PHYSICS PROBLEM SOLVING
1. A train accelerates uniformly from rest to 30 m/s in 20 seconds. How far does it travel
during this time?
A) 200 m
B) 300 m
C) 400 m
D) 600 m
2. A 10 kg block is pulled across a frictionless surface with a force of 50 N at an angle of
60°. How much of that force is used to accelerate the block horizontally?
A) 25 N
B) 35 N
C) 43.3 N
D) 50 N
3. A ball is thrown straight up with an initial velocity of 24 m/s. How long will it take to
return to the thrower's hand? (g = 9.8 m/s²)
A) 2.45 s
B) 3.50 s
C) 4.90 s
D) 6.80 s
4. A roller coaster cart drops from a height of 20 meters. What is its velocity just before
hitting the ground? (Assume no friction, g = 9.8 m/s²)
A) 15.2 m/s
B) 17.4 m/s
C) 19.8 m/s
D) 22.2 m/s
5. A car of mass 1000 kg moves at 25 m/s and crashes into a wall, coming to a stop in 0.2
seconds. What average force did the wall exert?
A) 50,000 N
B) 100,000 N
C) 125,000 N
D) 150,000 N
6. A projectile is launched at 20 m/s at a 30° angle. What is the vertical component of its
velocity?
A) 10 m/s
B) 15 m/s
C) 17.3 m/s
D) 20 m/s
7. An elevator lifts a 500 kg load up 30 meters in 60 seconds. What is the power output of
the motor (in watts)?
A) 1000 W
B) 1500 W
C) 2450 W
D) 4900 W
8. A 2 kg object is rotating in a circle of radius 1.5 m at a speed of 6 m/s. What is the
centripetal force acting on it?
A) 12 N
B) 24 N
C) 36 N
D) 48 N
9. A spring has a spring constant of 200 N/m. How much energy is stored when it is
compressed by 0.2 m?
A) 2 J
B) 4 J
C) 6 J
D) 8 J
10. A satellite orbits Earth at a height where gravity is 6.0 N/kg. If its mass is 500 kg, what
is the gravitational force acting on it?
A) 3000 N
B) 3500 N
C) 4000 N
D) 4500 N
Answer Key with Solutions
1. Use: s=ut+12at2s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2, with u=0u = 0, a=vt=30/20=1.5a = \frac{v}{t} = 30/20
= 1.5:
s=0+0.5×1.5×202=0.75×400=300s = 0 + 0.5 × 1.5 × 20^2 = 0.75 × 400 = 300
B) 300 m
2. Horizontal force = Fcos(60°)=50×0.5=25F \cos(60°) = 50 × 0.5 = 25
A) 25 N
3. Total time = up + down = 2×(v/g)=2×(24/9.8)≈4.902 × (v/g) = 2 × (24 / 9.8) ≈ 4.90
C) 4.90 s
4. Use v=2gh=2×9.8×20=392≈19.8v = \sqrt{2gh} = \sqrt{2 × 9.8 × 20} = \sqrt{392} ≈ 19.8
C) 19.8 m/s
5. F=mvt=1000×250.2=125,000F = \frac{mv}{t} = \frac{1000 × 25}{0.2} = 125,000
C) 125,000 N
6. Vertical velocity = vsin(30°)=20×0.5=10v \sin(30°) = 20 × 0.5 = 10
A) 10 m/s
7. Work = mgh = 500 × 9.8 × 30 = 147,000 J
Power = Work / time = 147,000 / 60 = 2450 W
C) 2450 W
8. F=mv2r=2×361.5=48F = \frac{mv^2}{r} = \frac{2 × 36}{1.5} = 48
D) 48 N
9. Spring energy = 12kx2=0.5×200×0.04=4\frac{1}{2}kx^2 = 0.5 × 200 × 0.04 = 4
B) 4 J
10. F=mg=500×6=3000F = mg = 500 × 6 = 3000
A) 3000 N
