| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| (a) How fast is the rocket traveling when the engine cuts off? | ||
| 1 | Use the kinematic equation:
\( v^2 = u^2 + 2 a s \) |
Relates final velocity, initial velocity, acceleration, and distance. |
| 2 | Substitute values:
\( v^2 = 0 + 2 \times 12.0 \times 1,000 \) |
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 \( s \):
\( s = \dfrac{(154.92)^2}{2 \times 9.8} \) |
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 \( v^2 \):
\( v^2 = 43,598.00 \, \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2 \) |
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 \( s = 1,000 \, \text{m} \), \( u = 0 \, \text{m/s} \), \( a = 12.0 \, \text{m/s}^2 \): |
Calculated time for powered ascent. |
| 10 | Solve for \( t \):
\( t^2 = \dfrac{1,000}{6.0} \approx 166.67 \) |
Found time during powered ascent. |
| 11 | **Time during coasting ascent:**
Use \( v = u + a t \) with \( v = 0 \, \text{m/s} \), \( u = 154.92 \, \text{m/s} \), \( a = -9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \): |
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 \( s = 2,224.49 \, \text{m} \), \( a = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \): |
Calculated time for descent back to earth. |
| 14 | Solve for \( t \):
\( t^2 = \dfrac{2,224.49}{4.9} \approx 454.9996 \) |
Found time during free fall descent. |
| 15 | **Total time in the air:**
\( t_{\text{total}} = t_{\text{ascent}} + t_{\text{coasting}} + t_{\text{descent}} \) |
Summed all time intervals for total flight time. |
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A body moving in the positive \( x \) direction passes the origin at time \( t = 0 \). Between \( t = 0 \) and \( t = 1 \, \text{second} \), the body has a constant speed of \( 24 \, \text{m/s} \). At \( t = 1 \, \text{second} \), the body is given a constant acceleration of \( 6 \, \text{m/s}^2 \) in the negative \( x \) direction. The position \( x \) of the body at \( t = 11 \, \text{seconds} \) is
An object undergoes constant acceleration. Starting from rest, the object travels \( 5 \, \text{m} \) in the first second. Then it travels \( 15 \, \text{m} \) in the next second. What additional distance will be covered in the third second?

Which statement is true about the distances the two objects have traveled at time \( t_f \)?
A ball is launched horizontally from a height. At the same time, another ball is dropped vertically from the same height. Which hits the ground first?
There are two cables that lift an elevator, each with a force of \(10{,}000 \, \text{N}\). The \(1{,}000 \, \text{kg}\) elevator is lifted from the first floor and accelerates over \(10 \, \text{m}\) until it reaches its top speed of \(6 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the mass of the people in the elevator?
The International Space Station travels at \( 7660 \, \text{m/s} \). Find the average velocity of the space station if it takes \( 90 \, \text{minutes} \) to make one full orbit around Earth.
An object is dropped from the top of a 45 m tall building
An object is thrown downward at \(23 ~\text{m/s}\) from the top of a \(200 ~\text{m}\) tall building.
A student is running at her top speed of \( 5.0 \, \text{m/s} \) to catch a bus, which is stopped at the bus stop. When the student is still \( 40.0 \, \text{m} \) from the bus, it starts to pull away, moving with a constant acceleration of \( 0.170 \, \text{m/s}^2 \).
Note: Answers may be off 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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