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| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\tau_{\text{left}} = \tau_{\text{right}}\] | For rotational equilibrium, the clockwise and counter-clockwise torques about the fulcrum must be equal. |
| 2 | \[4\,d = 1\,(L – d)\] | The \(4\,\text{kg}\) mass is placed at distance \(d\) from the fulcrum, while the \(1\,\text{kg}\) mass is \(L – d\) from it. |
| 3 | \[4d = L – d\] | Simplify the previous expression: both sides show the product of force (weight) and lever arm. |
| 4 | \[5d = L\] | Add \(d\) to both sides to isolate terms containing \(d\). |
| 5 | \[\boxed{d = \tfrac{1}{5} L}\] | Divide by \(5\) to find the required fulcrum position from the \(4\,\text{kg}\) mass. |
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An object weighing 120 N is set on a rigid beam of negligible mass at a distance of 3 m from a pivot, as shown above. A vertical force is to be applied to the other end of the beam a distance of 4 m from the pivot to keep the beam at rest and horizontal. What is the magnitude F of the force required?
A man with mass \( m \) is standing on a rotating platform in a science museum. The platform can be approximated as a uniform disk of radius \( R \) that rotates without friction at a constant angular velocity \( \omega \). Two students are discussing what the man should do if he wishes to change the angular velocity of the platform.
Student A says that the man should run towards the center of the platform, because this will decrease the moment of inertia of the man-platform system. Since \( L \propto I \), the angular momentum will decrease proportionately and the platform will slow down.
Student B says that since the platform is rotating counterclockwise, the man should run in a clockwise direction to slow the platform down. His feet will exert a frictional torque on the platform, which will cause an angular acceleration of the man-platform system.
Explain what is correct and incorrect about each students statement if anything.

Two spheres of equal size and equal mass are rotated with an equal amount of torque. One of the spheres is solid with its mass evenly distributed throughout its volume, and the other is hollow with all of its mass concentrated at the edges. Which sphere would rotate faster if the same amount of torque is applied for the same period of time for both?
A uniform solid sphere of mass M and radius R is placed on a frictionless horizontal surface. A massless string is wrapped around the sphere and is pulled with a force F. The string makes an angle of θ with the horizontal. What is the minimum value of the coefficient of static friction between the sphere and the surface required for the sphere to start rolling without slipping?
When the speed of a rear-drive car is increasing on a horizontal road, what is the direction of the frictional force on the tires?

A platform is initially rotating on smooth ice with negligible friction, as shown above. A stationary disk is dropped directly onto the center of the platform. A short time later, the disk and platform rotate together at the same angular velocity, as shown at right in the figure. How does the angular momentum of only the platform change, if at all, after the disk drops? And what is the best justification.

The rotating systems, shown in the figure above, differ only in that the two identical movable masses are positioned a distance r from the axis of rotation (left), or a distance r/2 from the axis of rotation (right). What happens if you release the hanging blocks simultaneously from rest?
Suppose just two external forces act on a stationary, rigid object and the two forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Under what condition does the object start to rotate?

A uniform rod of mass \( M_0 \) and length \( L \) is free to rotate about a pivot at its left end and is released from rest when the rod is \( 30^{\circ} \) below the horizontal, as shown in the figure. With respect to the pivot, the rod has rotational inertia \( I_0 = \dfrac{1}{3} M_0 L^2 \). Which of the following expressions correctly represents the magnitude of the net torque exerted on the rod about the pivot at the moment the rod is released?
A meter stick of mass [katex] .2 [/katex] kg is pivoted at one end and supported horizontally. A force of [katex] 3 [/katex] N downwards is applied to the free end, perpendicular to the length of the meter stick. What is the net torque about the pivot point?
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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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