Question Guidelines

• There is a right way and a wrong way to answer conceptual type questions.

• Bad answer

• Suppose you are driving in a convertible with the top down.  The car is moving to the right at a constant velocity.  A projectile is launched from a barrel that is pointed straight upward.  In the absence of air resistance, where does the projectile land?

• In the same position.

• This answer, although correct, does not stand on its own.  The reader is starving for information and it has not been provided.  No meat in the sandwich.

• Good answer

• Since there is no air resistance to slow the projectile down, it experiences no acceleration in the horizontal direction.  It's speed remains equal to that of the barrel and the car.  Therefore, the projectile remains above the barrel at all times and would land in the barrel.

• This answer is full of information (meat).  Reader is full and satisfied.

Problem Guidelines

• The solution to a problem must flow.  The reader should be able to easily see how you obtained the solution.  For example, a poor solution would be like something below;

• A fisherman reels in 11 m of line while pulling in a fish that exerts a constant resisting force of 10 N.  If the fish is pulled in at a constant velocity, how much work is done on it by the tension in the line?

• (11)(10) = 110 J or the work done is equal to 110 J.  Even though both of the answers are correct, both are meaningless.  They do not show how you arrived at the solution.  No diagram has been drawn either.
  

• A better way would look like the following;

• W = Fcos(q)x    
  

• W = (10 N)cos (0)(11 m)

• W = 110 J

• Formula and units are important in problem solving.  Make sure that you use them!  Also, solutions need to be clear and concise!