The current theory of the structure of the
earth, called plate tectonics, tells us that the
continents are in constant motion. assume that the north american continent
can be represented by a slab of rock 5300 km on a side and 37 km deep and that the rock has an average mass density of 2720 kg/m^3.
the continent is moving at the rate of about 4.8 cm/year.
a) what is the mass of the continent? answer in units of kg
b) what is the kinetic energy of the continent? answer in units of j.
c) a jogger (of mass 77 kg) has the same kinetic energy as that of the continent. what would his speed be? answer in units of m/s.

After a big snowfall, you take your favorite rocket-powered sled out to a wide field. the field is 195 m across, and you know that your sled accelerates at a rate of 3.65 m/s2 when the rocket is on. how much time will it take the sled to cross the field starting from rest, assuming the rocket is on the whole time?

During physical science, ms. greene challenged her students to produce an energy transformation. james and jill wrapped a 4-inch nail with a coil of fifty turns of wire. they connected one end of the coil to one terminal of a knife switch. they connected the other terminal of the knife switch to the battery. finally, they connected the end of the coil to the other terminal of the battery. james held the tip of a 1-inch nail near the flat end of the 4-inch nail. jill closed the knife switch quickly and then opened it. the 1-inch nail was pulled toward the 4-inch nail. what is the best explanation of why the nail moved? a) electrical energy was converted to mechanical energy in the 1-inch nail. b) the 4-inch nail became an electromagnet and the magnetic force attracted the 1-inch nail. c) the electric current in the 4-inch nail was converted to mechanical energy in the 1-inch nail. d) the 4-inch nail had a positive charge and the 1-inch nail had a negative charge. opposites attracted.

Aparticle of mass m is projected with an initial velocity v0 in a direction making an angle α with the horizontal level ground as shown in the figure. the motion of the particle occurs under a uniform gravitational field g pointing downward. (a) write down the lagrangian of the system by using the cartesian coordinates (x, y). (b) is there any cyclic coordinate(s). if so, interpret it (them) physically. (c) find the euler-lagrange equations. find at least one constant of motion. (d) solve the differential equation in part (c) and obtain x and y coordinates of the projectile as a function of time. (e) construct the hamiltonian of the system, h, and write down the hamilton’s equations (canonical equations) of motion.