Physics

# Critical Thinking Items

PhysicsCritical Thinking Items

### 2.1Relative Motion, Distance, and Displacement

9.
Boat A and Boat B are traveling at a constant speed in opposite directions when they pass each other. If a person in each boat describes motion based on the boat’s own reference frame, will the description by a person in Boat A of Boat B’s motion be the same as the description by a person in Boat B of Boat A’s motion?
1. Yes, both persons will describe the same motion because motion is independent of the frame of reference.
2. Yes, both persons will describe the same motion because they will perceive the other as moving in the backward direction.
3. No, the motion described by each of them will be different because motion is a relative term.
4. No, the motion described by each of them will be different because the motion perceived by each will be opposite to each other.
10.
Passenger A sits inside a moving train and throws a ball vertically upward. How would the motion of the ball be described by a fellow train passenger B and an observer C who is standing on the platform outside the train?
1. Passenger B sees that the ball has vertical, but no horizontal, motion. Observer C sees the ball has vertical as well as horizontal motion.
2. Passenger B sees the ball has vertical as well as horizontal motion. Observer C sees the ball has the vertical, but no horizontal, motion.
3. Passenger B sees the ball has horizontal but no vertical motion. Observer C sees the ball has vertical as well as horizontal motion.
4. Passenger B sees the ball has vertical as well as horizontal motion. Observer C sees the ball has horizontalbut no vertical motion.

### 2.2Speed and Velocity

11.
Is it possible to determine a car’s instantaneous velocity from just the speedometer reading?
1. No, it reflects speed but not the direction.
2. No, it reflects the average speed of the car.
3. Yes, it sometimes reflects instantaneous velocity of the car.
4. Yes, it always reflects the instantaneous velocity of the car.
12.

Terri, Aaron, and Jamal all walked along straight paths. Terri walked 3.95 km north in 48 min. Aaron walked 2.65 km west in 31 min. Jamal walked 6.50 km south in 81 min. Which of the following correctly ranks the three boys in order from lowest to highest average speed?

1. Jamal, Terri, Aaron
2. Jamal, Aaron, Terri
3. Terri, Jamal, Aaron
4. Aaron, Terri, Jamal
13.
Rhianna and Logan start at the same point and walk due north. Rhianna walks with an average velocity $v Subscript avg comma upper R$. Logan walks three times the distance in twice the time as Rhianna. Which of the following expresses Logan’s average velocity in terms of $v Subscript avg comma upper R$?
1. Logan’s average velocity = $1.5 v Subscript a v g comma upper R$.
2. Logan’s average velocity = $two-thirds v Subscript a v g comma upper R$.
3. Logan’s average velocity = $3 v Subscript a v g comma upper R$.
4. Logan’s average velocity = $one-half v Subscript a v g comma upper R$.

### 2.3Position vs. Time Graphs

14.

Explain how you can use the graph of position vs. time to describe the change in velocity over time.

Identify the time (ta, tb, tc, td, or te) at which at which the instantaneous velocity is greatest, the time at which it is zero, and the time at which it is negative.

### 2.4Velocity vs. Time Graphs

15.

Identify the time, or times, at which the instantaneous velocity is greatest, and the time, or times, at which it is negative. A sketch of velocity vs. time derived from the figure will aid in arriving at the correct answers.

1. The instantaneous velocity is greatest at f, and it is negative at d, h, I, j, and k.
2. The instantaneous velocity is greatest at e, and it is negative at a, b, and f.
3. The instantaneous velocity is greatest at f, and it is negative at d, h, I, j, and k
4. The instantaneous velocity is greatest at d, and it is negative at a, b, and f.
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