Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

Midterm Exam 3
November 29, 2012

Name:

Instructions
1. This examination is closed book and closed notes. All your belongings
except a pen or pencil and a calculator should be put away and your
bookbag should be placed on the floor.
2. You will find one page of useful formulae on the last page of the exam.
3. Please show all your work in the space provided on each page. If you
need more space, feel free to use the back side of each page.
4. Academic dishonesty (i.e., copying or cheating in any way) will
result in a zero for the exam, and may cause you to fail the
class.

In order to receive maximum credit,

each solution should have:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

A labeled picture or diagram, if appropriate.

A list of given variables.
A list of the unknown quantities (i.e., what you are being asked to find).
One or more free-body or force-interaction diagrams, as appropriate,
with labeled 1D or 2D coordinate axes.
Algebraic expression for the net force along each dimension, as appropriate.
Algebraic expression for the conservation of energy or momentum equations, as appropriate.
An algebraic solution of the unknown variables in terms of the
known variables.
A final numerical solution, including units, with a box around it.
An answer to additional questions posed in the problem, if any.

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

1. A 25 g ball of clay traveling east at 2.5 m{s collides with a 35 g ball of clay traveling
25 south of west at 1.5 m{s. What are the speed and the direction of the resulting 60 g
ball of clay?
Solution:

This is an inelastic two-dimensional conservation of momentum problem. Applying

conservation of momentum in the x-direction, the final momentum in the x-direction
is
pf x

pix
m1 pvix q1 ` m2 pvix q2
p0.025 kgqp2.5 m{sq p0.035 kgqp1.5 m{sq cos 25
0.0149 kg m{s

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

Applying conservation of momentum in the y-direction, the final momentum in the

y-direction is
pf y

piy
m1 pviy q1 ` m2 pviy q2
p0.025 kgqp0 m{sq p0.035 kgqp1.5 m{sq sin 25
0.0222 kg m{s

(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)

Next, we find the magnitude of the final momentum by combining the x- and ycomponents using the Pythagorean theorem:
a
pf
pf x ` pf y
(9)
a
p0.0149 kg m{sq2 ` p0.0222 kg m{sq2
(10)

0.0267 kg m{s
(11)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

Using the final momentum, we can solve for the final speed:
pf pm1 ` m2 qvf
pf
vf
m1 ` m2
0.0267 kg m{s

0.025 kg ` 0.035 kg
0.45 m{s

(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)

The direction is given by

pf y
tan
p
fx

0.0222 kg m{s
1
tan
0.0149 kg m{s

56
1

(17)
(18)
(19)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

2. Fred (mass 70 kg) is running with the football at a speed of 7.0 m{s when he is met
head-on by Brutus (mass 130 kg), who is moving at 5.0 m{s. Brutus grabs Fred in a
tight grip, and they fall to the ground. Which way do they slide, and how far? The
coefficient of kinetic friction between football uniforms and Astroturf is 0.25.
Solution:

This is an inelastic collision in which Fred and Brutus are moving toward each other.
Assume that Brutus is moving in the positive x-direction and Fred is moving in the
negative x-direction. Because momentum is conserved, we have
pix pf x
mB pvi qB mF pvi qF pmB ` mF qpvf q

(1)
(2)

Solving for the final velocity of Brutus and Fred,

mB pvi qB mF pvi qF
pmB ` mF q
p130 kgqp5.0 m{sq p70 kgqp7.0 m{sq

p130 kg ` 70 kgq
0.80 m{s

vf

(3)
(4)
(5)

Now that we know that Brutus and Fred moved to the right after the collision, we
can find the distance that they traveled. Friction slows them down, and therefore
the force of friction must act in the negative x-direction. The net force is equal to
the total mass (the mass of both players) times the acceleration.

Fx fk pmB ` mF qa
(6)
n pmB ` mF qa
pmB ` mF qg pmB ` mF qa
a g
p0.25q p9.8 m{s2 q
2.45 m{s2

(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

Finally, we can use the kinematic equation to find the distance traveled with vf 0:
vf2 vi2 ` 2ad
d

vi2

2a
p0.80 m{s2 q2

2 p2.45 m{s2 q
0.13 m
13 cm

(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

3. A roller coaster car on the frictionless track shown below starts from rest at height h.
The tracks valley and hill consist of circular-shaped segments of radius R.
(a) What is the maximum height hmax from which the car can start so as not to fly off
the track when going over the hill? Give your answer as a multiple of R. Hint First
find the maximum speed for going over the hill.
(b) Evaluate hmax for a roller coaster that has R 12 m.

Solution:
(a) When the car is in the valley and on the hill it can be considered to be in circular
motion. We start at the top of the hill and determine the maximum speed so
that the car stays on the track. We can use the equations for circular motion.
The acceleration is given by
v2
a ,
(1)
r
where the minus sign means that the centripetal acceleration points inward,
toward the center of the circular track.
The free-body diagram for the car at the top of the hill illustrates the two forces
acting on the car. Using Newtons second law, we know

F ma m

FN Fg m

v2
R

v2
R

(2)
(3)

When the normal force is greater than zero, the car is still touching the track.
Therefore, by setting the normal force equal to zero we can find the maximum
speed that the car can have and still stay on the track.
Fg

2
vmax
m
R

(4)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

v2
mg m max
a R
vmax
gR

Fall 2012

(5)
(6)

Now that we know the maximum velocity at the top of the hill, we can use
conservation of energy to find the starting height.
Kf ` Uf ` Ki ` Ui
1 2
1 2
mvmax ` mgyf
mv ` mgyi
2
2 i
1 2
mv
` mgyf 0 ` mgyi
2 max

(7)
(8)
(9)

Well use yf R for the height at the top of the hill and factor the mass term,
1 2
v
` gR 0 ` gyi
2 max
v2
yi max ` R
2g
We can now plug in our results for vmax from above
?
p gRq2
yi
`R
2g
R
`R

2
3R

(10)
(11)

(12)
(13)
(14)

(b) Plugging into the above equation, hmax for a roller coaster that has R 12 m
we get
yi

3R
3 12 m

18 m
2
2

(15)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

4. An 7.0 kg crate is pulled 6.0 m up a 25 incline by a rope angled 15 above the incline.
The tension in the rope is 110 N, and the crates coefficient of kinetic friction on the
incline is 0.3.
(a) How much work is done by tension, by gravity, and by the normal force?
(b) What is the increase in thermal energy of the crate and incline?
Solution:

(a) Find work done by tension, gravity and the normal

WT T r

Wg Fg r

WN 0 J

T x cosp15 q
p110 Nq p6.0 mq pcos 15 q
640 J
mgx cosp90 ` 25 q
p7 kgq p9.8 m{s2 q p6.0 mq pcos 115 q
174 J

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)

(b) Find the increase in thermal energy

Eth fk r
Fx x
k Fn x
To find the normal force,

Fy 0

(8)
(9)
(10)

(11)

Fn Fg cos 25 ` T sin 15 0
Fn Fg cos 25 T sin 15
p7.0 kgq p9.8 m{s2 q pcos 25 q p110 Nq psin 15 q
33.703 N

(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

Plugging this result into the equation for the thermal energy, we find
Eth k Fn x
p0.3q p33.703 Nq p6.0 mq
61 J

(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

5. A 6.0 kg cat leaps from the floor to the top of a 85 cm high table. If the cat pushes
against the floor for 0.25 s to accomplish this feat, what was her average power output
during the pushoff period?
Solution:
The average power output during the push-off period is equal to the work done by
the cat divided by the time the cat applied the force. Since the force on the floor by
the cat is equal in magnitude to the force on the cat by the floor, work done by the
cat can be found using the workkinetic-energy theorem during the push-off period:
Wnet Wfloor K. We do not need to explicitly calculate Wcat , since we know
that the cats kinetic energy is transformed into its potential energy during the leap.
In other words,
Ug mgpy2 y1 q
p6.0 kgqp9.8 m{s2 qp0.85 mq
49.98 J.

(1)
(2)
(3)

Thus, the average power output during the push-off period is

Wnet
t
49.98 J

0.25 s
200 W.

10

(4)
(5)
(6)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

6. You need to determine the density of a ceramic statue. If you suspend it from a spring
scale, the scale reads 26.0 N. If you then lower the statue into a tub of water, so that it
is completely submerged, the scale reads 15.0 N. What is the statues density?
Solution:

The buoyant force, FB , on the can is given by Archimedes principle.

The free-body diagram sketched above shows that the gravitational force of the
statue, FG,statue is balanced by the spring force, Fsp , and the buoyant force, FB
exerted by the water. Since the statue is in static equilibrium, we know that the
net force is zero. The rest of the solution follows through a series of substitutions,
recalling that the density of water is w 1000 kg m3 :
FB ` Fsp FG,statue 0
FB FG,statue Fsp
w Vstatue g FG,statue Fsp
FG,statue Fsp
Vstatue
w g
FG,statue Fsp
mstatue

statue
w g

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

statue
w g

mstatue
FG,statue Fsp
w mstatue g
statue
FG,statue Fsp
w FG,statue
statue
FG,statue Fsp
p1000 kg m3 q p26.0 Nq

p26.0 N 15.0 Nq
2360 kg m3 .

11

(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

7. A hurricane wind blows across a 5.0 m 18.0 m flat roof at a speed of 125 km/hr.

(a) Is the air pressure above the roof higher or lower than the pressure inside the house?
Explain.

(b) What is the pressure difference?

(c) How much force is exerted on the roof? If the roof cannot withstand this much
force, will it blow in or blow out?
Solution:
(a) The pressure above the roof is lower due to the higher velocity of the air.
(b) Bernoullis equation with yinside youtside is
1
pinside poutside ` air v 2
2
1
air v 2
p
2

2
1 hr
1
125 km 1000 m
3
p1.28 kg{m q

2
hr
km
3600 s
770 Pa.

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

The pressure difference is 0.77 kPa.

(c) The force on the roof is
Froof ppqA
p770 Paq p5.0 m 18.0 mq
6.9 104 N.

(5)
(6)
(7)

The roof will blow up, because the pressure inside the house is greater than the
pressure on the top of the roof.

12

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Fall 2012

8. A 120 g ice cube at 12 C is placed in an aluminum cup whose initial temperature is

65 C. The system comes to an equilibrium temperature of 15 C. What is the mass of
the cup?
Solution:
There are two interacting systems: aluminum and ice. The system comes to thermal
equilibrium in four steps: (1) the ice temperature increases from 12 C to 0 C;
(2) the ice becomes water at 0 C; (3) the water temperature increases from 0 C to
15 C; and (4) the cup temperature decreases from 65 C to 15 C.
Since the aluminum and ice form a closed system, we have
Q Q1 ` Q2 ` Q3 ` Q4 0.

(1)

Mice cice T
p0.120 kgq r2090 J{pkg Kqs p12 Kq
3010 J.
Mice Lf
p0.120 kgq p3.33 105 J{kgq
40, 000 J.
Mice cwater T
p0.120 kgq r4190 J{pkg Kqs p15 Kq
7540 J.
MAl cAl T
MAl r900 J{pkg Kqs p50 Kq
p45, 000 J{kgqMAl .

(2)

Each term is as follows:

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

(3)

(4)

(5)

Inserting everything into equation (1), we get

50, 550 J p45, 000 J{kgqMAl 0
MAl 1.1 kg.

13

(6)

Physics 130

General Physics - Moustakas

Kinematics and Mechanics

Energy

1
xf xi ` vxi t ` ax t2
2
vxf vxi ` ax t

Kf ` Ugf Ki ` Ugi

K ` U ` Eth Emech ` Eth Esys Wext

2
2
vxf
vxi
` 2ax pxf xi q

1
yf yi ` vyi t ` ay t2
2
vyf vyi ` ay t

1
f i ` i t ` t2
2
f i ` t
2

f i ` 2

s r
c 2r

vt r

v2
2r
r
2r
v
T

fk k FN
F~AonB F~BonA
Momentum

p~i p~f

p~ m~v

m1 m2
pvix q1
m1 ` m2
2m1
pvix q1
pvfx q2
m1 ` m2
pvfx q1

P E {t

Fluids and Thermal Energy

F
P
A
m

V
Q vA

Q MLf for freezing/melting

Q McT
2

v
F~net F~r ma m
r
Fg mg
0 fs s FN

~ ~v
P F

v1 A 1 v2 A 2
1
1
p1 ` v12 ` gy1 p2 ` v22 ` gy2
2
2
Qnet Q1 ` Q2 ` ... 0

ar

Forces
F~net F~ ma

Kf ` Uf ` Eth Ki ` Ui ` Wext
1
K mv 2
2
U mgy
Eth fk s
~ ~d
W F

2
2
vyf
vyi
` 2ay pyf yi q

Fall 2012

Constants
g 9.8 m{s2

Mearth 5.98 1024 kg

rearthsun 1.50 1011 m
water 1000 kg{m 3

air 1 .28 kg{m 3

J
cice 2090
kg K
J
cwater 4190
kg K
J
cAl 900
kg K
J
Lf 333 , 000
ice to water
kg

14