AP Physics

Unit 1 - Vectors and Kinematics

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Step Reasoning
Identify the relationship between impulse and the change in the momentum vector.
\[ \vec{J} = \Delta \vec{p} = M(\vec{v}_f – \vec{v}_i) \]
The question asks for the impulse vector, which is defined by the impulse-momentum theorem as the change in the linear momentum of the object.
Decompose the initial velocity into x and y components using the given geometry.
\[ \vec{v}_i = \langle -v \sin 45^\circ, v \cos 45^\circ \rangle = \langle -\dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{2}, \dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{2} \rangle \]
To perform vector subtraction, we must resolve the velocities into the specified coordinate system. With the angle \(45^\circ\) relative to the wall surface, the x-component (normal) uses sine and the y-component (parallel) uses cosine. Since positive x is away from the wall and positive y is the direction of initial travel, the ball moves in the negative x-direction initially.
Decompose the final velocity into x and y components.
\[ \vec{v}_f = \langle \dfrac{v}{2} \sin 45^\circ, \dfrac{v}{2} \cos 45^\circ \rangle = \langle \dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{4}, \dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{4} \rangle \]
The final velocity has a magnitude of \(\dfrac{v}{2}\) and moves away from the wall (positive x) while continuing in the same parallel direction (positive y).
Calculate the components of the impulse vector by subtracting initial momentum from final momentum.
\[ \begin{align*} J_x &= M \left( \dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{4} – \left( -\dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{2} \right) \right) = M \left( \dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{4} + \dfrac{2v\sqrt{2}}{4} \right) = \dfrac{3Mv\sqrt{2}}{4} \\ J_y &= M \left( \dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{4} – \dfrac{v\sqrt{2}}{2} \right) = -\dfrac{Mv\sqrt{2}}{4} \end{align*} \]
Subtracting the components yields the change in momentum in each direction.
Combine the components into the final vector expression.
\[ \vec{J} = \dfrac{3Mv\sqrt{2}}{4} \hat{i} – \dfrac{Mv\sqrt{2}}{4} \hat{j} = \dfrac{Mv\sqrt{2}}{4} (3\hat{i} – \hat{j}) \]
The vector is the sum of its scaled unit vectors.

Why each choice is correct or incorrect:

(A) This is the correct answer.

(B) Incorrectly adds the y-components of velocity instead of finding the difference, resulting in a positive j-term.

(C) Incorrectly calculates the change in the x-component as \( v_{fx} – v_{ix} \) without accounting for the fact that the initial x-velocity was in the negative direction.

(D) Only accounts for the impulse in the x-direction, ignoring the fact that the loss of speed also changed the momentum component parallel to the wall.

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque 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 MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[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
VariableSI 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]
VariableDerived 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. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. 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]

  3. 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]

  4. 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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