| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\text{Forces:}\] | List all forces acting immediately after release. |
| \[\begin{aligned} &\text{(i) }\;\vec F_{\!\text{pivot}} \\ &\text{(ii) }\;\vec W = M g \;(\text{down}) \end{aligned}\] |
\(\vec F_{\!\text{pivot}}\) is the unknown reaction at the hinge; \(\vec W\) acts at the centre (mid-point \(L/2\) from pivot). | |
| 2 | \[\tau_\text{net}=W\left(\dfrac{L}{2}\right)\] | Only weight produces a moment about the pivot because the hinge force passes through the pivot. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\tau_\text{net}=I\alpha\] | Rotational analogue of Newtons second law. |
| 2 | \[Mg\left(\dfrac{L}{2}\right)=\left(\dfrac13 M L^2\right)\alpha\] | Substitute \(\tau_\text{net}\) from Part (a) and the given moment of inertia. |
| 3 | \[\alpha=\dfrac{3g}{2L}\] | Cancel \(M\) and solve algebraically for \(\alpha\). |
| 4 | \[a_t=\alpha\left(\dfrac{L}{2}\right)\] | Tangential acceleration of the centre of mass equals \(\alpha r\) with \(r=L/2\). |
| 5 | \[a_t=\dfrac{3g}{2L}\left(\dfrac{L}{2}\right)=\dfrac{3g}{4}\] | Simplify to obtain \(a_t\). |
| 6 | \[\boxed{\alpha=\dfrac{3g}{2L}},\;\boxed{\;a_t=\dfrac{3g}{4}\;}\] | Box the requested expressions. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\tau=Mg\left(\dfrac{L}{2}\right)\sin\theta\] | General expression when the rod makes angle \(\theta\) with vertical. (Pure algebra; \(\sin\theta\) is geometric.) |
| 2 | \[\alpha=\dfrac{\tau}{I}=\dfrac{3g}{2L}\sin\theta\] | Insert \(I=\tfrac13 ML^2\). Shows \(\alpha\propto\sin\theta\). |
| 3 | \[\alpha_{\text{max}}\text{ at }\theta=90^\circ,\;\alpha=0\text{ when }\theta=0^\circ\] | \(\sin90^\circ=1\) (horizontal start) gives maximum; \(\sin0=0\) (vertical) gives zero. Thus \(\alpha\) decreases monotonically. |
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A disk of known radius and rotational inertia can rotate without friction in a horizontal plane around its fixed central axis. The disk has a cord of negligible mass wrapped around its edge. The disk is initially at rest, and the cord can be pulled to make the disk rotate. Which of the following procedures would best determine the relationship between applied torque and the resulting change in angular momentum of the disk?
At time \( t = 0 \), a disk starts from rest and begins spinning about its center with a constant angular acceleration of magnitude \( \alpha \). At time \( t_f \), the disk has angular speed \( \omega_f \). Which of the following expressions correctly compares the final angular displacement \( \theta_f \) of the disk at time \( t_f \) to the angular displacement \( \theta_{1/2} \) at time \( \frac{t_f}{2} \)?
The moment of inertia of a solid cylinder about its axis is given by \( I = \frac{1}{2}mR^2 \). If this cylinder rolls without slipping, the ratio of its rotational kinetic energy to its translational kinetic energy is

A rod may freely rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the rod and is along the plane of the page. The rod is divided into four sections of equal length of 0.2 m each, and four forces are exerted on the rod, as shown in the figure. Frictional forces are considered negligible. Which of the following describes an additional torque that must be applied in order to keep the rod from rotating?
A child of mass \( 3 \) \( \text{kg} \) rotates on a platform of \( 10 \) \( \text{kg} \). They start walking towards the center while the platform is rotating. Which of the following could possibly decrease the total angular momentum of the child-platform system?

A \( 50 \, \text{kg} \) person is sitting on a seesaw \( 1.2 \, \text{m} \) from the balance point. On the other side, a \( 70 \, \text{kg} \) person is balanced. How far from the balance point is the second person sitting?
A \(5\)-meter long ladder is leaning against a wall, with the bottom of the ladder \(3\) meters from the wall. The ladder is uniform and has a mass of \(20 \, \text{kg}\). A person of mass \(80 \, \text{kg}\) is standing on the ladder at a distance of \(4\) meters from the bottom of the ladder. What is the force exerted by the wall on the ladder?
A \( 6.00 \, \text{m} \) long, \( 500 \, \text{kg} \) steel uniform beam extends horizontally from the point where it has been bolted to the framework of a new building under construction. A \( 70 \, \text{kg} \) construction worker stands at the far end of the beam. What is the magnitude of the torque about the bolt due to the worker and the weight of the beam?
An object’s angular momentum changes by \( 10 \,\text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{s} \) in \( 2.0 \) \( \text{s} \). What magnitude average torque acted on this object?
A discus is held at the end of an arm that starts at rest. The average angular acceleration of \(54 \, \text{rad/s}^2 \) lasts for 0.25 s. The path is circular and has radius 1.1 m.
Note: A discuss is a heavy, flattened circular object for throwing.
\(\alpha = \dfrac{3g}{2L}\)
\(a_t = \dfrac{3g}{4}\)
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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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