High School Physics : Motion and Mechanics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

A boy falls out of a tree and hits the ground with \(\displaystyle -78.2N\) of force. How much force does the ground exert on the boy?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -78.2N\)

We must know the mass of the boy to solve

\(\displaystyle 78.2N\)

\(\displaystyle 8N\)

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 78.2N\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that when one object exerts a force on another object, that second object exerts a force of equal magnitude, but opposite in direction on the first.

That means that:

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

Using the value from the question, we can find the force of the ground on the boy.

\(\displaystyle -78.2N=-F_2\)

\(\displaystyle 78.2N=F_2\)

Example Question #22 : Newton's Laws

A hunter fires a rifle. The rifle kicks back with \(\displaystyle -350N\) of force. How much force does the hunter's shoulder exert on the rifle during kick back?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18N\)

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

\(\displaystyle 350N\)

We don't have enough information to solve.

\(\displaystyle 175N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 350N\)

Explanation:

If the rifle exerts a force of \(\displaystyle -350N\) on the hunter's shoulder, then the hunter's shoulder will exert \(\displaystyle 350N\) of force on the rifle.

This is because of Newton's third law, which states that when one object exerts a force upon another object, the second object exerts a force equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the first force. Mathematically that means \(\displaystyle F_a=-F_b\). Since our first force was \(\displaystyle -350N\), the second force will be \(\displaystyle 350N\).

\(\displaystyle -350N=-F_b\rightarrow F_b=350N\)

Example Question #1 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

Which of Newton's laws explains why it is easy for you to lift a 1L jug of milk from the fridge, but impossible to lift a 1000L jug?

Possible Answers:

Newton's first law

None of these

Newton's third law

Newton's second law

More than one of these

Correct answer:

More than one of these

Explanation:

The answer is more than one. The two laws that come into play are Newton's first and second laws. Newton's first law is best known as the law of inertia. It states that an object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force. Newton's second law relates the acceleration of an object to the mass and the forces acting on it with the equation \(\displaystyle F=ma\). An object won't move or stop moving unless the forces acting on it are imbalanced. In the case of the milk jug, it remained at rest until an outside force, your hand, acted upon it, demonstrating Newton's first law. The second law is applicable because the amount of acceleration of the two milk jugs is inversely related to their mass. It takes a much stronger force to move the 1000L milk jug than it does the 1L milk jug. The acceleration is also much smaller for the two objects when the same force is applied because one weighs so much more than the other. You can visualize this by rearranging the second law equation: \(\displaystyle a=\frac{F}{m}\) . It is also beneficial to think in terms of two objects. Which is will accelerate more when you try and move it with the same force, a tennis ball or an elephant?

Example Question #332 : High School Physics

Two skaters push off of each other in the middle of an ice rink. If one skater has a mass of \(\displaystyle 32kg\) and an acceleration of \(\displaystyle 0.5m/s^2\), what is the mass of the other skater if her acceleration is \(\displaystyle -1.2m/s^2\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.2kg\)

\(\displaystyle 13.33kg\)

\(\displaystyle 12kg\)

\(\displaystyle -13.33kg\)

\(\displaystyle 19.2kg\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 13.33kg\)

Explanation:

For this problem, we'll use Newton's third law, which states that for every force there will be another force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.

 

This means that the force of the first skater on the second will be equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction:

 

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

 

Use Newton's second law to expand this equation.

 

\(\displaystyle m_1a_1=-(m_2a_2)\)

 

We are given the acceleration of each skater and the mass of the first. Using these values, we can solve for the mass of the second.

 

\(\displaystyle 32kg*0.5ms2=-(m_2*-1.2m/s^2)\)

 

Notice that the acceleration of the second skater is negative. Since she is moving in the opposite direction of the first skater, one acceleration will be positive while the other will be negative as acceleration is a vector. From here, we need to isolate the mass of the second skater.

 

\(\displaystyle 16N=-(m_2*-1.2m/s^2)\)

 

\(\displaystyle -16N=(m2*-1.2m/s^2)\)

 

\(\displaystyle -16N/(-1.2m/s^2)=m_2\)


\(\displaystyle 13.33kg=m_2\)

 

Example Question #333 : High School Physics

Basic Computational 

 

A rock strikes a window with \(\displaystyle 80N\) of force. How much force does that window exert on the rock?

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 80N\)

 We need to know how long the two were in contact to solve

\(\displaystyle -80N\)

 We need to know the mass of the rock to solve

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -80N\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that when one body exerts a force on another body, the second body exerts a force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, on the first body.

 

Mathematically, this process can be written as:

 

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

 

Since the rock exerts \(\displaystyle 80N\) of force on the window, then the window must exert \(\displaystyle -80N\) of force on the rock.

 

Example Question #334 : High School Physics

A boy falls out of a tree and hits the ground with \(\displaystyle -78.2N\) of force. How much force does the ground exert on the boy?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0N\)

\(\displaystyle 8N\)

\(\displaystyle -78.2N\)

We must know the mass of the boy to solve

\(\displaystyle 78.2N\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 78.2N\)

Explanation:

Newton's third law states that when one object exerts a force on another object, that second object exerts a force of equal magnitude, but opposite in direction on the first.

 

That means that:

 

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

 

Using the value from the question, we can find the force of the ground on the boy.

 

\(\displaystyle -78.2N=-F_2\)

 

\(\displaystyle 78.2N=F_2\)

 

 

 

Example Question #11 : Understanding Newton's Third Law

Conceptual

 

If you exert a force F on an object, the force which the object exerts on you will

 

Possible Answers:

Depend on whether or not the object is moving

 Depend on the relative masses of you and the object

Always be F

 Depend on whether or not you are moving

Correct answer:

Always be F

Explanation:

According to Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion, the force that is exert by object A onto object B is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force that is exerted by object B onto object A.  It is not dependent on the mass or motion of the object.

 

Example Question #336 : High School Physics

An object of mass m sits on a flat table.  The Earth pulls on the object with force mg, which is the action force.  What is the reaction force?

Possible Answers:

 The object pulling upward on the earth with force \(\displaystyle mg\)

 The object pushing down on the table with force \(\displaystyle mg\)

 The table pushing down on the floor with \(\displaystyle mg\)

The table pushing up on the object with force \(\displaystyle mg\)

Correct answer:

 The object pulling upward on the earth with force \(\displaystyle mg\)

Explanation:

There is a common misconception that the force that Earth pulls on the object is balanced by a reaction force of the table pushing up on the object.  Though it is true that the magnitude between these forces are the same, they are not considered action reaction pairs.  

 

According to Newton’s 3rd law the force with which object A acts on object B is equal and opposite to the force that object B acts on object A.  In this case the initial force is the Earth pulling on the object.  Therefore the pair would be the object pulling on the Earth.

 

If we consider the table we are adding a third object to the mix, which cannot be an action reaction pair.  Therefore the normal force and the force of gravity are never considered action reaction pairs as they are two different forces acting on the same object.

 

Example Question #337 : High School Physics

A ball is suspended from the ceiling by means of string.  The Earth pulls downward on the ball with its weight force of \(\displaystyle 10N\).  If this is the action force, what is the reaction force?

Possible Answers:

The ceiling pulling upward on the string with a \(\displaystyle 10N\) force

 The string pulling downward on the ceiling with a \(\displaystyle 10N\) force

 The ball pulling upward on the earth with a \(\displaystyle 10N\) force

The string pulling upward on the ball with a \(\displaystyle 10N\) force

Correct answer:

 The ball pulling upward on the earth with a \(\displaystyle 10N\) force

Explanation:

There is a common misconception that the force that Earth pulls on the object is balanced by a reaction force of the string pulling upward on the object.  Though it is true that the magnitude between these forces are the same, they are not considered action reaction pairs.  

 

According to Newton’s 3rd law the force with which object A acts on object B is equal and opposite to the force that object B acts on object A.  In this case the initial force is the Earth pulling on the object.  Therefore the pair would be the object pulling on the Earth.

 

If we consider the table we are adding a third object to the mix, which cannot be an action reaction pair.  Therefore the tension force and the force of gravity are never considered action reaction pairs as they are two different forces acting on the same object. 

Example Question #338 : High School Physics

 Two skaters push off of each other in the middle of an ice rink. If one skater has a mass of \(\displaystyle 32kg\) and an acceleration of \(\displaystyle 0.5ms^2\), what is the acceleration of the other skater if her mass is \(\displaystyle 17kg\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -0.94m/s^2\)

\(\displaystyle -9.4m/s^2\)

\(\displaystyle -0.59m/s^2\)

\(\displaystyle 0.94m/s^2\)

\(\displaystyle 1.88m/s^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.94m/s^2\)

Explanation:

For this problem, we'll use Newton's third law, which states that for every force there will be another force equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction.

 

This means that the force of the first skater on the second will be equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction:

 

\(\displaystyle F_1=-F_2\)

 

Use Newton's second law to expand this equation.

 

\(\displaystyle m_1a_1=-(m_2a_2)\)

 

We are given the mass of each skater and the acceleration of the first. Using these values, we can solve for the acceleration of the second.

 

\(\displaystyle 32kg*0.5ms2=-(17kg*a_2)\)

 

From here, we need to isolate the acceleration of the second skater.

 

\(\displaystyle 32kg*0.5ms2=-(17kg*a_2)\)

 

\(\displaystyle 16N=-(17kg*a_2)\)

 

\(\displaystyle 16N/17kg=-a_2\)

 

\(\displaystyle 0.94m/s^2=-a_2\)

 

\(\displaystyle -0.94m/s^2=a_2\)

 

Notice that the acceleration of the second skater is negative. Since she is moving in the opposite direction of the first skater, one acceleration will be positive while the other will be negative as acceleration is a vector.

 

 

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