AS TUTORIAL BATCH 22

Topics 3: DYNAMICS

Objectives Questions

1. A brick is dislodged from a building and falls vertically under gravity.

Which graph best represents the variation of its height h above the ground with time t if
air resistance is negligible?

2. In the absence of air resistance, a stone is thrown from P and follows a parabolic path
in which the highest point reached is T. The stone reaches point Q just before landing.

The vertical component of acceleration of the stone is

A zero at T.

B larger at T than at Q.

C larger at Q than at T.

D the same at Q as at T.

3. The water surface in a deep well is 78.0m below the top of the well. A person at the
top of the well drops a heavy stone down the well. Air resistance is negligible. The speed
of sound in the air is 330ms–1. What is the time interval between the person dropping the
stone and hearing it hitting the water?

A 3.75s

B 3.99s

C 4.19s

D 4.22s

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4. A mass m1 travelling with speed u1 collides with a mass m2 travelling with speed u2 in
the same direction. After the collision, mass m1 has speed v1 and mass m2 has speed v2
in the same direction. The collision is perfectly elastic.

Which equation is not correct?

A m1u12 – m1v12 = m2v22 – m2u22

B v2 + u2 = v1 + u1

C m1(u1 – v1) = m2(v2 – u2)

D m1(u1 – v1) 2 = m2(u2 – v2)2

5. A ball strikes a horizontal surface with momentum ρ at an angle θ to the surface, as

The ball rebounds with the same magnitude of momentum at an angle θ to the surface.
The ball is in contact with the surface for time t. What is the magnitude of the average
resultant force acting on the ball during the collision?

A zero

B 2ρ/t

C 2ρ cos θ/t

D 2ρ sin θ/t

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Structured Questions

1. (a) (i) Define force.

..................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) State Newton’s third law of motion.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) Two spheres approach one another along a line joining their centres, as illustrated in
Fig. 1.1.

Fig 1.1

When they collide, the average force acting on sphere A is FA and the average force
acting on sphere B is FB.

The forces act for time tA on sphere A and time tB on sphere B.

(i) State the relationship between

1. FAand FB,

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

2. tAand tB.

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............................................................................................................................… [1]

(ii) Use your answers in (i) to show that the change in momentum of sphere A is equal
in magnitude and opposite in direction to the change in momentum of sphere B.

..................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

(c) For the spheres in (b), the variation with time of the momentum of sphere A before,
during and after the collision with sphere B is shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig 1.2

The momentum of sphere B before the collision is also shown on Fig. 1.2.

Complete Fig. 1.2 to show the variation with time of the momentum of sphere B during
and after the collision with sphere A. [3]

[Total: 10]
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2. A ball is thrown against a vertical wall. The path of the ball is shown in Fig. 2.1.

Figure 2.1

The ball is thrown from S with an initial velocity of 15.0 m s–1 at 60.0° to the horizontal.
Assume that air resistance is negligible.

(a) For the ball at S, calculate

(i) its horizontal component of velocity,

horizontal component of velocity = ........................................ m s–1[1]

(ii) its vertical component of velocity.

vertical component of velocity = ........................................ m s–1 [1]

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(b) The horizontal distance from S to the wall is 9.95 m. The ball hits the wall at P with a
velocity that is at right angles to the wall. The ball rebounds to a point F that is 6.15 m
from the wall.

Using your answers in (a),

(i) calculate the vertical height gained by the ball when it travels from S to P,

height = ............................................. m [1]

(ii) show that the time taken for the ball to travel from S to P is 1.33 s

[1]

(iii) show that the velocity of the ball immediately after rebounding from the wall is about
4.6 m s–1. [1]

(c) The mass of the ball is 60 × 10–3kg.

(i) Calculate the change in momentum of the ball as it rebounds from the wall.

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change in momentum = ........................................... N s [2]

(ii) State and explain whether the collision is elastic or inelastic.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................…... [1]

[Total: 8]

3. Two balls X and Y are supported by long strings, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

The balls are each pulled back and pushed towards each other. When the balls collide at
the position shown in Fig. 3.1, the strings are vertical. The balls rebound in opposite
directions. Fig. 3.2 shows data for X and Y during this collision.

The positive direction is horizontal and to the right.

(a) Use the conservation of linear momentum to determine the mass M of Y.

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M = ....................................................... g [3]

(b) State and explain whether the collision is elastic.

..........................................................................................................................................….

...........................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) Use Newton’s second and third laws to explain why the magnitude of the change in
momentum of each ball is the same.

..........................................................................................................................................….

..........................................................................................................................................….

......….............................................................................................................................…….

…..........….........................................................................................................................[3]

[Total: 7]

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4.(a) State Newton’s second law of motion.

..........................................................................................................................................…

..........................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) A constant resultant force F acts on an object A. The variation with time t of the
velocity v for the motion of A is shown in Fig. 4.1.

Figure 4.1

The mass of A is 840g. Calculate, for the time t = 0 to t = 4.0s,

(i) the change in momentum of A, change in momentum

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= ............................................. kgms–1 [2]

(ii) the force F.

F = ....................................................... N [1]

(c) The force F is removed at t = 4.0s. Object A continues at constant velocity before
colliding with an object B, as illustrated in Fig. 4.2.

Object B is initially at rest. The mass of B is 730g. The objects A and B join together and
have a velocity of 4.7ms–1.

(i) By calculation, show that the changes in momentum of A and of B during the collision
are equal and opposite.

[2]

(ii) Explain how the answers obtained in (i) support Newton’s third law.

.........................................................................................................................................…..

.....................................................................................................................................……..

…………................................................................................................................................
[2]

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(iii) By reference to the speeds of A and B, explain whether the collision is elastic.

.........................................................................................................................................…

…..................................................................................................................................[1]
[Total: 9]

5. A wooden block moves along a horizontal frictionless surface, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Figure 5.1

The block has mass 85 g and moves to the left with a velocity of 2.0 m s –1. A steel ball of
mass 4.0 g is fired to the right. The steel ball, moving horizontally with a speed of 45 m s
–1
, collides with the block and remains embedded in it.

After the collision the block and steel ball both have speed v.

(a) Calculate v.

v = ................................................ ms –1[2]

(b) (i) For the block and ball, state

1. the relative speed of approach before collision,

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relative speed of approach = ...................................................... ms–1

2. the relative speed of separation after collision.

relative speed of separation = ...................................................... ms–1 [1]

(ii) Use your answers in (i) to state and explain whether the collision is elastic or inelastic.

.......................................................................................................................................…

…..............................................................................................................................….... [1]

(c) Use Newton’s third law to explain the relationship between the rate of change of
momentum of the ball and the rate of change of momentum of the block during the
collision.

.........................................................................................................................................….

…..…...............................................................................................................................…..

…............…..................................................................................................................… [2]

[Total: 6]

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6. A block X slides along a horizontal frictionless surface towards a stationary block Y, as

Figure 6.1

There are no resistive forces acting on block X as it moves towards block Y. At time t = 0,
block X has momentum 0.40kgms−1. A short time later, the blocks collide and then
separate.

The variation with time t of the momentum of block Y is shown in Fig. 6.2.

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Figure 6.2

(a) Define linear momentum.

...............................................................................................................................................
[1]

(b) Use Fig. 2.2 to:

(i) determine the time interval over which the blocks are in contact with each other

time interval = .................................................... ms [1]

(ii) describe, without calculation, the magnitude of the acceleration of block Y from:

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1. time t = 80ms to t=100ms

..................................................................................................................................….

..................................................................................................................................….

2. time t = 100ms to t = 120ms.

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Use Fig. 6.2 to determine the magnitude of the force exerted by block X on block Y.

force = ...................................................... N [2]

(d) On Fig. 6.2, sketch the variation of the momentum of block X with time t from t = 0 to t
= 160ms.

[3]

[Total: 9]

7. A small remote-controlled model aircraft has two propellers, each of diameter 16cm.
Fig. 7.1 is a side view of the aircraft when hovering.

Figure 7.1

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Air is propelled vertically downwards by each propeller so that the aircraft hovers at a
fixed position. The density of the air is 1.2kgm–3.

Assume that the air from each propeller moves with a constant speed of 7.6ms–1 in a
uniform cylinder of diameter 16cm. Also assume that the air above each propeller is
stationary.

(a) Show that, in a time interval of 3.0s, the mass of air propelled downwards by one
propeller is 0.55kg.

[3]

(b) Calculate:

(i) the increase in momentum of the mass of air in (a)

increase in momentum = ................................................... Ns [1]

(iii) the downward force exerted on this mass of air by the propeller.

force = ..................................................... N [1]

(c) State:

(i) the upward force acting on one propeller force = ..................................................... N

(ii) the name of the law that explains the relationship between the force in (b)(ii) and the
force in (c)(i).

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................................................................................................................................…..... [1]

(d) Determine the mass of the aircraft. mass = ...............................................……... kg [1]

(e) In order for the aircraft to hover at a very high altitude (height), the propellers must
propel the air downwards with a greater speed than when the aircraft hovers at a low
altitude.

Suggest the reason for this.

..........................................................................................................................................….

…..….................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 9]

8. A ball is thrown vertically downwards to the ground, as illustrated in Fig. 8.1.

Figure 8.1

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The ball is thrown with speed u from a height of 1.5m. The ball then hits the ground with
speed 8.7ms–1. Assume that air resistance is negligible.

(a) Calculate speed u.

u = ................................................. ms–1 [2]

(b) State how Newton’s third law applies to the collision between the ball and the ground.

.........................................................................................................................................…..

…...........................................................................................................................................

......... .............................................................................................................................…[2]

(c) The ball is in contact with the ground for a time of 0.091s. The ball rebounds vertically
and leaves the ground with speed 5.4ms–1.

The mass of the ball is 0.059kg.

(i) Calculate the magnitude of the change in momentum of the ball during the collision.

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change in momentum = .................................................. Ns [2]

(ii) Determine the magnitude of the average resultant force that acts on the ball during
the collision.

average resultant force = ...................................................... N [1]

(iii) Use your answer in (c)(ii) to calculate the magnitude of the average force exerted by
the ground on the ball during the collision.

average force = ...................................................... N [2]

(c) The ball was thrown downwards at time t = 0 and hits the ground at time t = T.

On Fig. 8.2, sketch a graph to show the variation of the speed of the ball with time t from
t = 0 to t = T. Numerical values are not required.

Figure 8.2

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(d) In practice, air resistance is not negligible.

State and explain the variation, if any, with time t of the gradient of the graph in (d) when
air resistance is not negligible.

.........................................................................................................................................…..

….....................................................................................................................................…..

…...................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 11]

9. (a) Define momentum.

.........................................................................................................................................…

….... ................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Two balls X and Y, of equal diameter but different masses 0.24kg and 0.12kg
respectively, slide towards each other on a frictionless horizontal surface, as shown in
Fig. 9.1.

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Figure 9.1

Both balls have initial speed 2.3 ms–1 before they collide with each other. Fig. 9.2 shows
the variation with time t of the force FY exerted on ball Y by ball X during the collision.

Figure 9.2

(i) Calculate the kinetic energy of ball X before the collision.

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kinetic energy = ...................................................... J [3]

(ii) The area enclosed by the lines and the time axis in Fig. 9.2 represents the change in
momentum of ball Y during the collision. Determine the magnitude of the change in
momentum of ball Y.

change in momentum = ................................................... Ns [2]

(iii) Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of ball Y after the collision.

velocity = ................................................ ms–1 [2]

(c) On Fig. 9.3, sketch the variation with time t of the force FX exerted on ball X by ball Y
during the collision in (b).

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Figure 9.3

[3]

[Total: 11]

10. (a) (i) State the principle of conservation of momentum

.........................................................................................................................................…..

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….....................................................................................................................................…..

…...................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) State the difference between elastic and inelastic collision

.........................................................................................................................................…..

…..................................................................................................................................….[1]

(b) An object A of mass 4.2 kg and horizontal velocity 3.6 ms-1 moves towards object B
as shown in Figure 10.1.

Figure 10.1

Object B of mass 1.5 kg is moving with a horizontal velocity of 1.2 ms-1 towards object A.

The object collides and then both move to the right, as shown in Figure 10.2.

Object A has velocity v and object B has velocity 3.0 ms-1.

(i) Calculate the velocity v of object A after the collision.

velocity = …………………………………………… ms-1 [3]

(ii) Determine whether the collision is elastic or inelastic.

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[3]

[Total: 9]

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