Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Solution
Substitute numerical values with the velocity in meters per second and the time in seconds:
(B) Calculate the velocity and speed of the particle at t = 5.0 s and the angle the velocity vector
makes with the x axis.
Solution
Evaluate the result from Equation (1) at t = 5.0 s:
(C) Determine the x and y coordinates of the particle at any time t and its position vector at this
time.
Solution
4.3 Projectile Motion
Projectile motion of an object is simple to analyze if we make two assumptions: (1) the
free-fall acceleration is constant over the range of motion and is directed downward, and (2)
the effect of air resistance is negligible. With these assumptions, we find that the path of a
projectile, which we call its trajectory, is always a parabola as shown in Figure 4.7.
Therefore, when solving projectile motion problems, use two analysis models: (1) the
particle under constant velocity in the horizontal direction (Eq. 2.7):
and (2) the particle under constant acceleration in the vertical direction (Eqs. 2.13–2.17 with
x changed to y and ay = –g):
The horizontal and vertical components of a projectile’s motion are completely independent
of each other and can be handled separately, with time t as the common variable for both
components.
Horizontal Range and Maximum Height of a Projectile
Figure 4.10 illustrates various trajectories for a projectile having a given initial
speed but launched at different angles.
Example 4.2 The Long Jump
A long jumper (Fig. 4.11) leaves the ground at an angle of 20.0° above the horizontal and
at a speed of 11.0 m/s.
(A) How far does he jump in the horizontal direction?
Solution
Use Equation 4.13 to find the range of the jumper:
Solution
Use this component with the horizontal component vxf = vxi = 17.3 m/s to find the
speed of the stone at t = 4.22 s:
Evaluate the x and y coordinates of the point at which the skier lands:
4.4 Analysis Model: Particle in Uniform Circular Motion
Figure 4.15a shows a car moving in a circular path; we describe this motion by calling it
circular motion. If the car is moving on this path with constant speed v, we call it uniform
circular motion. Because it occurs so often, this type of motion is recognized as an analysis
model called the particle in uniform circular motion.
it follows that:
The period of a particle in uniform circular motion is a measure of the number of seconds
for one revolution of the particle around the circle. The inverse of the period is the rotation
rate and is measured in revolutions per second. Because one full revolution of the particle
around the circle corresponds to an angle of 2 π radians, the product of 2π and the rotation
rate gives the angular speed ω of the particle, measured in radians/s or s-1:
Combining this equation with Equation 4.15, we find a relationship between angular speed and
the translational speed with which the particle travels in the circular path:
We can express the centripetal acceleration of a particle in uniform circular motion in terms of
angular speed by combining Equations 4.14 and 4.17:
Example 4.6 The Centripetal Acceleration of the Earth
(A) What is the centripetal acceleration of the Earth as it moves in its orbit around the Sun?
Solution
We do not know the orbital speed of the Earth to substitute into Equation 4.14. With the help of
Equation 4.15, however, we can recast Equation 4.14 in terms of the period of the Earth’s orbit,
which we know is one year, and the radius of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, which is
(B) What is the angular speed of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun?
The tangential acceleration vector has magnitude 0.300 m/s2 and is horizontal. The radial
acceleration is given by Equation 4.21, with v = 6.00 m/s and r = 500 m. The radial
acceleration vector is directed straight downward.
Evaluate the radial acceleration: