Name:_____________________ Recit Teacher:__________________
__________________________ Date: ________________________
Physics 71 TWHFW 1st semester 2013-14: Recitation Quiz 8
Chapter 7: Potential Energy and Energy Conservation
Lecturer: FIN de Vera
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the following questions clearly and legibly. Show your complete solutions and box you final
answer. Any act of dishonesty such as cheating shall be subjected to disciplinary actions.
1. A baseball is thrown from the roof of a 36.0 m tall building with an initial velocity of magnitude 12.0
m/s and directed at an angle of 53.1° above the horizontal. What is the speed of the ball just before it
strikes the ground? (To get 1.5pt, follow the instructions below)
a. Write the expression for the total mechanical energy of the baseball when it is thrown at the top of
the building. Substitute the given values. (0.5pt)
E1 = U1g + K1
E1 = mgy1 + ½ mv12
E1 = m(9.8m/s2)(36.0m) + ½ m(12.0m/s)2
b. Write the expression for the total mechanical energy of the baseball just before it strikes the ground.
Substitute the given values. (0.5pt)
E2 = U2g + K2
E2 = mgy2 + ½ mv22
E2 = ½ mv22
c. Calculate the velocity just before it hits the ground. (0.5pt)
E1 = E2
m(9.8m/s2)(36.0m) + ½ m(12.0m/s)2 = ½ mv22
solve for v2: v2 = 29.1m/s
2. A 0.50 kg block is forced against a horizontal
spring of negligible mass, compressing the spring a
distance of 0.20 m. When released, the block moves
on a horizontal tabletop for 1.00 m before coming to
rest. The spring constant k is 100N/m. What is the
coefficient of kinetic friction µk between the block
and the tabletop? (follow the instructions below)
a. Write the expression of the total mechanical energy after the block is pressed into the spring.
Substitute the given values. (0.5pt)
E1 = Ue1 + Wother = ½ kx2 + Wother
E1 = ½ (100N/m)(0.20m)2 + Wother
E1 = 2J + Wother
b. Write Wother in terms of coefficient of kinetic friction. (0.5pt)
Wother = (ffriction) (s) = µkmgs
c. Write the expression of the total mechanical energy after the block travel 1.0m. (0.5pt)
E2 = ½ mv2 = 0
d. Calculate µk. (0.5pt)
Wother = 2J
µk = 2J/mgs = 0.41
3. A force parallel to the x-axis acts on a particle moving along the x-axis. This force produces potential
energy U(x) given by U(x) = ax4 where a = 1.20J/m4. What is the force (magnitude and direction) when the
particle is at x = -0.800m? (1pt)
U(x) = ax4 = (1.2J/m4)(x4)
Since force and potential is related by: F = -dU/dx
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Differentiating and substituting x = -0.800m
F = -4(1.2J/m4)(x3)
F = -4(1.2J/m4)(-0.800m)3 = 2.46J, +x direction
4. A roller coaster with an empty car has a mass of 120kg. One part of the track is a vertical loop with
radius of 12.0m. At the bottom of the loop (point A) the car has speed 25.0m/s and at the top of the loop
(point B) it has a speed of 8.0m/s. As the car rolls from point A to B, how much work is done by friction?
(follow the instructions below)
a. Write the expression for the total mechanical energy of the car at point A. Substitute the given values.
(0.5pt)
EA = ½ mv2 + Wother
EA = ½ (120kg)(25.0m/s)2 + Wother
EA = 37500J + Wother
b. Calculate the total mechanical energy of the car at point B. Substitute the given values; use g = 9.81m/s2.
(0.5pt)
EB = ½ mv2 + mgh
EB = ½ (120kg)(8.0m/s)2 + (120kg)(9.81m/s2)(24m)
EB = 3840J + 28254J = 32093J
c. Calculate the work done by friction. (0.5pt)
Wother = 32093J -37500J = -5407J ~ 5400J
5. A 5.00-kg block is moving at v0=6.00m/s along a
frictionless, horiontal surface toward a spring with
force constant 500N/m that is attached to the wall.
The spring has negligible mass.
a. Find the maximum distance the spring will be compressed. (To get 1.5pt, follow the instructions below)
(a-1) Calculate the total mechanical energy before the block press the spring. (0.5pt)
E1 = ½ mv02 = ½ (5.0kg)(6.00m/s)2 = 90J
(a-2) Write the expression for the total energy that the block compressed the spring.(0.5pt)
E2 = ½ kx2 = ½ (500N/m)x2
(a-3) Use energy conservation to solve for the maximum distance the spring is compressed. (0.5pt)
90J = ½ (500N/m) x2
x = 0.6m
b. if the spring is to compress by no more than 0.150m, what should be the maximum value of v0? (1pt)
E2 = ½ (500N/m)(0.150m)2 = 5.625J
5.625J = ½ mv2
v0 = 1.5m/s
6. A marble moves along the x-axis. The potential-
energy function is shown. (0.5pt each)
a. Which point is the object in stable equilibrium? B
b. Which point is the object in unstable equilibrium? D
c. Which point is the object in neutral equilibrium?
NONE
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__________________________ Date: ________________________
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