AP Physics

Unit 1 - Vectors and Kinematics

Intermediate

Mathematical

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Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
(a) How fast is the rocket traveling when the engine cuts off?
1 Use the kinematic equation:

\( v^2 = u^2 + 2 a s \)
Initial speed \( u = 0 \, \text{m/s} \), acceleration \( a = 12.0 \, \text{m/s}^2 \), distance \( s = 1,000 \, \text{m} \).

Relates final velocity, initial velocity, acceleration, and distance.
2 Substitute values:

\( v^2 = 0 + 2 \times 12.0 \times 1,000 \)
\( v^2 = 24,000 \, \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2 \)

Calculated \( v^2 \) using given values.
3 Solve for \( v \):

\( v = \sqrt{24,000} \approx 154.92 \, \text{m/s} \)

Found the rocket’s speed at engine cutoff.
(b) What maximum height relative to the ground does the rocket reach?
4 After engine cutoff, use \( v^2 = u^2 + 2 a s \) with \( v = 0 \, \text{m/s} \), \( u = 154.92 \, \text{m/s} \), \( a = -9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \):

\( 0 = (154.92)^2 + 2 (-9.8) s \)

Used kinematic equation for upward motion until velocity is zero.
5 Solve for \( s \):

\( s = \dfrac{(154.92)^2}{2 \times 9.8} \)
\( s = \dfrac{24,000}{19.6} \approx 1,224.49 \, \text{m} \)

Calculated additional height after engine cutoff.
6 Total maximum height:

\( h_{\text{total}} = 1,000 + 1,224.49 = 2,224.49 \, \text{m} \)

Added initial altitude to additional height for total height.
(c) Velocity just before the rocket hits the earth.
7 Use \( v^2 = u^2 + 2 a s \) for free fall from maximum height with \( u = 0 \, \text{m/s} \), \( a = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \), \( s = 2,224.49 \, \text{m} \):

\( v^2 = 0 + 2 \times 9.8 \times 2,224.49 \)

Calculated final velocity during descent.
8 Compute \( v^2 \):

\( v^2 = 43,598.00 \, \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2 \)
\( v = \sqrt{43,598.00} \approx 208.71 \, \text{m/s} \)

Found velocity just before impact.
(d) Total amount of time the rocket was in the air.
9 **Time during powered ascent:**

Use \( s = u t + \dfrac{1}{2} a t^2 \) with \( s = 1,000 \, \text{m} \), \( u = 0 \, \text{m/s} \), \( a = 12.0 \, \text{m/s}^2 \):
\( 1,000 = 0 + 6.0 t^2 \)

Calculated time for powered ascent.
10 Solve for \( t \):

\( t^2 = \dfrac{1,000}{6.0} \approx 166.67 \)
\( t_{\text{ascent}} = \sqrt{166.67} \approx 12.91 \, \text{s} \)

Found time during powered ascent.
11 **Time during coasting ascent:**

Use \( v = u + a t \) with \( v = 0 \, \text{m/s} \), \( u = 154.92 \, \text{m/s} \), \( a = -9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \):
\( 0 = 154.92 – 9.8 t \)

Calculated time from engine cutoff to maximum height.
12 Solve for \( t \):

\( t = \dfrac{154.92}{9.8} \approx 15.81 \, \text{s} \)

Found time during coasting ascent.
13 **Time during free fall descent:**

Use \( s = \dfrac{1}{2} a t^2 \) with \( s = 2,224.49 \, \text{m} \), \( a = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \):
\( 2,224.49 = 4.9 t^2 \)

Calculated time for descent back to earth.
14 Solve for \( t \):

\( t^2 = \dfrac{2,224.49}{4.9} \approx 454.9996 \)
\( t_{\text{descent}} = \sqrt{454.9996} \approx 21.21 \, \text{s} \)

Found time during free fall descent.
15 **Total time in the air:**

\( t_{\text{total}} = t_{\text{ascent}} + t_{\text{coasting}} + t_{\text{descent}} \)
\( t_{\text{total}} = 12.91 + 15.81 + 21.21 \approx 49.93 \, \text{s} \)

Summed all time intervals for total flight time.

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  1. \( 154.92 \, \text{m/s} \)
  2. \( 2,224.49 \, \text{m} \)
  3. \( 208.71 \, \text{m/s} \) downwards
  4. \( 49.93 \, \text{s} \)

Note: Answers may be off by \( \pm 0.2 \).

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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]

General Metric Conversion Chart

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]

  1. 1. Some answers may vary by 1% due to rounding.
  2. Gravity values may differ: \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\) or \(10 \, \text{m/s}^2\).
  3. Variables can be written differently. For example, initial velocity (\(v_i\)) may be \(u\), and displacement (\(\Delta x\)) may be \(s\).
  4. Bookmark questions you can’t solve to revisit them later
  5. 5. Seek help if you’re stuck. The sooner you understand, the better your chances on tests.

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