CHAPTER 1

Problem Solutions
1.1

v has units of ( L T) . a has units of L/T2 and x has units of L. Thus, the left side of the

equation has units of v 2 = ( L T) = L2 T2 , and the right side has units of

2

ax = L T2 L = L2 T2 . Therefore, from the standpoint of units alone, the equation

might be valid .

1.2

r, a, b, c and s all have units of L. So,

( s a) ( s b ) ( s c)
s
1.3

L L L
= L2 = L
L

Substituting in dimensions, we have

T=

L
=
L T2

T2 = T

Thus, the dimensions are consistent .

1.4

(a) Since the units of ax are m2 s2 , while the units of v are m s , the
equation is incorrect .
(b) Since the units of y are m, and cos ( kx ) is dimensionless if k has units of m -1 ,
the equation is dimensionally correct .

1.5

m3
kg m G ( kg )
.
,
so
cross-multiplying
gives
the
units
of
G
as
2 =
kg s2
s
( m) 2

1.6

(a) Given that a F m , we have F ma . Therefore, the units of force are those of ma,

F = M L T2 = M LT-2 .

C H A P T E R

(b) newton =

1.7

kg m
.
s2

(a) 78.9 0.2 has 3 significant figures .

(b) 3.788 109 has 4 significant figures .

(c)

2.46 106 has 3 significant figures .

(d) 0.0032 = 3.2 10 3 has 2 significant figures .

1.8

total length = 3.456 m + 4.3 m = 7.756 m which must be rounded to 7.8 m since the term
4.3 m has only one position beyond the decimal.

1.9

(a) The sum is rounded to 797 because 756 in the terms to be added has no positions
beyond the decimal.

(b) 0.0032 356.3 = 3.2 10- 3 356.3=1.14016 must be rounded to 1.1 because
3.2 10 has only two significant figures.
-3

(c)

1.10

5.620 must be rounded to 17.66 because 5.620 has only four significant
figures.

c = 2.997 924 574 108 m s

(a) Rounded to 3 significant figures: c = 3.00 108 m s
(b) Rounded to 5 significant figures: c = 2.997 9 108 m s
(c) Rounded to 7 significant figures: c = 2.997 926 108 m s

1.11

The distance around is 38.44 m + 19.5 m + 38.44 m + 19.5 m = 115.88 m , but this answer
must be rounded to 115.9 m because the distance 19.5 m carries information to only
one place past the decimal.

1.12

(a)

c = 2 r = 2 ( 3.5 cm) must be rounded to 22 cm . The number 2 and are

considered as known to many significant figures, while 3.5 is known only to two.

C H A P T E R

(b) A = r 2 = ( 4.65 cm) must be rounded to the number of significant figures in 4.65,
2

which gives an answer of 67.9 cm 2 .

1.13

Adding the two lengths together, we get 228.76 cm. However, 135.3 cm has only one
decimal place. Therefore, only one decimal place accuracy is possible in the sum,
changing 228.76 cm to 228.8 cm .

1.14

(a)

( 2.437 10 )( 6.5211 10 ) ( 5.37 10 ) = 2.9594 10

(b)

( 3.14159 10 )( 27.01 10 ) (1234 10 ) = 6.8764 10

1.15

9
= 2.96 10

= 6.876 102

5 280 ft 1 fathom
8
= 2 10 fathoms
d = ( 250 000 mi )
1.000 mi 6 ft
The answer is limited to one significant figure because of the accuracy to which the
conversion from fathoms to feet is given.

1.16

(a)

1.609 km
2
5
7
= ( 348 mi )
= 5.60 10 km = 5.60 10 m = 5.60 10 cm
1.000 mi

1.609 km 0.4912 km
(b) h = (1612 ft )
= 491.2 m = 4.912 10 4 cm
=
5280 ft
(c)

1.609 km 6.192 km
= 6.192 103 m = 6.192 105 cm
h = ( 20 320 ft )
=
5280 ft

1.609 km
(d) d = ( 8 200 ft )
= 2.499 km = 2.499 103 m = 2.499 105 cm
5280 ft
In (a), the answer is limited to three significant figures because of the accuracy of the
original data value, 348 miles. In (b), (c), and (d), the answers are limited to four
significant figures because of the accuracy to which the kilometers-to-feet conversion
factor is given.

1.17

m = 325 mg = 325 10 3 g = 0.325 g

C H A P T E R

1.18

1 in 1 day 1 h 2.54 cm 10 9 nm
= 9.2 nm s
rate =

2
32 day 24 h 3600 s 1.00 in 10 cm
This means that the proteins are assembled at a rate of many layers of atoms each
second!

1.19

3.281 ft 1 10 17 ft
Distance = 4 10 16 m
=
1 m

1.20

1 day 1 h
1 yr
9
Age of earth = 1 10 17 s
= 3 10 yr .

3600 s
365.242 days 24 h

1.21

m 3600 s 1 km 1 mi

8
c = 3.00 10 8

3
= 6.71 10 mi h

s
1h
10 m 1.609 km

1.22

2.832 10 2 m3
Volume of house = ( 50.0 ft )( 26 ft )( 8.0 ft )

1 ft 3

100 cm
2
8
= 2.9 10 cm 3
= 2.9 10 m 3 = 2.9 10 2 m 3
1 m

1.23

43 560 ft 2 1 m 3
4
3
Volume = ( 25.0 acre ft )

= 3.08 10 m

1 acre 3.281 ft

1.24

Volume of pyramid =

1
( area of base) ( height)
3

1
= (13.0 acres) 43 560 ft 2 acre ( 481 ft ) =9.08 10 7 ft 3
3
2.832 10 2 m 3
6
= 9.08 10 7 ft 3
= 2.57 10 m 3
3

1 ft

C H A P T E R

1.25

Volume of cube = L3 = 1 quart (Where L = length of one side of the cube.)

1 gallon 3.786 liter 1000 cm 3
Thus, L3 = (1 quart )
= 946 cm 3 ,

4 quarts 1 gallon 1 liter

and

1.26

1.27

L = 9.82 cm .

V = A t . Hence, t =

(a)

V 3.786 10 3 m 3
=
= 1.51 10 4 m = 0.115 mm
2
25.0 m
A

1.0 10 3 kg
mass = ( density ) ( volume) =
1.0 m 3
3

1.0 cm

2
kg

3
3 10 cm
= 1.0 10 3
= 1.0 10 kg
1.0
m
3

cm
1m

(b) As rough calculation, treat as if 100% water.

3
kg 4

cell: mass = density volume= 103

0.50 106 m = 5.2 10 16 kg
3

m 3

3
kg 4

kidney: mass = density volume = 103

4.0 102 m = 0.27 kg
3

m 3

fly: mass = density volume = ( density ) r 2 h

kg

3
= 103
1.0 10 m

m3

1.28

) ( 4.0 10
2

5
m = 1.3 10 kg

Since you have only 16 hours (57,600 s) per day, you can count only $57,600 per day. So,
the time it would take would be:

t=

1.00 109 dollars 1 yr

5.76 10 4 dollars/day 365 days

47.6 yr .

Right now, you are at least 18 yr old, so you would be at least age 65 when you finished
counting the money. It would provide a nice retirement, but a very boring life until then.
We would advise against it .

C H A P T E R

1.29

number of balls needed = ( number lost per hitter ) ( number hitters) ( games)
games
hitters innings
1

9
81
= ball per hitter 10

inning game
year
= 1800

balls
balls
.
, or ~103
year
year

Assumptions are 1 ball lost for every four hitters, 10 hitters per inning, 9 innings per
game, and 81 games per season.

1.30

number of pounds = ( number of burgers)( weight burger )

= 5 10 10 burgers ( 0.25 lb burger ) = 1.25 10 10 lb , or

~10 10 lb

number of head of cattle = ( weight needed ) ( weight per head )

) ( 300 lb head) = 4.17 10

= 1.255 10 10 lb

head , or

~10 7 head

Assumptions are 0.25 lb of meat per burger and a net of 300 lb of meat per head of cattle
1.31

A reasonable guess for the diameter of a tire might be 2.5 ft, with a circumference of
about 8 ft. Thus, the tire would make

( 50 000 mi)( 5280 ft mi)(1 rev 8 ft) = 3 10 7 rev , or

1.32

~10 7 rev

A blade of grass is ~1 4 inch wide, so we might expect each blade of grass to require at least
1 16 in 2 = 4.3 10 4 ft 2 . Since 1 acre = 43 560 ft 2 , the number of blades of grass to be
expected on a quarter-acre plot of land is about

( 0.25 acre) 43 560 ft 2 acre

total area
n=
=
area per blade
4.3 10 - 4 ft 2 blade
= 2.5 10 7 blades, or

~10 7 blades .

C H A P T E R

1.33

Consider a room that is 12 ft square with an 8.0 ft high ceiling. The volume of this room
is
3

1m
Vroom = (12 ft )(12 ft )( 8.0 ft )
= 33 m 3 .
3.281 ft
A ping pong ball has a radius of about 2.0 cm, so its volume is

3
4
4
Vball = r 3 = 2.0 102 m = 3.4 105 m 3 .
3
3

The number of balls that would easily fit into the room is therefore
n=

1.34

Vroom
33 m3
=
= 9.7 105 or ~106
-5
3
Vball 3.4 10 m

Assume an average of 1 can per person each week and a population of 250 million.
number cans person
number cans year =
( population )( weeks year )

week
can person
8
= 1
2.5 10 people ( 52 weeks yr )
week

= 1.3 1010 cans yr , or

~10 10 cans yr

number of tons = ( weight can )( number cans year )

oz 1 lb 1 ton

10 can
= 0.5

1.3 10
can 16 oz 2000 lb
yr

= 2 10 5 ton yr , or

~10 5 ton yr

Assumes an average weight of 0.5 oz of aluminum per can.

1.35

The x coordinate is found as x = r cos = ( 2.5 m) cos 35 = 2.0 m

and the y coordinate y = r sin = ( 2.5 m) sin 35 = 1.4 m .

C H A P T E R

1.36

The x distance out to the fly is 2.0 m and the y distance up to the fly is 1.0 m. Thus, we
can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the distance from the origin to the fly as,
d = x2 + y2 =

1.37

( 2.0 m) 2 + (1.0 m) 2 =

2.2 m

The distance from the origin to the fly is r in polar coordinates, and this was found to be
2.2 m in problem 36. The angle is the angle between r and the horizontal reference line
(the x axis in this case). Thus, the angle can be found as
tan =

y 1.0 m
=
= 0.5 and = tan 1 ( 0.50) = 27
x 2.0 m

The polar coordinates are r = 2.2 m and = 27 .

1.38

The x distance between the two points is 8.0 cm and the y distance between them is 1.0
cm. The distance between them is found from the Pythagorean theorem:

d = x2 + y2 =

1.39

(a) From the Pythagorean theorem, the unknown side is

b = c 2 a2 =
b)

1.40

( 8.0 cm) 2 + (1.0 cm) 2 = 65 cm 2 = 8.1 cm .

tan =

( 9.00 m) 2 ( 6.00 m) 2 = 6.71 m .

6.00 m
= 0.894
6.71 m

From the diagram, sin ( 20.0) =

(c) sin =

6.71 m
= 0.746
9.00 m

y
.
30.0 m

0m

30.0

Thus, y = ( 30.0 m) sin ( 20.0) = 10.3 m

1.41

20.0

From the diagram at the left, = 60.0

6.00 mi
= tan ( 60.0) , and
Thus,
h

30.0

6.00 mi
h=
= 3.46 mi , or about 18,300 ft.
tan ( 60.0)

10

B
6.00 mi

C H A P T E R

1.42

1.43

1.44

sin =

side opposite
so, side opposite = ( 3.00 m)( sin 30.0) = 1.50 m .
hypotenuse

(b) cos =

adjacent side
so, adjacent side = ( 3.00 m )( cos 30.0) = 2.60 m .
hypotenuse

(a)

(a) The side opposite = 3.00 .

(c)

cos =

4.00
= 0.800
5.00

(e)

tan =

4.00
= 1.33
3.00

(b) The side adjacent to = 3.00 .

(d) sin =

4.00
= 0.800
5.00

Using the diagram at the right, the Pythagorean Theorem

yields
c=

c
5.00 m

( 5.00 m) 2 + ( 7.00 m) 2 = 8.60 m

7.00 m

1.45

From the diagram given in Problem 1.44 above, it is seen that

tan =

1.46

5.00
and = 35.5 .
7.00

Using the sketch at the right:

Tree

w
= tan 35.0 , or
100 m

River
w

w = (100 m) tan 35.0 = 70.0 m

35.0

100 m

1.47

Consider tissue in the shape of a cube 1 cm on a side. The number of cells along each
edge of this cubical volume is then
n=

1 cm 1 m 1 m
4
-6 2
= 1 10 ,
1 m 10 m 10 cm

and the number of cells within the 1 cm 3 volume is

N = n 3 = 1 10 4

12
= 1 10 12 , or ~10 .

11

C H A P T E R

1.48

3
4
4
(a) The volume of Saturn is V = r 3 = 5.85 10 7 m =8.39 10 2 3 m 3 and the
3
3
density is
3
26
3
m 5.68 10 kg 1 m 10 g
3
=
= 0.677 g cm .

23
3
2

V 8.39 10 m 10 cm 1 kg

(b) The surface area of Saturn is

2 3.281 ft
17
2
= 4.63 10 ft
A = 4 r 2 = 4 5.85 10 7 m
1 m

1.49

The term s has dimensions of L, a has dimensions of LT 2 , and t has dimensions of T.

Therefore, the equation, s = k am tn has dimensions of

L= LT- 2

( T) n

L1T 0 =Lm T n 2m .

or

The powers of L and T must be the same on each side of the equation. Therefore, L1 =Lm
and m = 1 .
Likewise, equating terms in T, we see that n 2m = 0 . Thus, n=2m = 2 .
Dimensional analysis cannot determine the value of k , a dimensionless constant.

1.50

Assume the tub measures 1.3 m by 0.5 m by 0.3 m.

(a) It then has a volume V = 0.2 m 3 and contains a mass of water

)(

m = V = 10 3 kg m 3 0.2 m 3 = 200 kg, or

~10 2 kg .

(b) Pennies are now mostly zinc, but consider copper pennies filling 80% of the volume
of the tub. Their mass is

)(

m = 0.80 8.93 10 3 kg/m 3 0.2 m 3 = 1400 kg, or

12

~10 3 kg

C H A P T E R

1.51

9.00 10-7 kg
The volume of oil equals V =
= 9.80 10-10 m 3 .
3
918 kg m
If the diameter of a molecule is d, then this volume must also equal

( )

d r 2 = ( thickness of slick )( area of oil slick ) , where r = 0.418 m .

Thus, d =

1.52

9.80 1010 m 3
= 1.78 10 9 m, or
2
( 0.418 m)

~10 9 m .

(a) The amount paid per year would be

dollars 8.64 104 s 365.25 days

10 dollars
amount = 1000
.

= 3.16 10

s 1.00 day
yr
yr

Therefore, it would take

6.00 10 12 dollars
= 190 yr, or
3.16 10 10 dollars yr

~10 2 yr .

(b) The circumference of the Earth at the equator is

C = 2 r = 2 6.38 10 6 m = 4.01 10 7 m .
The length of one dollar bill is 0.155 m so that the length of six trillion bills is
9.30 10 11 m . Thus, the six trillion dollars would encircle the earth
n=

1.53

9.30 10 11 m
= 2.32 10 4 , or
4.01 10 7 m

The number of tuners is found by dividing the number of residents of the city by the
number of residents serviced by one tuner. We shall assume 1 tuner per 10,000 residents
and a population of 7.5 million. Thus,
number of tuners=

1.54

~10 4 times .

7.5 10 6
3
=7.5 10 2 ~10 tuners
4
1.0 10

(a) For a sphere, A = 4 R2 . In this case, R2 = 2 R1 .

A2 4 R 22 R 22 ( 2R1 )
=
=
=
= 4.
Hence,
A1 4 R 12 R 12
R12
2

13

C H A P T E R

(b) For a sphere,

4
V = R3 .
3

3
V2 ( 4 3) R 2 R 32 ( 2R1 )
=
=
=
= 8 .
V1 ( 4 3) R 13 R 13
R 13
3

Thus,

1.55

365.2 days 8.64 104 s

= 3.16 107 s .
(a) 1 yr= (1 yr )

1 yr

1 day
(b) Let us consider a segment of the surface of the moon which has an area of 1 m2 and
a depth of 1 m . When filled with meteorites, each having a diameter 10-6 m , the
number of meteorites along each edge of this box is
n=

length of an edge
1m
= -6
= 10 6 .
meteorite diameter 10 m

The total number of meteorites in the filled box is then

( )

N = n 3 = 10 6 3 = 10 18 .
At the rate of 1 meteorite per second, the time to fill the box is
1y

10
t = 1018 s= ( 1018 s )
= 3 10 yr, or
7
3.156 10 s

14

~1010 yr .

C H A P T E R

Answers to Even Numbered Conceptual Questions

2.

It was good in the sense that it was easily understood and barley grains were readily
available to everyone. It was a poor way to define a standard because barley grains are not
uniform in size. Thus, the length of one persons three barley grains may differ from that
of another persons three grains.

4.

(a)

~10 3 lb which is ~10 3 kg or ~1 gram

(b)

~0.5 lb 0.25 kg or ~10 -1 kg

(c)

~ 200 lb 100 kg or ~10 2 kg

(d)

~2000 lb 1000 kg or ~10 3 kg

6.

Let us assume the atoms are solid spheres of diameter 1010 m . Then, the volume of each
4
1
atom is of the order of 10-30 m 3 . (More precisely, volume = r 3 = d 3 .) Therefore, since
3
6
6
10
1 cm3 =10-6 m 3 , the number of atoms in the solid is on the order of 30 = 1024 atoms. A
10
more precise calculation would require knowledge of the density of the solid and the mass
of each atom. However, our estimate agrees with the more precise calculation to within a
factor of 10.

8.

Realistically, the only lengths you might be able to verify are the length of a football field
and the length of a housefly. The only time intervals subject to verification would be the
length of a day and the time between normal heartbeats.

10.

No. Dimensional analysis cannot reveal the presence of numerical constants in an

equation. For example, a freely-falling object, starting from rest, obeys the equation
v 2 = 2ax . Dimensional analysis would say that the equations v 2 = 3ax or v 2 = ax might be
valid.

12.

In general, the manufacturers are using significant figures correctly. The length and width
of the aluminum foil both include three significant figures and the cited value of their
product (the area) correctly includes three significant figures in both the metric and
English versions. The manufacturer of the tape also gives three significant figures in the
dimensions of the tape (metric version) and retains three significant figures in their
product (area). However, the width of the tape is given in English units as 1 2 , which
gives no indication of the accuracy of the measurement. To be consistent with the three
significant figure accuracy cited in the metric width dimension, the width should be given
as 0.500 .

15

C H A P T E R

Answers to Even Numbered Problems

2.

Both sides have units of length, L, so the equation may be valid.

4.

Only (b) is dimensionally correct.

6.

(a)

8.

7.8 m

MLT -2

3.00 108 m s

(b)

kg m s 2

(b)

2 .9979 108 m s

(b)

67.9 cm 2

(b)

6.876 102

(a)

12.

(a) 22 cm

14.

(a)

16.

(a) 5.60 10 2 km , 5.60 10 5 m , 5.60 10 7 cm

(b) 0.4912 km , 491.2 m , 4.912 10 4 cm
(c) 6.192 km , 6.192 103 m , 6.192 105 cm
(d) 2 .499 km , 2.499 103 m , 2.499 105 cm

18.

9.2 nm s

20.

3 10 9 yr

22.

2.9 10 2 m 3 , 2.9 10 8 cm 3

24.

2.57 10 6 m 3

26.

1.51 10 4 m

28.

It would require about 47.6 yr to count the money. We advise against it.

30.

~10 10 lb of beef, ~10 7 head of cattle (assumes 0.25 lb per burger and a net of 300 lb of
meat per head of cattle)

32.

~10 7 blades (assumes 1 16 in 2 per blade)

34.

~10 10 cans yr , ~10 5 ton yr (Assumes an average of 1 can per person each week, a
population of 250 million, and 0.5 oz of aluminum per can)

36.

2.2 m

38.

8.1 cm

2.96 10 9

16

(c)

2.997925 108 m s

10.

C H A P T E R

40.

10.3 m

42.

(a) 1.50 m

44.

8.60 m

46.

70.0 m

48.

(a)

0.677 g cm 3

(b)

4.63 10 17 ft 2

50.

(a)

~10 2 kg

(b)

~10 3 kg

52.

(a)

~10 2 yr

(b)

~10 4 times

54.

(a) 4

(b) 2.60 m

(b) 8

17

18