PHYSICS 101: EXAM 3 PRACTICE TEST

_____ 1. Which of the following is the definition of linear momentum?

(A) m = vp (C) L = Iω
(B) p = mv (D) p = mω

_____ 2. The derivative of linear momentum (dp/dt) is equal to…

(A) net force (C) angular momentum
(B) acceleration (D) net torque

_____ 3. The impulse-momentum theorem states that the impulse acting on a system is equal to…
(A) a change in the net force acting on that system
(B) a change in the net torque acting on that system
(C) a change in the linear momentum of that system
(D) a change in the angular momentum of that system

_____ 4. Mathematically, the definition of impulse is…

!
(A) J = ∫! ! ∑𝐹⃗ 𝑑𝑡 (C) J = dp/dt
"
!
(B) J = dL/dt (D) J = ∫! ! ∑𝜏⃗ 𝑑𝑡
"

_____ 5. Why does a karate expert prefer a quick blow over a long blow?
(A) they want to minimize ∆t in order to maximize the force on their opponent
(B) they want to maximize ∆t in order to minimize the force on their opponent
(C) they want to maximize ∆t in order to maximize the force on their opponent
(D) they want to minimize ∆t in order to minimize the force on their opponent

_____ 6. Linear momentum is conserved in a system if…

(A) the net external torque on the system is zero
(B) the net external force on the system is zero
(C) the net internal torque on the system is zero
(D) the rotational inertia of the system is zero

_____ 7. Which of the following was NOT used in the derivation for the Law of Conservation of Linear
Momentum (as presented in the lecture video)?
(A) Newton’s Second Law (C) the meaning of the derivative
(B) Newton’s Third Law (D) Newton’s First Law

_____ 8. Which object has the greatest linear momentum?

(A) a car driving down the freeway (C) a massless rod fired from a gun
(B) a pencil at rest on a table (D) a car parked in a parking lot

_____ 9. Why do padded dashboards make cars safer?

(A) they decrease the amount of contact time with the dashboard (in an accident), which increases the net force on the person’s head
(B) they increase the amount of contact time with the dashboard (in an accident), which decreases the net force on the person’s head
(C) they increase the amount of contact time with the dashboard (in an accident), which decreases the net torque on the person’s head
(D) they decrease the amount of contact time with the dashboard (in an accident), which increases the net torque on the person’s head

_____ 10. A ball (which is a solid sphere) with mass 5.00 kg and radius 0.10 m is moving with a linear speed of
7.50 m/s. The ball’s linear momentum is…
(A) 141 kg•m/s (C) 3.75 kg•m/s
(B) 1.50 kg•m/s (D) 37.5 kg•m/s
_____ 11. A collision in which kinetic energy is conserved is called…
(A) elastic collision (C) perfectly inelastic collision
(B) inelastic collision (D) thermal collision

_____ 12. A collision in which the maximum amount of thermal energy is produced (after the collision process)
is called…
(A) elastic collision (C) perfectly inelastic collision
(B) inelastic collision (D) thermal collision

_____ 13. A collision in which the objects that collide stick to each other after the collision process is called…
(A) elastic collision (C) perfectly inelastic collision
(B) inelastic collision (D) thermal collision

_____ 14. The center of mass of a uniform solid sphere is located…

(A) at the center of the sphere
(B) at a point on the edge of the sphere
(C) at a point halfway between the center of the sphere and the edge of the sphere
(D) none of the above

_____ 15. What is the center of gravity of an object?

(A) the point at which the net torque can be considered to act
(B) the point at which the normal force can be considered to act
(C) the point at which the force of gravity can be considered to act
(D) the point at which the density of the object is the greatest

_____ 16. A missile following a parabolic path suddenly explodes into many pieces in midair. The center of mass
of the system of pieces…
(A) continues to follow the same parabolic path
(B) is on the largest piece in the system
(C) is on the smallest piece in the system
(D) cannot be determined from the given information

_____ 17. What is a rigid body?

(A) an object where the distance between the particles in that object changes over time
(B) an object where the distance between the particles in that object stays constant over time
(C) an object where the velocity between the particles in that object changes over time
(D) an object that stiff because it is going through rigor mortis

_____ 18. Angular speed is denoted with which letter?

(A) L (C) α
(B) ω (D) v

_____ 19. Linear acceleration is denoted with which letter?

(A) a (C) p
(B) α (D) ρ

_____ 20. Angular displacement is denoted with which letter?

(A) ∆s (C) ∆θ
(B) ∆x (D) ∆d
_____ 21. In terms of angular quantities, the centripetal acceleration of an object is given by…
(A) ar = rα (C) ar = ω2/r
2
(B) ar = ω r (D) ar = rω

_____ 22. The instantaneous angular speed of an object is given by…

(A) ω = rθ (C) ω = dθ/dt
(B) ω = v2/r (D) ω = ds/dt

_____ 23. The rotational kinematic equations are valid…

(A) only if the linear acceleration of the object is constant
(B) only if the angular acceleration of the object is constant
(C) only if the angular momentum of the object is constant
(D) always

_____ 24. Define rotational inertia.

(A) the amount of resistance that a rotating object has to having its state of rotational motion changed
(B) the amount of resistance that a rotating object has to having its state of translational motion changed
(C) the amount of resistance that a rotating object has to having its axis of rotation changed
(D) the amount of resistance that your grade in Physics-101 has to dropping below a C

_____ 25. For a two-dimensional object, the density of that object is denoted with the letter…
(A) λ (C) ρ
(B) σ (D) θ

_____ 26. As the rotational inertia of a system increases, the system’s resistance to changes in rotational motion
increases, thus…
(A) the system is more stable against rotation
(B) the system becomes unstable to rotation
(C) the system explodes
(D) the axis of rotation shifts away from the center of mass of the system

_____ 27. For a thin uniform rod of mass M and length L, the rotational inertia of the rod about an axis through
the center of the rod is given by…
(A) I = (1/2)ML2 (C) I = (1/3)ML2
(B) I = (2/5)ML2 (D) I = (1/12)ML2

_____ 28. For a solid sphere of mass M and radius R, the rotational inertia of the sphere about an axis through
the center of the sphere is given by…
(A) I = (2/3)MR2 (C) I = (2/5)MR2
2
(B) I = (4/3)MR (D) I = MR2

_____ 29. For a hollow cylinder of mass M and radius R, the rotational inertia of the cylinder about an axis
through the center of the cylinder is given by…
(A) I = MR2 (C) I = (2/3)MR2
2
(B) I = (1/2)MR (D) I = (1/12)MR2

_____ 30. For a solid disk of mass M and radius R, the rotational inertia of the disk about an axis through the
center of the disk is given by…
(A) I = (2/3)MR2 (C) I = (1/3)MR2
2
(B) I = (1/2)MR (D) I = MR2
_____ 31. Define torque.
(A) a measure of the rotational inertia’s effectiveness in changing rotational motion
(B) a measure of a string’s tension’s effectiveness in changing rotational motion
(C) a measure of a force’s effectiveness in changing rotational motion
(D) a measure of angular acceleration’s effectiveness in changing rotational motion

_____ 32. To find the torque of an object, we use the formula…

(A) τ = r • F (C) τ = rF
(B) τ = r × F (D) τ = F × r

_____ 33. The units for torque are…

(A) Joules (C) Newton-meters
(B) Newtons (D) meters

_____ 34. For rotational motion, Newton’s Second Law states…

(A) ∑τext = Iα (C) ∑Fext = Iα
(B) ∑τext = ma (D) ∑τint = Iα

_____ 35. For rotational motion, power is equal to…

(A) the dot product of force and linear velocity
(B) the cross product of force and linear velocity
(C) the dot product of torque and angular velocity
(D) the cross product of torque and angular velocity

_____ 36. For translational motion, kinetic energy is equal to…

(A) 0.5mv2 (C) 0.5Iv2
2
(B) 0.5mω (D) 0.5Iω2

_____ 37. For rotational motion, kinetic energy is equal to…

(A) 0.5mω2 (C) 0.5Iv2
(B) 0.5Iω2 (D) 0.5mω2

_____ 38. The units for angular momentum are…

(A) kg•m/s (C) kg•m2/s
(B) kg•m/s2 (D) kg•m2/s2

_____ 39. How are angular momentum and torque related?

(A) ∑τext = L (C) ∑τext = d2L/dt2
(B) ∑τext = dL/dt (D) they are not related to each other

_____ 40. What is the formula for angular momentum?

(A) L = mv (C) L = Iα
(B) L = Iω (D) L = dp/dt

_____ 41. Angular momentum is conserved in a system…

(A) if the net internal torque on the system is zero
(B) if the net external force on the system is zero
(C) if the net external torque on the system is zero
(D) always
_____ 42. What happens to the angular speed of the Earth when leaves fall off the trees in autumn?
(A) the angular speed of the Earth increases
(B) the angular speed of the Earth decreases
(C) the angular speed of the Earth remains the same
(D) there is not enough information to answer this question

_____ 43. For a point particle to be in equilibrium, which of the following must be true?
(A) the net force on the particle must be zero
(B) the net torque on the particle must be zero
(C) the displacement of the particle must be zero
(D) the angular velocity of the particle must be zero

_____ 44. For a rigid body to be in translational equilibrium, which of the following must be true?
(A) the net force on the object must be zero
(B) the net torque on the object must be zero
(C) the displacement of the particle must be zero
(D) the angular velocity of the particle must be zero

_____ 45. For a rigid body to be in rotational equilibrium, which of the following must be true?
(A) the net force on the object must be zero
(B) the net torque on the object must be zero
(C) the displacement of the particle must be zero
(D) the angular velocity of the particle must be zero

46. A 0.20 kg billiard ball traveling at a speed of 15 m/s strikes the side rail of a pool table at an angle of 30
degrees with respect to the side rail. If the ball rebounds at the same speed and angle, determine the impulse
imparted to the ball by the table.

47. The force on a bullet is given by F = [(740 – (2.3 × 105 s–1)t] N over the time interval from t = 0 to
t = 3.0 × 10–3 s.

(a) Determine the impulse of the bullet.

(b) If the bullet achieves a speed of 250 m/s as a result of this impulse given to it in the barrel of the gun,
what must the bullet’s mass be?
48. A 42 g firecracker is at rest at the origin when it explodes into three pieces. The first piece, with mass 12 g,
moves along the x-axis at 35 m/s. The second piece, with mass 21 g, moves along the y-axis at 29 m/s. Find the
velocity of the third piece.

49. A 60 kg astronaut floating in space simultaneously tosses away a 14 kg oxygen tank and a 5.8 kg camera. The
tank moves in the x-direction at 1.6 m/s, and the astronaut recoils at 0.85 m/s in a direction 200 degrees counter-
clockwise from the x-axis. Find the camera’s velocity.

50. Playing in the street, a child accidentally tosses a ball at 18 m/s toward the front of a car moving toward him
at 14 m/s. What is the ball’s speed after it rebounds elastically from the car?

51. A 0.060 kg tennis ball, moving with a speed of 4.50 m/s, has a head-on collision with a 0.090 kg baseball
initially moving in the same direction at a speed of 3.00 m/s. Assuming a perfectly elastic collision, determine the
speed and direction of each ball after the collision.
52. An atomic nucleus of mass m traveling with speed v collides elastically with a target particle of mass 2m
(initially at rest) and is scattered at 90 degrees.

(a) At what angle does the target particle move after the collision?

(b) What are the final speeds of the two particles?

53. The gravitational slingshot effect allows a spacecraft to use the gravitational pull from a massive body to
increase its speed. Let’s assume that a spaceship with a mass of 2150 kg moves in the +x direction at a speed of
10.4 km/s as it approaches the planet Saturn. Let’s assume that Saturn is moving in the –x direction at an orbital
speed of –9.6 km/s relative to the Sun. The mass of Saturn is 5.69 × 1026 kg. The gravitational attraction of Saturn
(a conservative force) causes the spacecraft to swing around it and head off in the opposite direction. Find the
final speed of the spacecraft after it is far enough away to be nearly free of Saturn’s gravitational pull. (Note: The
collision is not an impact but rather a gravitational attraction, which we can treat as a one-dimensional elastic
collision.)
54. Consider an elastic collision between two pucks on a frictionless air-hockey table. Puck A has a mass of
0.500 kg and Puck B has a mass of 0.300 kg. Puck A has an initial velocity of 4.00 m/s in the positive x-direction
and a final velocity of 2.00 m/s in an unknown direction. Puck B is initially at rest. Find the final velocity
(magnitude and direction) of Puck B, and find the final direction of Puck A. (Assume that Puck A moves in
Quadrant I after the collision.)

55. Three equal masses lie at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side L. Find the center of mass with respect
to the vertical centerline of the triangle.

56. A square uniform raft, 18 m by 18 m, of mass 6200 kg is used as a ferryboat. If three cars, each of mass
1350 kg, occupy the NE, SE and SW corners, determine the center of mass of the loaded ferryboat relative to the
center of the raft.
57. A uniform thin wire is bent into a semicircle of radius r. Determine the coordinates of its center of mass with
respect to an origin of coordinates at the center of the “full” circle.

58. What is the center of mass of a solid semicircle of mass M and radius R?

59. A 0.25 m diameter circular saw blade spins at 3500 rpm. How fast would you have to push a straight hand
saw to have the teeth move through the wood at the same rate as the circular saw teeth?

60. The chamber of a rock-tumbling machine is a hollow cylinder with mass 65 g and radius 7.1 cm. The chamber
is closed by end caps in the form of uniform circular disks, each of mass 22 g. Find the rotational inertia of the
chamber about its central axis.
61. A compact disc’s rotation varies from about 200 rpm to 500 rpm. It has a radius of 0.06 m. If the disc plays
for 74 minutes…

(a) …what is its average angular acceleration (in rad/s2)?

(b) …what is the radial component of the acceleration at the 74-minute mark?

(c) …what is the tangential component of the acceleration at the 74-minute mark?

62. You rev your car’s engine and watch the tachometer climb steadily from 1200 rpm to 5500 rpm in 2.7 s.

(a) What is the engine’s angular acceleration?

(b) What is the engine’s tangential acceleration at a point on the edge of the engine’s 3.5 cm diameter
crankshaft?

(c) How many revolutions does the engine make during this time?
63. A disk of radius R and thickness w has a mass-density that increases from the center outward, given by
ρ = ρ0r/R, where r is the distance from the disk axis. Find the disk’s rotational inertia about its central axis in terms
of M and R.

64. A car tune-up manual calls for tightening the spark plugs to a torque of 35.0 N•m. To achieve this torque,
with what force must you pull on the end of a 24.0 cm long wrench if you pull at a 110-degree angle to the wrench
shaft?

65. A force F = (1.3i + 2.7j) N is applied at the point (3.0 m, 0 m). Find the torque about the point (–1.3 m, 2.4 m).

66. A potter’s wheel – a thick stone disk of mass 100 kg and radius 0.500 m – is freely rotating at 50 rpm. The
potter can stop the wheel in 6.00 s by pressing a wet rag against the rim and exerting a radially inward force of
70.0 N. Find the effective coefficient of kinetic friction between the wheel and the rag.

67. A dad pushes tangentially on a small hand-driven merry-go-round and is able to accelerate it from rest to a
frequency of 15 rpm in 10.0 s. Assume the merry-go-round is a uniform disk of radius 2.5 m and has a mass of
760 kg, and two children (each with mass 25 kg) sit opposite each other on the edge. Calculate the torque required
to produce the acceleration (neglecting friction).
68. A block of mass m1 = 2.00 kg and a block of mass m2 = 6.00 kg are
connected by a massless string over a pulley in the shape of a solid disk having
mass M = 10.0 kg and radius R = 0.250 m. These blocks are allowed to move
on a fixed block-wedge of angle θ = 30.0º, as in the figure. The coefficient of
kinetic friction is 0.360 for both blocks. Determine the acceleration of the two
blocks.

69. A hollow ball (I = (2/3)MR2) rolls along a horizontal surface at 3.7 m/s when it encounters an upward incline.
If it rolls without slipping up the incline, what maximum height will it reach?
70. A metal can containing condensed mushroom soup has mass 215 g, height 10.8 cm, and diameter 6.38 cm. It
is placed at rest on its side at the top of a 3.00 m long incline that is at 25.0 degrees to the horizontal, and it is then
released to roll straight down. Assuming mechanical energy conservation, calculate the moment of inertia of the
can if it takes 1.50 s to reach the bottom of the incline.

71. In an Olympic hammer throw, a contestant whirls a 7.5 kg steel ball on the end of a 1.2 m cable. If the
contestant’s arms reach an additional 90 cm from his rotation axis and if the ball’s speed just prior to release is
27 m/s, what is the magnitude of the ball’s angular momentum?

72. A hoop with mass 640 g and radius 45 cm is rotating at 170 rpm about its central axis. What is its angular
momentum?
73. A potter’s wheel with rotational inertia 6.40 kg•m2 is spinning freely at 19.0 rpm. The potter drops a 2.70 kg
lump of clay onto the wheel, where it sticks 46.0 cm from the rotation axis. What is the subsequent angular speed?

74. A 3.0 m diameter merry-go-round with rotational inertia 120 kg•m2 is spinning freely at 0.50 rev/s. Four
25 kg children sit suddenly on the edge of the merry-go-round. Find the new angular speed of the merry-go-round.

75. A 5.0 m long uniform ladder has mass 9.5 kg and is leaning against a frictionless wall, making a 66-degree
angle with the horizontal. If the coefficient of friction between the ladder and the ground is 0.42, what is the mass
of the heaviest person who can safely ascend to the top of the ladder?
76. A uniform board of length L and weight W is suspended between two
vertical walls by ropes of length L/2 each. When a weight w is placed on the
left end of the board, it assumes the configuration shown in the figure. Find
the weight w in terms of the board weight W.

77. A traffic light hangs from a pole as shown in the figure. The uniform aluminum
pole AB is 7.20 m long and has a mass of 12.0 kg. The mass of the traffic light is
21.5 kg. Find the tension in the horizontal massless cable, and find the vertical and
horizontal components of the force exerted by the pivot point A on the aluminum
pole.