| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[k(L_1-L_0)=m_1 g\] | At rest, the spring force balances the weight of the first mass, so tension \(k\) times extension \(L_1-L_0\) equals \(m_1 g\). |
| \[k(L_2-L_0)=m_2 g\] | Likewise, with the additional mass, extension \(L_2-L_0\) supports the total weight \(m_2 g\). |
| \[k(L_2-L_1)=(m_2-m_1)g\] | Subtract the first equation from the second to eliminate \(L_0\) and relate the change in length to the change in mass. |
| \[k=\frac{(m_2-m_1)g}{L_2-L_1}\] | Solve algebraically for the spring constant \(k\). |
| \[k=\frac{(4.0)(9.8)}{0.025}=1.6\times10^{3}\,\text{N/m}\] | Insert \(m_2-m_1=4.0\,\text{kg}\), \(g=9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\), and \(L_2-L_1=0.025\,\text{m}\) to find \(k\). |
| \[\boxed{k=1.6\times10^{3}\,\text{N/m}}\] | Final spring constant, boxed for emphasis. |
| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[L_0=L_1-\frac{m_1 g}{k}\] | Rearrange \(k(L_1-L_0)=m_1 g\) to isolate the original length \(L_0\). |
| \[L_0=0.80-\frac{98}{1568}\] | Substitute \(L_1=0.80\,\text{m}\), \(m_1 g=98\,\text{N}\), and \(k=1568\,\text{N/m}\). |
| \[L_0=0.80-0.0625=0.7375\,\text{m}\] | Perform the arithmetic to get the original length in meters. |
| \[\boxed{L_0\approx0.74\,\text{m}}\] | Rounded to two significant figures, boxed for clarity. |
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An \( 80 \, \text{kg} \) block is placed \( 2 \, \text{m} \) away from the endpoint of a horizontal steel beam of length \( 6.6 \, \text{m} \) and mass \( 1,450 \, \text{kg} \). The plank makes contact with a vertical wall on one end (assume it does not slip). The other end of the beam is attached to a massless cable that makes an angle of \( 30^\circ \) with the horizontal and ties into the vertical wall as well. Calculate the (1) tension force in the cable and (2) the total force the wall exerts on the beam.
A person stands on a scale in an elevator. His apparent weight will be the greatest when the elevator
When the brakes of an automobile are applied, the road exerts the greatest retarding force
A truck of mass 3500 kg hits the back of a small car of mass 1400 kg. Which car exerted more force on the other and why?
The heaviest train ever pulled by a single engine was over \( 2 \, \text{km} \) long. A force of \( 1.13 \times 10^5 \, \text{N} \) is needed to get the train to start moving. If the coefficient of static friction is \( 0.741 \) and the coefficient of kinetic friction is \( .592 \), what is the train’s mass?
An elevator carrying a person of mass \( m \) is moving upward and slowing down. How does the magnitude \( F \) of the force exerted on the person by the elevator floor compare with the magnitude \( mg \) of the gravitational force?

A ring of negligible mass remains in static equilibrium under the influence of three coplanar forces, as shown in the accompanying diagram. Two forces, each with a magnitude of \(10 \, \text{N}\), act on the ring at an angle \(\theta\) above the horizontal—one directed to the right and the other to the left. A third force, \(F\), acts vertically downward. Determine the magnitude of force \(F\).
A satellite circling Earth completes each orbit in \(132 \, \text{minutes}\).
When a basketball is dropped to the pavement, it bounces back up. Is a force needed to make it bounce back up? If so, what exerts the force?
An object of unknown mass is acted upon by multiple forces:
The coefficients of friction are \(\mu_s = 0.6\) and \(\mu_k = 0.2\). Starting from rest, the object travels \(10 \, \text{m}\) in \(4.5 \, \text{s}\). What is the mass of the unknown object?
\(k = 1.6 \times 10^{3}\,\text{N/m}\)
\(L_0 = 0.74\,\text{m}\)
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| Kinematics | Forces |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| Circular Motion | Energy |
|---|---|
| \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\) | \(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\) |
| \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) | \(PE = mgh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\) | \(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\) |
| \(W = Fd \cos\theta\) |
| Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
|---|---|
| \(p = mv\) | \(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\) |
| \(J = \Delta p\) | \(I = \sum mr^2\) |
| \(p_i = p_f\) | \(L = I \cdot \omega\) |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | Fluids |
|---|---|
| \(F = -kx\) | \(P = \frac{F}{A}\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\) | \(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) | \(Q = Av\) |
| \(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\) | \(F_b = \rho V g\) |
| \(a = -\omega^2 x\) | \(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\) |
| Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| [katex]g[/katex] | Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface |
| [katex]G[/katex] | Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex] |
| [katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex] | Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion. |
| [katex]k[/katex] | Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex] |
| [katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Earth |
| [katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Moon |
| [katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Sun |
| Variable | SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]s[/katex] (Displacement) | [katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex] |
| [katex]v[/katex] (Velocity) | [katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration) | [katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]t[/katex] (Time) | [katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]m[/katex] (Mass) | [katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex] |
| Variable | Derived SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]F[/katex] (Force) | [katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex] |
| [katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | [katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex] |
| [katex]P[/katex] (Power) | [katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex] |
| [katex]p[/katex] (Momentum) | [katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity) | [katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque) | [katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex] |
| [katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia) | [katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]f[/katex] (Frequency) | [katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex] |
Metric Prefixes
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]
Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]
Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | [katex]10^{-12}[/katex] | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | 10 |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | 100 |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000,000 |
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