Physics 106 Example and Exercise Set IV (Vectors, Relative Motion & Projectile Motion)

1. Vector Warm-Ups
 A) Let A = 3i + 4j and let B = 5i + 12j. What is the magnitude of A? What is the magnitude of
B? What is A + B?
 B) Now let A = 3i−4j and let B = −5i−12j. What is the magnitude of A? What is the magnitude
of B? What is A+B?
 C) Show the region in the xy-plane that contains the end points of all possible vectors A+B
where A is a vector of magnitude 5 and B is a vector of magnitude 13.

2. A student can row a boat 8 km/h in still water. He is on one bank of an 8-km-wide river that has a
current of 4 km/h.
 A) What is the smallest amount of time he needs to get to the other bank, assuming that it’s
acceptable to land anywhere on the other shore?
 B) If the student wants to get to the point exactly across from where he starts, what angle should
his boat make with respect to a line running straight across the river?
 C) Take the point of view of an observer on the shore. In your reference frame, the student’s
velocity vector is the sum of a vector of length 8 km/h (his rowing speed in still water) and a
vector of length 4 km/h (the speed of the river’s current). In your reference frame, what is the
student’s speed in part (A)? In part (B)?

3. A cannon fires a projectile at an angle 𝜃 with respect to the

horizontal. The speed of the projectile as it
leaves the cannon’s barrel is v0.
A) Warm-up question (try answering this question without
looking at the textbook ): Find an expression that gives the
horizontal range of the shell, R, and the maximum height
reached by the shell, H, in terms of v0, 𝜃and g.

B) In what direction is the shell moving when it is at a height

H/2 above the ground.( Note that there are two locations
where the projectile is at a height H/2 above the ground.)

C) The standard textbook derivation of the range formula can be

described as a ‘components approach’. There is an alternative
derivation that uses a ‘whole vector approach’ and right triangle
relations..Derive the range formula, using the figure on the left as a
starting point.

4.A projectile is launched with an initial speed 𝑣 at an angle 𝛽

above a plane that is, in turn, inclined at an angle 𝛼 above the
horizontal.
A) Determine the range of the projectile along the incline.
Hint: One can solve this problem using a whole vector approach
and the law of sines. One can also solve this problem using a
‘components approach’ – the length of your calculation using the components approach will depend on
your choice of coordinate systems. Check whether or not the answer you obtain for the special case 𝛼 =
0 makes sense.
B)For fixed values of 𝛼 and 𝑣 , determine the value of 𝛽 that maximizes the range, R, up the incline –
call this angle 𝛽 . Check whether or not the answer you obtain for the special case 𝛼 = 0 makes
sense.

5. Firecrackers are launched in all directions from a point on the ground. If the maximum launching
speed of a firecracker is u. Determine the equation of the curve separating the safe region and the unsafe
region.