| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $$\text{Available tools: masses }(m)\text{ and stopwatch}(\text{measure }t)$$ | Only time can be measured accurately; no devices are provided to measure distance or velocity directly. |
| 2 | $$\text{Choice (a)}$$ | Requires determining maximum speed. Speed needs both distance and time; distance cannot be measured with given tools ⇒ not workable. |
| 3 | $$\text{Choice (b): }F{=}kx$$ | Needs measurement of stretch \(x\). No ruler or scale is provided ⇒ cannot obtain \(x\); procedure fails. |
| 4 | $$\text{Choice (c)}$$ | Timing how long it takes to stop on a “frictionless” surface never yields a stop; with friction it measures damping, not \(k\). Thus the method is conceptually incorrect. |
| 5 | $$T_s = 2\pi\sqrt{\dfrac{m}{k}}$$ | Choice (d) uses the period of vertical oscillations, which can be timed with a stopwatch while \(m\) is known ⇒ all needed quantities are measurable. |
| 6 | $$k = \dfrac{4\pi^2 m}{T_s^{2}}$$ | Rearranging the period formula gives \(k\) directly from measurable \(m\) and \(T_s\). Hence (d) is the correct procedure. |
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A pendulum with a period of \( 1 \) \( \text{s} \) on Earth, where the acceleration due to gravity is \( g \), is taken to another planet, where its period is \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \). The acceleration due to gravity on the other planet is most nearly
A block of mass \( m \) is attached to a horizontal spring with spring constant \( k \) and undergoes simple harmonic motion with amplitude \( A \) along the \( x \)-axis. Which of the following equations could represent the position \( x \) of the object as a function of time?
A mass is attached to the end of a spring and set into simple harmonic motion with an amplitude \( A \) on a horizontal frictionless surface. Determine the following in terms of only the variable \( A \).
A spring with spring constant \( k = 2.3 \) \( \text{N/m} \) is attached to an object of mass \( 10 \) \( \text{kg} \). If the object is hung from the ceiling by this spring, how much would the spring be stretched?
A Christmas ornament made from a thin hollow glass sphere hangs from a thin wire of negligible mass. It is observed to oscillates with a frequency of \( 2.50 \) \( \text{Hz} \) in a city where \( g = 9.80 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). What is the radius of the ornament? The moment of inertia of the ornament is given by \( I = \frac{5}{3} mr^2 \).
A spring with a spring constant of \( 600. \) \( \text{N/m} \) is used for a scale to weigh fish. What is the mass of a fish that would stretch the spring by \( 7.5 \) \( \text{cm} \) from its normal length?
An average adult elephant \( (5000 \, \text{kg}) \) is strapped to a spring, which is then pulled \( 2 \, \text{meters} \) away from its equilibrium position and released. The elephant starts oscillating back and forth with a period of \( 10 \) seconds.
At time \( t = 0 \), an object is released from rest at position \( x = +x_{\text{max}} \) and undergoes simple harmonic motion along the \( x \)-axis about the equilibrium position of \( x = 0 \). The period of oscillation of the object is \( T \). Which of the following expressions is equal to the object’s position at time \( t = \dfrac{T}{8} \)?
Block \( 1 \) of mass \( m_1 \) and Block \( 2 \) of mass \( m_2 = 2 m_1 \) are each attached to identical horizontal springs. Each block is displaced from equilibrium by an unknown amount and the blocks are released from rest simultaneously, undergoing simple harmonic motion. A student claims that Block \( 1 \) will make its first return to its equilibrium position before Block \( 2 \) first returns to its equilibrium position. Is this claim correct? Why or why not?
A student uses a pendulum to determine the acceleration due to gravity, \( g \). They measure the pendulum’s length \( L \) and its period \( T \). Which equation should they use to calculate \( g \)?
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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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