Physics Study Guide: Chapters 2-4

University Physics Volume 1

Chapter 2: Kinematics
Key Concepts
• Displacement: ∆x = xf − xi

• Average velocity: vavg = ∆x

∆t

• Instantaneous velocity: v = lim∆t→0 ∆x

∆t

• Average acceleration: aavg = ∆v

∆t

• Kinematic equations:

v = v0 + at
1
x = x0 + v0 t + at2
2
2 2
v = v0 + 2a∆x

• Free fall acceleration: g = 9.8 m/s2

Practice Problems
1. A car accelerates from 20 m/s to 35 m/s over 150 m. Find (a) acceleration, (b) time
required. Then it decelerates to stop in 5 s. Find (c) total distance traveled.

2. A stone is dropped from a 100m cliff. Simultaneously, another is thrown upward from
bottom at 30 m/s. When do they meet?

3. The velocity-time graph shows: 0-2s: 5 m/s, 2-5s: linear decrease to -3 m/s, 5-7s:
constant. Find total displacement.

4. A rocket accelerates upward at 40 m/s² for 5s. It then free-falls. Find maximum
altitude and total flight time.

5. Two cars are 100m apart. Car A (20 m/s) decelerates at 3 m/s². Car B (15 m/s)
accelerates at 2 m/s². Will they collide?

1
Chapter 3: Motion in 2D
Key Concepts

• Vector components: A
⃗ = Ax î + Ay ĵ

• Projectile motion:

x = v0x t
1
y = v0y t − gt2
2
vy = v0y − gt

v02 sin 2θ
• Range: R = g

• Relative velocity: ⃗vA/B = ⃗vA − ⃗vB

Practice Problems
1. A projectile is launched from a 50m cliff at 30° with 45 m/s. Find (a) time to hit
ground, (b) horizontal distance.

2. A pilot must fly due north with 250 km/h wind from NE at 70 km/h. Find required
heading and airspeed.

3. A basketball is thrown at 55° from 2.0m height. What initial speed is needed to make
10m shot?

4. A particle has ⃗v (t) = (3t2 )î + (4t − 5)ĵ m/s. Find position at t=3s if ⃗r(0) = 0.

5. Two projectiles are launched simultaneously from (0,0) and (20,0) with identical speeds
at angles and (90°-). Find where they collide.

2
Chapter 4: Newton’s Laws
Key Concepts
• Newton’s 1st Law:
P
F =0⇒a=0

• Newton’s 2nd Law:

P⃗
F = m⃗a

• Friction: fs ≤ µs N , fk = µk N

• Inclined plane: F∥ = mg sin θ, F⊥ = mg cos θ

Practice Problems
1. A 5kg block on 30° incline has µk=0.25. Find acceleration when (a) pushed up with
50N parallel, (b) released.

2. Three masses (2kg, 3kg, 5kg) connected on frictionless plane with horizontal 40N pull.
Find tensions.

3. A 1000kg car takes a banked curve (radius 50m, angle 20°) without friction. Find ideal
speed.

4. A 10kg box is pulled with force F at 40° above horizontal. µs=0.5, µk=0.3. Find F
needed to (a) start moving, (b) keep moving at constant v.

5. Two blocks (m1=4kg, m2=6kg) connected by string over pulley. m1 on 35° incline
with µk=0.3. Find acceleration.

3
Solutions
Chapter 2 Solutions
1. Car Acceleration Problem:

(a) Using the equation v 2 = v02 + 2a∆x:

825
352 = 202 + 2a(150) ⇒ 1225 = 400 + 300a ⇒ a = = 2.75 m/s2
300

(b) Time calculation using v = v0 + at:

15
35 = 20 + 2.75t ⇒ t = = 5.45 s
2.75

(c) Deceleration phase:

0 − 35
a= = −7 m/s2
5
Stopping distance:
1 1
x = vt + at2 = 35(5) + (−7)(5)2 = 175 − 87.5 = 87.5 m
2 2
Total distance: 150 + 87.5 = 237.5 m

2. Cliff Meeting Problem: Set equal positions for both stones:

 
1 2 1 2
gt = 100 − 30t − gt
2 2

4.9t2 = 100 − 30t + 4.9t2 ⇒ 30t = 100 ⇒ t = 3.33 s

3. Velocity-Time Graph Problem:

• 0-2s: Area = 5 m/s × 2 s = 10 m

• 2-5s: Trapezoid area = 21 (5 + (−3))(3) = 3 m
• 5-7s: Area = −3 m/s × 2 s = −6 m
• Total displacement = 10 + 3 − 6 = 7 m

4. Rocket Problem:

• Boost phase: y1 = 21 (40)(5)2 = 500 m, v = 40(5) = 200 m/s

• Free fall: 0 = 200 − 9.8t ⇒ t = 20.41 s

y2 = 200(20.41) − 4.9(20.41)2 = 2041 m

Max altitude = 500 + 2041 = 2541 m Total time = 5 + 20.41 = 25.41 s

4
 5. Car Collision Problem: Position equations:

xA = 20t − 1.5t2

xB = 100 − 15t − t2
Set equal: 20t − 1.5t2 = 100 − 15t − t2

0.5t2 + 35t − 100 = 0

Solving quadratic: t = 2.67 s (real positive root) Both cars still moving at this time
collision occurs

Chapter 3 Solutions
1. Cliff Projectile:

• Vertical motion: −50 = (45 sin 30)t − 4.9t2

−50 = 22.5t − 4.9t2 ⇒ 4.9t2 − 22.5t − 50 = 0

√
22.5+ 506.25+980
Positive root: t = 9.8
= 5.83 s
• Horizontal distance: x = 45 cos 30(5.83) = 228.4 m

2. Air Navigation Problem:

• Wind components: vw = 70 cos 45î + 70 sin 45ĵ = 49.5î + 49.5ĵ

• Required ground velocity: 250ĵ
• Air velocity: ⃗va = 250ĵ − ⃗vw = −49.5î + 200.5ĵ
• Heading angle: θ = arctan 200.549.5


= 13.9 W of N
√
• Speed: 49.52 + 200.52 = 206.7 km/h

3. Basketball Shot:

x = v0 cos 55t = 10
y = 2 + v0 sin 55t − 4.9t2 = 0
10
Solve for t from x-equation: t = v0 cos 55
Substitute into y-equation:
   2
10 10
2 + v0 sin 55 − 4.9 =0
v0 cos 55 v0 cos 55
490
2 + 10 tan 55 − = 0 ⇒ v0 = 11.2 m/s
v02 cos2 55

5
 4. Vector Position Problem: Integrate velocity:
Z  Z 
2
⃗r(t) = 3t dt î + (4t − 5)dt ĵ

= t3 î + (2t2 − 5t)ĵ
At t=3s: ⃗r(3) = 27î + (18 − 15)ĵ = 27î + 3ĵ m
5. Colliding Projectiles:
• Projectile 1: x1 = v0 cos θt, y1 = v0 sin θt − 4.9t2
• Projectile 2: x2 = 20 + v0 sin θt, y2 = v0 cos θt − 4.9t2
• Set equal positions: v0 cos θt = 20 + v0 sin θt v0 sin θt = v0 cos θt − 20
• Time from vertical: t = v0 sin θ+v0 cos θ
9.8
Solve system to find θ = 45

Chapter 4 Solutions
1. Inclined Plane Problem:
(a) Forces up incline: 50−mg sin 30−fk = ma fk = µk N = 0.25(5)(9.8) cos 30 = 10.6
N 50 − 24.5 − 10.6 = 5a ⇒ a = 2.98 m/s²
(b) Down incline acceleration: a = g(sin θ − µk cos θ) = 9.8(0.5 − 0.25 × 0.866) = 2.78
m/s²
2. Three Mass System:
• Total mass = 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 kg
• Acceleration a = F/m = 40/10 = 4 m/s²
• Tension T1: F = (2)(4) = 8 N
• Tension T2: F = (2 + 3)(4) = 20 N
3. Banked Curve Problem: Ideal speed:
p √ √
v = rg tan θ = 50 × 9.8 × tan 20 = 178.2 = 13.35 m/s

4. Box Pulling Problem:

(a) Vertical equilibrium: N = mg − F sin 40 F cos 40 = µs N = µs (98 − F sin 40)
µs mg
Solve: F = cos 40+µ s sin 40
= 89.5 N
µk mg
(b) For constant velocity: F = cos 40+µk sin 40
= 56.2 N
5. Atwood Machine on Incline:
• m1: T − m1 g sin 35 − µk m1 g cos 35 = m1 a
• m2: m2 g − T = m2 a
• Combine equations: a = m2 g−m1 g(sin 35+µk cos 35)
m1 +m2
= 2.27 m/s²