Linear Motion - AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Card 1 of 286
A guillotine blade weighing
is accelerated upward into position at a rate of
.
What is the the approximate mass of the guillotine blade?
A guillotine blade weighing is accelerated upward into position at a rate of
.
What is the the approximate mass of the guillotine blade?
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The force of gravity on the blade is
, which is the same as 
This unit relationship comes from Newton's second law.
is the mathematical expression of Newton's second law. The units for force must be a product of the units for mass and the units for acceleration.
Solve the expression by plugging in known values.


The force of gravity on the blade is , which is the same as
This unit relationship comes from Newton's second law.
is the mathematical expression of Newton's second law. The units for force must be a product of the units for mass and the units for acceleration.
Solve the expression by plugging in known values.
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A guillotine blade weighing
is accelerated upward into position at a rate of
.
What is the tension on the rope pulling the blade, while it is accelerating into position?
A guillotine blade weighing is accelerated upward into position at a rate of
.
What is the tension on the rope pulling the blade, while it is accelerating into position?
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The tension in the rope is the sum of the forces acting on it. If one considers that the net force on an object must equal the mass of the object times the acceleration of the object, the net force on the object must be the force due to tension from the rope minus the force due to gravity.

Rearrange the equation.

Plug in known values.


The tension in the rope is the sum of the forces acting on it. If one considers that the net force on an object must equal the mass of the object times the acceleration of the object, the net force on the object must be the force due to tension from the rope minus the force due to gravity.
Rearrange the equation.
Plug in known values.
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An object is moving in two dimensions. Its vertical motion relative to the horizontal motion is described by the equation
. Its motion in the horizontal direction is described by the equation
. What is the object's velocity is the
direction in terms of its horizontal position
?
An object is moving in two dimensions. Its vertical motion relative to the horizontal motion is described by the equation . Its motion in the horizontal direction is described by the equation
. What is the object's velocity is the
direction in terms of its horizontal position
?
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The y velocity is thetime derivative of the
position, and not the
derivative. In order to find it, use the chain rule:


Of course, 
The y velocity is thetime derivative of the position, and not the
derivative. In order to find it, use the chain rule:
Of course,
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Two objects moving in one dimension created the following velocity vs. time graph:

From the graph above, what is true about the two objects at time
?
Two objects moving in one dimension created the following velocity vs. time graph:

From the graph above, what is true about the two objects at time ?
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Since this is a graph of velocity and not position, the curves intersect where the velocities match. Since we do not know the starting position, we do not know where the objects are relative to one another.
Since this is a graph of velocity and not position, the curves intersect where the velocities match. Since we do not know the starting position, we do not know where the objects are relative to one another.
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Two objects moving in one dimension created the following velocity vs. time graph:

From the graph above, which object has traveled a greater distance from its starting position when
?
Two objects moving in one dimension created the following velocity vs. time graph:

From the graph above, which object has traveled a greater distance from its starting position when ?
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Since this is a graph of velocity vs. time, its integral is distance travelled. We can estimate the integral by looking at the area under the curves. Since Bbject 1 has a greater area under its velocity curve, it has covered a greater distance. Its velocity is greater that Object 2's for the entire time, so it makes sense that it will travel farther.
Since this is a graph of velocity vs. time, its integral is distance travelled. We can estimate the integral by looking at the area under the curves. Since Bbject 1 has a greater area under its velocity curve, it has covered a greater distance. Its velocity is greater that Object 2's for the entire time, so it makes sense that it will travel farther.
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Atwood's machine consists of two blocks connected by a string connected over a
pulley as shown. What is the acceleration of the blocks if their masses are
and
.
Assume the pulley has negligible mass and friction.

Atwood's machine consists of two blocks connected by a string connected over a
pulley as shown. What is the acceleration of the blocks if their masses are and
.
Assume the pulley has negligible mass and friction.

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From the force diagram above, we can see that tension
is pulling up on both sides of the string and gravity is pulling down on both blocks. With this information we can write 2 force equations:


If we add the two equations together, we get:

where 
Solving for
, we get


From the force diagram above, we can see that tension is pulling up on both sides of the string and gravity is pulling down on both blocks. With this information we can write 2 force equations:
If we add the two equations together, we get:
where
Solving for , we get
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A
ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a
high building. It has an initial velocity of
and lands on the ground
away from the base of the building. Assuming air resistance is negligible, which of the following changes would cause the range of this projectile to increase?
I. Increasing the initial horizontal velocity
II. Decreasing the mass of the ball
III. Throwing the ball from an identical building on the moon
A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a
high building. It has an initial velocity of
and lands on the ground
away from the base of the building. Assuming air resistance is negligible, which of the following changes would cause the range of this projectile to increase?
I. Increasing the initial horizontal velocity
II. Decreasing the mass of the ball
III. Throwing the ball from an identical building on the moon
Tap to reveal answer
Relevant equations:


Choice I is true because
is proportional to the range
, so increasing
increases
if
is constant. This relationship is given by the equation:

Choice II is false because the motion of a projectile is independent of mass.
Choice III is true because the vertical acceleration on the moon
would be less. Decreasing
increases the time the ball is in the air, thereby increasing
if
is constant. This relationship is also shown in the equation:

Relevant equations:
Choice I is true because is proportional to the range
, so increasing
increases
if
is constant. This relationship is given by the equation:
Choice II is false because the motion of a projectile is independent of mass.
Choice III is true because the vertical acceleration on the moon would be less. Decreasing
increases the time the ball is in the air, thereby increasing
if
is constant. This relationship is also shown in the equation:
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Water emerges horizontally from a hole in a tank
above the ground. If the water hits the ground
from the base of the tank, at what speed is the water emerging from the hole? (Hint: Treat the water droplets as projectiles.)
Water emerges horizontally from a hole in a tank above the ground. If the water hits the ground
from the base of the tank, at what speed is the water emerging from the hole? (Hint: Treat the water droplets as projectiles.)
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To understand this problem, we have to understand that the water has a x-velocity and a y-veloctiy. The x-velocity never changes.
First we want to find the time it took for the water to hit the ground. We can use this equation:
We know that the y-velocity is 0 to start with, acceleration is
and
.
Substituting into the equation, we get:

Next we have to substitute the time into the equation for the x component

We know that
and
, so we can conclude that:

To understand this problem, we have to understand that the water has a x-velocity and a y-veloctiy. The x-velocity never changes.
First we want to find the time it took for the water to hit the ground. We can use this equation:
We know that the y-velocity is 0 to start with, acceleration is and
.
Substituting into the equation, we get:
Next we have to substitute the time into the equation for the x component
We know that and
, so we can conclude that:
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An object starts from rest and reaches a velocity of
after accelerating at a constant rate for four seconds. What is the distance traveled in this time?
An object starts from rest and reaches a velocity of after accelerating at a constant rate for four seconds. What is the distance traveled in this time?
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Since the acceleration is constant in this problem, we can apply the kinematics given equation to calculate the distance:

First, we need to calculate the acceleration.

Plug in our velocity and time values to find the acceleration.

Now we can return to the kinematics equation and solve for the distance traveled:


Since the acceleration is constant in this problem, we can apply the kinematics given equation to calculate the distance:
First, we need to calculate the acceleration.
Plug in our velocity and time values to find the acceleration.
Now we can return to the kinematics equation and solve for the distance traveled:
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At the moment a car is passed by another car constantly traveling at
, it begins to accelerate at
. In how many seconds does this car catch up to and pass the other car?
At the moment a car is passed by another car constantly traveling at , it begins to accelerate at
. In how many seconds does this car catch up to and pass the other car?
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First, find the displacement equations for both cars. Car 1 will be the car that is initially stationary; car 2 will be the car traveling with constant velocity.
Car 1:



Car 2:


Now, set those displacement equations equal to each other and solve for
.



The accelerating car will catch and pass the car traveling at constant velocity after 4 seconds.
First, find the displacement equations for both cars. Car 1 will be the car that is initially stationary; car 2 will be the car traveling with constant velocity.
Car 1:
Car 2:
Now, set those displacement equations equal to each other and solve for .
The accelerating car will catch and pass the car traveling at constant velocity after 4 seconds.
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An object moving along a line has a displacement equation of
, where
is in seconds. For what value of
is the object stationary?
An object moving along a line has a displacement equation of , where
is in seconds. For what value of
is the object stationary?
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Use the fact that
to find the velocity equation, and then solve for
when
.

Take the derivative of the displacement equation.

Set the velocity equal to zero.

Solve for the time.

Use the fact that to find the velocity equation, and then solve for
when
.
Take the derivative of the displacement equation.
Set the velocity equal to zero.
Solve for the time.
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An object is moving on a line and has displacement equation of
, where
is in seconds. At what value of
is the object not accelerating?
An object is moving on a line and has displacement equation of , where
is in seconds. At what value of
is the object not accelerating?
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Take the second derivative of
, to find the acceleration function
. Then find the value of
where
. The fact that it is simply
and not
or
inside that quantity means that using the Chain Rule becomes decidedly easier.



Set the acceleration fuction equal to zero and solve for the time.


Take the second derivative of , to find the acceleration function
. Then find the value of
where
. The fact that it is simply
and not
or
inside that quantity means that using the Chain Rule becomes decidedly easier.
Set the acceleration fuction equal to zero and solve for the time.
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A projectile is launched out of a cannon or launch tube with zero air resistance or friction. At what angle (in degrees) should the projectile be launched to maximize the distance it travels?
A projectile is launched out of a cannon or launch tube with zero air resistance or friction. At what angle (in degrees) should the projectile be launched to maximize the distance it travels?
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The projectile travels the farthest when the vertical component of its velocity matches the sum of its horizontal component and whatever the wind/friction adds or subtracts. If the wind has no effect, then a 45-degree angle will be the best because the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity will create a right isosceles triangle (remember special triangles).
The projectile travels the farthest when the vertical component of its velocity matches the sum of its horizontal component and whatever the wind/friction adds or subtracts. If the wind has no effect, then a 45-degree angle will be the best because the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity will create a right isosceles triangle (remember special triangles).
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A car undergoes acceleration according to the given function. What distance has the car traveled after three seconds?
A car undergoes acceleration according to the given function. What distance has the car traveled after three seconds?
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We can determine the velocity by taking the second integral of acceleration for the time interval of 0s to 3s.


Solve for the first integral.

Solve for the second integral, using the time interval.

We can determine the velocity by taking the second integral of acceleration for the time interval of 0s to 3s.
Solve for the first integral.
Solve for the second integral, using the time interval.
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A car undergoes acceleration according to the given function. How fast is the car moving after four seconds?
A car undergoes acceleration according to the given function. How fast is the car moving after four seconds?
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We can find the car's velocity by taking the integral of the acceleration function during the given time interval.


Solve the integral for the time interval of 0s to 4s. This will give us the final velocity.

We can find the car's velocity by taking the integral of the acceleration function during the given time interval.
Solve the integral for the time interval of 0s to 4s. This will give us the final velocity.
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A car undergoes acceleration according to the given function. If the threshold for serious injury or fatality for a human undergoing horizontal acceleration is 60 g ees (1 gee = 10 meters per second per second), how long would a human be able to withstand riding in this car?
A car undergoes acceleration according to the given function. If the threshold for serious injury or fatality for a human undergoing horizontal acceleration is 60 g ees (1 gee = 10 meters per second per second), how long would a human be able to withstand riding in this car?
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Calculate the maximum acceration in meters per second.

Solve for the time.



Calculate the maximum acceration in meters per second.
Solve for the time.
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A ball travels with a velocity as described by the function below:

What is the ball's acceleration?
A ball travels with a velocity as described by the function below:
What is the ball's acceleration?
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Acceleration is equal to the derivative of the velocity function.

Since the velocity is constant, the derivative will be equal to zero.

The acceleration is equal to zero.
Acceleration is equal to the derivative of the velocity function.
Since the velocity is constant, the derivative will be equal to zero.
The acceleration is equal to zero.
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A man runs with a velocity described by the function below.

What is the function for his acceleration?
A man runs with a velocity described by the function below.
What is the function for his acceleration?
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The function for acceleration is the derivative of the function for velocity.



The function for acceleration is the derivative of the function for velocity.
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A man runs with a velocity as described by the function below.

How far does he travel in 1 minute?
A man runs with a velocity as described by the function below.
How far does he travel in 1 minute?
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Distance is given by the integral of a velocity function. For this question, we will need to integrate over the interval of 0s to 60s.



Distance is given by the integral of a velocity function. For this question, we will need to integrate over the interval of 0s to 60s.
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A particle traveling in a straight line accelerates uniformly from rest to
in
and then continues at constant speed for an additional for an additional
. What is the total distance traveled by the particle during the
?
A particle traveling in a straight line accelerates uniformly from rest to in
and then continues at constant speed for an additional for an additional
. What is the total distance traveled by the particle during the
?
Tap to reveal answer
First off we have to convert
to meters per second.

Next we have to calculate the distance the object traveled the first 5 seconds, when it was starting from rest. We are given time, initial speed to be
. The acceleration of the object at this time can be calculated using:
, substituting the values, we get:

Next, we use the distance equation to find the distance in the first 5 seconds:

because the initial speed is
.
If we plug in
,
, we get: 
Next we have to find the distance the the object travels at constant speed for 3 seconds. We can use the equation:

in this case is not equal to
, it is equal to
and 
Plugging in the equation, we get 
Adding
and
we get the total distance to be 
First off we have to convert to meters per second.
Next we have to calculate the distance the object traveled the first 5 seconds, when it was starting from rest. We are given time, initial speed to be . The acceleration of the object at this time can be calculated using:
, substituting the values, we get:
Next, we use the distance equation to find the distance in the first 5 seconds:
because the initial speed is
.
If we plug in ,
, we get:
Next we have to find the distance the the object travels at constant speed for 3 seconds. We can use the equation:
in this case is not equal to
, it is equal to
and
Plugging in the equation, we get
Adding and
we get the total distance to be
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