1. AP Physics C Unit 1 Review Problems
North Allegheny Senior High
Kernion

2. Unit Vectors and Uniform Circular motion
An object moves in uniform circular motion. At t = 2 sec it
has a velocity (in m/s) of 3i + 4 j. at t = 5 sec it has a velocity
(in m/s) of -3i – 4 j. Draw a sketch of this motion and find the radius.

3. Unit Vectors and Uniform Circular motion
An object moves in uniform circular motion. At t = 2 sec it
has a velocity (in m/s) of 3i + 4 j. at t = 5 sec it has a velocity
(in m/s) of -3i – 4 j. Draw a sketch of this motion and find the radius.
The points shown
represent motion that
is half-way around the
trajectory.
Thus, T = 6 seconds
-3i
-4j 4j 3i

4. Unit Vectors and Uniform Circular motion
An object moves in uniform circular motion. At t = 2 sec it
has a velocity (in m/s) of 3i + 4 j. at t = 5 sec it has a velocity
(in m/s) of -3i – 4 j. Draw a sketch of this motion and find the radius.
Note: The average acceleration is NOT The same
as the instantaneous acceleration
v = [(32) + (4)2]1/2
v = 5 m/s
2pr / T = v
T = 2pr/v
6 = 2pr/5 r = 4.4 m
a = 5.7
Now, since ainst = v2/r
ainst = (5)2 /4.4 = 5.7 m/s2
This acceleration magnitude is the SAME at every point.
But the direction is always changing.
a = 5.7
a = 5.7

5. Unit Vectors and Uniform Circular motion
An object moves in uniform circular motion. At t = 2 sec it
has a velocity (in m/s) of 3i + 4 j. at t = 5 sec it has a velocity
(in m/s) of -3i – 4 j. Draw a sketch of this motion and find the radius.
Note: The average acceleration is NOT The same
as the instantaneous acceleration because we are
not moving along one axis and in one direction.
For example: If a car were uniformly accelerating west for
an entire experiment then the average and the instantaneous
accelerations would be the same the entire trip.
BUT...If a car uniformly accelerated west with a certain
magnitude and then uniformly accelerated east for the
exact same amount of time, the average acceleration
would be zero and the instantaneous acceleration would
have the same MAGNITUDE the entire time

6. Unit Vectors and Uniform Circular motion
An object moves in uniform circular motion. At t = 2 sec it
has a velocity (in m/s) of 3i + 4 j. at t = 5 sec it has a velocity
(in m/s) of -3i – 4 j. Draw a sketch of this motion and find the radius.
The same type of thing is true for the uniform circular motion case...
Because the acceleration is not uniformly in the same direction,
the average acceleration vector and the instantaneous acceleration
vectors DO NOT have the same magnitudes, even though the magnitude
of the instantaneous acceleration is uniform over the entire trajectory.
aave = Dv/Dt = (-3i – 4j) – (3i + 4j) / 3
aave = (-6i – 8j) / 3 = -2i – 2.7j
One other way to look at it:
The average acceleration over
one complete cycle is ZERO even
though the instantaneous acceleration
at each point is 5.7 m/s2 (magnitude)
average acceleration magnitude
aave = [(2)2 + (2.7)2)]1/2 = 3.4 m/s2

7. Unit Vectors and Kinematics Challenge
The velocity of a particle moving in the x-y plane is given by:
v = ( 6.0 t – 4.0 t2 )i j
1. What is the acceleration when t = 3.0 seconds?
2. When, if ever, is the acceleration zero?
3. When, if ever, is the speed zero?
4. When, if ever, does the speed equal 10.0 m/s?

8. Solutions
v = ( 6.0 t – 4.0 t2 )i j
1. What is the acceleration when t = 3.0 seconds?
a = dv/dt = [d( 6.0 t – 4.0 t2 )i j)]/dt
a = (6 – 8t) i
a(3.0) = (6 – 24) i = -18 i m/s2

9. Solutions v = ( 6.0 t – 4.0 t2 )i + 8.0 j a = (6 – 8t) i
2. When, if ever is a = 0?
a = (6 – 8t) i = 0
when 6 – 8t =0
6 = 8t
t = 0.75 s

10. Solutions 3. When, if ever, does the speed equal zero?
v = (6t – 4 t2) i + 8 j
since the speed in the y-direction is constant, the overall speed
never equals zero.

11. Solutions When, if ever, does the speed equal 10 m/s?
v = (6t – 4t2) i + 8 j
v = [vx2 + vy2]1/2
v = [(6t - 4t2) ]1/2 = 10
(6t - 4t2) = 100
(6t - 4t2)2 = 36
– 4t2 + 6t (+/-) 6 = 0 (quadratic)
t = 2.2 s
The square root of 36 is
+ 6 or - 6