JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE

H2 Physics Prelims 2012
Compiled by: HCG, CJJ

TOPIC 3: DYNAMICS
2012 AJC Prelims Paper 1

1 An object of mass M travelling to the right with velocity u collides with another object of
mass M travelling to the left with velocity 2u. After the collision, the two objects stick
together.

M u 2u M

Which of the following shows the magnitude and the direction of the final velocity?

Magnitude Direction

A u Right

B u Left

C 0.5 u Right

D 0.5 u Left

2012 ACJC Prelims Paper 1

2 A helicopter of mass 3.0 x 103 kg is rising vertically with a constant velocity of 25 m s-1.
(Take g as 10 m s-2.) What is the resultant force acting on the helicopter?

A zero
B 3.0 x 104 N downwards
C 4.5 x 104 N upwards
D 7.5 x 104 N downwards

2012 CJC Prelims Paper 1

3 Which of the following statements regarding momentum is not true?

A It is a vector quantity.
B The bigger the momentum of an object, the larger the force on that object, provided
that its mass does not change.
C The bigger the momentum of an object, the larger the velocity of that object, provided
that its mass does not change.
D For two interacting objects, the change in momentum on one object is exactly the same
value as the change in momentum on the other object.

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JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

4 A small steel ball bearing is held just below the surface of a deep tank of water and
released. Which one of the following statements best describes the acceleration of the
sphere during its descent?

A The acceleration is constant at 9.81 m s-2.

B The acceleration starts with a value of 9.81 m s-2 and decreases with time until it
reaches zero.
C The acceleration starts with a value of 9.81 m s-2 and decreases with time but it will
never reach zero.
D The acceleration starts with a value lesser than 9.81 m s-2 and decreases with time
until it reaches zero.

5 Two objects of different mass, m1 and m2, are pushed across a frictionless inclined surface.
The same amount of force F is applied in the following two scenarios, Fig. 7.1 and Fig.
7.2.

Which of the following statements is true if m1 is greater than m2?

A There are no forces acting between the two masses.

B The force that m1 exerts on m2 in Fig. 7.1 is equal to that which m2 exerts on m1 in Fig.
7.2.
C The force that m1 exerts on m2 in Fig. 7.1 is smaller than that which m2 exerts on m1 in
Fig. 7.2.
D The force that m1 exerts on m2 in Fig. 7.1 is greater than that which m2 exerts on m1 in
Fig. 7.2.

2012 DHS Prelims Paper 1

6 A model helicopter of mass 5.0 kg rises with constant acceleration from rest to a height of
60 m in 10 s.
What is the upward force exerted on the model by the air?

A 6.0 N B 49 N C 52 N D 55 N

7 The given diagram shows the momentum of two trolleys, X and Y just before they collide.
The collision reverses the direction of motion of both trolleys. Just after the collision, the
momentum of Y is 12 N s. What is the magnitude of the corresponding momentum of X?

A 4Ns B 6Ns C 10 N s D 20 N s

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JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

2012 HCI Prelims Paper 1

8 Particle X has a mass m and particle Y has a mass 3m. They travel at equal speed v but
in opposite direction along a smooth horizontal surface, and then collide head-on
elastically.

Which of the following statements is false?

A The total kinetic energy of the system consisting of the two particles is not conserved
throughout the duration of the collision.
B The total energy of the system consisting of the two particles is conserved throughout
the duration of the collision.
C The total momentum of the system consisting of the two particles is always conserved
except during the time of collision due to the presence of collision forces between the
two particles.
D The relative speed of separation after the collision is 2v.

9 An empty conveyor belt requires a constant force of 17.0 N to be driven horizontally at

1.50 m s-1. Sand is then vertically dropped at a rate of 3.00 kg s-1 onto the conveyor belt.

What is the total average force required to be exerted on the conveyor belt In order to
maintain the conveyor belt at the speed of 1.50 m s-1 while the sand is being poured?

A 4.50 N B 17.0 N C 21.5 N D 23.5 N

2012 IJC Prelims Paper 1

10 A boy travelling on the bus observes that the grab handle swings towards the back of the
bus whenever the bus accelerated forward from rest.

In which direction is the resultant force acting on the handle?

11 A disc is sliding across a horizontal, frictionless icy surface when it collides inelastically
with a wall at right angles to its path, and then rebounds along its original path. If the disc
returns to its original point at time t1, which of the following graphs shows the variation with
time t of the momentum p of the disc?

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JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

2012 JJC Prelims Paper 1

12 A body, initially at rest, explodes into two fragments, one having four times the mass of the
other.
What is the value of the ratio momentum of more massive fragment ?
momentum of less massive fragment
A 0.20 B 0.25 C 1.00 D 4.00

13 A particle of mass m travelling with velocity u collides elastically and head-on with a
stationary particle of mass M.
Which expression gives the velocity of the particle of mass M after the collision?

mu 2mu (M  m)u
A u B C D
M Mm M m

2012 MI Prelims Paper 1

14 A trolley runs down a slope with a constant acceleration a. The mass of the trolley is now
doubled and the trolley is allowed to run down the same slope. In both cases effects of
friction are negligible.

Which statement is correct for the second experiment?

A The acceleration force is the same.
B The acceleration is ½ a.
C The acceleration is a.
D The acceleration is 2a.

15 An object of mass mg is hanging by a string from the roof of an elevator. The elevator is
moving upward, but slowing down.

Which of the following statement best describe the tension in the string?

A Tension is less than mg.

B Tension is exactly mg.
C Tension is greater than mg.
D Tension is equals to mg.

2012 MJC Prelims Paper 1

16 A helicopter loaded with cargo has a total mass of M. It is descending with a downward
g
acceleration of , where g is the acceleration due to gravity.
3
How much cargo must the helicopter offload so that it ascends with an upward acceleration
g
of ?
2
Assume that the lift force on the helicopter remains constant throughout.

M 4M 5M 8M
A B C D
9 9 9 9

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JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

Topic 3: Dynamics Solutions

2012 AJC Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

1 Answer: D
Let the velocity of the 2 objects after collision be v.
Taking right as positive, by conservation of momentum:
M (u )  M ( 2u )  2Mv
Mu  2Mv
v  0.5u

2012 ACJC Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

2 Answer: A
Since the helicopter is rising at a constant velocity, there is no acceleration, thus no
resultant force.

2012 CJC Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

3 Answer: B
Force is the rate of change of momentum, not momentum of an object.

4 Answer: D

As the ball’s motion is downwards, let us consider the following equation:

W – U - FD = ma
Just before descending
As FD is proportional to v2, the ball’s motion will be described as
W – U = ma1
since the ball does not move – just at the point of release.
Here, U is a small number since the ball’s volume is small – hence the volume of the water
displaced is small. Thus a1 has a magnitude which is slightly smaller than gravitational
acceleration, g.
During the descent
As the ball accelerates downwards, FD will be significant and thus the describing equation
will be
W – U - FD = ma2
a2 will be decreasing as FD increases in size as the velocity of the ball increases.
When terminal velocity is reached (if the tank is deep enough),
W = U + FD
and the ball would travel at a constant speed.

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JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

5 Answer: C

Consider m1: [
F - m1g sin 30° - N12 = m1a
N12 = F - m1g sin 30° - m1a
Consider m2:
N21 - m2g sin 30° = m2a
N21 = m2g sin 30° + m2a - - - - (1)
For Fig 7.2 (Drawing similar FBDs)
Consider m2:
F – mg sin 30° - N21 = m2a
N21 = F – m2g sin 30° - m2a
N12 – m1g sin 30° = m1a
N12 = m1g sin 30° + m1a- - - - (2)
Comparing equation 1 and equation 2, since m2 is smaller than m1, is smaller than N12.

2012 DHS Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

6 Answer: D L
1 a = 1.2 m s-2
s  ut  at 2
2
1
60  0(10)  a(10)2
2
a  1.2 m s -2

The forces acting on the helicopter during the

ascent is the upward lift force L and the weight W.
Therefore, W = mg
ma  L  W
5(1.2)  L  5(9.81)
L  55 N

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JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

7 Answer: A
By conservation of momentum,
(Initial momentum of X) + (Initial momentum of Y) = (Final momentum of X) + (Final
momentum of Y)
20 – 12 = (Final Momentum of X) + 12
Final Momentum of X = - 4 N s

2012 HCI Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

8 Answer: C
During collision, the net force acting on the system of two particles is zero. Hence the total
momentum of the system is conserved.

9 Answer: C
Consider the mass of sand accelerated from 0 m s-1 to 1.50 m s-1 in 1 second.
The mass is 3.00 kg. Thus the rate of change of momentum is (mv-mu)/t =
(3.00 x 1.50 - 0)/1 = 4.50 N.
The total force required is 17 + 4.5 = 21.5 N

2012 IJC Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

10 Answer: B
The resultant force on the handle must be acting in the same direction as the direction of
motion of the bus.

11 Answer: A
Since the icy surface is frictionless, the disc should not lose any momentum when it is
sliding along the horizontal surface. Until the moment when it hits the wall, as it is an
inelastic collision, the velocity of the disc will reduce and as it is traveling in the opposite
direction, momentum, being a vector, will be negative with a smaller magnitude. As it
returns to the same path, the distance travelled will be the same. Hence the area under
the p-t graph has to remain constant.

2012 JJC Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

12 Answer: C
Applying conservation of momentum,
Total initial p before explosion = total final p after explosion
0 = final p of more massive fragment + final p of less massive fragment
− (final p of more massive fragment) = final p of less massive fragment
Hence, value of ratio is 1.00.

13 Answer: C
For elastic collisions, the relative speed of approach equals the relative speed of
separation i.e. u – 0 = vM - vm  vm = vM - u (1)
Applying the law of conservation of linear momentum,
mu + 0 = mvm + MvM (2)
Substituting (1) into (2)  mu =m(vM - u) + MvM  2mu = (m + M) vM
vM = 2mu / (m + M)

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JURONG PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE Topic 3: DYNAMICS

2012 MI Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

14 Answer: C
The acceleration of the trolley does not change with the mass of the trolley.

15 Answer: A
When the elevator is slowing down, it undergoes negative acceleration / deceleration.
Let tension be T. Therefore
T - mg = -ma < 0
Thus T < mg

2012 MJC Prelims Paper 1 (Solutions)

16 Answer: C
before after
(Mg) – L = M (g/3) L - (M – m)g = (M-m) (g/2)
therefore L = 2/3 Mg therefore L = (M-m) 3/2 g

combining
2/3 Mg = (M – m) 3/2 g
m = M - 4/9 M
= 5/ 9 M

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