Questions from College Physics


Q: An astronaut in deep space is taking a space walk when the

An astronaut in deep space is taking a space walk when the tether connecting him to his spaceship breaks. How can he get back to the ship? He doesn't have a rocket propulsion backpack, unfortunately,...

See Answer

Q: An astronaut hits a golf ball on the surface of the Moon

An astronaut hits a golf ball on the surface of the Moon. Is the momentum of the ball conserved while it is in flight? Is there a component of its momentum that is conserved?

See Answer

Q: Which would be more effective: a hammer that collides elastically with

Which would be more effective: a hammer that collides elastically with a nail, or one that collides perfectly inelastically? Assume that the mass of the hammer is much larger than that of the nail.

See Answer

Q: Mary and Daryl are new to the sport of rock climbing.

Mary and Daryl are new to the sport of rock climbing. Mary says she wants a stiff rope because a stiff rope is a strong rope. Daryl insists that a good climbing rope must have some stretch. Who is cor...

See Answer

Q: A radioactive nucleus is at rest when it spontaneously decays by emitting

A radioactive nucleus is at rest when it spontaneously decays by emitting an electron and neutrino. The momentum of the electron is 8.20 × 10−19 kg·m/s, an...

See Answer

Q: Many home heating systems operate by pumping hot water through radiator pipes

Many home heating systems operate by pumping hot water through radiator pipes. The flow of the water to different “zones” in the house is controlled by zone valves...

See Answer

Q: What is the tension in the string when the ball hangs straight

What is the tension in the string when the ball hangs straight down at rest?

See Answer

Q: Two cars, each of mass 1300 kg, are approaching each

Two cars, each of mass 1300 kg, are approaching each other on a head-on collision course. Each speedometer reads 19 m/s. What is the magnitude of the total momentum of the system?

See Answer

Q: In a uniform electric field of magnitude E, the field lines

In a uniform electric field of magnitude E, the field lines cross through a rectangle of area A at an angle of 60.0° with respect to the plane of the rectangle. What is the flux through the rectangle?...

See Answer

Q: Sonya is designing a diffraction experiment for her students. She has

Sonya is designing a diffraction experiment for her students. She has a laser that emits light of wavelength 627 nm and a grating with a distance of 2.40 × 10−3 mm between slits. She hopes to shine th...

See Answer