Physics 210 Problems - My Solutions

Dr. Hulan E. Jack Jr.

Chapter 2 P25  
Serway, Faughn and Vuille: College Physics 8th Edition , Thomson Brooks/Cole, Vol I(ISBN #) 978-049511374-3

THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

Ch 2 25.A steam catapult launches a jet aircraft from the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, giving
it a speed of 175 mi/h in 2.50 s.

(a) Find the average acceleration of the plane.

(b) Assuming the acceleration is constant, find the distance the plane moves.

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 Physics 210 Problems - My Solutions
Dr. Hulan E. Jack Jr.

Ch 2 25.A steam catapult launches a jet aircraft from the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, giving
it a speed of 175 mi/h in 2.50 s.

(a) Find the average acceleration of the plane.

(b) Assuming the acceleration is constant, find the distance the plane moves.

BRAINSTORMING-Definitions, concepts , principles and Discussion

Acceleration = a = v/t = slope of the v vs. t curve.

The displacement x during the acceleration is the area under the v vs. t curve.
The equationx = vi t + ½ at2

78.2m/s
175 mi/h must be converted to m/s (=175mi/h)
a  v a t
Initial velocity vi = 0 assume the starts from rest 1
t = 2.50 s
v = 175 mi/h t t=2.5s

 x = ½ base*height
=½  t* v =½ t*a t
=½*a  t
2

Page 2 of 3
 Physics 210 Problems - My Solutions
Dr. Hulan E. Jack Jr.

Ch 2 25.A steam catapult launches a jet aircraft from the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, giving
it a speed of 175 mi/h in 2.50 s.

(a) Find the average acceleration of the plane.

(b) Assuming the acceleration is constant, find the distance the plane moves.

Basic Solution

Given values: v = 175 mi/h, t = 2.50 s , Initial velocity vi = 0 , .

1. Convert 175 mi/h to m/s

(a) 1 mi = 5280 f, 1 f = 12 in, 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 m = 100 cm Conversions

mi -> f -> in -> cm -> m the pseudo-code

175 mi = 175 mi ( )f/mi ( )in/f ( ) cm/in ( )m/cm the program

= 175 mi (5280)f/mi (12)in/f (2.54) cm/in (1/100)m/cm enter the numbers
= 175*(5280*12*2.54/100) = 175*1609 = 2.81 x105 m the result.

(b) 1h = 60min 1min= 60 s conversions

h -> min -> s the pseudo-code

1 h = 1h(60)min/h(60)s/min = 60*60 s = 3600 s the rest of it.

So, 175 mi/h = 2.81 x105 m /3600s = 78.2 m/s the final result.

2. acceleration a = v/t = (78.2 m/s)/1s = 78.2 m/s2 .

3. displacement x during the acceleration is the area under the v vs. t curve.

x = vi t + ½ at2
= 0*2.5s + ½ *78.2 m/s2 * (2.50s)2 = ½ *78.2 m/s2 * (2.50s)2 ,
= 78.2* 2.52/2 m = 78.2*6.25/2 m = 2.44 8 102 m

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