Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Physics

Problems

PhysicsProblems

Problems

2.1 Relative Motion, Distance, and Displacement

16 .
In a coordinate system in which the direction to the right is positive, what are the distance and displacement of a person who walks 35 meters to the left, 18 meters to the right, and then 26 meters to the left?
  1. Distance is 79 m and displacement is 43 m .
  2. Distance is 79 m and displacement is 43 m .
  3. Distance is 43 m and displacement is 79 m .
  4. Distance is 43 m and displacement is 79 m .
17.

Billy drops a ball from a height of 1 m. The ball bounces back to a height of 0.8 m, then bounces again to a height of 0.5 m, and bounces once more to a height of 0.2 m. Up is the positive direction. What are the total displacement of the ball and the total distance traveled by the ball?

  1. The displacement is equal to –4 m and the distance is equal to 4 m.
  2. The displacement is equal to –1 m and the distance is equal to 1 m
  3. The displacement is equal to 4 m and the distance is equal to 1 m.
  4. The displacement is equal to –1 m and the distance is equal to 4 m.

2.2 Speed and Velocity

18 .
You sit in a car that is moving at an average speed of 86.4 km/h. During the 3.3 s that you glance out the window, how far has the car traveled?
  1. 7.27 m
  2. 79 m
  3. 285 km
  4. 1026 m

2.3 Position vs. Time Graphs

19.

Using the graph, what is the average velocity for the whole 10 seconds?

A graph titled Runner Position plots time (s) on the x axis, and position (m) on the y axis. A line extends from the origin with a slope of 3. At point (12, 4), it extends without a slope and points (12, 6), (12, 8), and (12, 10) are marked.
  1. The total average velocity is 0 m/s.
  2. The total average velocity is 1.2 m/s.
  3. The total average velocity is 1.5 m/s.
  4. The total average velocity is 3.0 m/s.
20 .
A train starts from rest and speeds up for 15 minutes until it reaches a constant velocity of 100 miles/hour. It stays at this speed for half an hour. Then it slows down for another 15 minutes until it is still. Which of the following correctly describes the position vs time graph of the train’s journey?
  1. The first 15 minutes is a curve that is concave upward, the middle portion is a straight line with slope 100 miles/hour, and the last portion is a concave downward curve.
  2. The first 15 minutes is a curve that is concave downward, the middle portion is a straight line with slope 100 miles/hour, and the last portion is a concave upward curve.
  3. The first 15 minutes is a curve that is concave upward, the middle portion is a straight line with slope zero, and the last portion is a concave downward curve.
  4. The first 15 minutes is a curve that is concave downward, the middle portion is a straight line with slope zero, and the last portion is a concave upward curve.

2.4 Velocity vs. Time Graphs

21.

You are characterizing the motion of an object by measuring the location of the object at discrete moments in time. What is the minimum number of data points you would need to estimate the average acceleration of the object?

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
22.

Which option best describes the average acceleration from 40 to 70 s?

A graph titled velocity vs. time plots time (s) on the x axis and velocity (m/s) on the y-axis. The line begins around 160 meters per second and approaches 250 meters per second as the time approaches 60 seconds.
  1. It is negative and smaller in magnitude than the initial acceleration.
  2. It is negative and larger in magnitude than the initial acceleration.
  3. It is positive and smaller in magnitude than the initial acceleration.
  4. It is positive and larger in magnitude than the initial acceleration.
23.

The graph shows velocity vs. time.

A graph titled velocity vs. time plots time (s) on the x axis and velocity (m/s) on the y-axis. The line begins around 160 meters per second and approaches 250 meters per second as the time approaches 60 seconds.

Calculate the net displacement using seven different divisions. Calculate it again using two divisions: 0 → 40 s and 40 → 70 s . Compare. Using both, calculate the average velocity.

  1. Displacement and average velocity using seven divisions are 14,312.5 m and 204.5 m/s while with two divisions are 15,500 m and 221.4 m/s respectively.
  2. Displacement and average velocity using seven divisions are 15,500 m and 221.4 m/s while with two divisions are 14,312.5 m and 204.5 m/s respectively.
  3. Displacement and average velocity using seven divisions are 15,500 m and 204.5 m/s while with two divisions are 14,312.5 m and 221.4 m/s respectively.
  4. Displacement and average velocity using seven divisions are 14,312.5 m and 221.4 m/s while with two divisions are 15,500 m and 204.5 m/s respectively.
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute Texas Education Agency (TEA). The original material is available at: https://www.texasgateway.org/book/tea-physics . Changes were made to the original material, including updates to art, structure, and other content updates.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/physics/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jun 7, 2024 Texas Education Agency (TEA). The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.