Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

Q1. You are asked to predict the next item in the following sequence of integers: 1, 2, 3. If your
prediction is 4, what assumptions did you make? Hint: any other possibilities?

You assume the sequence is linear, meaning each entry is larger than the previous one by a
constant amount. [1 mark]

As an alternative, the sequence could be formed by starting with 1, 2 and then setting the
term equal to the sum of the previous two terms: This would work for
and would yield 5 as the next number in the sequence. This is also known as
the Fibonacci sequence. [1 mark]

Q2. Where would you place a fourth black dot to form an arrangement that has both reflection
symmetry and a 90° rotational symmetry in the figure below?

One unit down and left from the upper right corner. This way the coins form a square:

Q3. Describe the reflection symmetry of each of these letters:

HUBJEZ

Which one of these letters contains 180° rotational symmetry?

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

“H” and “U” are reflection symmetric across a vertical line passing through the center of the
letter. [1 mark]

“E” and “B” are reflection symmetric across a horizontal line passing through the center of the
letter. [1 mark]

“J” and “Z” have no reflection symmetry. [1 mark]

Only “Z” has 180° rotational symmetry [1 mark]

Q4. (a) Given that the speed of light is 299 792 458 m/s, how far does light travel in 33 years?
Give your answer in meters in scientific notation with three significant digits.

We use 𝑣 𝑥 = ∆𝑥/∆𝑡 for constant speed in the 𝑥 direction to write

299 792 458 m 3600 24 365.25

∆𝑥 = 𝑣 𝑥 ∆𝑡 = × × × × 33 years = 3.12 × 10 17 m
1s 1 hour 1 day 1 year

[1 mark]

Light takes approximately 500 seconds to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
(b) What is this distance in kilometers?

8.33 min = 8.33 × 60 seconds = 499.8 seconds.The distance light travels during this time is
(499.80 sec) × (299792458 m/s) = 149836270508.40 m ≈ 149 million kilometers.

[1 mark]

(c) How many Suns could fit side by side in this distance? Take the radius of the Sun to be
696,000 km. [1 mark]

149 836 270 508.40 m /(696 000 000*2) m = 107.64. This means you can comfortably fit 107
Suns!
[1 mark]

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

Q5. The Jupiter–Sun distance is 778 million kilometers, and the Earth–Sun distance is 150
million kilometers. Suppose an imaginary line from Jupiter to the Sun forms a right angle with an
imaginary line from Earth to the Sun. How long would it take light to travel from the Sun to a
spaceship half-way along the straight-line path between Jupiter and Earth?

Draw a diagram [3 marks]

Give your numerical answer in seconds in scientific notation with 3 significant digits [2 marks]

[3 marks] 1 mark for putting labels (Sun, Earth, Jupiter). 1 mark for drawing the Sun-Jupiter and
Sun-Earth lines at 90°, 1 mark for correctly putting point P.

The distance from the Sun to point P is

The time that light would require to cross this distance can be found using

[2 marks]

Q6. Convert 650 m/s to kilometers per hour, inches per nanoseconds, and miles per second.
Give your answers to 3 significant figures, either scientific notation or decimal notation.
[3 marks]

m 10 −3 km
650 = 650 = 2340 km/hr [1 mark]
s 1 s /3600 hr

m 100 cm 1 inch
650 = 650 = 2.56 × 10 −5 inch/ns [1 mark]
s 10 9 ns 2.54 cm

m 10 −3 km 1 km
650 = 650 = 0.404 mile/sec. [1 mark]
s 1s 1.609 mile

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

Q7. The sequence in the Figure below represents a ball rolling into a wall and bouncing off of it.
The ball is 10 mm in diameter. Make a graph showing the distance from the leading edge of the
ball to the closest part of the wall (using the wall as the origin) as it changes from frame to
frame. Hint: labels & distances.
[3 marks]

1 mark for the correct distances.

1 mark for the correct shape, ie linearly decreasing then 0 at frame 7 and increasing after
wards.
1 mark for correct labels.

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

Q8. Figure below shows a graph of position

versus frame number from a film clip of a moving
object. Describe this motion from beginning to
end, and state any assumptions you make. Hint:
frame rate.
[3 marks]

The object starts out 35 mm from the edge,

moving toward the edge. This motion continues
for 120 frames, at which point the object is 20
mm from the edge. [1 mark]

The object remains in that position for 90 frames, before moving back away from the edge. It
recedes back to the original distance (36 mm) between frames 210 and 270. [1 mark]

We assumed the frames were captured at a constant rate. [1 mark]

Q9.A remotely controlled helicopter is heading vertically upward when you attempt to land it. Its
height is represented by 𝑦 𝑡 = 𝑝 + 𝑞𝑡 − 𝑟𝑡 2 where 𝑝 = 15.0 m, 𝑞 = 3.0 m/s, and 𝑟 = 6.0 m/s2.
(a) What was the initial position of the helicopter?

The initial position is 𝑦 0 = 15 m. [1 mark]

(b) What is the maximum height that it reaches before descending?

𝑑𝑦
To get the maximum, set the derivative of y(t) = 0. = 3.0 − 12.0𝑡 = 0 → 𝑡 = 0.25 𝑠𝑒𝑐. [1 mark]
𝑑𝑡

2
𝑦 0.25 = 15.0 + 6 ∗ 0.25 − 6.0 ∗ 0.25 = 15.375 m. [1 mark]

(c) Draw a graph of the motion from 𝑡 = 0 to 𝑡 = 2 s.

1 mark for correct start 𝑦 0 = 15 and end

𝑦 2 = − 3 points, plus maximum point at
t=0.25 s.
1 mark for having a curve, not a straight line

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

(d) At what time does the helicopter land (𝑦 = 0 m)?

The chopper has landed when y = 0.0 = 15.0 + 3𝑡 − 6𝑡 2. Using the quadratic formula, we choose
the only positive solution: 𝑡 = 1.85 sec. [1 mark]

Q10. Consider the position function 𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑝 + 𝑞𝑡 + 𝑟𝑡 2 for a moving object, with 𝑝 = +3.0 m,
𝑞 = +2.0 m/s, and 𝑟 = -5.0 m/s2.

(a) What is the value of 𝑥 𝑡 at 𝑡 = 0? [1 mark]

[1 mark]

(b) At what value of t does 𝑥 𝑡 have its maximum value? [2 mark]

Need to find where its derivative is zero [1 mark]

[1 mark]

(c) What is the value of 𝑥 𝑡 at its maximum? [1 mark]

Inserting the value obtained in part (b) into the position function yields

So the maximum value of the position is 3.2 m. [1 mark]

(d) Draw a position-versus-time graph between 𝑡 = 0 s and 𝑡 = 1 s. [2 marks]

1 mark for correct start and end points, plus maximum

point at t=0.5 s.
1 mark for having a curve, not a straight line

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

(e) What is the total distance traveled by the object in these intervals: From 𝑡 = 0 to 𝑡 = 0.50 s?
From 𝑡 = 0 to 𝑡 = 1.0 s? From 𝑡 = 0.50 s to 𝑡 = 1.0 s? [4 marks]

After 0.20 s, the object turns around. In the first 0.20 s, the object travels 0.20 m in the
direction. This initial distance must be added on to the distance the object moves in the
direction after 0.20 s. [1 mark]

For the first interval:

Which corresponds to 0.20 m in the direction and another 0.45 m in the Hence the
total distance traveled is 0.65 m. [1 mark]

For the second interval:

This corresponds to an initial distance of 0.20 in the direction and another 3.2 m in the
Hence the total distance traveled is 3.4 m. [1 mark]

For the third interval:

There is no change of direction, hence it is |𝑥 0.5 s − 𝑥 1 s | = 2.75 m [1 mark]

Q11. You normally drive a 10 hour trip at an average speed of 70 km/h. Today you are in a
hurry. During the first 1/3 of the distance, you drive at 90 km/h. If the trip takes 8 hours, what is
your average speed (in km/h) in the last two thirds of the distance?

We refer to the first two thirds of the trip as segment 1 and the last third as segment 2. Starting
from the definition of average speed, we write
d
= 𝑣0 ⇒ 𝑑 = 𝑡0 𝑣0
𝑡0
𝑑 2 8
𝑑1 = ; 𝑑 2 = 𝑑; 𝑡 1 + 𝑡 2 = 𝑡 0 = 8 hrs
3 3 10
𝑑 𝑑
𝑣 1 = 1 = 90 km/h ; 𝑣2 = 2
𝑡1 𝑡2

[1 mark]

Solving these expressions for 𝑣 2 yields

𝑑1 𝑑
𝑡1 = = ;
𝑣 1 3𝑣 1
Which then gives us
8 8 𝑑 𝑑
𝑡2 = 𝑡 − 𝑡1 = −
10 0 10 𝑣 0 3𝑣 1
So then we get
2𝑑 2 𝑑 2
𝑣2 = = = = 86.3 km/h
3 𝑡2 3 8 𝑑 𝑑 8 1
− 3 −
10 𝑣 0 3𝑣 1 10𝑣 0 3𝑣 1
[1 mark for solving for 𝑣 2]

[1 mark for correct answer]

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

Q12. You drive north at 72 km/hr for 2 hours, then you stop for 20 min, and finally drive back
south at 108 km/hr to reach your starting position.
(a) What is your average velocity?

At the end of the trip 𝑥𝑓 = 0 = 𝑥𝑖; hence average velocity is 0 m/s. [1 mark]

(b) What is your average speed (in km/hr) at the end of the trip?

The distance traveled is (72km/hr) × 2hr = 144 km, one way. So the total distance is 288 km. The
time it took the driver to get back is therefore, 144 km/(108 km/hr) = 1.33 hrs. The total trip time
is 3.33 hrs + 20 mins stop. This gives an average speed = total distance/total elapsed time =
288km/(3.33 + 20/60) hrs = 78.54 km/hr. [1 mark]

Q13. Consider three vectors along the 𝑥-axis, 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶. Let the 𝑥 components of the three vectors
be -2 m , +3 m, and -5 m, respectively.
(a) What is 𝐷 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 ? [1 mark]

𝐷 has x-component +1m. [1 mark]

(b) What is 𝐸 = 𝐷 − 𝐶?

𝐸 has x-component +6 m. [1 mark]

Q14. A mouse runs along a baseboard in your house. The mouse’s position as a function of
time is given by 𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑝𝑡 2 + 𝑞𝑡, with 𝑝 = 0.4 m/s 2 and 𝑞 = − 1.2 m/s. Determine the mouse’s
average velocity and average speed
(a) between t = 0 and t = 1.0 s.
(b) between t = 1.0 s and t = 4.0 s.

Need determine if the mouses stops and turns backwards. Thus find the stationary point

[1 mark for trying to find the stationary point]

So the mouse stops and turns around at

[1 mark]

(a) Between t = 0 s and t = 1 s mouse does not change direction, thus average velocity is
𝑥 f−𝑥 i
𝑣 𝑎𝑣 = =
𝑥(1 s)−𝑥(0 s)
î=(-0.80 m/s) î [1 mark]
∆𝑡 1s

And the average speed is 𝑣 𝑎𝑣 = 0.8 m/s [1 mark]

(b) Average velocity is calculated the same way

𝑥f−𝑥i 𝑥(4 s)−𝑥(1 s) (1.6 m) − (−0.8 m)
𝑣 𝑎𝑣 = ∆𝑡
= 1s
î =
3s
î = (+0.80 m/s) î [1 mark]

Change of direction, hence speed is not just magnitude of velocity.

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

To find the speed, we must consider that the mouse moves 0.10 m in the − 𝑥 direction before
turning around and traveling 2.5 m in the + 𝑥 direction. Hence the average speed is
𝑑 2.5 m − − 0.1 m
= = 0.87 m/s
𝑡 3s
[1 mark]

Q15. You have a cart initially at rest that is left to descend along a track of length 1.20 m that is
inclined at an an unknown angle θ. Draw a diagram and setup the problem

[1 mark for diagram]

[1 mark for writing the initial
conditions, x i = 0,…]

[1 mark for writing the equations]

2Δx
ax = + 𝑔 sin (𝜃) and ax = 2
Δ𝑡

(a) Derive an equation that tells you how long the cart will reach the end for an arbitrary angle θ.

Use these equations to solve for θ.

===> [1 mark]

(b)If the cart takes {0.7, 0.9, 1.1} s, what is the angle θ of the inclined rail? Give your answer in
degrees to 1 decimal point.

θ={30,0, 17.6, 11.7} degrees [1 mark]

(c) What is the shortest possible time for the cart to take to reach the end?

Shortest time when θ=90°, from earlier equations

2∆𝑥
∆𝑡 = ± [1 mark]
𝑔sin (90°)
∆𝑡 = 0.50 s [1 mark]

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

Q16. An object is at rest at 𝑥 = 0 m, then is acceleration is given by 𝑎 𝑡 = 𝑡2 + 2 sin (𝜋𝑡) m/s 2 for
2 seconds. Then its acceleration is 𝑎 𝑡 = 0 for 5 another seconds and finally it becomes 𝑎 𝑡 =
− 𝑡 + 1 m/s 2 for 3 seconds.
(a) what is the object’s velocity as a function of time for 0 < 𝑡 < 10 s (piece-wise function)

They need to somehow write

t 2 + 2 sin πt for 0 < 𝑡 ≤ 2
𝑎 t = 0 for 2 < 𝑡 ≤ 7
−𝑡+1 for 7 < 𝑡 ≤ 10
[1 mark]
t3 2
− cos πt + 𝑣(0) for 0 < 𝑡 ≤ 2
3 𝜋
𝑣 t = 𝑎 t 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑣(2) for 2 < 𝑡 ≤ 7
t2
− + 𝑡 + 𝑣(7) for 7 < 𝑡 ≤ 10
2
[1 mark for correct integration]
[1 mark for correct constants, 𝑣 0 , 𝑣 2 , 𝑣(7), these are the initial speeds]

(b) What is the object’s speed at 𝑡 = 1.5, 3, 8 seconds?

Therefore we need to evaluate the correct expression.

1.53 2
𝑣 t = 1.5 s = − cos 1.5π = 1.125 m/s
3 𝜋
[1 mark]

23 2
𝑣 t =3s =𝑣 t =2s = − cos 2π = 2.03 m/s
3 𝜋
[1 mark]

82
𝑣 t =8s = + 8 + 𝑣(7) = 42.03 m/s
2
[1 mark]

Q17. You throw a ball to a person leaning out of a window h meters above you, throwing just
hard enough for it to reach the window. At the same instant, the person drops a chocolate bar to
you. Prove that the chocolate bar and the ball pass each other 3h/4 meters above you.

Let the first object be thrown upwards with initial speed 𝑣 0.

Then 0 2 = 𝑣20 – 2𝑔 ℎ. → 𝑣 0 = √ 2𝑔ℎ . Ie. final velocity of object 1 is zero when it reaches the
window.
[1 mark]

Let y1 represent the position of object number 1, y2 represent the position of object number 2.
1 1
Measured from ground: 𝑦1 = 𝑣 0 𝑡 – 𝑔𝑡 2 ,𝑦 2 = ℎ − 𝑔𝑡 2, initial position of object 1 is zero, and
2 2
initial position of object 2 is ℎ.
Set y1 = y2 to get the time at which they meet 𝑡 = ℎ/𝑣 0 . [1 mark]

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

At that time
2
ℎ 1 ℎ 1 ℎ2
𝑦1 = 𝑣0 × – 𝑔 = ℎ– 𝑔 = ¾ℎ
𝑣0 2 𝑣0 2 2𝑔ℎ
2
1 ℎ 1 ℎ2 3
𝑦2 = ℎ– 𝑔 = ℎ– 𝑔 = ℎ.
2 𝑣0 2 2𝑔ℎ 4
[1 mark]

Q18. A car is 12 m from the bottom of a ramp that is 8.0 m long at its base and 6.0 m high (see
figure below). The car moves from rest toward the ramp with an acceleration of magnitude 2.5
m/s2. At some instant after the car begins moving, a crate is released from rest from some
position along the ramp. The crate and car reach the bottom of the ramp at the same time and
at the same speed.

(a) At what distance d up the ramp was the crate released? [3 mark]

Let us first examine the motion of the car. Call its direction of motion the direction. Since the
1 2∆𝑥 2(12 m)
car starts from rest we can write ∆𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑡2 or 𝑡 = = = 3.1 s. [1 mark]
2 𝑥 𝑎𝑥 2.5 m/s 2

This is the amount of time required for the car to reach the bottom of the ramp and also for the car
to reach its final speed. This speed is given by [1 mark]

The problem states that this is also the final speed of the crate. Let us now examine the motion
of the crate as it slides down the incline (now call this direction +x). We know the acceleration
down the incline will be 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑔 sin (𝜃) and in this case 𝜃 = 37°. Since the crate starts from rest also,

we can write or [1 mark]

(b) How many seconds after the car started to move was the crate released? [2 mark]

The time required for the block to slide down the incline is given by

[1 mark]

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

Since the car requires 3.1 s to reach the bottom of the incline, the crate must have remained still
for 1.8 s before starting its 1.3 s descent. Hence the crate was released 1.8 s after the car began
accelerating. [1 mark]

Q19. At what speed should a 0.03 kg bullet be shot to have the same momentum as a 0.55 kg
soccer ball kicked at 90 km/hr by a professional player? Give your answer in m/s.

𝑚ball 𝑣 ball = 𝑚bullet 𝑣 bullet ⇒ 𝑣 bullet = 𝑚ball 𝑣 ball /𝑚bullet

1000 m
0.55 kg × (90 km/hr × )
𝑣 bullet = 3600 s
0.03 kg
𝑣 bullet = 458.3 m/s
[1 mark]

Q20. In a pairs skating competition, a 75 kg male skater moving at 4 m/s collides (gently) with
his stationary, 50 kg female partner and raises her in a lift. Neither of them makes a horizontal
push at the instant of the pickup. What is the speed of the pair after the collision? (Hint: The
vertical motion of the female has no bearing on the question.) Ignore all friction.

Call the initial direction of the man’s velocity the direction. If there is no horizontal push on the
ice, then the pair should constitute an isolated system. They should have the same momentum
after the collision that they had before.
Hence 𝑝man,i + 𝑝woman,i = 𝑝man,f + 𝑝woman,f
[1 mark for saying this]

This can be simplified by noting that the woman is initially at rest and therefore has no momentum,
and that after the collision they move together (with the same velocity). We can write mman 𝑣man,i =
(m man + m woman )𝑣 f , [1 mark]

And thus
𝑚man 75 kg
𝑣f = 𝑣man,i = + 4 m/s = 2.4 m/s
𝑚man + 𝑚woman 75 kg + 50 kg

Hence the final speed of the pair is +2.4 m/s. [1 mark]

Q21. A 1500 kg car is being driven at +30 m/s when a 50 g golf ball moving at -10 m/s hits the car
and stops immediately (becomes part of the car).

(a) What is the car’s momentum and the ball’s momentum before the collision?

Before the encounter,

The car’s momentum is 𝑃car = 1500 × 30 kg ⋅ m/s = 4.5 × 10 4 kg ⋅ m/s .
[1 mark]

The golf ball’s momentum is 𝑃ball = 0.05 × − 10 kg ⋅ m/s = − 0.5kg ⋅ m/s

[1 mark]

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 Solutions, PHY102G, Homework WK01-03.

(b) What is the change in the car’s velocity due to the collision?

After the encounter, the total momentum 𝑃 tot = 𝑃 car + 𝑃 ball = 44999.5 kg ⋅ m/s .
𝑃tot = 1500 + 0.05 × 𝑣 car = 44999.5
𝑣 car = 29.999 m/s
The change in the car’s velocity is minimum.
[1 mark]

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