This series of caches is reaching the end of its run.
I will be archiving them in August 2022
It is recommended, but not necessary, that you complete the puzzles in order as each puzzle will have an increasing level of difficulty. The puzzles in the series are
Physics Puzzle #1 (GC6XBGC)
Physics Puzzle #2 (GC6XDN0)
Physics Puzzle #3 (GC6XDXM)
Physics Puzzle #4 (GC6XK5Q)
Physics Puzzle #5 (GC6XMW4)
Physics Puzzle #6 (GC6XP3J)
Physics Puzzle #7 (GC6XXY3)
Physics Puzzle #8 (GC6XY1H)
Physics Puzzle #9 (GC6XY50)
The Lesson
When the speed of an object changes, it has a starting or initial speed (which will be designated "v 1") and it has a final speed (which will be designated "v 2"). Subscripts are often used when two or more quantities use the same variable. The time, t, along with the two speeds can be used to find the rate of acceleration. For the purpose of this puzzle (and any others in this series), the rate at which the speed changes will be constant for a given time interval or a given distance travelled. This means that the rate of acceleration (designated "a") will be constant and can be zero, positive or negative and each of these is a different situation. Since this puzzle is addressing speed and not velocity, the values for speed will only be zero or positive. If that is the case, an acceleration of zero indicates that the speed is constant while a positive acceleration is speeding up and a negative acceleration is slowing down. We use a special symbol to represent a quantity that is changing. The Greek letter delta (shown as a little triangle) means "change in" so below where it has "delta v", that means change in speed. The change in speed is calculated by subtracting the initial speed from the final speed.
Since acceleration is a rate of change in speed, you must divide by time.
Change in speed is measured in "m/s" and time is measured in "s" so acceleration would be "m/s per s" or "m/s2" which is read as "metres per second squared". So that the units for acceleration work properly, remember to convert any units into the standard units.
Example using this formula:
What is the acceleration of a race car if its speed is increased uniformly from 44 m/s to 66 m/s over an 11 s period?
The acceleration of the race car is 2 m/s2.
The Puzzle
Read each of the following problems and solve as indicated. Enter the values in the space provided. Round your answers to one decimal place.
A plane starting from rest is accelerated uniformly to its takeoff speed of 73 m/s during a 5.1 s period. What is the plane's acceleration?
___ ___.___ (A B.C)
A car is uniformly accelerated at the rate of +1.3 m/s2 for 8.08 s. If the original speed of the car is 8.2 m/s, what is its final speed?
___ ___.___ (D E.F)
A car travelling at 36.1 m/s is slowed uniformly at the rate of -1.33 m/s2 for 9.47 s. What is its final velocity in m/s?
___ ___.___ (G H.J)
A = __ B = __ C = __ D = __ E = __ F = __ G = __ H = __ J = __
The cache can be found at N 44° a b.c d e’ and W 078° f g.h j k’
Solve for the lower case letters using the following. There is no connection between the upper case letters above and the lower case letters here. Make sure that you follow BEDMAS.
a = J - C: _____; b = F + G - B: _____; c = A J: _____;
d = B - J + D: _____; e = (E)(G) - (B)(C): _____;f = G H - B: _____;
g = E 0: _____; h = (B)(G) - E: _____.
j = (D + E + G) - (A + J): _____; k = B + C: _____.
The cache is at: N 44° __ __ . __ __ __ ' and W 078° __ __ . __ __ __'
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.