Cumulative Challenge Problems (Vectors —> One Dimensional Motion)¹:
1. Collisions between billiard balls have conserved momentum, but not conserved individual
momenta. A billiard ball is travelling rightward for 5 metres starting at a velocity of 5 m/s
when it collides with another billiard ball, turning the first billiard ball 90 degrees to the right.
The billiard ball loses 62% of its velocity in the collision. Due to friction between the ball and
the table, the ball has a constant deceleration of 0.5 m/s^2 from beginning to end. What is the
final displacement vector of the billiard ball (magnitude and angle), relative to its initial
starting position?
2. Due to the angular rotation and curvature of the Earth, the gravitational acceleration g is not a
fixed value of 9.8 m/s^2, but instead varies ever-so-slightly from location to location. A wild
cat jumps to escape a wild dog, jumping a whopping 150 cm.
(a) Using only one equals sign, what is the percent error in how long it will take for the cat to fall
down if it were near the Earth’s poles where g is about 9.83 m/s^2, and when near the equator where g
is around 9.78 m/s^2 (use g = 9.8 m/s^2 as the expected value)?
(b) Based on these calculations, do you think that it is most appropriate for physics classrooms to use
g = 9.8 m/s^2, g = 9.81 m/s^2, or g = 10 m/s^2 when evaluating and using kinematics? Why?
3. All of the calculations we have made this far in kinematics have been in the absence of air
resistance. In the presence of air resistance and after falling for significant time, objects begin
to reach terminal velocity, or a constant velocity where the force of air resistance equally
cancels out the force of gravity causing equilibrium. A pilot with a failed parachute is 120
metres above the ground falling at a terminal velocity of 53 m/s. The pilot positions herself
above a 3 metre tall bundle of hay that without air resistance, would give her a constant
deceleration of 63 gs (63 gravitational acceleration constants). Assume that the air resistance
acts with a constant magnitude on the pilot from the beginning to the end of the subsequent
motion².
(a) What deceleration does she gain on the hay bale with air resistance being taken into effect (express
your answer in gs)? Does this answer exceed the amount of g’s of acceleration required for death in
50th percentile adult women (65 gs)?
(b) How far does the pilot fall into the hay before coming to a stop?
(c) How much time does it take for the pilot to fall into the hay?
¹These problems will not require the use of any calculus. The purpose of this small problem set is to give extra
difficult problems for those who struggled on past quizzes/tests in IB physics.
²This is a highly unrealistic way to portray air resistance. The air resistance would decrease as the woman goes
into the hay. However, calculations involving this formulation involve calculus and differential equations far too
rigorous for an IB preparatory worksheet. Thus, a constant air resistance opposing gravitational forces was
chosen.
¹These problems will not require the use of any calculus. The purpose of this small problem set is to give extra
difficult problems for those who struggled on past quizzes/tests in IB physics.
²This is a highly unrealistic way to portray air resistance. The air resistance would decrease as the woman goes
into the hay. However, calculations involving this formulation involve calculus and differential equations far too
rigorous for an IB preparatory worksheet. Thus, a constant air resistance opposing gravitational forces was
chosen.