Physics 71 DQ 3

Discussion Quiz 3 (40 points)

Class No. & Surname:
U  U-1  U-2  U-3  U-4
Answer each question completely in the spaces provided. This is a closed notes quiz and you
are not allowed to discuss with your classmate. Round your final answer properly and box it.
Explicitly state the coordinate system you used. Use g = 9.80 [m/s2 ].

1. The position of a dog running in a park is described by

( ) ( ) ( )
⃗r = 0.350 [m/s ] ĵ t + −2.50 [m/s] î + 5.00 [m/s] ĵ t + 3.00 [m] î − 4.00 [m] ĵ .
2 2

Determine the following quantities:

(a) [2 pts] initial position, r⃗0

Solution: Using one of the kinematic equations, ⃗r = r⃗0 + v⃗0 t + 12⃗at2 , then
r⃗0 = 3.00 [m] î − 4.00 [m] ĵ

(b) [3 pts] initial velocity, v⃗0

Solution: It follows from part (a) that v⃗0 = −2.50 [m/s] î + 5.00 [m/s] ĵ

(c) [5 pts] acceleration, ⃗a

Solution: It also follows that ⃗a = 0.700 [m/s2 ] ĵ

Physics 71 DQ 3

(d) [5 pts] final velocity ⃗v at t = 10.0 [s]

Solution: We use the following equation to solve for the final velocity

⃗v = v⃗0 + ⃗at (1)

( ) ( )
= −2.50 [m/s] î + 5.00 [m/s] ĵ + 0.700 [m/s2 ] ĵ (10.0 [s]) (2)

⃗v = −2.50 [m/s] î + 12.0 [m/s] ĵ (3)

(e) [5 pts] Write the acceleration vector ⃗a at t = 10.0 [s] in terms of its parallel, ⃗a∥ ,
and perpendicular components, ⃗a⊥ , with respect to the velocity vector ⃗v calculated
previously.

Solution: First, we calculate the angle between the velocity and acceleration
vector. ( )
−1 12.0
θ⃗v = tan = −78.2◦ + 180◦ (4)
−2.50
and θ⃗a = 90.0◦ . (angles with respect to to +x-axis). The angle between ⃗a and
⃗v is 11.8◦ . Thus, we have

⃗a∥ = |0.700| cos(11.8◦ ) = 0.685 [m/s2 ] (5)

⃗a⊥ = |0.700| sin(11.8◦ ) = 0.143 [m/s2 ]. (6)
(7)

We write ⃗a = 0.685 [m/s2 ] ê∥ + 0.143 [m/s2 ] ê⊥ , where ê∥ and ê⊥ are unit
vectors in the direction parallel and perpendicular to ⃗v , respectively.
Physics 71 DQ 3

2. [10 pts] An airplane is flying with a velocity of 90.0 [m/s] at an angle of 23.0◦ above
the horizontal. When the plane is 114 [m] directly above a dog that is standing on
level ground, a suitcase drops out of the luggage compartment. How far from the dog
will the suitcase land? You can ignore air resistance.

Solution: The suitcase moves in a projectile motion with an initial velocity similar
to that of the airplane. Let +ĵ direction be upward, and +î be the horizontal
direction the plane is moving.
First, we write the velocity from magnitude-direction to component form.

⃗v = 90.0 cos(23.0◦ )î + 90.0 sin(23.0◦ )ĵ (8)

= 82.84î + 35.17ĵ (9)

Then, we calculate the time t along the vertical axis using the given quantities
ay = −9.8 [m/s2 ], y − y0 = −114 [m], and v0y = 35.17 [m/s].
1
y − y0 = v0y t + ay t2 (10)
2
−114 = 35.17t − 4.9t2 (11)
t = −2.42 [s], 9.60 [s] (12)

where we choose t = 9.60 [s]. Using the calculated time from the vertical motion,
we can now calculate the horizontal displacement using
1
x − x0 = v0x t + ax t2 . (13)
2
Since, acceleration is zero along the horizontal axis, then

x − x0 = v0x t (14)

which will give us x − x0 = 795 [m]

Physics 71 DQ 3

3. [10 pts] A boy swirls a stone in a horizontal circle of radius 1.5 [m] and at height 2.0 [m]
above level ground. The string breaks, and the stone flies off horizontally and strikes
the ground after traveling a horizontal distance of 10. [m]. What is the magnitude of
the centripetal acceleration of the stone during the circular motion?

Solution: The stone moves in a circular path (top view shown below left) initially,
but undergoes projectile motion after the string breaks. Since a = v 2 /R, to calculate
the centripetal acceleration of the stone, we need to know its speed during its circular
motion (this is also its initial speed when it flies off). We use the kinematic equations
of projectile motion to find that speed.
Taking the +y direction to be upward and placing the origin at the point where the
stone leaves its circular orbit, then the coordinates of the stone during its motion as
a projectile are given by x = v0 t and y = − 12 gt2 (since v0y = 0). It hits the ground
at x = 10. [m] and y = −2.0[m].
The y -equation gives the following
√
−2y
t= (15)
g

substituting this to the x-equation leads

√
x −g
v0 = = x = 15.7 [m/s] (16)
t 2y
Therefore, the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration is

v2
a= = 160 [m/s2 ] (17)
R