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Chapter 1 Homework

Chapter 1 Homework
Due: 10:00pm on Friday, January 31, 2014
You will receive no credit for items you complete after the assignment is due. Grading Policy

Scientific Notation
A number written in scientific notation has the form

a 10

, where 1

a < 10

and k is an integer.

Part A
6

1810

Consider the expression

(0.003)(1210

. Determine the values of a and k when the value of this expression is

)

written in scientific notation.

Enter

and k, separated by commas.

Hint 1. A walk-through
Express all the numbers in the expression using scientific notation. You should get a fraction of the form
a1 10

k
1

k
k
2 )(a 10 3
3

(a2 10

,
)

or
a1

10

a2 a3

To determine a, you have to divide a1 by

a2 a3

10

k
2

k
1

k
3

10

. This will often give you something that is not between 1

and 10; thus you have to write it in scientific notation:

a1

k4

a2 a3

= a 4 10

The next step is to find k5 in the expression

k5

10

10

=
10

Do this by subtracting k2 and k3 from

k1

k
2

k
1
k
3

10

:
k5 = k1 (k2 + k3 )

The value of a you are looking for is equal to a4 , while k is equal to k4

+ k5

ANSWER:
,

a k

= 5,-2

Correct
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Chapter 1 Homework

Dimensions of Physical Quantities

Learning Goal:
To introduce the idea of physical dimensions and to learn how to find them.
Physical quantities are generally not purely numerical: They have a particular dimension or combination of dimensions
associated with them. Thus, your height is not 74, but rather 74 inches, often expressed as 6 feet 2 inches. Although
feet and inches are different units they have the same dimension--length.

Part A
In classical mechanics there are three base dimensions. Length is one of them. What are the other two?

Hint 1. MKS system

The current system of units is called the International System (abbreviated SI from the French Systme
International). In the past this system was called the mks system for its base units: meter, kilogram, and
second. What are the dimensions of these quantities?
ANSWER:
acceleration and mass
acceleration and time
acceleration and charge
mass and time
mass and charge
time and charge

Correct

There are three dimensions used in mechanics: length ( l), mass ( m), and time ( t). A combination of these three
dimensions suffices to express any physical quantity, because when a new physical quantity is needed (e.g., velocity),
it always obeys an equation that permits it to be expressed in terms of the units used for these three dimensions. One
then derives a unit to measure the new physical quantity from that equation, and often its unit is given a special name.
Such new dimensions are called derived dimensions and the units they are measured in are called derived units.
2

For example, area A has derived dimensions [A] = l . (Note that "dimensions of variable x" is symbolized as [x].)
You can find these dimensions by looking at the formula for the area of a square A = s 2 , where s is the length of a
2
2
side of the square. Clearly [s] = l. Plugging this into the equation gives [A] = [s ] = l .

Part B
Find the dimensions

[V ]

of volume.

Express your answer as powers of length ( l), mass ( m), and time ( t).
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Hint 1. Equation for volume

You have likely learned many formulas for the volume of various shapes in geometry. Any of these equations
will give you the dimensions for volume. You can find the dimensions most easily from the volume of a cube
3
V = e , where e is the length of the edge of the cube.

ANSWER:
[V ]

Correct

Part C
Find the dimensions

[v]

of speed.

Express your answer as powers of length ( l), mass ( m), and time ( t).

Hint 1. Equation for speed

Speed v is defined in terms of distance d and time t as
v=

Therefore,

d
t

[v] = [d]/[t]

Hint 2. Familiar units for speed

You are probably accustomed to hearing speeds in miles per hour (or possibly kilometers per hour). Think
about the dimensions for miles and hours. If you divide the dimensions for miles by the dimensions for hours,
you will have the dimensions for speed.
ANSWER:
[v]

l
t

Correct

The dimensions of a quantity are not changed by addition or subtraction of another quantity with the same dimensions.
This means that v, which comes from subtracting two speeds, has the same dimensions as speed.
It does not make physical sense to add or subtract two quanitites that have different dimensions, like length plus time.
You can add quantities that have different units, like miles per hour and kilometers per hour, as long as you convert both
quantities to the same set of units before you actually compute the sum. You can use this rule to check your answers
to any physics problem you work. If the answer involves the sum or difference of two quantities with different dimensions,
then it must be incorrect.
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Chapter 1 Homework

This rule also ensures that the dimensions of any physical quantity will never involve sums or differences of the base
dimensions. (As in the preceeding example, l + t is not a valid dimension for a physical quantitiy.) A valid dimension
2
will only involve the product or ratio of powers of the base dimensions (e.g. m2/3 l t2 ).

Part D
Find the dimensions

[a]

of acceleration.

Express your answer as powers of length ( l), mass ( m), and time ( t).

Hint 1. Equation for acceleration

In physics, acceleration a is defined as the change in velocity in a certain time. This is shown by the
equation a = v/t. The is a symbol that means "the change in."

ANSWER:
[a]

l
2

Correct

Exercise 1.11
In the fall of 2002, a group of scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory determined that the critical mass of
neptunium-237 is about 60 kg. The critical mass of a fissionable material is the minimum amount that must be brought
together to start a chain reaction. This element has a density of 19.5 g/cm3 .

Part A
What would be the radius of a sphere of this material that has a critical mass?
Express your answer using two significant figures.
ANSWER:
r

= 9.0

cm

Correct

Exercise 1.16

Part A
How many gallons of gasoline are used in the United States in one day? Assume two cars for every three people,
mi
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Chapter 1 Homework

that each car is driven an average of 10,000 mi per year, and that the average car gets 20 miles per gallon.
ANSWER:
7

gal/day

gal/day

gal/day

gal/day

8.9 10
4.5 10
1.1 10
2.8 10

Correct

Adding and Subtracting Vectors Conceptual Question

Six vectors (A to F) have the magnitudes and directions indicated in the figure.

Part A
Which two vectors, when added, will have the largest (positive) x component?

Hint 1. Largest x component

The two vectors with the largest x components will, when combined, give the resultant with the largest x
component. Keep in mind that positive x components are larger than negative x components.
ANSWER:

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Chapter 1 Homework

C and E
E and F
A and F
C and D
B and D

Correct

Part B
Which two vectors, when added, will have the largest (positive) y component?

Hint 1. Largest y component

The two vectors with the largest y components will, when combined, give the resultant with the largest y
component. Keep in mind that positive y components are larger than negative y components.
ANSWER:
C and D
A and F
E and F
A and B
E and D

Correct

Part C
Which two vectors, when subtracted (i.e., when one vector is subtracted from the other), will have the largest
magnitude?

Hint 1. Subtracting vectors

To subtract two vectors, add a vector with the same magnitude but opposite direction of one of the vectors to
the other vector.
ANSWER:

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Chapter 1 Homework

A and F
A and E
D and B
C and D
E and F

Correct

Resolving Vector Components with Trigonometry

Often a vector is specified by a magnitude and a direction; for

example, a rope with tension T exerts a force of magnitude
T in a direction 35 degrees north of east. This is a good way
to think of vectors; however, to calculate results with vectors,
it is best to select a coordinate system and manipulate the
components of the vectors in that coordinate system.

Part A
Find the components of the vector with length a and angle with respect to the x axis as shown, named A. Don't
forget that when multiplying two factors, you must include a multiplication symbol; also, the cos and sin functions
must have parentheses around their arguments. For example, a vector might take the form p*sin(Q),m*cos(N).
Write the components in the form x,y.

Hint 1. What is the x component?

The x component is

a cos()

ANSWER:

acos(), asin()

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Chapter 1 Homework

Correct

Part B
Find the components of the vector with length b and angle with respect to the x axis as shown, named B.
Write the components in the form x,y.
ANSWER:

bcos(), bsin()

Correct
Notice that vectors
drawing.

and B have the same form despite their placement with respect to the y axis on the

Part C
Find the components of the vector with length c and angle as shown, named C .
Express your answer in terms of c and

. Write the components in the form x,y.

Hint 1. Consider the vector's direction

Be careful of the sign of the components.

Hint 2. What is angle

relative to?

Angle differs from the other two angles because it is the angle between the vector and the y axis, unlike
the others, which are with respect to the x axis.
ANSWER:
C

csin(), ccos()

Correct

Exercise 1.32
Vector A is in the direction 31.0 clockwise from the -y -axis. The x-component of A is

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Ax

= -16.0m .

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Chapter 1 Homework

Part A

What is the y -component of A?

Express your answer with the appropriate units.

ANSWER:
Ay

= -26.6 m

Correct

Part B

What is the magnitude of A?

Express your answer with the appropriate units.

ANSWER:
A

= 31.1 m

Correct

Exercise 1.34
A postal employee drives a delivery truck over the route shown in the figure .

Part A
Use the method of components to determine the magnitude of her resultant displacement.
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Chapter 1 Homework

Express your answer using two significant figures.

ANSWER:
7.8

km

Correct

Part B
Use the method of components to determine the direction of her resultant displacement.
Express your answer using two significant figures.
ANSWER:
38

North of East

Correct

Problem 1.81
While following a treasure map, you start at an old oak tree. You first walk 825 m directly south, then turn and walk
1.25 km at 30.0 west of north, and finally walk 1.00 km at 40.0 north of east, where you find the treasure: a
biography of Isaac Newton!

Part A
To return to the old oak tree, in what direction should you head ? Use components to solve this problem.
ANSWER:

= 8.90

west of south

Correct

Part B
To return to the old oak tree, how far will you walk? Use components to solve this problem.
ANSWER:
D

= 911

Correct

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Chapter 1 Homework

Exercise 1.44

Part A
^
^
Is the vector (^
i + j + k) a unit vector?

ANSWER:
Yes.
No.

Correct

Part B
Justify your answer.
ANSWER:
3693 Character(s) remaining
i,j, and k are all equal to 1. The magnitude of a unit vector
must be equal to one. This one equals sqrt(3)

Submitted, grade pending

Part C
Can a unit vector have any components with magnitude greater than unity?
ANSWER:
Yes.
No.

Correct

Part D
Justify your answer.
ANSWER:
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Chapter 1 Homework

3653 Character(s) remaining

Again, the unity has to equal 1. Squaring something
greater than 1 and adding it to something else will cause
the magnitude to be greater than one.

Submitted, grade pending

Part E
Can it have any negative components?
ANSWER:
Yes.
No.

Correct

Part F
Justify your answer.
ANSWER:
3730 Character(s) remaining
Components are squared so negative components are
ultimately positive.

Submitted, grade pending

Part G
^
If A = a( 2.0 ^
i + 8.0 j ) , where a is a constant, determine the value of a that makes

a unit vector.

Express your answer numerically using two significant figures. If there is more than one answer, enter
each answer separated by a comma.
ANSWER:
a

= 0.121,-0.121

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Chapter 1 Homework

All attempts used; correct answer displayed

Exercise 1.46

Part A
Given two vectors

A =

^
^
4.20 ^
i + 7.80 j and B = 5.80 i 2.40 j , find the scalar product of the two vectors

and B.
ANSWER:

AB

= 5.64

Correct

Part B
Find the angle between these two vectors.
ANSWER:

= 84.2

Correct

Exercise 1.50

Part A
For the two vectors in the figure , find the magnitude of the vector product

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AB

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Chapter 1 Homework

ANSWER:
4.61

cm

Correct

Part B
Find the direction of the vector product

AB

ANSWER:
+z-direction
-z-direction

Correct

Part C
Find the magnitude of B A.
ANSWER:
4.61

cm

Correct

Part D

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Chapter 1 Homework

Find the direction of B A.

ANSWER:
+z-direction
-z-direction

Correct

Exercise 1.48

Part A
Given two vectors

^
^
A = 4.00 i + 7.00 j

^
and B = 5.00^
i 2.00 j , find the vector product

AB

(expressed in

unit vectors).
Express your answer in terms of the unit vectors i, j, and

ANSWER:

AB

^
43k

Correct

Part B
What is the magnitude of the vector product?
ANSWER:

|A B|

= 43.0

Correct
Score Summary:
Your score on this assignment is 94.7%.
You received 12.31 out of a possible total of 13 points.

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