TBR Physics: Section I, Passage VI, Q. 37

[circulus vitios]

Which of the following are likely differences between the golf clubs found in a golfer's bag?

I. The length of the club's shaft and size of its head.
II. The angle that the face of the club head makes with the ground when the shaft is perpendicular to the ground.
III. The weight of the club head.

A. I only.
B. I and II only.
C. I and III only.
D. I, II, and III.

I understand I and II are both answers. TBR's explanation for III makes no sense.

"Changing the weight of the club head will change the speed and kinetic energy of the head of the club it strikes the ball."

A golfer's hardest swing has a fixed amount of kinetic energy. Why would using a heavier or a lighter head (within the range of normal head weights) make a difference when the same kinetic energy is being put into the swing regardless?

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[stsa84]

I don't know, but what a strange, un-MCAT like question. I sure would have loved if my PS section was full of questions like this.

 

[circulus vitios]

I don't know, but what a strange, un-MCAT like question. I sure would have loved if my PS section was full of questions like this.

TBR Physics Section I has a bunch of questions like that and it's pissing me off. I got almost all of the traditional questions right and almost all of these types wrong. Their explanations make no sense. I especially like how they have so many questions about air resistance when air resistance and its effects aren't even mentioned in the chapter.

 

[circulus vitios]

Ok, I think I understand it? It's not energy that changes the range of the ball, it's the velocity. With a fixed swing energy velocity changes and so does the component in the x direction. Lower mass ==> higher velocity ==> greater range. I still think it's a bad question.

 

[gunj122]

Ok, I think I understand it? It's not energy that changes the range of the ball, it's the velocity. With a fixed swing energy velocity changes and so does the component in the x direction. Lower mass ==> higher velocity ==> greater range. I still think it's a bad question.

i understand these questions are frustrating but just work through them. the MCAT is a very unpredictable test and you'll most likely see curve balls like these on your test. the purpose of these questions is to see how well do you know your concepts, behind all the equations and plug/chug crap. just keep working through these, you'll get the hang of it.