Q1.

A person travels by car from one city to another with different

constant speeds between pairs of cities. She drives for 30.0 min at 80.0
km/h, 12.0 min at 100 km/h, and 45.0 min at 40.0 km/h, and spends 15.0
min eating lunch and buying gas. (a) Determine the average speed for the
trip. (b) Determine the distance between the initial and final cities along
this route

Solution:
Distances traveled are
Δx1 = v1 ( Δt1 ) = ( 80.0 km h ) ( 0.500 h ) = 40.0 km
Δx2 = v2 ( Δt 2 ) = (100 km h ) ( 0.200 h ) = 20.0 km
Δx3 = v3 ( Δt 3 ) = ( 40.0 km h ) ( 0.750 h ) = 30.0 km

Thus, the total distance traveled is Δx = ( 40.0 + 20.0 + 30.0) km = 90.0 km , and the elapsed
time is Δt = 0.500 h + 0.200 h + 0.750 h + 0.250 h = 1.70 h .

Δx 90.0 km
(a) v= = = 52.9 km h
Δt 1.70 h

(b) Δx = 90.0 km

Q2. A tennis player moves in a straight-line path as shown in the Figure.

Find her average velocities in the time intervals (a) 0 to 1.0 s, (b) 0 to 4.0
s, (c) 1.0 s to 5.0 s, and (d) 0 to 5.0 s.

Solution:

x1 − x0 4.0 m − 0
(a) v0,1 = = = + 4.0 m s
Δt 1.0 s

x4 − x0 − 2.0 m − 0
(b) v0,4 = = = − 0.5 m s
Δt 4.0 s

x5 − x1 0 − 4.0 m
(c) v1,5 = = = − 1.0 m s
Δt 4.0 s

x5 − x0 0 − 0
(d) v0,5 = = = 0
Δt 5.0 s
Q3. A person takes a trip, driving with a constant speed of 89.5 km/h
except for a 22.0-min rest stop. If the person’s average speed is 77.8
km/h, how much time is spent on the trip and how far does the person
travel?

Solution:

The total time for the trip is t = t1 + 22.0 min = t1 + 0.367 h , where t1 is the time
spent traveling at 89.5 km h . Thus, the distance traveled is

x = vt = ( 89.5 km h ) t1 = ( 77.8 km h ) ( t1 + 0.367 h )

or, ( 89.5 km h ) t1 = (77.8 km h ) t1 + 28.5 km .

From which, t1 = 2.44 h for a total time of t = t1 + 0.367 h = 2.80 h .

Therefore, x= vt = ( 77.8 km h ) ( 2.80 h ) = 218 km .

Q4. A tennis ball with a speed of 10.0 m/s is thrown perpendicularly at a

wall. After striking the wall, the ball rebounds in the opposite direction
with a speed of 8.0 m/s. If the ball is in contact with the wall for 0.012 s,
what is the average acceleration of the ball while it is in contact with the
wall?

Solution:

a=
v f − vi
=
( −8.0 m s ) − (10.0 m s)
= − 1.5 × 10 m s
3 2
−2
t f − ti 1.2 × 10 s

Q5. A truck covers 40.0 m in 8.50 s while smoothly slowing down to

final speed 2.80 m/s. (a) Find its original speed. (b) Find its acceleration
⎛ v f + vi ⎞ ⎛ 2.80 m s + vi ⎞
Solution: (a) Δx = v ( Δt ) = ⎜ ⎟ Δt becomes 40.0 m = ⎜ ⎟⎠ ( 8.50 s ) ,
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2

which yields vi = 6.61 m s .

v f − vi 2.80 m s − 6.61 m s
(b) a = = = − 0.448 m s 2
Δt 8.50 s
Q6. A truck on a straight road starts from rest and accelerates at 2.0 m/s2
until it reaches a speed of 20 m/s. Then the truck travels for 20 s at
constant speed until the brakes are applied, stopping the truck in a
uniform manner in an additional 5.0 s. (a) How long is the truck in
motion? (b) What is the average velocity of the truck for the motion
described?

Solution:

(a) The time for the truck to reach 20 m s is found from v f = vi + at as

v f − vi 20 m s − 0
t= = = 10 s .
a 2.0 m s 2

The total time is t total = 10 s + 20 s + 5.0 s = 35 s .

(b) The distance traveled during the first 10 s is

0 + 20 m s ⎞
( Δx )1 = v1t1 = ⎛⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ (10 s ) = 100 m .
2

The distance traveled during the next 20 s (with a = 0) is

( Δx ) 2 = ( vi ) 2 t 2 + a2t 22 = ( 20 m s ) ( 20 s ) + 0 = 400 m .
1
2

The distance traveled in the last 5.0 s is

( Δx ) 3 = v3t 3 = ⎛⎜
20 m s +0 ⎞
⎝ ⎟⎠ ( 5.0 s ) = 50 m .
2

The total displacement is then

Δx = ( Δx )1 + ( Δx ) 2 + ( Δx ) 3 = 100 m + 400 m + 50 m=550 m

and the average velocity for the total motion is given by

Δx 550 m
v= = = 16 m s .
t total 35 s
Q7. A record of travel along a straight path is as follows.

1. Start from rest with constant acceleration of 2.77 m/s2 for 15.0 s
2. Constant velocity for the next 2.05 min
3. Constant negative acceleration –9.47 m/s2 for 4.39 s
(a) What was the total displacement for the complete trip?
(b) What were the average speeds for legs 1, 2, and 3 of the trip as
well as for the complete trip?

Solution

The velocity at the end of the first interval is

v f = vi + at = 0 + (2.77 m s) (15.0 s ) = 41.6 m s .

This is also the constant velocity during the second interval and the initial
velocity for the third interval.

1
(a) From Δx = vi t + at 2 , the total displacement is
2

Δx = ( Δx )1 + ( Δx ) 2 + ( Δx ) 3

⎡ 2⎤

⎣
1
2
( ⎦
)
= ⎢0 + 2.77 m s 2 (15.0 s ) ⎥ + ⎡⎣( 41.6 m s ) (123 s ) + 0 ⎤⎦

⎡ 2⎤

⎣
1
2
(
+ ⎢( 41.6 m s ) ( 4.39 s ) + − 9.47 m s 2 ( 4.39 s ) ⎥
⎦
)

or Δx = 312 m + 5.11 × 103 m + 91.2 m = 5.51 × 103 m = 5.51 km

( Δx)1 312 m
(b) v1 = = = 20.8 m s ,
t1 15.0 s

( Δx ) 2 5.11 × 103 m
v2 = = = 41.6 m s ,
t2 123 s

( Δx ) 3 91.2 m
v3 = = = 20.8 m s , and the average velocity for the
t3 4.39 s

Δx 5.51 × 103 m
total trip is vtotal = = = 38.7 m s
t total (15.0+123+4.39) s
Q8. A car, capable of a constant acceleration of 2.5 m/s2, is stopped at a
traffic light. When the light turns green, the car starts from rest with this
acceleration. Also, as the light turns green, a truck traveling with a
constant velocity of 40 km/h passes the car. Clearly, the car will
eventually travel faster than the truck and will overtake it. Where will the
car catch up with the truck?

Solution:

Taking t = 0 when the car starts after the truck, the displacements of the
vehicles from their initial positions at time t > 0 are:

1
2
1
2
( )
Δxcar = ( vi ) car t + acar t 2 = 0 + 2.5 m s 2 t 2 ,

Δxtruck = ( vi ) truck t + atruck t 2 = ( 40 km h ) t + 0 .

1
and
2

When the car overtakes the truck, Δxcar = Δxtruck , or

1
2
( )
2.5 m s 2 t 2 = ( 40 km h ) t .

This has a solution t = 0 describing the initial situation and a second solution
⎡ ⎛ 0.278 m s ⎞ ⎤
2 ⎢(
40 km h ) ⎜
2
t= ⎥ = 8.9 s .
2.5 m s ⎢⎣ ⎝ 1 km h ⎟⎠ ⎥⎦

The distance the car has traveled before catching the truck is

Δxcar = +
1
2
( )
2.5 m s 2 ( 8.9 s ) = 99 m .
2
Q9. A ball is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 25.0 m/s. (a) How
high does it rise? (b) How long does it take to reach its highest point? (c)
How long does it take to hit the ground after it reaches its highest point?
(d) What is its velocity when it returns to the level from which it started?

Solution:

(a) From v 2f = vi2 + 2a ( Δy ) with v f = 0 , we have

v 2f − vi2 0 − ( 25.0 m s )
2

( Δy)max = = = 31.9 m .
2a (
2 −9.80 m s 2 )
(b) The time to reach the highest point is

v f − vi 0 − 25.0 m s
t up = = = 2.55 s .
a − 9.80 m s 2

(c) The time required for the ball to fall 31.9 m, starting from rest, is found
from

1 2 ( Δy ) 2 ( − 39.1 m )
Δy = ( 0) t + at 2 as t = = = 2.55 s .
2 a − 9.80 m s 2

(d) The velocity of the ball when it returns to the original level (2.55 s after it
starts to fall from rest) is

v f = vi + at = 0 + ( − 9.80 m s 2 ) ( 2.55 s ) = − 25.0 m s .

Q10. A ball thrown vertically upward is caught by the thrower after 2.00
s. Find (a) the initial velocity of the ball and (b) the maximum height it
reaches.

Solution:

1
(a) Consider the relation Δy = vi t + at 2 with a = − g . When the ball is at the
2
1
throwers hand, the displacement Δy is zero, or 0 = vi t − gt 2 . This
2
equation has two solutions, t = 0 which corresponds to when the ball
was thrown, and t = 2vi g corresponding to when the ball is caught.
Therefore, if the ball is caught at t = 2.00 s , the initial velocity must have
been

vi =
gt
=
( 9.80 m s ) ( 2.00 s ) =
2

9.80 m s .
2 2

(b) From v 2f = vi2 + 2a ( Δy ) , with v f = 0 at the maximum height,

v 2f − vi2 0 − ( 9.80 m s )
2

( Δy)max = = = 4.90 m .
2a (
2 − 9.80 m s 2 )

Q11. A ball is thrown directly downward, with an initial speed of 8.00

m/s, from a height of 30.0 m. After what interval does the ball strike the
ground?

Solution:

1
2
1
2
( )
In this case, Δy = vi t + at 2 yields −30.0 m = ( −8.00 m s ) t + −9.80 m s 2 t 2 ,

or (
4.90 t 2 + ( 8.00 s ) t + −30.0 s 2 = 0 . )
Using the quadratic formula to solve for the time gives

−8.00 s ± ( 8.00 s ) 2 − 4 ( 4.90) ( −30.0 s 2 )

t= .
2 ( 4.90)

Since the time when the ball reaches the ground must be positive, we use only
the positive solution to find t = 1.79 s .