A particle moves along the x-axis with an initial velocity of 4 m/s and

constant acceleration. After 3 seconds, its velocity is 14 m/s. How far did it
travel during this interval. Ans: 27 m

First, let's list the givens and unknowns:

Given: vi = 4 m/s, vf = 14 m/s, Δt = 3 s
Unknown: Δx = ?

Since we know vi, vf, and Δt, and need to know Δx, but a is not specifically
given, we must use the Big 5 equation that uses all values except a. This is Big
5 number 1:
Δx = 1/2(vi + v)t = 0.5(4 + 14)3 = 0.5 * 18 * 3 = 9 * 3 = 27 m
A car is initially moving at 10 m/s and accelerates at a constant rate of 2 m/s 2 for
4 seconds, in a straight line. How far did the car travel during this time?

Given: vi = 10 m/s, a = 2 m/s2, Δt = 4 s

Unknown: Δx = ?

The value that is not given or asked for is v, so we must use the equation that does
not contain v. This turns out to be Big 5 number 3:
x = 1/2at2 + vit + xi = 0.5 * 2 * 42 + 10 * 4 = 16 + 40 = 56 m

Note that since we are not given an initial position and are asked for the
displacement, not the final position, we simply assume that the initial position is 0,
which makes the displacement equal to the final position.
A rock is dropped from a cliff that is 80 m above the ground. If the rock hits the
ground with a velocity of 40 m/s, what acceleration did it undergo?

Since the rock is dropped, we know that it began at rest, so the initial velocity is 0.
Given: vi = 0, Δx = 80 m, v = 40 m/s
Unknown: a = ?

The value that is neither given nor asked for is Δt, so we must use the equation which
does not contain Δt. This is Big 5 number 5:
v2 = vi2 + 2a(x - xi) = 2a(x - xi) = 2aΔx
a = (v2)/(2Δx) = (402)/(2 * 80) = 1600/160 = 10 m/s2, toward the ground.
A rock is dropped 80 meters from a cliff. How long does it take to reach the ground?

Unless a problem specifically states otherwise, we can assume the object is being
dropped on earth, so we know g = 9.81.
Given: vi = 0 m/s, Δy = 80 m, a = 9.81 m/s2
Unknown: Δt = ?
Since we are not given nor asked for v, we can use the Big 5 number 3, adapted to the y
direction:
y = 1/2at2 + vit + yi

Notice that here, we can either choose to set yi = 0 and y = -80, or y = 0 and yi = 80. Both
will yield the same answer, but here we will choose the first option so that two terms
are equal to zero on the right side.
y = 1/2at2
t2 = 2y/a
t = sqrt(2y/a) = sqrt(2 * -80/-9.81) = 4.04 s

If we needed to do this math without a calculator, we would substitute -10 instead of

-9.81 for a, yielding an answer of 4 s. Both answers would be accepted on either section
of either AP Physics exam.
A ball is thrown straight up with an initial speed of 20 m/s. How high will the ball
travel?

At first it may look like there are two variables that are neither given nor asked for, t and
v. However, we know that at the highest point in a free-falling object's arc, the vertical
velocity becomes 0 for an instant. Therefore, v = 0, and since t is the missing variable, we
use Big 5 number 5:
Given: vi = 20 m/s, a = -9.81 m/s2, v = 0 m/s
Unknown: Δy = ?

v2 = vi2 + 2aΔy = 0
-2aΔy = vi2
Δy = vi2/(-2a) = 202/(-2 * -9.81) = 20.4 m

Or, if -10 is used instead of -9.81:

202/(-2 * -10) = 202/20 = 20 m
An object is thrown straight upward with an initial speed of 8 m/s and strikes the
ground 3 seconds later. What height was the object thrown from?

Given: a = -9.81 m/s2, vi = 8 m/s, Δt = 3 s

Unknown: yi = ?

The variable that is niether given nor asked for is v, so we will use Big 5 number 3,
setting y equal to 0, since the final height is the ground:
y = 1/2at2 + vit + yi
yi = y - 1/2at2 - vit = -0.5 * -9.81 * 32 - 8 * 3 = 20.145 m
OR
-0.5 * -10 * 32 - 8 * 3 = 5 * 9 - 24 = 45 - 24 = 21 m