel time to the downward travel time to find the total time in the air.

Remember that the vertical velocity at the highest point of a parabola is zero. We can use that to find the time for the rock to travel upward.

v_f=v_i+at_1

$0\frac{m}{s}=17.21\frac{m}{s}+(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t_1$

$-17.21\frac{m}{s}=(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}) t_1$

$\frac{-17.21\frac{m}{s}}{-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}}=t_1$

1.76s=t_1

Now let's find the time for the downward travel. We don't know the final velocity for the rock, but we CAN use the information we have been given to find the height it travels upward.

$v_f^2=v_i^2+2a\Delta y$

$(0\frac{m}{s})^2=(17.21\frac{m}{s})^2+2(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})\Delta y$

$(0\frac{m}{s})=(296.18\frac{m}{s})+(-19.6\frac{m}{s^2})\Delta y$

$-(296.18\frac{m}{s})=(-19.6\frac{m}{s^2})\Delta y$

$\frac{-296.18\frac{m}{s}}{-19.6\frac{m}{s^2}}=\Delta y$

$15.11m=\Delta y$

Remember, $\Delta y$ only tells us the vertical CHANGE. Since the rock started at the top of a 10m building, if it rose an extra 15.11m , then at its highest point it is 25.11m above the ground.

This means that our $\Delta y$ will be -25.11m as it will be traveling down from the highest point. Using this distance, we can find the downward travel time.

$\Delta y =v_it+\frac{1}{2}at^2$

$-25.11m=0\frac{m}{s}t+\frac{1}{2}(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$-25.11m=\frac{1}{2}(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$-25.11m=(-4.9\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$\frac{-25.11m}{-4.9\frac{m}{s^2}}=t^2$

5.12s^2=t^2

$\sqrt{5.12s^2}=\sqrt{t^2}$

2.26s=t_2

Add together the time for upward travel and downward travel to find the total flight time.

$t_{total}=t_1+t_2$

$t_{total}=1.76s+2.26s$

$t_{total}=4.02s$

Now that we've finally found our time, we can plug that back into the equation from the beginning of the problem, along with our horizontal velocity, to solve for the final distance.

$\Delta x =v_xt$

$\Delta x =24.57\frac{m}{s}* 4.02s$

$\Delta x=98.77m$

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Example Question #133 : High School Physics

Sam throws a 0.5kg rock off the edge of a 10m tall building at an angle of $35^{\circ}$ from the horizontal. The rock has an initial speed of $30\frac{m}{s}$ .

$\small g=-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}$

At what angle to the horizontal will the rock impact the ground?

Possible Answers:

$33.5^{\circ}$

$44.3^{\circ}$

$41.99^{\circ}$

$17.1^{\circ}$

$21.1^{\circ}$

Correct answer:

$41.99^{\circ}$

Explanation:

The question gives the total initial velocity, but we will need to find the horizontal and vertical components.

To find the horizontal velocity we use the equation $v_{i}*\cos(\Theta)=v_{x}$ .

We can plug in the given values for the angle and initial velocity to solve.

$30\frac{m}{s}*\cos(35^{\circ})=v_{x}$

$30\frac{m}{s}*(0.82)=v_{x}$

$24.57\frac{m}{s}=v_{x}$

We can find the vertical velocity using the equation $v_{i}* \sin(\Theta)=v_{iy}$ .

$30\frac{m}{s}* \sin(35^{\circ})=v_{iy}$

$30\frac{m}{s}* (0.57)=v_{iy}$

$17.21\frac{m}{s}=v_{iy}$

The horizontal velocity will not change during flight because there are no forces in the horizontal direction. The vertical velocity, however, will be affected. We need to solve for the final vertical velocity, then combine the vertical and horizontal vectors to find the total final velocity.

We know that the rock is going to travel a net distance of -10m , as that is the distance between where the rock's initial and final positions. We now know the displacement, initial velocity, and acceleration, which will allow us to solve for the final velocity.

$v_f^2=v_1^2+2a\Delta y$

$v_f^2=(17.21\frac{m}{s})^2+2(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})(-10m)$

$v_f^2=(296.18\frac{m^2}{s^2})+196\frac{m^2}{s^2}$

$v_f^2=492.18\frac{m^2}{s^2}$

$\sqrt{v_f^2}=\sqrt{492.18\frac{m^2}{s^2}}$

$v_f=22.19\frac{m}{s}$

Because the rock is traveling downward, our velocity will be negative: $v_f=-22.19\frac{m}{s}$ .

Now that we know our final velocities in both the horizontal and vertical directions, we can find the angle created between the two trajectories. The horizontal and vertical velocities can be compared using trigonometry.

$\tan(\Theta)=\frac{v_y}{v_x}$ ,

$\tan^{-1}(\frac{v_y}{v_x})=\Theta$

Plug in our values and solve for the angle.

$\tan^{-1}(\frac{22.19\frac{m}{s}}{24.57\frac{m}{s}})=\Theta$

$\tan^{-1}(0.90)=\Theta$

$41.99^{\circ}=\Theta$

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Example Question #2 : Linear Motion

If air resistance is negligible, 8 seconds after it is released, what would be the velocity of a stone dropped from a helicopter that has a horizontal velocity of 60 meters per second?

Possible Answers:

$140\frac{m}{s}$

$60\frac{m}{s}$

$160\frac{m}{s}$

$100\frac{m}{s}$

$80\frac{m}{s}$

Correct answer:

$100\frac{m}{s}$

Explanation:

We are looking for total velocity, which in this case has both a horizontal and vertical component.

Because the helicopter is flying horizontally we know $v_{y0}=0$

We can assume that this takes place near the surface of the earth so a=g

We can plug this into the equation:

$v_{yf}=v_{y0} +at$

$v_{yf}=0 +(10)(8)$

$v_{yf}=80$

Next we must find the horizontal velocity. Because there are no additional forces, the horizontal velocity is the same as the initial horizontal velocity of the helicopter, so:

$v_{x}=60$

Next we must use vector addition to add the horizontal and vertical components of velocity. Because this horizontal and vertical velocities are perpendicular the sum will be the hypotenuse of a right triangle:

$60^{2}+80^{2}=v^{2}$

$v=100\frac{m}{s}$

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Example Question #1 : Momentum And Impulse

A 0.25kg ball hits a brick wall with a velocity of $30\frac{m}{s}$ and bounces back at the same speed. If the ball is in contact with the wall for 0.1s , what is the value of the force exerted by the wall on the ball?

Possible Answers:

-100N

-150N

100N

-300N

Correct answer:

-150N

Explanation:

The fastest way to solve a problem like this is with momentum.

Remember that momentum is equal to mass times velocity: p=mv . We can rewrite this equation in terms of force.

$mv=(kg)(\frac{m}{s})=(kg)(\frac{m}{s})*(\frac{s}{s})$

$\frac{kg*m}{s^2}*s=N*s=Ft$

Using this transformation, we can see that momentum is also equal to force times time.

$\Delta p=F\Delta t$ can also be thought of as $(p_{final}-p_{initial})=F\Delta t$ .

Expand this equation to include our given values.

$(mv_{final}-mv_{initial})=F\Delta t$

Even though the ball is bouncing back at the same "speed" its velocity will now be negative, as it is moving in the opposite direction. Using this understanding we can solve for the force in our equation.

$(0.25kg* -30\frac{m}{s})-(0.25kg* 30\frac{m}{s})=F(0.1s)$

$(-7.5\frac{kg\cdot m}{s})-(7.5\frac{kg\cdot m}{s})=F(0.1s)$

$(-15\frac{kg\cdot m}{s})=F(0.1s)$

$\frac{(-15\frac{kg\cdot m}{s})}{0.1s}=F$

-150N=F

Our answer is negative because the force is moving the ball in the OPPOSITE direction from the way it was originally heading.

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Example Question #1 : Kinematics Equations

An egg falls from a nest in a tree that is 2.8m tall. A girl, 13m away, runs to catch the egg. If she catches it right at the moment before it hits the ground, how fast does she need to run?

$\small g=-9.8\frac{m}{s^2}$

Possible Answers:

$9.83\frac{m}{s}$

$17.22\frac{m}{s}$

$1.33\frac{m}{s}$

$0.755\frac{m}{s}$

More information is needed to solve

Correct answer:

$17.22\frac{m}{s}$

Explanation:

The important thing to recognize here is that the amount of time the egg is falling will be equal to the amount of time the girl is running.

Our first step will be to find the time that the egg is in the air.

We know it starts from rest 2.8m above the ground, and we know the gravitational acceleration. Its total displacement will be -2.8m , since it falls in the downward direction. We can use the appropriate motion equation to solve for the time:

$\Delta y =v_it+\frac{1}{2}at^2$

Use the given values in the formula to solve for the time.

$-2.8m=(0\frac{m}{s})t+\frac{1}{2}(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$-2.8m=\frac{1}{2}(-9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$-2.8m=(-4.9\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$\frac{-2.8m}{-4.9\frac{m}{s^2}}=t^2$

0.57s^2=t^2

0.755s=t

Now that we have the time, we can use it to find the speed of the girl. Her speed will be determined by the distance she travels in this amount of time.

$v=\frac{d}{t}$

Use our values for her distance and the time to solve for her velocity.

$v=\frac{13m}{0.755s}$

$v=17.22\frac{m}{s}$

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Example Question #2 : Kinematics Equations

A ball is dropped from the roof a building that is 80m tall. How long will it be before the ball hits the ground?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can solve this problem using the kinematics equations. Note that the initial velocity will be zero, since the ball is dropped, and the acceleration will be equal to the acceleration of gravity.

$d=v_ot+\frac{1}{2}at^2$

This can be simplified, since the initial velocity is zero.

$d=\frac{1}{2}at^2$

Use the given value for the distance (the height of the building) and the acceleration of gravity to solve for the time.

$80m=\frac{1}{2}(9.8\frac{m}{s^2})t^2$

$\frac{80m}{\frac{1}{2}(9.8\frac{m}{s^2})}=16.3s^2=t^2$

$t=\sqrt{16.3s^2}=4.0s$

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Example Question #11 : Mechanics

If the block of mass slides up a frictionless incline plane and is pulled by mass which is falling then what is the acceleration of the block on the ramp if m= 20kg and M=40kg and the angle of incline is 30 degrees?

Possible Answers:

$a=\frac{1}{2}g$

$a=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}g$

$a=g\sqrt{2}$

a=2g

$a=\frac{5}{6}g$

Correct answer:

$a=\frac{1}{2}g$

Explanation:

Begin by making a free body diagram for each block:

Q62

Use the diagram to write an equation for net force on each block:

$F_{net} =F_{t}-mg \sin (30)$

$F_{net} = Mg -F_{t}$

Since F=ma for the block on the ramp and F=Ma for falling block we can substitute into these equations:

$ma =F_{t}-mg \sin (30)$

$Ma = Mg -F_{t}$

Then add the equations to get:

$Ma+ma = Mg-mg\sin (30)$

Next rearrange to isolate :

$a = \frac{M-msin(30)}{M+m}$

Substitute the given values from the question and solve:

$a = \frac{40-20sin(30)}{40+20}$

$a=\frac{1}{2}g$

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SAT II Physics : Linear Motion Calculations

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Physics

All SAT II Physics Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Linear Motion Calculations

Example Question #61 : Motion And Mechanics

Example Question #131 : High School Physics

Example Question #133 : High School Physics

Example Question #2 : Linear Motion

Example Question #1 : Momentum And Impulse

Example Question #1 : Kinematics Equations

Example Question #2 : Kinematics Equations

Example Question #11 : Mechanics

All SAT II Physics Resources

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