A motorboat leaves a dock and executes the following two-stage motion: • Stage 1: For…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Motion in a Plane · Motion in a Plane
Problem
A motorboat leaves a dock and executes the following two-stage motion:
• Stage 1: For the first 10 s the boat travels due east in a straight line at a constant speed of 4 m/s.
• Stage 2: Over the next 5 s the boat maintains the same speed but gradually changes its heading until it is moving due north, again at 4 m/s.
Assume the water resistance is negligible and treat the boat as a point object.
(a) During which stage(s) of the motion, if any, is the boat accelerating? Identify the stage(s) clearly.
(b) Provide a qualitative explanation for your answer in part (a) based on the definition of acceleration.
(c) For Stage 2, describe the direction of the boat’s acceleration at an instant when its heading is 45° north of east. Explain your reasoning.