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Problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2013

P. Gnädig
Affiliation:
Loránd Eötvös University, Budapest
G. Honyek
Affiliation:
Radnoti Teacher Training School
K. F. Riley
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

P1 Three small snails are each at a vertex of an equilateral triangle of side 60 cm. The first sets out towards the second, the second towards the third and the third towards the first, with a uniform speed of 5 cm min−1. During their motion each of them always heads towards its respective target snail. How much time has elapsed, and what distance do the snails cover, before they meet? What is the equation of their paths? If the snails are considered as point-masses, how many times does each circle their ultimate meeting point?

P2 A small object is at rest on the edge of a horizontal table. It is pushed in such a way that it falls off the other side of the table, which is 1 m wide, after 2 s. Does the object have wheels?

P3 A boat can travel at a speed of 3 m s−1 on still water. A boatman wants to cross a river whilst covering the shortest possible distance. In what direction should he row with respect to the bank if the speed of the water is (i) 2 m s−1, (ii) 4 m s−1? Assume that the speed of the water is the same everywhere.

P4 A long, thin, pliable carpet is laid on the floor. One end of the carpet is bent back and then pulled backwards with constant unit velocity, just above the part of the carpet which is still at rest on the floor.

Type
Chapter
Information
200 Puzzling Physics Problems
With Hints and Solutions
, pp. 1 - 49
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2001

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  • Problems
  • P. Gnädig, Loránd Eötvös University, Budapest, G. Honyek, Radnoti Teacher Training School, K. F. Riley, University of Cambridge
  • Book: 200 Puzzling Physics Problems
  • Online publication: 05 October 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511809804.005
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  • Problems
  • P. Gnädig, Loránd Eötvös University, Budapest, G. Honyek, Radnoti Teacher Training School, K. F. Riley, University of Cambridge
  • Book: 200 Puzzling Physics Problems
  • Online publication: 05 October 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511809804.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Problems
  • P. Gnädig, Loránd Eötvös University, Budapest, G. Honyek, Radnoti Teacher Training School, K. F. Riley, University of Cambridge
  • Book: 200 Puzzling Physics Problems
  • Online publication: 05 October 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511809804.005
Available formats
×