High School Physics : Motion and Mechanics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Motion And Mechanics

A ball rolls at . Assuming no outside forces, how long will it take to roll ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The relationship between distance, velocity, and time is given by the equation for velocity:

We can rearrange this formula for solve for the time.

Using the given values for the velocity and distance traveled, we can solve for the time.

Example Question #22 : Motion And Mechanics

A ball begins to roll with a velocity of . If it has an acceleration of  and rolls for , what is the final velocity?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this question, we will need to use the acceleration formula:

We are given the initial velocity, acceleration, and time. Using these values in the equation, we can solve for the final velocity.

Example Question #22 : Linear Motion

A stone is thrown downward with a speed of  from a height of 15m. What is the speed of the stone just before it collides with the ground?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem we use a kinematic equation that relates the square of the final velocity to the sum of the initial velocity squared and the change of position.

All values needed to find the final velocity are given, plug them in and solve.

 

Example Question #22 : Understanding Motion In One Dimension

An object is dropped from the roof of a building, how fast is it traveling after 9s? How far would it have fallen? Assume the building is tall enough for the object to have not hit the ground during this time and neglect air resistance.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The only force accelerating the object is gravity since it was dropped, not thrown. Thus, to find out the speed of the object after some time, simply multiply the time the object has fallen by the acceleration of gravity. We will use . Then use the average velocity to calculate the distance the phone fell.

Final velocity after 9s:

Distance the phone has fallen during the 9s of free fall:

 

Example Question #25 : Linear Motion

If Bob threw an orange straight up with an initial velocity of , what height would the orange reach? Disregard the height it Bob's your hand.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use a kinematic equation. Select the correct one by variables we have or do not have. We were given initial velocity, we know the final velocity will be zero because the orange has to hit the ground, and we know the acceleration of gravity. These parameters fit closest with the equation: 

Plug in the variables we know or were given:

Solve for vertical displacement:

Example Question #26 : Linear Motion

A remote control car accelerates from rest across a parking lot at  and does so for 12s. What distance did it travel during this time?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use a kinematic equation. Based on the variables we were given, the best equation to use is:

 and . We know initial velocity is 0 because it started from rest. Plug in known values:

The red term becomes 0.

Solve for horizontal displacement:

Example Question #27 : Linear Motion

You are trying to determine the height of water in a well by dropping a rock into it. If you hear it hit the water after 6s, what is the distance to the surface of the water? Ignore friction.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

None of these

Explanation:

Based on the variables given select the appropriate kinematic equation. We only know gravity and time, but we need to solve for distance.

The red term becomes 0 because the rock was dropped. Its initial velocity is 0.

 

Example Question #21 : Motion And Mechanics

A person base jumps off a tall mountain peak and freefalls for 3.5s before deploying his parachute. What was the person's final speed before deploying the parachute? Ignore air resistance.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A person falling without air resistance only has the force of gravity acting on them. Thus, the acceleration of gravity multiplied by time yields the final speed of . The negative sign just indicates that the person is falling downward. 

Example Question #29 : Linear Motion

Usain Bolt accelerates from rest to  over a distance of 100m. What is his acceleration? Assume the acceleration is constant.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are given final velocity and we know initial velocity is 0. We can use the following kinematics formula to relate final speed, initial speed, acceleration, and displacement:

The red term is zero since Usain starts from rest. Plug in the remaining values and solve for acceleration. 

 

Example Question #26 : Motion And Mechanics

A drone needs to reach  to take off and it takes 600m to reach this speed. What is its acceleration?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We were given final velocity and displacement and we know initial velocity is 0. Choose the following kinematics equation:

Initial velocity is zero and thus disappears from the equation. Plug in known values and solve for acceleration.

 

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