| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[g_0 = \frac{GM}{R_E^2}\] | The gravitational acceleration at Earth’s surface is given by \(g_0\) where \(G\) is the universal constant, \(M\) is Earth’s mass, and \(R_E\) is Earth’s radius. |
| 2 | \[g_r = \frac{GM}{r^2}\] | At a distance \(r\) from Earth’s center (with \(r > R_E\)), gravitational acceleration follows the inverse–square law. |
| 3 | \[g_r = \frac{1}{10} g_0\] | The problem states that the acceleration at the point is one-tenth of the surface value. |
| 4 | \[\frac{GM}{r^2} = \frac{1}{10}\left(\frac{GM}{R_E^2}\right)\] | Substitute the expressions for \(g_r\) and \(g_0\) into the given ratio. |
| 5 | \[r^2 = 10R_E^2\] | Cancel \(GM\) from both sides and solve algebraically for \(r^2\). |
| 6 | \[r = \sqrt{10}\,R_E\] | Take the square root of both sides to get the distance from Earth’s center in terms of Earth’s radius. |
| 7 | \[\boxed{r = \sqrt{10}\,R_E \;\approx\; 2.0 \times 10^{7}\,\text{m}}\] | Insert \(R_E = 6.37 \times 10^6\,\text{m}\) to find the approximate numerical distance. |
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A child whirls a ball in a vertical circle. Assuming the speed of the ball is constant (an approximation), when would the tension in the cord connected to the ball be greatest?
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A train consists of \(50\) cars, each of which has a mass of \(6.1 \times 10^{3} \, \text{kg}\). The train has an acceleration of \(8.0 \times 10^{-2} \, \text{m/s}^2\). Ignore friction and determine the tension in the coupling at the following places:
Two students push a \(1750\, \mathrm{kg}\) car with a force of \(758\, \mathrm{N}\) along a perfectly level road at a constant velocity of \(4.00\, \mathrm{m/s}\). Find the force of friction.
A person whose weight is \(4.92 \times 10^2 \, \text{N}\) is being pulled up vertically by a rope from the bottom of a cave that is \(35.2 \, \text{m}\) deep. The maximum tension that the rope can withstand without breaking is \(592 \, \text{N}\). What is the shortest time, starting from rest, in which the person can be brought out of the cave?
A \( 60 \ \text{kg} \) person is riding in an elevator. At time \( t_1 \), the elevator is accelerating downward with a magnitude of \( 2 \ \text{m/s}^2 \). A short time later, at time \( t_2 \), the elevator is accelerating upward with a magnitude of \( 2 \ \text{m/s}^2 \). The ratio of the normal force exerted by the elevator on the person at time \( t_1 \) to that at time \( t_2 \) is most nearly
Which pulls harder gravitationally, the Earth on the Moon, or the Moon on the Earth? Which accelerates more?
Why do pilots sometimes black out while pulling out at the bottom of a dive?
When a horizontal force of \( 4.5 \, \text{N} \) acts on a block on a resistance-free surface, it produces an acceleration of \( 2.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). Suppose a second \( 4.0 \, \text{kg} \) block is dropped onto the first. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the combination if the same force continues to act? Assume that the second block does not slide on the first block.
The alarm at a fire station rings and a 79.34-kg fireman, starting from rest, slides down a pole to the floor below (a distance of 4.20 m). Just before landing, his speed is 1.36 m/s. What is the magnitude of the kinetic frictional force exerted on the fireman as he slides down the pole?
\(r = \sqrt{10}R_E \approx 2.0\times10^{7}\,\text{m}\)
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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] | |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] |
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