Ch 02: Kinematics in One Dimension

Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers 5th Edition

Knight Calc5th EditionPhysics for Scientists and EngineersISBN: 9780137344796Not the one you use?Change textbook

Knight Calc 5th Edition

Ch 02: Kinematics in One Dimension

Problem 18b

Chapter 2, Problem 18b

FIGURE EX1.18 shows the motion diagram of a drag racer. The camera took one frame every 2 s. Make a position-versus-time graph for the drag racer. Because you have data only at certain instants, your graph should consist of dots that are not connected together.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Analyze the motion diagram provided in FIGURE EX1.18. Identify the positions of the drag racer at each time interval. Note that the camera captures a frame every 2 seconds, so the time intervals are t = 0 s, t = 2 s, t = 4 s, and so on.

Step 2: Record the position of the drag racer at each time interval. This information can be extracted from the motion diagram by observing the spacing between the dots, which represent the drag racer's position at each frame.

Step 3: Create a table with two columns: one for time (in seconds) and one for position (in meters). Fill in the table with the time values (e.g., 0 s, 2 s, 4 s, etc.) and the corresponding positions from the motion diagram.

Step 4: Plot the data points from the table onto a position-versus-time graph. Place time (t) on the horizontal axis and position (x) on the vertical axis. For each time value, plot a dot at the corresponding position value.

Step 5: Ensure that the graph consists only of dots and that the dots are not connected. Label the axes appropriately, with 'Time (s)' on the x-axis and 'Position (m)' on the y-axis, and include a title for the graph, such as 'Position vs. Time for Drag Racer.'

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Video duration:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Position vs. Time Graphs

A position vs. time graph visually represents an object's position at various times during its motion. The x-axis typically represents time, while the y-axis represents position. In this case, the graph will consist of discrete points indicating the position of the drag racer at each 2-second interval, rather than a continuous line, reflecting the data collection method.

Motion Diagrams

Motion diagrams are visual representations that illustrate an object's position at specific time intervals. They help in understanding the object's motion by showing how its position changes over time. In the context of the drag racer, the motion diagram provides the necessary data points to plot the position vs. time graph.

Discrete Data Points

Discrete data points refer to individual measurements taken at specific intervals, rather than continuous data. In this scenario, the drag racer's position is recorded every 2 seconds, resulting in distinct points on the graph. This approach is essential for accurately representing the motion of the racer based on the available data.

Recommended video:

Guided course

08:35

Angular Momentum of a Point Mass

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Ball bearings are made by letting spherical drops of molten metal fall inside a tall tower—called a shot tower—and solidify as they fall. What is the bearing's impact velocity?

views

Textbook Question

Write a short description of the motion of a real object for which FIGURE EX1.20 would be a realistic position-versus-time graph.

views

Textbook Question

A speed skater moving to the left across frictionless ice at 8.0 m/s hits a 5.0-m-wide patch of rough ice. She slows steadily, then continues on at 6.0 m/s. What is her acceleration on the rough ice?

views

Textbook Question

A Porsche challenges a Honda to a 400 m race. Because the Porsche's acceleration of 3.5 m/s² is larger than the Honda's 3.0 m/s², the Honda gets a 1.0 s head start. Who wins? By how many seconds?

views

Textbook Question

Ball bearings are made by letting spherical drops of molten metal fall inside a tall tower—called a shot tower—and solidify as they fall. If a bearing needs 4.0 s to solidify enough for impact, how high must the tower be?

views

Textbook Question

When you sneeze, the air in your lungs accelerates from rest to 150 km/h in approximately 0.50 s. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the air in m/s²?

views