Midterm 1
 Physics I

Prof. Carlos Martínez T.

Sample Exam
1. Which of the following expressions correctly describes the relationship satisfied by
the four vectors that appear on the figure to the right?


a) 
A
~+B
~ +C
~ +D
~ b) C

~ = A
~+B
~ ~
D c)
 D
~ =A
~+B
~ +C
~

 
 

~+D
d)
 A ~ =B
~ +C
~ ~=B
e)
 A ~ ~ +D
C ~


⇥ 2
⇤
2. If the position of a person is given by ~r(t) = [0.50 3.00t] î + 4.00t + 2.00t ĵ, where the position is
measured in meters, and the time t in seconds, what is its speed at t=0?

a) 0
 b) 3.00(m/s)
 c) 4.00(m/s)
 d) 5.00(m/s)
 e) It cannot be

determined




3. The position Vs time graph describing the motion of a person

is shown in the figure to the right. What is the person’s mean
(average) velocity vavg,x during the interval that goes from t=0 to
t=1(s)?

a) -2.0(m/s)
 b) -1.0(m/s)
 c) 0


 


 

d) 1.0(m/s)
 e) 2.0(m/s)














4. A person is running on a circular track of radius R=15.0(m). At a given moment, the person is running at
4.50(m/s), but slowing down at a rate of 2.00(m/s2) What is the magnitude of the person’s acceleration?

a) 0.65 (m/s2)
 b) 1.35 (m/s2)
 c) 2.41 (m/s2)
 d) 3.35 (m/s2)
 e) 4.92 (m/s2)






5. Two sisters, Camila and Elena move along the x-axis. At

t=0 both are at the origin (x=0). Te figure to the right
shows their velocity Vs time graphs.



At what moment do they have the same speed?


a) t=0
 b) t=0.2(s) 
 c) t=1.0(s)


 

d) t=2.0(s) 
 e) Nowhere in the graph
do they have the same
speed

 Midterm 1
 Physics I
Prof. Carlos Martínez T.
Sample Exam
6. The Magnus Effect describes the force that allows spinning balls to follow curved trajectories in the air (like
soccer free-kicks and curveball pitches in baseball). This effect is calculated with the cross product of two
vectors: F~ = U
~ ⇥V ~.

~ = 3.00î 2.00ĵ, V
Find the magnitud of the force vector due to the Magnus Effect if 
 U ~ = 1.00î + 2.00k̂

a) 0 b) 3.00 c) 4.00 d) 7.48 e) 8.06


7. A juggler throws a ball with her left hand and catches it with her right hand. Both hands are at the same
height. We observe that the ball is thrown at an angle of 60.0º w.r.t. horizontal. If we measure that the ball
lasts 0.450(s) in the air before being caught, what was the ball’s initial speed? Ignore air resistance.


a) 2.21 (m/s) b) 2.55 (m/s)
 c) 3.82(m/s)
 d) 4.41 (m/s)
 e) 7.23 (m/s)


8. A severely intoxicated person walks 3.00(m) to the right, then 5.00(m) to the left, then 4.00(m) to the right
again, and lastly 1.00(m) to the left. The person’s total displacement and traveled distance are:


a) 1.00(m), b) 13.0(m), c) 1.00(m) to the d) 13.0(m), e) 13.0(m) to the

13.0(m)
 1.00(m)
 right, 13.0(m)
 1.00(m) to the right, 1.00(m) to
right
 the right


9. The vector obtained by adding two vectors A ⃗ and B ⃗ of equal magnitudes, will have its maximum
magnitude when:
a) A ⃗ and B ⃗ are perpendicular
b) A ⃗ and B ⃗ have the same direction
c) A ⃗ and B ⃗ have opposite directions
d) A ⃗ and B ⃗ are 45º apart
e) It cannot be determined without knowing the magnitudes of A ⃗ and B 
 ⃗

10. A self-driving car is going at 60(km/h) —which is about 16.7m/s)— when its sensors notice that the car
ahead is not moving, and it is only t 40(m) ahead. If the brakes generate a constant acceleration of
magnitude 4.0(m/s2), what will happen if the self-driving car starts breaking immediately?
a) The self-driving car will stop about 35(m) behind the car ahead
b) The self-driving car will crash into the car ahead, while going at about 7(m/s)
c) The self-driving car will stop right before crashing into the car ahead
d) The self-driving car will stop about 5(m) behind the car ahead
e) The self-driving car will crash into the car ahead, while going at 30(m/s)

Correct Answers
1-b, 2-d, 3-a, 4-c, 5-d, 6-d, 7-b, 8-c, 9-b, 10-d
 Midterm 1
 Physics I
Prof. Carlos Martínez T.
Sample Exam