EXERCISES - Physics 1 (MEng1)

Problem n. 1 [30 points]

There are four position-time graphs of linear motion of cars A, B, C and D shown in the picture (Graphs A, B
and C are linear, graph D is parabolic).

(a) Determine the average speed of each car on the interval from 0 s to 4 s.
(b) Determine the instantaneous speed of each car at t = 4 s.
(c) Determine the total displacement at 𝑡𝑡1 = 7 𝑠𝑠 of each car provided that the motion continues with the
same time dependence as shown in the picture.

Solution

(a)

Δ𝑥𝑥 0 m
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴) 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = = = 0 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
Δ𝑡𝑡 4s

Δ𝑥𝑥 5 − 2 m
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐵𝐵) 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = = = 0.75 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
Δ𝑡𝑡 4s

Δ𝑥𝑥 5 m
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶) 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = = = 1.25 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
Δ𝑡𝑡 4s

Δ𝑥𝑥 5 m
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐷𝐷) 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = = = 1.25 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
Δ𝑡𝑡 4s

(b)

The speed does not change with time for graphs A, B and C. Instantaneous speed is equal to the average speed
and is equal to the slope of the lines:

1
 Δ𝑥𝑥 0 m
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴) 𝑣𝑣(𝑡𝑡) = = = 0 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
Δ𝑡𝑡 4s

Δ𝑥𝑥 5 − 2 m
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐵𝐵) 𝑣𝑣(𝑡𝑡) = = = 0.75 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
Δ𝑡𝑡 4s

Δ𝑥𝑥 5 m
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶) 𝑣𝑣(𝑡𝑡) = = = 1.25 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
Δ𝑡𝑡 4s

Case D. The displacement of a uniformly accelerated linear motion is

a𝑡𝑡 2
𝑠𝑠(𝑡𝑡) = 𝑠𝑠0 + 𝑣𝑣0 𝑡𝑡 +
2

From the graph we have 𝑠𝑠0 = 𝑠𝑠(0) = 0 and 𝑣𝑣0 = 𝑣𝑣(0) = 0. Hence

a𝑡𝑡 2 2𝑠𝑠(𝑡𝑡)
𝑠𝑠(𝑡𝑡) = ⇒ 𝑎𝑎 = 2
2 𝑡𝑡

2𝑠𝑠(4) 2 × 5𝑚𝑚
𝑎𝑎 = = = 0.625 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠 2
𝑡𝑡 2 (4𝑠𝑠)2

The instantaneous speed is

𝑣𝑣(𝑡𝑡) = 𝑣𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎

𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚
𝑣𝑣(4) = 0.625 2
× 4𝑠𝑠 = 2.5 .
𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠

(c)

Case A. The car is at rest

𝑠𝑠(7) = 5 𝑚𝑚

Case B. The car moves in a uniform linear motion with a non-zero initial displacement

𝑚𝑚
𝑠𝑠(𝑡𝑡) = 𝑠𝑠𝐵𝐵0 + 𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵0 𝑡𝑡 ⇒ 𝑠𝑠(7) = 2 𝑚𝑚 + 0.75 7𝑠𝑠 = 7.25 𝑚𝑚
𝑠𝑠

Case C. The car moves in a uniform linear motion with a zero initial displacement

𝑚𝑚
𝑠𝑠(𝑡𝑡) = 𝑠𝑠𝐶𝐶0 + 𝑣𝑣𝐶𝐶0 𝑡𝑡 ⇒ 𝑠𝑠(7) = 1.25 7𝑠𝑠 = 8.75 𝑚𝑚
𝑠𝑠

Case D. The car moves in a uniformly accelerated linear motion with a zero initial displacement

a𝐷𝐷 𝑡𝑡 2 1 𝑚𝑚
𝑠𝑠(𝑡𝑡) = 𝑠𝑠𝐷𝐷0 + 𝑣𝑣𝐷𝐷0 𝑡𝑡 + ⇒ 𝑠𝑠(7) = 0.625 2 (7𝑠𝑠)2 = 15.31 𝑚𝑚
2 2 𝑠𝑠

2
Problem n. 2 [30 points]

A mouse is moving in a straight line with a constant velocity 𝑣𝑣𝑚𝑚 = (6, −2) 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠 from the point A(0,1) m. A
cat is moving in a straight line with a constant velocity 𝑣𝑣𝑐𝑐 = (8,1) 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠 from the point B(0,-1) m.

(a) Determine the place where their paths will intersect. Are they going to meet there?
(b) Determine the time when the cat and the mouse are the nearest.
(c) Determine the minimum distance between the cat and the mouse.

Solution

6 8

(a)

The equations of the mouse line are

𝑥𝑥𝑚𝑚 = 6𝑡𝑡
�
𝑦𝑦𝑚𝑚 = 1 − 2𝑡𝑡

and eliminating 𝑡𝑡

𝑥𝑥𝑚𝑚
𝑡𝑡 =
6

the line equation (trajectory of the mouse) is

𝑥𝑥𝑚𝑚
𝑦𝑦𝑚𝑚 = 1 − 2
6

For the cat line:

𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐 = 8𝑡𝑡
�
𝑦𝑦𝑐𝑐 = −1 + 𝑡𝑡

and eliminating 𝑡𝑡

3
 𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐
𝑡𝑡 =
8

the line equation (trajectory of the cat) is

𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐
𝑦𝑦𝑐𝑐 = −1 + .
8

The intersection point of the trajectories, set 𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐 = 𝑥𝑥𝑚𝑚 = 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦𝑐𝑐 = 𝑦𝑦𝑚𝑚 = 𝑦𝑦, is obtained by the system:

𝑥𝑥
𝑦𝑦 = 1 −
� 3
𝑥𝑥
𝑦𝑦 = −1 +
8

Solved:

48
𝑥𝑥 =
� 11
5
𝑦𝑦 = −
11
48 5
The coordinate of the intersection point P are � ,− � m.
11 11

The mouse is at the point P at the time:

𝑥𝑥 1 48 8
𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚 = = 𝑠𝑠 = 𝑠𝑠
6 6 11 11

The cat is at the point P at the time:

𝑥𝑥 1 48 6
𝑡𝑡𝑐𝑐 = = 𝑠𝑠 = 𝑠𝑠
8 8 11 11

The arrival times are different so that the cat and the mouse do not meet at the point P.

(b)

Let us now find the time at which the cat and the mouse are at the minimum distance L. The distance L between
the cat and the mouse is

𝐿𝐿(𝑡𝑡) = �(𝑥𝑥𝑐𝑐 − 𝑥𝑥𝑚𝑚 )2 + (𝑦𝑦𝑐𝑐 − 𝑦𝑦𝑚𝑚 )2 = �(8𝑡𝑡 − 6𝑡𝑡)2 + (−1 + 𝑡𝑡 − 1 + 2𝑡𝑡)2 = �13𝑡𝑡 2 − 12𝑡𝑡 + 4

The minimum distance is then given by:

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑(𝑡𝑡) 1 26𝑡𝑡 − 12
= =0
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2 √13𝑡𝑡 2 − 12𝑡𝑡 + 4

26𝑡𝑡 − 12
=0
√13𝑡𝑡 2 − 12𝑡𝑡 + 4

26𝑡𝑡 − 12 = 0
4
 12 6
𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝑠𝑠 = 𝑠𝑠 = 0.4615 𝑠𝑠
26 13

which provides the time at which the mouse and the cat are nearest.

(c)

The minimum distance is then given by:

2
6 2 6 100
𝐿𝐿𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝐿𝐿(𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 ) = �13𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 − 12𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 + 4 = �10( ) − 12 + 4 𝑚𝑚 = � 𝑚𝑚 = 0.7692 𝑚𝑚.
13 13 169

Problem n. 3 [20 points]

A wooden cylinder is immersed in water, 2/3 of its height is submerged. The radius of the cylinder is 20 cm
and its total height h is 100 cm. Which is the work necessary to take the cylinder out so that the bottom base
of the cylinder is lifted 30 cm above the water surface?

Solution

The forces acting on the cylinder are:

- 𝑊𝑊 = 𝐹𝐹𝐺𝐺 weight
- 𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵 buoyant force

Since the cylinder is floating, the weight is in balance with the buoyant force:

𝐹𝐹𝐺𝐺 = 𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵

𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 𝑔𝑔

where 𝑚𝑚 is the mass of the cylinder, g is the acceleration of gravity, 𝜌𝜌 is the density of water, 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 is the volume
of the submerged part of the cylinder. We have

5
 𝜌𝜌𝑐𝑐 𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐 𝑔𝑔 = 𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 𝑔𝑔

where 𝜌𝜌𝑐𝑐 is the density of the wood of the cylinder, 𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐 is the volume of the cylinder.

2
Since 𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐 = 𝑆𝑆ℎ and 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 = 𝑆𝑆 ℎ (where S is the area of the basis of the cylinder), we have
3

2 2
𝜌𝜌𝑐𝑐 𝑆𝑆ℎ𝑔𝑔 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 ℎ𝑔𝑔 ⇒ 𝜌𝜌𝑐𝑐 = 𝜌𝜌
3 3

Let us now lift the cylinder of the amount x out of water. The submerged volume reduces and then the buoyant
force reduces too. We have to hold the cylinder with a force F whose magnitude is equal to the decrease of the
buoyant force:

𝐹𝐹 = 𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌

where 𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 is the volume of the cylinder taken out of the amount x from the water.

2
The work done to lift the cylinder of the height ℎ is then given by:
3

2 2 2 2
ℎ ℎ ℎ ℎ
3 3 3 𝑥𝑥 2 3 1 4ℎ2 2 2
𝑊𝑊1 = � 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = � 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 � 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 � � = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌ℎ2 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝑟𝑟 2 𝑔𝑔ℎ2
0 0 0 2 0 2 9 9 9

2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 2
𝑚𝑚 2
𝑚𝑚2
= 1000 3 𝜋𝜋(0.20𝑚𝑚) 9.81 2 (1.00𝑚𝑚) = 273.947 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 2 273.947 𝐽𝐽
9 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠

being r the radius of the cylinder.

The work needed to lift the cylinder the height d above the water surface is equal to the increase of the potential
energy of the cylinder

2 2 2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚
𝑊𝑊2 = Δ𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝜌𝜌𝑐𝑐 𝑆𝑆ℎ𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌ℎ𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝑟𝑟 2 𝑔𝑔ℎ𝑑𝑑 = 1000 3 𝜋𝜋(0.20𝑚𝑚)2 9.81 2 1.00𝑚𝑚 × 0.30 𝑚𝑚
3 3 3 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠
= 246.552 𝐽𝐽

Note. Alternative derivation of 𝑊𝑊2 . The work is done by a force whose magnitude is equal to the weight of the
cylinder:

𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑
𝑊𝑊2 = � 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚.
0 0

The total work is

2 2 2 1
𝑊𝑊 = 𝑊𝑊1 + 𝑊𝑊2 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝑟𝑟 2 𝑔𝑔ℎ2 + 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝑟𝑟 2 ℎ𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 = 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝑟𝑟 2 𝑔𝑔ℎ � ℎ + 𝑑𝑑� = 520.499 𝐽𝐽
9 3 3 3

6
Problem n. 4 [20 points]

An electron moves into a homogeneous electric field against the direction of the line of force. The initial
electron speed is 20 Km/s. The electric field intensity is 10 N/C. Calculate the speed of the electron when it
has travelled 10 cm in the field.

Solution

The charge of an electron is negative so the affecting force on the electron 𝑭𝑭𝑒𝑒 has the opposite direction in
comparison with the electric field vector 𝑬𝑬:

𝑭𝑭𝑒𝑒 = −𝑒𝑒𝑬𝑬

Since 𝑬𝑬 is constant the force is constant and the force will uniformly accelerate the electron. From Newton’s
second law

𝐹𝐹𝑒𝑒 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
𝑎𝑎 = =
𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚

where m is the mass of the electron (do not confuse the mass with the unit length m as a “meter”). The length
s of the trajectory of the electron is related to the speed and the acceleration by

𝑣𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑣02 + 2𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 (∗)

so that

𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
𝑣𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑣02 + 2𝑠𝑠
𝑚𝑚

𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
𝑣𝑣 = �𝑣𝑣02 + 2𝑠𝑠
𝑚𝑚

7
Noting that

𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 𝑚𝑚
𝑣𝑣0 = 20 = 20 × 103
𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠

𝑁𝑁 𝑉𝑉
𝐸𝐸 = 10 = 10
𝐶𝐶 𝑚𝑚

𝑠𝑠 = 10 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 10−1 𝑚𝑚

𝑒𝑒 = 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶𝐶

𝑚𝑚 = 9.11 × 10−31 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾

𝑁𝑁
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 � 𝑚𝑚 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶𝐶 × 10
𝑣𝑣 = �𝑣𝑣02 + 2𝑠𝑠 = (20 × 103 )2 + 2 × 10−1 𝑚𝑚 𝐶𝐶 = 593011 𝑚𝑚 = 593.011 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾
𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 9.11 × 10−31 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠

The derivation of the formula (*) is

𝑣𝑣 − 𝑣𝑣0
𝑣𝑣 = 𝑣𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ⇒ 𝑡𝑡 =
𝑎𝑎

1 𝑣𝑣 − 𝑣𝑣0 1 𝑣𝑣 − 𝑣𝑣0 2
Δ𝑠𝑠 = 𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑠0 = 𝑣𝑣0 𝑡𝑡 + 𝑎𝑎𝑡𝑡 2 = 𝑣𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑎 � �
2 𝑎𝑎 2 𝑎𝑎

2aΔ𝑠𝑠 = (𝑣𝑣 − 𝑣𝑣0 )2 + 2𝑣𝑣0 (𝑣𝑣 − 𝑣𝑣0 ) = 𝑣𝑣 2 − 2𝑣𝑣0 𝑣𝑣 + 𝑣𝑣0 2 + 2𝑣𝑣0 𝑣𝑣 − 2𝑣𝑣02 = 𝑣𝑣 2 − 𝑣𝑣02

𝑣𝑣 2 = 𝑣𝑣02 + 2aΔ𝑠𝑠