AP Physics B Problem Set - Chapter 2 – Solutions Mr.

McMullen

2.2 One-Dimensional Displacement and Velocity: Vector Quantities

1. (a).
2. (c). When it is a straight path, distance is equal to the magnitude of displacement. It is not a
straight path; distance is greater than the magnitude of displacement.
3. (c).
4. (c).

10 . Displacement is the change in position.

150 m 150 m
Therefore the magnitude of the displacement for half a lap is 300 m .

For a full lap (the car returns to its starting position), the displacement is zero .

11. Displacement is the change in position. So it is 1.65 m down .

19. (a) The magnitude of the displacement is (3) between 40 m and 60 m ,

50 m
because any side of a triangle cannot be greater than the sum of the other two
sides. In this case, looking at the triangle shown, the two sides perpendicular d  40 m
to each other are 20 m and 40 m, respectively. The magnitude of the
displacement is the hypotenuse of the right triangle, so it cannot be smaller 30 m
than the longer of the sides perpendicular to each other.
d 675 km
28. The minimum speed is s = = 7.00 h = 96.4 km/h = 59.9 mi/h .
t

No , she does not have to exceed the 65 mi/h speed limit.

30 . To the runner on the right, the runner on the left is running at a velocity of

x 100 m
+4.50 m/s – (3.50 m/s) = +8.00 m/s. So it takes t = = 8.00 m/s = 12.5 s .
v

They meet at (4.50 m/s)(12.5 s) = 56.3 m (relative to runner on left) .

2.3 Acceleration
31. (d).
32. (d).
33. (c). A negative acceleration only means it is pointing in a particular direction, for example, the x-
axis. If an object is moving in the positive x-axis, the velocity of the object decreases. However,
if an object is moving in the  x-axis, then its velocity can actually increase (speed up).
34. (d). Any change in either magnitude or direction results in a change in velocity. The brakes and
gearshift change the magnitude, and the steering wheel changes the direction.
AP Physics B Problem Set - Chapter 2 – Solutions Mr. McMullen

2
48. (a) Given: vo = 35.0 km/h = 9.72 m/s, a = 1.50 m/s , x = 200 m (take xo = 0). Find: v.

v = v2o + 2a(x  xo) = (9.72 m/s) + 2(1.5 m/s )(200 m) = 694 m /s ,

2 2 2 2 2
 v = 26.3 m/s .

v – vo 26.3 m/s – 9.72 m/s

(b) v = vo + at,  t= a = 1.50 m/s
2 = 11.1 s .

52 . (a) See the sketch on the right.

(b) The acceleration is negative as the object slows down (assume velocity is positive).
2
v = vo + at = 25 m/s + ( 5.0 m/s )(3.0 s) V
vel
= 10 m/s . V

(c) x = x1 + x2 + x3 V
= (25 m/s)(5.0 s)
V
1 2 2
+ (25 m/s)(3.0 s) + 2
(5.0 m/s )(3.0 s)
V
+ (10 m/s)(6.0 s)
V
= 237.5 m = 2.4  10 m .
2

V
d 237.5 m
(d)s = = 14.0 s = 17 m/s . V V V
t
54. (c).
55. (d), because it is a parabola (depending on time squared).
vo + v
56. (a). Since v = v o + at = 0 + at, v = 2 = 12 at.

57. It is zero because the velocity is a constant.

2.4 Kinematic Equations (Constant Acceleration)

75. (a) For constant acceleration, the v vs. t plot is a straight line. v q

Point p has coordinates of (0, vo) and point q has coordinates of at

(t, vo + at). The distance from point q to point o is therefore at.
vo
The area under the curve is the area of the triangle 21 (at)t plus p o

the area of the rectangle vot.

0 t t
A = vo t + 12 at = x  xo. (Here x  xo is displacement.)
2
So

(b) The total area consists of two triangles from 0 to 4.0 s and from
10.0 s to 18.0 s and a rectangle from 4.0 s to 10.0 s.

x  xo = A = 12 (4.0 s – 0)(8.0 m/s) + (10.0 s – 4.0 s)(8.0 m/s) + 12 (18.0 s – 10.0 s)(8.0 m/s) = 96 m
2
81. (a) Given: a = 3.00 m/s , t = 1.40 s, x = 20.0 m (take xo = 0). Find: vo.
2 2 2
x = xo + vo t + 12 a t ,  20.0 m = 0 + vo(1.40 s) + 1
2 (3.00 m/s )(1.40 s) .

Solving, vo = 12.2 m/s .

2
v = vo + at = 12.2 m/s + (3.00 m/s )(1.40 s) = 16.4 m/s .
AP Physics B Problem Set - Chapter 2 – Solutions Mr. McMullen

2
(b) Given: vo = 0, a = 3.00 m/s , v = 12.2 m/s. Find: x (take xo = 0).
2
2
v  vo2 2
(12.2 m/s)  0
2
v = vo2 + 2 a(x  xo) ,  x  xo =
2a = 2(3.00 m/s ) = 24.8 m .
2

v  vo 12.2 m/s  0
(c) v = vo + at ,  t= a = 3.00 m/s2 = 4.07 s .
2.5 Free Fall
Neglect air resistance in the following Exercises.
83. (d).
84. (d). Free fall is a motion under the gravitational acceleration. The initial velocity does not matter.
2
85. (c). It accelerates at 9.80 m/s , so it increases its speed by 9.80 m/s in each second.
2
86. (a). The acceleration is not zero. It is 9.80 m/s downward.
2
87. (c). It is always accelerates at 9.80 m/s downward.
98. The maximum initial velocity corresponds to the apple reaching maximum height just below the
ceiling.
Given: v = 0 (max height), (y  yo) = 3.75 m – 0.50 m = 3.25 m. Find: vo.

v = v2o – 2g(y  yo), v + 2g(y  yo) =

2 2 2
 vo = 0 + 2(9.80 m/s )(3.25 m) = 7.98 m/s.

Therefore it is slightly less than 8.0 m/s .

–2 y
Taking yo = 0, y = yo + vot – 12 gt = 0 + 0  12 gt = – 12 gt ,
2 2 2
99. so t= g .

For y = 452 m, t = 9.604 s; for y = 443 m, t = 9.508 s.

So t = 9.604 s – 9.508 s = 0.096 s .

a = 2.50 m/s ,
2
113. (a) Given: x = 300 m (taking xo = 0), v = 0 (come to rest). Find: vo.
2
v = vo2 + 2a(x  xo), 2a(x  xo) = 2(2.50 m/s )(300 m) = 38.7 m/s .
2
 vo =

v  vo 0  38.7 m/s
(b) v = vo + at ,  t= a =
2.50 m/s
2 = 15.5 s .

(c) vo = 38.7 m/s + 4.47 m/s = 43.2 m/s.

2
v = vo2 + 2a(x  xo) = (43.2 m/s) + 2(2.50 m/s )(300 m) = 366.2 m /s . So v = 19.2 m/s .
2 2 2 2