DISCUSSION PROBLEMS

1.1

Answer : It is much easier to disprove a theory or a hypothesis than it is proving one. It takes
only one (correctly executed) experiment, whose results are contrary to the hypothesis or
theory, to disprove that theory. If the theory fails once, it is not a viable theory. Experiments
whose results confirm a theory are not considered to be proofs of the theory because rarely can
an experiment cover ALL aspects. They can only confirm that in a certain aspect, the theory
holds. but not overall... These can add to confidence of the theory, but that is all. Similar in
mathematics, it takes only one counterexample to disprove a statement.

SECTION 1.3 and 1.4

1.1

Given Values:

1 in = 2.54 cm
1.0 mile

1.0 Km

Unknown value/s:

Find: a. Kilometers in 1.00 mile =?

b. Feet in 1.00 km=?

ANSWER:

(a) 

(b) 

Explanation :

(a) Now we have to convert the number of kilometers in 1.00 mile.

Conversions used:

1 mile = 5280 ft

1 ft = 12 inch

1 inch = 2.54 cm
1 cm = 10⁻⁵ km
Thus,

(b) Now we have to convert the number of feet in 1.00 km.

SECTION 1.5
1.15
Given Values:

Unknown values :
Percent errors in this approximate value = ?
SOLUTION AND ANSWERS:
SECTION 1.6

1.25

Given Values :

I don’t go to school, but lets assume:

83,301 student

½ pizza/week x 40 weeks

Unknown Values:

No. Of pizza that consumed each academic year by student at school = ?

Solution/equation/answer:

83,301 x ½ pizza / week x 48 weeks

= 1,999,224 or about 2 million pizzas

SECTION 1.7

1.26

Given Values:

1.8 m and 2.4 m

A. 4.2 m

B. 0.6 m

C. 3.0 m

Unknown values:

A. 4.2m =?
B. 0.6 m= ?
C. 3.0 m = ?

Solution/equation/answer:
SECTION 1.8

1.39

Given values:

A (arrows ) : 2.80 cm long

60.0 degrees above the x – axis in the first quadrant

B (arrows) : 1.90 cm long

60.0 degrees below the axis in the fourth largest quadrant

Unknown values/equation/solution/answer

Ax = 2.80cos60° = 1.40 cm; Ay = 2.80sin60° = 2.42 cm

Bx = 1.90cos(-60°) = 0.95 cm, By = 1.90sin(-60°) = - 1.65 cm
So, (A - B)x = Ax - Bx = 1.40 - 0.95 = 0.45 cm
(A - B)y = Ay - By = 2.42 - (- 1.65) = 4.07 cm.
Then magnitude of (A - B) = (0.452 + 4.072)1/2 = 4.095 cm.
Because (A - B)x > 0 and (A - B)y > 0 this vector located in 1st quadrant.
Now tan∝ = 4.07/0.45 = 9.0444, so ∝ tan-1(9.0444) = 83.69°,
∝ is angle above x-axis
SECTION 1.9

1.40

Given Values/unknown values/ equation/solution/answer:

SECTION 1.10

1.53
PROBLEMS

1.90

Given values/unknown values/ equation/ solution/ answer:

The resultant of the vector addition is calculated with the cosine rule
R2=A2+B2−2ABcos(180−ϕ)
cos(180−ϕ)=cos180cosϕ+sin180sinϕ
=−1⋅cosϕ+0⋅sinϕ
=−cosϕ
Therefore,
R2=A2+B2−2AB(−cosϕ)
=A2+B2+2ABcosϕ
So,
R=√A2+B2+2ABcosϕ