PHY 131: Online Tutorial Test Assignment 1

Week: 11 May to 15 May 2020

Due date: 18 May 16:00
WORK, ENERGY AND POWER
(1) A husband and wife take turns pulling their child in a wagon along a horizontal
sidewalk. Each exerts a constant force and pulls the wagon through the same
displacement. They do the same amount of work, but the husband’s pulling force is
directed 58 above the horizontal, and the wife’s pulling force is directed 38 above
the horizontal. The husband pulls with a force whose magnitude is 67 N. Calculate the
magnitude of the pulling force exerted by his wife. [4]
Solution:
𝑊𝑤 = 𝑊ℎ ✔ set work quantities equal to each other
∴ 𝐹𝑤 ∆𝑥 cos 𝜃𝑤 = 𝐹ℎ ∆𝑥 cos 𝜃ℎ ✔ correct expressions for work
𝐹ℎ cos 𝜃ℎ
∴ 𝐹𝑤 = cos 𝜃𝑤
✔ Δx cancel
(67 N) cos 58°
∴ 𝐹𝑤 =
cos 38°
(67 N) cos 58°
∴ 𝐹𝑤 = cos 38°

∴ 𝐹𝑤 = 45 N ✔ correct answer. If no unit, mark wrong

(2) An extreme skier, starting from rest, coasts down a mountain slope that makes an
angle of 25.0 with the horizontal. The coefficient of kinetic friction between her skis
and the snow is 0.200. She coasts down a distance of 10.4 m before coming to the
edge of a cliff. Without slowing down, she skis off the cliff and lands downhill at a
point with vertical distance 3.50 m below the edge. Use the Work-Kinetic energy
theorem to determine how fast she is going just before she lands. [8]
[Note: no marks will be awarded if methods other than the Work-Kinetic energy
theorem are used]
Solution:

Free-body-diagram ✔ all forces must be there

when coasting down (components not necessary) and
sloap. set of axes MUST also be
indicated.
Can be mirror image.
Δx
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑡 𝑦 = ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑁 − 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 = 0

∴ 𝑁 = 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃
∴ 𝑓 = 𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 ✔ getting/using such an expression for friction force magnitude

Total work can be determined in 2 ways (left OR right):

𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑡 = 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑡 𝑥 = −𝑓 + 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 𝑾𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝑾𝒇 + 𝑾𝒈 + 𝑾𝑵

∴ 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑡 = −𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 + 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 ∴ 𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑓 𝛥𝑥 cos 180°
+ 𝑚𝑔 𝛥𝑥 cos(90° − 𝜃)
𝑾𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝑭𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕 𝜟𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟎° + 0
∴ 𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = −𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 𝛥𝑥 + ∴ 𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = −𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 𝛥𝑥
𝑚𝑔 𝛥𝑥 sin 𝜃 + 𝑚𝑔 𝛥𝑥 sin(𝜃)

✔ using one of the red expressions for total work

✔ for correct total work

1 1
𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = ∆𝐾 = 𝐾𝑓 − 𝐾𝑖 =
2
𝑚 𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑚 𝑣𝑖 2
2
✔ work-kinetic energy theorem

1 1
∴ 𝑚 𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑚 (0)2 = −𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 𝛥𝑥 + 𝑚𝑔 𝛥𝑥 sin 𝜃
2 2
1
∴ 𝑚 𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑚𝑔𝛥𝑥( sin 𝜃 −𝜇𝑘 cos 𝜃 )
2

∴ 𝑣𝑓 = √2𝑔𝛥𝑥( sin 𝜃 −𝜇𝑘 cos 𝜃 ) ✔ getting correct expression for vf

∴ 𝑣𝑓 = √2(9.80 m/s2 )(10.4 m)( sin 25° − 0.200 cos 25° )

∴ 𝑣𝑓 = 7.014139335 m/s

Free-body-diagram
when falling off cliff
Δy
Fg
 1 2 1 2
𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑚 𝑣′𝑓 − 𝑚 𝑣′𝑖
2 2
But 𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑊𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ cos 0 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ and 𝑣′𝑖 = 𝑣𝑓 . Also let 𝑣′𝑖 = 𝑣
1 1
∴ 𝑚𝑔ℎ =
2
𝑚 𝑣 2 − 𝑚 𝑣𝑓 2
2
✔ total work correct and use work-kinetic energy theorem

∴ 𝑣 = √2𝑔ℎ + 𝑣𝑓 2

∴ 𝑣 = √2(9.80 m/s2 )(3.50 m) + (7.014139335 m/s)2

∴ 𝑣 = 10.9 m/s ✔ correct answer. If no unit, mark wrong

(3) A 1900-kg car experiences a combined force of air resistance and friction that has the
same magnitude whether the car goes up or down a hill at 27 m/s. Going up a hill, the
car’s engine produces 35.10 kW more power to sustain the constant velocity than it
does going down the same hill. Calculate at what angle the hill is inclined above the
horizontal. [8]

Solution 1 (see Solution 2 below):

Car going downhill Car going uphill

Δx Δx

FN: Normal force

✔ drawing at least one or both Fb diagrams,
FR: Combined force of air resistance and friction
indicating all forces and set of axes
Fg: Force of gravity
FD: Force applied by engine downhill
FU: Force applied by engine uphill

Note: Constant velocity up- and downhill implies equilibrium.

Also: 𝐹𝑅 ≠ 𝜇𝐹𝑁 , because FR is combined force of air resistance and friction.
For going downhill:
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = −𝐹𝐷 + 𝐹𝑅 − 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 = 0
∴ 𝐹𝐷 = 𝐹𝑅 − 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃
✔ getting this expression for force down
The power of the downwards force is then:
𝑃𝐷 = 𝐹𝐷 𝑣 cos 0
∴ 𝑃𝐷 = 𝑣(𝐹𝑅 − 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃) ✔ getting this expression for power down

For going uphill:

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹𝑈 − 𝐹𝑅 − 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 = 0
∴ 𝐹𝑈 = 𝐹𝑅 + 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 ✔ getting this expression for force up
The power of the downwards force is then:
𝑃𝑈 = 𝐹𝑈 𝑣 cos 0
∴ 𝑃𝑈 = 𝑣(𝐹𝑅 + 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃) ✔ getting this expression for power up

Difference in power going up compared to going down is given as ∆𝑃 = 35.10 kW. So:
∆𝑃 = 𝑃𝑈 − 𝑃𝐷 ✔ using difference in power up and down
∴ ∆𝑃 = 𝑣(𝐹𝑅 + 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃) − 𝑣(𝐹𝑅 − 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃)
∴ ∆𝑃 = 𝑣𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 + 𝑣𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃
✔ FR (or PR) cancel

∆𝑃
∴ sin 𝜃 =
2𝑚𝑔𝑣

35.10 kW
∴ sin 𝜃 = 2(1900 kg)(9.80 m/s2)(27 m/s)

∴ 𝜃 = 2.00°
✔ correct answer
Solution 2:

Car going downhill Car going uphill

Δx

Δx

∆𝑈 = 𝑚𝑔∆𝑦, where y direction is now vertically up. Rate of change of potential energy:
∆𝑈 𝑚𝑔∆𝑦 ∆𝑦
= = 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔𝑣𝑦 ✔
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡 ∆𝑡 getting/using rate of change of potential energy
Downhill:
∆𝑈
= −𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃
∆𝑡

Uphill:
∆𝑈
= 𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃
∆𝑡

✔ using one of the two circles expressions

From either Work-Kinetic energy theorem or Mechanical energy:
Work-Kinetic energy theorem: Mechanical energy:
𝑊𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = ∆𝐾 = 0
∴ 𝑊𝑅 + 𝑊𝑈/𝐷 + 𝑊𝑔 = 0 𝑊𝑛𝑐 = ∆𝐸 = ∆𝐾 + ∆𝑈
∴ 𝑊𝑅 + 𝑊𝑈/𝐷 + 𝑊𝑔 = 0 ∴ 𝑊𝑛𝑐 = ∆𝑈
∴ 𝑊𝑅 + 𝑊𝑈/𝐷 − ∆𝑈 = 0 ∴ 𝑊𝑅 + 𝑊𝑈/𝐷 = ∆𝑈
∴ 𝑊𝑈/𝐷 = ∆𝑈−𝑊𝑅 ∴ 𝑊𝑈/𝐷 = ∆𝑈−𝑊𝑅

𝑊𝑈/𝐷 ∆𝑈 𝑊𝑅
∴ = −
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡 ∆𝑡

∆𝑈
✔ getting this or similar
∴ 𝑃𝑈/𝐷 = − 𝑃𝑅 expression for power up and/or
∆𝑡
down
Downhill:
𝑃𝐷 = −𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 − 𝑃𝑅
∴ 𝑃𝐷 = −𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 − 𝐹𝑅 𝑣 cos 180
∴ 𝑃𝐷 = −𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 + 𝐹𝑅 𝑣 ✔ getting this expression for power down
Uphill:
𝑃𝑈 = 𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 − 𝑃𝑅
∴ 𝑃𝑈 = 𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 − 𝐹𝑅 𝑣 cos 180
∴ 𝑃𝑈 = 𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 + 𝐹𝑅 𝑣 ✔ getting this expression for power up

Difference in power going up compared to going down is given as ∆𝑃 = 35.10 kW. So:
∆𝑃 = 𝑃𝑈 − 𝑃𝐷 ✔ using difference in power up and down
∴ ∆𝑃 = 𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 + 𝐹𝑅 𝑣 − (−𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 + 𝐹𝑅 𝑣)
∴ ∆𝑃 = 𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃 + 𝑚𝑔𝑣 sin 𝜃
✔ FR (or PR) cancel

∆𝑃
∴ sin 𝜃 =
2𝑚𝑔𝑣
35.10 kW
∴ sin 𝜃 = 2(1900 kg)(9.80 m/s2)(27 m/s)

∴ 𝜃 = 2.00°
✔ correct answer