| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( v = v_0 + at \) | Use the kinematic equation for vertical motion. Here, \(v\) is the final velocity at the max height (which is 0), \(v_0\) is the initial velocity, \(a\) is the acceleration (gravity, acting downward), and \(t\) is the time. |
| 2 | \( 0 = v_0 – g \times 0.586 \) | Set the final velocity \(v\) at the maximum height to 0, and solve for \(v_0\). The acceleration due to gravity \(g\) is \(9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\). |
| 3 | \( v_0 = g \times 0.586 \) | Rearrange to solve for \(v_0\) |
| 4 | \( v_0 = 9.8 \times 0.586 \) | Substitute the values of \(g\) and \(t\) |
| 5 | \( v_0 = 5.74 \, \text{m/s} \) | Final answer for the initial speed. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( v^2 = v_0^2 + 2a \Delta x \) | Use the kinematic equation to relate velocity, acceleration, and displacement. Here, \(v\) is the final velocity at the max height (0), \(v_0\) is the initial velocity, \(a\) is the acceleration (gravity), and \(\Delta x\) is the displacement. |
| 2 | \( 0 = (5.74)^2 – 2 \cdot 9.8 \cdot \Delta x \) | Substitute \(v = 0\), \(v_0 = 5.74 \, \text{m/s}\), and \(a = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\) |
| 3 | \( 2 \cdot 9.8 \cdot \Delta x = (5.74)^2 \) | Rearrange to solve for \(\Delta x\). |
| 4 | \( \Delta x = \frac{(5.74)^2}{2 \cdot 9.8} \) | Solve for \(\Delta x\). |
| 5 | \( \Delta x = 1.68 \, \text{m} \) | Compute the displacement \(\Delta x\). |
| 6 | \(\text{Max height} = 3.25 + 1.68 = 4.93 \, \text{m} \) | Since the ice cube was initially 3.25 m above the ground, add this to \(\Delta x\) to get the maximum height. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(\Delta y = v_0 t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2\) | Use the kinematic equation for vertical displacement, where \(\Delta y\) is the change in height, \(v_0\) is the initial velocity, \(a\) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \(t\) is the time. |
| 2 | \(\Delta y = 0\) at maximum height, then use \(y = 4.93 \, \text{m}\) | The maximum height the ice cube reaches is previously calculated as 4.93 m. |
| 3 | \( -4.93 \, \text{m} = – \frac{1}{2} \cdot 9.8 \cdot t^2\) | Solve for the time taken to fall from the maximum height to the ground. Note the displacement (\(\Delta y\)) is negative when falling down. |
| 4 | \(t = \sqrt{\frac{2 \cdot 4.93}{9.8}}\) | Substitute the values and solve for \(t\). |
| 5 | \(t = \sqrt{\frac{9.86}{9.8}} = \sqrt{1.01} \approx 1.005 \, \text{s}\) | Calculate the square root to find the fall time. |
| 6 | Total time = \(0.586 \, \text{s} (up) + 1.005\, \text{s} (down) \approx 1.59 \, \text{s}\) | Add the time going up (0.586 s) to the time coming down (1.005 s) to get the total time. |
| 7 | \( t_{\text{total}} = 1.59 \, \text{s} \) | Final time taken for the ice cube to reach the ground. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_y^2 = v_{max}^2 + 2 a \Delta y\) | Use the kinematic equation relating velocity, acceleration, and displacement, where \(v_y\) is the final velocity, \(v_{max}\) is the velocity at maximum height (0 m/s), \(a\) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \(\Delta y\) is the displacement (4.93 m). |
| 2 | \(v_y^2 = 0 + 2 \cdot 9.8 \cdot 4.93\) | Substitute the values into the equation. |
| 3 | \( v_y^2 = 96.508 \) | Calculate the right side of the equation. |
| 4 | \( v_y = \sqrt{96.508}\) | Take the square root to solve for \(v_y\). |
| 5 | \( v_y \approx 9.82 \, \text{m/s}\) | Final speed of the ice cube when it reaches the ground. |
| 6 | \( v_{\text{final}} \approx 9.82 \, \text{m/s} \) | The boxed final answer for the speed of the ice cube when it hits the ground. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_y^2 = v_{max}^2 + 2 a \Delta y\) | Use the kinematic equation relating velocity, acceleration, and displacement, where \(v_y\) is the final velocity (7.00 m/s), \(v_{max}\) is the velocity at maximum height (0 m/s), \(a\) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \(\Delta y\) is the displacement from the maximum height. |
| 2 | \( (7.00)^2 = 0 + 2 \cdot 9.8 \cdot \Delta y \) | Substitute the given speed and constants. |
| 3 | \( 49 = 19.6 \cdot \Delta y\) | Solve for \(\Delta y\) by isolating it on one side of the equation. |
| 4 | \( \Delta y = \frac{49}{19.6}\) | Rearrange to solve for \(\Delta y\). |
| 5 | \(\Delta y = 2.5 \, \text{m}\) | Final height change from the maximum height when the ice cube reaches a speed of 7.00 m/s downward. |
| 6 | \( \text{Height above ground} = 4.93 – 2.5 \) | Subtract the downwards displacement from the maximum height to get the current height above the ground. |
| 7 | \( \text{Height above ground} = 2.43 \, \text{m}\) | Final height of the ice cube above the ground when traveling at 7.00 m/s downward. |
| 8 | \( \text{Height} = 2.43 \, \text{m} \) | Boxed final answer. |
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An object is projected vertically upward from ground level. It rises to a maximum height [katex] H [/katex]. If air resistance is negligible, which of the following must be true for the object when it is at a height [katex] H/2 [/katex] ?
A ball is thrown straight up with a speed of \( 30 \) \( \text{m/s} \), and air resistance is negligible.
A car is driving at \(25 \, \text{m/s}\) when a light turns red \(100 \, \text{m}\) ahead. The driver takes an unknown amount of time to react and hit the brakes, but manages to skid to a stop at the red light. If \(\mu_s = 0.9\) and \(\mu_k = 0.65\), what was the reaction time of the driver?
On a strange, airless planet, a ball is thrown downward from a height of \( 17 \, \text{m} \). The ball initially travels at \( 15 \, \text{m/s} \). If the ball hits the ground in \( 1 \, \text{s} \), what is this planet’s gravitational acceleration?
An object can move upward while having a downward acceleration.

The graph above shows velocity \( v \) versus time \( t \) for an object in linear motion. Which of the following is a possible graph of position (\( x \)) versus time (\( t \)) for this object?


The graph shows the acceleration as a function of time for an object that is at rest at time \( t = 0 \) \( \text{s} \). The distance traveled by the object between \( 0 \) and \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \) is most nearly
An airplane is traveling \( 900. \) \( \text{km/h} \) in a direction \( 38.5^\circ \) west of north.
A truck is traveling at \(35 \, \text{m/s}\) when the driver realizes the truck has no brakes. He sees a ramp off the road, inclined at \(20^\circ\), and decides to go up it to help the truck come to a stop. How far does the truck travel before coming to a stop (assume no friction)?
A projectile has the least speed at what point in its path?
Note answers may vary by \( \pm 0.2 \).
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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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