Before solving the question, we can find the radius of the ball using Pythagorean theorem to get .866 m. We can also use the trig to solve for the angle each rope makes with the horizontal (30° for both ropes).
Sum of Forces in the Horizontal Direction:
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( \cos(30) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \) | Cosine of \(30^\circ\). |
| 2 | \( F_{\text{centripetal}} = \frac{mv^2}{r} \) | Centripetal force for circular motion. |
| 3 | \( T_1 \cos(\theta) + T_2 \cos(\theta) = \frac{mv^2}{r} \) | Sum of horizontal components of tension equals centripetal force. |
| 4 | \( T_1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} + T_2 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} = \frac{(0.5)(7.2)^2}{0.866} \) | Substitute values for \(m\), \(v\), \(r\), and \(\cos(\theta)\). |
| 5 | \( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}(T_1 + T_2) = 29.93 \) | Calculate centripetal force and factor out \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\). |
Sum of Forces in the Vertical Direction:
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( \sin(30) = \frac{1}{2} \) | Sine of \(30^\circ\). |
| 2 | \( w = mg \) | Weight of the sphere. |
| 3 | \( T_2 \sin(\theta) + mg – T_1 \sin(\theta) = 0 \) | Vertical forces must balance: upward tensions and downward weight. |
| 4 | \( T_2 \frac{1}{2} + (0.5)(9.8) – T_1 \frac{1}{2} = 0 \) | Substitute values for \(m\), \(g\), and \(\sin(\theta)\). |
| 5 | \( \frac{1}{2}(T_2 – T_1) + 4.9 = 0 \) | Factor out \(\frac{1}{2}\) and calculate weight. |
Solving for Tensions:
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solve equations | Use the system of equations to solve for \(T_1\) and \(T_2\). |
| 2 | \( T_1 \approx 22.18 \text{ N} \) | Numerical solution for \(T_1\). |
| 3 | \( T_2 \approx 12.38 \text{ N} \) | Numerical solution for \(T_2\). |
Final Tensions:
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An \(80 \, \text{kg}\) person sits on a swing ride that moves in a horizontal circle. The swing is suspended by a chain of length \(8 \, \text{m}\). While in motion, the chain makes a \(40^\circ\) angle with the horizontal. What is the speed of the person?
An object is moving in a horizontal circle at a constant speed. Which of the following correctly describes the linear and angular velocities of the object between any point along the circular path?
A roller coaster car crosses the top of a circular loop-the-loop at twice the critical speed. What is the ratio of the normal force to the gravitational force?

A conical pendulum is formed by attaching a ball of mass \( m \) to a string of length \( L \), then allowing the ball to move in a horizontal circle of radius \( R \).
A 2.0 kg ball on the end of a 0.65 m long string is moving in a vertical circle. At the bottom of the circle, its speed is 4.0 m/s. Find the tension in the string.

A piece of metal of weight \(W\) is suspended by two identical strings. Each string passes through a pulley and is attached to a block of mass \(m\) . The system is in equilibrium.What must be true for \(m\) such that the two strings attached to the piece of metal are almost horizontal.
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 car rounds a curve at a steady \( 50 \) \( \text{km/h} \). If it rounds the same curve at a steady \( 70 \) \( \text{km/h} \), will its acceleration be any different?
A 250 newton centripetal force acts on a car moving at a constant speed in a horizontal circle. If the same force is applied, but the radius is made smaller, what happens to the speed v and the frequency f of the car?
A rock is whirled on the end of a string in a horizontal circle of radius \(R\) with a constant period \(T\). If the radius of the circle is reduced to \(R/3\), while the period remains \(T\), what happens to the centripetal acceleration (\(a_c\)) of the rock?
Upper wire: \(22 \, \text{N}\)
Lower wire: \(12 \, \text{N}\)
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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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