Consider the time vs. position plots of an object in the graph below: Q: During which interval is the object moving forward with a constant velocity? Over which interval is the object accelerating, sitting still, and moving opposite to the initial direction of motion? A: We begin by designating the vertical direction as being theContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Graph-Slope Interpretation”
Tag Archives: distance
AP PHYSICS: Graph-Slope Interpretation
Interpreting a graph of an object’s acceleration can be tricky, especially when the graph is linear: An object moving with a constant velocity moves through equal distance segments as time transpires. To the contrary, an object that is undergoing a constant acceleration has a velocity that changes as time transpires. As a consequence, plots ofContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Graph-Slope Interpretation”
AP PHYSICS: Speed and Velocity
Q: Officer Chuck, a former track star at Clemson University, is in pursuit of a suspect that is 500 meters ahead of him. The suspect runs with a speed of 5 meters per second. Conversely, Chuck is running at a speed of 30 meters per second. Assuming that both participants in this sprint run inContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Speed and Velocity”
AP PHYSICS: Average Speed
Q: A canoer crosses three-fifths the distance across a lake at speed ( v ). Unfortunately, the canoer begins to tire, and she finishes crossing the lake at one-half her initial speed. What was her average speed while crossing the lake? A: The average speed is determined by dividing the total distance traveled by theContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Average Speed”
AP PHYSICS: Average Velocity
Q: A boomerang travels 500 meters in a southward direction over the course of 90 seconds. The boomerang then makes an abrupt turn eastward and travels 300 meters in 60 seconds. What is the average velocity of the boomerang? A: In a previous problem, the average speed of an object was determined. Speed is aContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Average Velocity”
AP PHYSICS: Average Speed
Q: A distance runner has just finished her race. During the first 3 kilometers, she ran with a constant speed of 5 meters per second. During the latter 7 kilometers, she ran with a constant speed of 14.4 kilometers per hour. What is her average speed for the race? A: First, take note that theContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Average Speed”
AP PHYSICS: Vector Addition
Q: An ant travels long distances each day in search of food. On one such occasion, the ant travels 3.0 meters at an angle of 300 north of east. Afterward, the ant travels 2.0 meters to the north. Finally, the ant finds food after traveling 2.0 meters at an angle of 600 south of west.Continue reading “AP PHYSICS: Vector Addition”
KINEMATICS: Where Will The Daredevil Land?
Q: A stuntman equipped with a parachute rides a bicycle over the edge of a 500.0-meter building. The combined mass of the stuntman and his bicycle is 90.0 kg. If the bike moves at 24.2 m/s as it leaves the building’s edge, at what distance from the building’s base must a cushion be placed inContinue reading “KINEMATICS: Where Will The Daredevil Land?”
KINEMATICS: The Speedboat Will Miss its Mark by What Distance?
A speedboat travels eastward at 80 knots (150 km/h) through a northward current of water moving 4.00m/s. Q1: What is the speedboat’s velocity vector relative to the starting port? What is the angle of travel? Q2: If the boat’s captain wanted the boat to travel due east without getting off course, how far off courseContinue reading “KINEMATICS: The Speedboat Will Miss its Mark by What Distance?”
RENAISSANCE PHYSICS 