Physics 211

1D Kinematics Problems II Solutions

Team ____ Names __________________________________________________________________________

Problem-Solving Technique: Required for each problem: Draw a labeled picture with all relevant values. Put a
coordinate system on the picture indicating the location of the origin and the positive direction. MAKE A
KINEMATICS GRAPH REPRESENTING EACH MOTION (usually a velocity versus time graph is a good first choice).
Show the solution in a step-by-step orderly fashion.
1. Indianapolis race cars make a rolling start. At the beginning of the race they are moving at 50 m/s (about
110 mph) and they accelerate to 110 m/s (about 250 mph) in 3.0 seconds.
a. Make a labeled picture with symbols and all
t=50 m/s
t=110 m/s
relevant values. Put a coordinate system on the
picture by indicating the location of the origin
t=3 s
and position direction. The goal is to have all
the information in the picture so we can refer
to the picture instead of the words in the
+x
problem statement.
=?,
=?,
0 = 0,

=3
= 110
= 50

b. Make a kinematics graph representing the

motion. Include axis labels with units.
c.

What is the acceleration of the cars?

100
80

The acceleration is the slope of the graph:

=
=
=

vx (m/s)

60

40
20
0
0

time (sec)

d. How far do the cars travel in the first five seconds? Assume the cars travel at constant speed after the
first three seconds.
We apply the constant kinematics equations for the acceleration phase

= + + = + () + ( ) () = + =

We use this as the initial condition for the constant velocity phase

= + = + () = + =

We could have also used the area under the velocity vs. time graph from 0 to 5s to find the distance
traveled.

Physics 211

1D Kinematics Problems II Solutions

2. A ball is thrown upwards at 13 m/s toward the ceiling located 6 m above the point where you release the
ball. Air resistance is negligible. Objects falling near the earths surface with no forces acting except gravity
have a downwards acceleration of g (use g=10 m/s2 for this problem).
=5
a. Make a labeled picture with symbols and all
relevant values. Put a coordinate system on the
10 m/s2

picture by indicating the location of the origin

= 10 2
+y

and position direction.

=?
6m
13 m/s
= 0

y=0
= 13

b. Find the time taken to reach the ceiling.

We apply constant acceleration kinematics

= + +

= +
Now applying the quadratic equation gives

=
= , .

= .

Note that there are two possible solutions. Since we are throwing it straight upwards the smaller
time must be the correct answer so t=0.6 s.
c. Find the velocity just before the ball touches the ceiling.
Once we know the time, the velocity is easy
= + =

+ ( ) (. ) = =

Physics 211

1D Kinematics Problems II Solutions

3. At the construction site of a tall building, a worker is in an elevator

descending at a constant downwards velocity of 5 /. When the elevator
is 40 meters above ground level, her friend, standing at ground level, tosses
a wrench straight upward with an initial speed of 25 m/s. Take the time
when the wrench is tossed as = 0. For this problem, use = 10 / 2 .
a. Draw a labeled picture with symbols and all relevant values. Quantities
that are different should be given different symbols, for example and
.

, = 5
, = 0
, = 0
+

= 10 2

, = +25
,

b. Graph the velocities versus time of the elevator and the wrench on the
same graph. Label axes of the graph (with units) .

, = 0

c. At what time does the wrench and the elevator

have the same velocity?
, = ,

(/)

, + . = , + ,

20
10

wrench

0
elevator

10

=
20
0

()

d. Which object (the wrench or elevator) is higher when their velocities are the same? By how much is
one object higher than the other at this time?

= + , + , = ( ) () + ( ) () = =

= + , + , = + ( ) () =

So the wrench is 5 m above the elevator when their velocities are equal.

Physics 211

1D Kinematics Problems II Solutions

4. You notice a falcon diving straight down alongside the Boston Store building in downtown Erie. You see it
pass 5 stories in 1.5 seconds; and, at the end, it has a downwards velocity of 15 m/s. (Its acceleration is
constant, but it is NOT g). Make reasonable estimates for numbers that you need.
a. Make a labeled picture with symbols and all
relevant values. Put a coordinate system on the
picture by indicating the location of the origin
and position direction.

= 0
=?

y=0

=?
= 1.5

+y

We estimate a floor to be . We
choose +y to be down and the origin to be at
the top.

y=15 m

15

= 15

= 15

b. Make a kinematics graph representing the motion.

c. What is the acceleration of the bird?
25

We start with information we know about the

velocity of the bird at the bottom

We have two unknowns and and only one

relation . We will need another relation to solve the
problem. We use the position information

Vy (m/s)

20

= + = + .

15
10
5

= + +

= (. ) + (. )

10
time (sec)

20

We use the velocity equation to solve for in terms of to get

=

and substitute this expression for into the position equation to get

= (
(. )) (. ) + . = . + (. + . )

.
.

=
=
= .
( )

.
.

d. What was the initial velocity of the bird as the start of passing the 5 stories?
=

. (. ) =