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1. Tension at the Bottom of the Circle
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex]F_{\text{net}} = F_{\text{tension}} – mg[/katex] | Net force at the bottom is the tension minus gravitational force. |
| 2 | [katex]F_{\text{net}} = m\frac{v^2}{r}[/katex] | Net force is also the centripetal force for circular motion. |
| 3 | [katex]v = \frac{2\pi r}{T}[/katex] | Velocity [katex]v[/katex] is the circumference over the period [katex]T[/katex]. |
| 4 | [katex]T = \frac{1, \text{s}}{2}[/katex] | Period for one revolution ([katex]T[/katex]) is half a second for 2 revolutions per second. |
| 5 | [katex]v = \frac{2\pi \times 0.800, \text{m}}{0.5, \text{s}}[/katex] | Substituting values for [katex]r[/katex] and [katex]T[/katex]. |
| 6 | [katex]F_{\text{tension}} = m\frac{v^2}{r} + mg[/katex] | Solving for tension at the bottom. |
2. Tension at the Top of the Circle
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex]F_{\text{net}} = F_{\text{tension}} + mg[/katex] | Net force at the top is the tension plus gravitational force. |
| 2 | [katex]F_{\text{net}} = m\frac{v^2}{r}[/katex] | Net force is the centripetal force for circular motion. |
| 3 | [katex]F_{\text{tension}} = m\frac{v^2}{r} – mg[/katex] | Solving for tension at the top. |
Let’s calculate the tensions at the bottom and the top of the circle.
The tensions in the string are as follows:
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A new car is tested on a 230-m-diameter track. If the car speeds up at a steady [katex] 1.4 \, m/s^2[/katex], how long after starting is the magnitude of its centripetal acceleration equal to the tangential acceleration?
A race car traveling at a constant speed of \( 50 \) \( \text{m/s} \) drives around a circular track that is \( 500 \) \( \text{m} \) in diameter. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the car?
An Olympic bobsled team goes through a horizontal curve at a speed of \( 120 \) \( \text{km/hr} \). If the radius of curvature is \( 10.0 \) \( \text{m} \), what is the apparent weight the crew experiences—express in terms of \( mg \)?
In 2014, the European Space Agency placed a satellite in orbit around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and then landed a probe on the surface. The actual orbit was elliptical, but we can approximate it as a 50 km diameter circular orbit with a period of 11 days.
Two identical satellites are placed in orbit of two different planets. Satellite \(A\) orbits Mars, and Satellite \(B\) orbits Jupiter. The orbital speeds of each satellite are the same. Which satellite has a greater orbital radius?
A ball is attached to the end of a string. It is swung in a vertical circle of radius \( 2.5 \) \( \text{m} \). What is the minimum velocity that the ball must have at the top to make it around the circle?
Two satellites are in circular orbits around Earth. Satellite A has speed \(v_A\). Satellite B has an orbital radius nine times that of satellite A. What is the speed of satellite B?
An object moves at constant speed in a circular path of radius \( r \) at a rate of \( 1 \) revolution per second. What is its acceleration in terms of \(r\)?
The ultracentrifuge is an important tool for separating and analyzing proteins. Because of the enormous centripetal accelerations, the centrifuge must be carefully balanced, with each sample matched by a sample of identical mass on the opposite side. Any difference in the masses of opposing samples creates a net force on the shaft of the rotor, potentially leading to a catastrophic failure of the apparatus. Suppose a scientist makes a slight error in sample preparation and one sample has a mass \( 10 \) \( \text{mg} \) larger than the opposing sample.
If the samples are \( 12 \) \( \text{cm} \) from the axis of the rotor and the ultracentrifuge spins at \( 60000 \) \( \text{rpm} \), what is the magnitude of the net force on the rotor due to the unbalanced samples?
A ball of mass \( m \) is fastened to a string. The ball swings at constant speed in a vertical circle of radius \( R \) with the other end of the string held fixed. Neglecting air resistance, what is the difference between the string’s tension at the bottom of the circle and at the top of the circle?
Bottom: \(136.14 \, \text{N}\)
Top: \(116.5 \, \text{N}\)
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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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