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Q2) Two squirrels are running on top of a fence. A) One squirrel starts at rest

ID: 1529491 • Letter: Q

Question

Q2) Two squirrels are running on top of a fence.

A) One squirrel starts at rest and then starts running to the left while speeding up with a constant acceleration. After 3.5 s of running, it is traveling with a speed of 1.9 m/s. What is the squirrel’s position at 3.5 s?

B) Another squirrel begins running to the right. It starts from rest and speeds up to a speed of 2.2 m/s in 3.0 s. It then slows down so that after 1.0 s it comes to a stop. Finally, it turns around and runs to the left with a constant speed of 1.4 m/s. What is the squirrel’s position after it has run at a constant speed for 2.5 s?

C) Draw a position vs time, velocity vs time, and acceleration vs time graph for the second squirrel’s motion. Make sure to label your axes.

Explanation / Answer

A)

Vi = initial velocity = 0 m/s

Vf = final velocity = 1.9

t = time = 3.5 s

position is given as

X = (Vi + Vf)t/2

X = (1.9 + 0) (3.5)/2

X = 3.325 m

B)for first 3 sec :

Vi = initial velocity = 0

Vf = final velocity = 2.2 m/s

position after 3 sec is given as

Xf = (Vi + Vf)t/2 = (2.2 + 0)(3)/2 = 3.3 m

for the next 1 sec :

Xi = initial position = 3.3 m

Xf = final position

Vi = initial velocity = 2.2 m/s

Vf = final velocity = 0 m/s

final position is given as

Xf = Xi + (Vi + Vf)t/2 = 3.3 + (2.2 + 0)(1)/2 = 4.4 m

for next 2.5 sec :

Xi = initial position = 4.4 m

Xf = final position

Vi = initial velocity = 0 m/s

Vf = final velocity = - 1.4 m/s

final position is given as

Xf = Xi + (Vi + Vf)t/2 = 4.4 + (- 1.4 + 0)(2.5)/2 = 2.65 m