Physics 71 DQ 4

Discussion Quiz 4 (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. [10 pts] A light plane attains an airspeed of 500 [km/h]. The pilot sets out for a
destination 800 [km] due north but discovers that the plane must be headed 20.0◦ east
of due north to fly there directly. The plane arrives in 2.00 [h]. What is the wind
velocity vector?

Solution: Assume that +ĵ is north and +î is east. The destination is D ⃗ =
800 [km] ĵ . This take two hours so ⃗vpg = 400 [km/h] ĵ . This is the vector sum of
⃗vpa and ⃗vag . Thus,

⃗vpg = ⃗vpa + ⃗vag (1)

400 [km/h] ĵ = 500 cos 70.0◦ [km/h] î + 500 sin 70.0◦ [km/h] ĵ + ⃗vag (2)
⃗vag = 400 [km/h] ĵ − 500 cos 70.0◦ [km/h] î − 500 sin 70.0◦ [km/h] ĵ
(3)

which yields
⃗vag = −171 [km/h] î − 70.0 [km/h] ĵ (4)
Physics 71 DQ 4

2. The following figure shows four penguins that are being playfully pulled along very
slippery (frictionless) ice by a curator. The masses of three penguins and the tension
in two of the cords are m1 = 12 [kg], m3 = 15 [kg], m4 = 20 [kg], T2 = 111 [N], and
T4 = 222 [N].
(a) [5 pts] Draw the free diagram of the four penguins.

(b) [5 pts] Find the penguin mass m2 that is not given.

Solution: Apply Newton’s law.

T4 = (m1 + m2 + m3 + m4 )a (5)
222 = (12 + m2 + 15 + 20)a. (6)

Next, we consider penguins 3 and 4 as one system. Thus,

T4 − T2 = (m3 + m4 )a (7)
111 = (15 + 20)(a) (8)
a = 3.2 [m/s2 ] (9)

Finally, m2 = 23 [kg]
Physics 71 DQ 4

3. Consider the following figure.

(a) [3 pts] An 11.0 [kg] salami is supported by a cord that runs to a spring scale,
which is supported by a cord hung from the ceiling. What is the reading on the
scale, which is marked in SI weight units?

Solution: We first note that the reading on the spring scale is proportional to
the weight of the salami. In all three cases (a) - (c) depicted in the figure, the
scale is not accelerating, which means that the two cords exert forces of equal
magnitude on it. The scale reads the magnitude of either of these forces. In
each case the tension force of the cord attached to the salami must be the same
in magnitude as the weight of the salami because the salami is not accelerating.
Thus the scale reading is mg , where m is the mass of the salami.
In all three cases (a) - (c), the reading on the scale is

w = mg = 108 [N] (10)

(b) [3 pts] The salami is now supported by a cord that runs around a pulley and to a
scale. The opposite end of the scale is attached by a cord to a wall. What is the
reading on the scale?

Solution:
w = mg = 108 [N] (11)

(c) [4 pts] The wall has been replaced with a second 11.0 [kg] salami, and the assembly
is stationary. What is the reading on the scale?
Physics 71 DQ 4

Solution:
w = mg = 108 [N] (12)

4. The upward normal force exerted by the floor is 620 [N] on an elevator passenger who
weighs 650 [N].
(a) [5 pts] What are the reaction forces to these two forces?

Solution: The reaction to the upward normal force on the passenger is the
downward normal force, also of magnitude 620 [N], that the passenger exerts
on the floor. The reaction to the passenger’s weight is the gravitational force
that the passenger exerts on the earth, upward and also of magnitude 650 [N].

(b) [5 pts] Is the passenger accelerating? If so, what are the magnitude and direction
of the acceleration?

Solution: Yes, the acceleration is

∑
Fy = may (13)
∑
Fy
ay = = 0.452 [m/s2 ] (14)
m
in the downward direction.