PHY1505/101/3/2013

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2013

Mechanics
PHY1505

Semesters 1 & 2

Department of Physics

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This tutorial letter contains important
information about your module.

BAR CODE

university
Learn without limits. of south africa
 CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME........................................................................................4

1.1 Tutorial matter.......................................................................................................................4
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES OF THE MODULE .................................................................4
2.1 Purpose ...............................................................................................................................4
2.2 Outcomes.............................................................................................................................5
3 LECTURER AND CONTACT DETAILS..................................................................................5
3.1 Lecturer ...............................................................................................................................5
3.2 Department ..........................................................................................................................6
3.3 University (contact details) .....................................................................................................6
4 MODULE RELATED RESOURCES .......................................................................................6
4.1 Prescribed book....................................................................................................................6
4.2 Recommended books ...........................................................................................................7
4.3 e-Reserves ...........................................................................................................................7
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE ..........................................................7
5.1 Study groups ........................................................................................................................7
5.2 myUnisa ...............................................................................................................................8
5.3 Group Discussions ................................................................................................................8
5.4 Tutorial Classes ....................................................................................................................8
6 MODULE SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN .......................................................................................8
7 MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING .................................8
8 ASSESSMENT .....................................................................................................................8
8.1 Assessment plan ..................................................................................................................8
8.2 General assignment numbers ................................................................................................9
8.2.1 Unique assignment numbers .................................................................................................9
8.2.2 Due dates of assignments .....................................................................................................9
8.3 Submission of assignments ...................................................................................................9
8.4 Assignments .......................................................................................................................10
9 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS.....................................................................................10
10 EXAMINATIONS ................................................................................................................10
10.1 Examination admission ......................................................................................................10

2
 PHY1505/101

10.2 Examination period .............................................................................................................10

10.3 Examination paper ..............................................................................................................10
11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ..................................................................................11
12 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................11
ADDENDUM A: COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS FOR FIRST SEMESTER ......................................11
ADDENDUM B: COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS FOR SECOND SEMESTER .................................15

3
1 INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME
Welcome to module PHY1505 on Mechanics. I hope you will find it both interesting and rewarding.
This module is offered as a semester module. You will be well on your way to success if you start
studying early in the semester and resolve to do the assignments properly.

I hope you will enjoy this module, and wish you success with your studies.

1.1 Tutorial matter

After registering, you will receive an inventory letter that will indicate to you what you have received
in your study package and also show items that are still outstanding. Also see the booklet entitled
my Studies @ Unisa. Check the study material that you have received against the inventory letter.

PLEASE NOTE : Your lecturers cannot help you with missing study material.

Apart from Tutorial Letter 101, you will also receive other tutorial letters during the semester. These
tutorial letters will not necessarily be available at the time of registration. Tutorial letters will be dis-
patched to you as soon as they are available or needed. If you have access to the Internet, you can
view tutorial letters for the modules for which you are registered on the Universitys online campus,
myUnisa, at http://my.unisa.ac.za

Tutorial Letter 101 contains important information about the scheme of work, resources and assign-
ments for this module. I urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand when working through
the study material, preparing the assignments, preparing for the examination and addressing ques-
tions to your lecturers. In this tutorial letter you will find the assignments as well as instructions on
the preparation and submission of the assignments. This tutorial letter also provides information
with regard to other resources and where to obtain them. Please study this information carefully.
Certain general and administrative information about this module has also been included. Please
study this section of the tutorial letter carefully.

You must read all the tutorial letters you receive during the semester immediately and care-
fully, as they always contain important and, sometimes, urgent information.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES OF THE MODULE

2.1 Purpose
The purpose of this module is to equip the student with principles, laws and methods of mechanics
as well as assist the student in learning to identify and interpret situations related to or requiring
application of principles, laws and methods of mechanics.

4
 PHY1505/101

This module deals with the following aspects of mechanics :

Linear Motion

Rotational Motion

The Laws of Motion

Conservation of Mechanical Energy and Momentum

The Gravitational Field

Harmonic Motion

Properties of Fluids

One of the primary goals of this module is to help you develop a conceptual understanding of these
aspects. Physics is often regarded as a collection of equations that can be used blindly to solve
problems. A good problem solving technique does NOT begin with equations. It starts with a firm
grasp of the concepts and how they fit together to provide a coherent description of the physical
world.

2.2 Outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this module should be able to

2.2.1 explain the principles, laws and methods of mechanics.

2.2.2 derive relevant equations using the principles and laws of mechanics.

2.2.3 integrate the principles, laws and methods of mechanics to solve related problems.

2.2.4 recognize and analyze situations involving the application of the principles and laws of clas-
sical mechanics.

3 LECTURER AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer
The lecturer responsible for this module is:

Name : Dr G. J. Rampho
E-mail address : [email protected]
Telephone number : 012 429 8640 (RSA)
: +27 12 429 8640 (International)

5
All queries that are not of a purely administrative nature but are about the content of this module
should be directed to me. Email is the preferred form of communication to use. If you phone me
please have your study material with you when you contact me. If you cannot get hold of me, leave
a message with the Departmental Secretary. Please clearly state your name, time of call and how
I can get back to you.

You are always welcome to come and discuss your work with me, but please make an appoint-
ment before coming to see me. Please come to these appointments well prepared with specific
questions that indicate your own efforts to have understood the basic concepts involved.

You are also free to write to me about any of the difficulties you encounter with your work for this
module. If these difficulties concern exercises which you are unable to solve, you must send your
attempts so I can see where you are going wrong, or what concepts you do not understand. Mail
should be sent to:

Dr G. J. Rampho
Department of Physics
PO Box 392
UNISA 0003

PLEASE NOTE : Letters to lecturers may not be enclosed with or inserted

into assignments.

3.2 Department
Fax number: 012 429 3642 (RSA) +27 12 429 3643 (International)
Departmental Secretary: 012 429 8027 (RSA) +27 12 429 8027 (International)

3.3 University (contact details)

If you need to contact the University about matters not related to the content of this module, please
consult the publication my Studies @ Unisa that you received with your study material. This
brochure contains information on how to contact the University (e.g. to whom you can write for
different queries, important telephone and fax numbers, addresses and details of the times certain
facilities are open).

Always have your student number at hand when you contact the University.

4 MODULE RELATED RESOURCES

4.1 Prescribed book
The prescribed study material for this module is :

6
 PHY1505/101

Prescribed Textbook :
Physics for Scientists and Engineers , 2nd Edition, (Pearson, 2008)
by Randall D. Knight

Prescribed Study Guide :

Student Workbook compiled by Randall D. Knight
which accompanies the textbook.

Recommended Internet Resource :

Mastering Physics (an online resource).
The access kit accompanies the textbook.

The content of the module is derived from the first 15 chapters of the prescribed
textbook. All sections of each chapter should be studied.

Please refer to the list of official booksellers and their addresses in the my Studies @ Unisa
brochure. Prescribed books can be obtained from the Universitys official booksellers. If you have
difficulty in locating your book(s) at these booksellers, please contact the Prescribed Book Section
at Tel: 012 429-4152 or e-mail [email protected].

4.2 Recommended books

There are no recommended books for this module.

4.3 e-Reserves
There are no e-Reserves for this module.

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE

For information on the various student support systems and services available at Unisa (e.g. stu-
dent counseling, tutorial classes, language support), please consult the publication my Studies @
Unisa that you received with your study material.

5.1 Study groups

It is advisable to have contact with fellow students. One way to do this is to form study groups. The
addresses of students in your area may be obtained from the following department:

Directorate: Student Administration and Registration

PO Box 392
UNISA
0003

7
5.2 myUnisa
If you have access to a computer that is linked to the Internet, you can quickly access resources
and information at the University. The myUnisa learning management system is Unisas online
campus that will help you to communicate with your lecturers, with other students and with the
administrative departments of Unisa all through the computer and the Internet.

To go to the myUnisa website, start at the main Unisa website, www.unisa.ac.za, and then click
on the myUnisa link below the orange tab labeled Current students . This should take you to
the myUnisa website. You can also go there directly by typing my.unisa.ac.za in the address bar of
your browser.

Please consult the publication my Studies @ Unisa which you received with your study material for
more information on myUnisa.

5.3 Group Discussions

There are no group discussions for this module.

5.4 Tutorial Classes

There are no tutorial classes for this module.

6 MODULE SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN

Study plan Semester 1 Semester 2
Outcomes 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 to be achieved by 12 March 22 August
Outcomes 2.2.3 and 2.2.4 to be achieved by 10 April 12 September
Revision 30 April 15 October

7 MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING

There are no practicals for this module.

8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Assessment plan
In each semester there are two assignments for PHY1505. Assignment 01 is a multiple choice
assignment and Assignment 02 is a written assignment. The solutions to assignment 02 will be
sent to ALL registered students after the due date. Both assignments count towards your semester
mark. Please make sure that you answer the questions for the semester for which you are
registered. When marking the assignments, constructive comments will be made on your work,
which will then be returned to you. The assignments and the comments on these assignments

8
 PHY1505/101

constitute an important part of your learning and should help you to be better prepared for the next
assignment and the examination. Please do not wait until you receive Assignment 01 back before
you start working on Assignment 02.

To be admitted to the examination you need to submit the first assignment before the compulsory
date. Both assignment 01 and assignment 02 count equally towards a semester mark for PHY1505.
Your semester mark for PHY1505 counts 10% and your examination mark 90% of your final mark.

8.2 General assignment numbers

The assignments are numbered as 01 and 02 for each semester.

8.2.1 Unique assignment numbers

Please note that each assignment has a unique assignment number which has to be written on the
cover of your assignment.

8.2.2 Due dates of assignments

The due dates for the submission of the assignments in 2013 are:

Assignment number Semester 1 Semester 2

01 17 February 03 August
02 06 April 07 September

8.3 Submission of assignments

You may submit written assignments and assignments completed on mark-reading sheets either
by post or electronically via myUnisa. Assignments may not be submitted by fax or e-mail. For
detailed information on assignments, please refer to the my Studies @ Unisa brochure, which you
received with your study package. Assignments should be sent to

The Registrar
P.O. Box 392
UNISA 0003

To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

Go to myUnisa.
Log in with your student number and password.
Select the module.
Click on assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
Click on the assignment number you wish to submit.
Follow the instructions.

9
PLEASE NOTE: Although students may work together when preparing assignments, each student
must write and submit his or her own individual assignment. In other words, you must submit your
own calculations in your own words. It is unacceptable for students to submit identical assign-
ments on the basis that they worked together. That is copying (a form of plagiarism) and none of
these assignments will be marked. Furthermore, you may be penalized or subjected to disciplinary
proceedings by the University.

8.4 Assignments
There are two compulsory assignments for this module.

Assignment for Semester 1 are given in ADDENDUM A.

Assignment for Semester 2 are given in ADDENDUM B.

9 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS

There are no other assessment methods for this module.

10 EXAMINATIONS
10.1 Examination admission
To be admitted to the examination you must submit the first assignment, i.e. Assignment 01, by the
due date (17 February 2013 for Semester 1, and 03 August 2013 for Semester 2).

10.2 Examination period

This module is offered in a semester period of fifteen weeks. This means that if you are registered
for the first semester, you will write the examination in May/June 2013 and the supplementary ex-
amination will be written in October/November 2013. If you are registered for the second semester
you will write the examination in October/November 2013 and the supplementary examination will
be written in May/June 2014.

During the semester, the Examination Section will provide you with information regarding the ex-
amination in general, examination venues, examination dates and examination times.

10.3 Examination paper

The textbook forms the basis of this course. The study outcomes are listed under 2.2 of this tutorial
letter. The examination will be a single written paper of two hours duration.

Refer to the my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

10
 PHY1505/101

11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For any other study information see the brochure my Studies @ Unisa.

12 CONCLUSION
We hope that you will enjoy this module and wish you success.

ADDENDUM A: COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS FOR FIRST SEMESTER

ONLY FOR SEMESTER 1 STUDENTS

ASSIGNMENT 01
DUE DATE: 22 February 2013
Unique Number : 748644

This is a multiple-choice assignment, so you must submit your answers either via myUnisa
or on a mark reading sheet. Please consult the booklet my Studies @ Unisa before using
myUnisa or completing the mark reading sheet.

There are 10 questions. Each question has 5 alternative answers, and only one of the alter-
native answers is correct. You get 10 marks for each correct answer.

ASSIGNMENT 01 QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following five coordinate versus time graphs represents the motion of an object
whose speed is increasing?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E

11
 2. The coordinate of a particle in meters is given by x(t) = 16 t 3.0 t 3 , where the time t is in
seconds. The particle is momentarily at rest at t =

1. 0.75 s
2. 1.3 s
3. 5.3 s
4. 7.3 s
5. 9.3 s

3. The coordinate of an object is given as a function of time by x(t) = 7 t 3 t 2 , where x is in

meters and t is in seconds. Its average velocity over the interval from t = 0 to t = 4 s is:

1. 5 m/s
2. -5 m/s
3. 11 m/s
4. -11 m/s
5. -14.5 m/s

4. A stone is released from a balloon that is descending at a constant speed of 10 m/s. Neglect-
ing air resistance, after 20 s the speed of the stone is:

1. 2160 m/s
2. 1760 m/s
3. 206 m/s
4. 196 m/s
5. 186 m/s

5. Two blocks are connected by a string and pulley as shown. Assuming that the string and
pulley are massless, the magnitude of the acceleration of each block is:

1. 0.049 m/s2
2. 0.020 m/s2
3. 0.0098 m/s2
4. 0.54 m/s2
5. 0.98 m/s2

12
 PHY1505/101

6. A forward horizontal force of 12 N is used to pull a 240 N crate at constant velocity across a
horizontal floor. The coefficient of kinetic friction is:
1. 0.5
2. 0.05
3. 2
4. 0.2
5. 20

7. A 50 N force is applied to a crate on a horizontal rough floor, causing it to move horizontally. If

the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.50, in what direction should the force be applied to obtain
the greatest acceleration?
1. Horizontal
2. 60 above the horizontal
3. 30 above the horizontal
4. 27 above the horizontal
5. 30 below the horizontal

8. A ball is held at a height H above a floor. It is then released and falls to the floor. If air resis-
tance can be ignored, which of the five graphs below correctly gives the mechanical energy
E of the Earth-ball system as a function of the altitude y of the ball?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E

9. A projectile in flight explodes into several fragments. The total momentum of the fragments
immediately after this explosion:
1. is the same as the momentum of the projectile immediately before the explosion
2. has been changed into kinetic energy of the fragments
3. is less than the momentum of the projectile immediately before the explosion
4. is more than the momentum of the projectile immediately before the explosion
5. has been changed into radiant energy

13
 10. Camping equipment weighing 6000 N is pulled across a frozen lake by means of a horizontal
rope. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.05. The work done by the campers in pulling the
equipment 1000 m at constant velocity is:

1. 3.1 104 J
2. 1.5 105 J
3. 3.0 105 J
4. 2.9 106 J
5. 6.0 106 J

TOTAL : 100

ONLY FOR SEMESTER 1 STUDENTS

ASSIGNMENT 02
DUE DATE: 05 APRIL 2013
Unique Number : 839738

All the problems are taken from the prescribed textbook. Solve the problems indicated and submit
the solutions for evaluation on or before the due date indicated.

ASSIGNMENT 02 QUESTIONS

Chapter 4 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Problem 58 31 22 52 41 42 59 30 39 34

TOTAL : 100

You are advised to work through the relevant chapters in the prescribed textbook thoroughly before
attempting to solve assignment problems. It is essential to submit assignments on or before the
due date.

14
 PHY1505/101

ADDENDUM B: COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS FOR SECOND SEMESTER

ONLY FOR SEMESTER 2 STUDENTS

ASSIGNMENT 01
DUE DATE: 02 August 2013
Unique Number : 843475

This is a multiple-choice assignment, so you must submit your answers either via myUnisa
or on a mark reading sheet. Please consult the booklet my Studies @ Unisa before using
myUnisa or completing the mark reading sheet.

There are 10 questions. Each question has 5 alternative answers, and only one of the alter-
native answers is correct. You get 10 marks for each correct answer.

ASSIGNMENT 01 QUESTIONS

1. Consider the following five graphs (note the axes carefully). Which of these represents mo-
tion at constant speed?

1. IV only
2. IV and V only
3. I, II, and III only
4. I and II only
5. I and IV only

2. The velocity of an object is given as a function of time by v = 4 t 3 t 2 , where v is in m/s and

t is in seconds. Its average velocity over the interval from t = 0 s to t = 2 s is :

1. 4 m/s
2. 2 m/s
3. 0 m/s
4. -2 m/s
5. -4 m/s

15
 3. A drag racing car starts from rest at t = 0 and moves along a straight line with velocity given
by v = b t 2 , where b is a constant. The expression for the distance traveled by this car from
its position at t = 0 is:

1. b t 3
2. b t 3 /3
3. 4 b t 2
4. 3 b t 2
5. b t 3/2

4. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial speed of 19.5 m/s. It will rise to a maximum
height of:

1. 4.9 m
2. 9.8 m
3. 19.4 m
4. 38.8 m
5. none of the above

5. Two blocks, weighing 250 N and 350 N, respectively, are connected by a string that passes
over a massless pulley as shown. The tension in the string is:

1. 210 N
2. 290 N
3. 410 N
4. 500 N
5. 4900 N

6. A 12-kg crate rests on a horizontal surface and a boy pulls on it wit a force that is 30 below
the horizontal. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.40, the minimum magnitude force he
needs to start the crate moving is:

1. 44 N
2. 47 N
3. 54 N
4. 56 N
5. 71 N

16
 PHY1505/101

7. A crate resting on a rough horizontal floor is to be moved horizontally. The coefficient of static
friction is 0.40. To start the crate moving with the weakest possible applied force, in what
direction should the force be applied?

1. Horizontal
2. 24 below the horizontal
3. 22 above the horizontal
4. 24 above the horizontal
5. 66 below the horizontal

8. Which of the five graphs correctly shows the potential energy U of a spring as a function of
its elongation x?

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E

9. When a particle suffers a head-on elastic collision with another particle, initially at rest, the
greatest fraction of kinetic energy is transferred if:

1. the incident particle is initially traveling very fast

2. the incident particle is traveling very slowly
3. the incident particle is much more massive than the target particle
4. the incident particle is much less massive than the target particle
5. the incident and target particle have the same mass

17
 10. Camping equipment weighing 6000 N is pulled across a frozen lake by means of a horizontal
rope. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.05. How much work is done by the campers in
pulling the equipment 1000 m if its speed is increasing at the constant rate of 0.20 m/s2 ?

1. -1.2 106 J
2. 1.8 105 J
3. 3.0 105 J
4. 4.2 105 J
5. 1.2 106 J

TOTAL : 100

ONLY FOR SEMESTER 2 STUDENTS

ASSIGNMENT 02
DUE DATE: 06 September 2013
Unique Number : 834906

All the problems are taken from the prescribed textbook. Solve the problems indicated and submit
the solutions for evaluation on or before the due date indicated.

ASSIGNMENT 02 QUESTIONS

Chapter 4 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Problem 56 30 24 40 45 41 60 31 42 33

TOTAL : 100

You are advised to work through the relevant chapters in the prescribed textbook thoroughly before
attempting to solve assignment problems. It is essential to submit assignments on or before the
due date.

18