NSU, Spring 2022

Department of Mathematics and Physics

PHY 107, Assignment 1, Section 1
Due date 13 February, 2022
Total points: 30

Rules to submit the solutions:

a) Carefully write your Section, Student ID, and Name.

b) Solve each problem in separate page(s).
c) Make a pdf file such that the problems are ordered, and then upload the file in CANVAS.

Answer all the questions:

[5]
1. Assume that an iron atom has a mass of 17 × 10−22 𝑔 and has a density of 11.52 × 102 𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 . If the
atoms are spherical and tightly packed, (a) What is the volume of an iron atom and (b) What is the distance
between the centers of consecutive atoms?
[5]
2. The mass m of the water is given as a function of time t by𝑚 = 5𝑡 0.8 − 3𝑡 + 20, with 𝑡 ≥ 0, m in grams,
and t in seconds. (a) At what time is the water mass greatest, and (b) what is that greatest mass? In
kilograms per minute, what is the rate of mass change at (c) 𝑡 = 2 𝑠 and (d) 𝑡 = 5 𝑠?

[5]
3. Suppose that, while lying on a beach near the equator watching the Sun set over a calm ocean, you start a
stopwatch just as the top of the Sun disappears. You then stand, elevating your eyes by a height 𝐻 =
1.70 𝑚, and stop the watch when the top of the Sun again disappears. If the elapsed time is t = 11.1 s,
what is the radius r of “Earth”?
[5]
2 3
4. The position function x(t) of a particle moving along an x axis is 𝑥 = −8𝑡 + 4𝑡 + 2𝑡, with x in meters
and t in seconds. (a) At what time and (b) Where does the particle stop? At what (c) negative time and (d)
positive time does the particle pass through the origin? (e) Graph x versus t for the range −0.3𝑠 to +0.3𝑠.

[5]
5. A car moves along an x axis through a distance of 750 m, starting at rest and ending at rest. Through the
1
first of that distance, its acceleration is +2.30 𝑚𝑠 −2 . Through the rest of that distance, its acceleration is
4
−0.68 𝑚𝑠 −2 . What are (a) Its travel time through the 750 m and (b) Its maximum speed? (c) Graph
position x versus time t for the trip.
[5]
6. The position of a particle moving along an x axis is given by 𝑥 = −2𝑡 3 + 12𝑡 2 , where x is in meters and t
is in seconds. Determine (a) the position, (b) the velocity, and (c) the acceleration of the particle at 𝑡 = 3 s.
(d) What is the maximum positive coordinate reached by the particle and (e) at what time is it reached? (f)
What is the maximum positive velocity reached by the particle and (g) at what time is it reached? (h) What
is the acceleration of the particle at the instant the particle is not moving except at 𝑡 = 0? (i) Determine the
average velocity of the particle between 𝑡 = 0 and 𝑡 = 3 s.