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Part a: Calculate the acceleration of the system
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex] F_{\text{net,A}} = m_A \cdot a [/katex] | Net force on mass A equals mass times acceleration. |
| 2 | [katex] F_{\text{net,B}} = m_B \cdot a [/katex] | Net force on mass B equals mass times acceleration. |
| 3 | [katex] F_{\text{net,A}} = T – m_A \cdot g [/katex] | Tension upwards minus weight of A downwards. |
| 4 | [katex] F_{\text{net,B}} = m_B \cdot g – T [/katex] | Weight of B downwards minus tension upwards. |
| 5 | [katex] m_A \cdot a = T – m_A \cdot g [/katex] | Substitute step 1 into step 3. |
| 6 | [katex] m_B \cdot a = m_B \cdot g – T [/katex] | Substitute step 2 into step 4. |
| 7 | [katex] m_A \cdot a + m_B \cdot a = m_B \cdot g – m_A \cdot g [/katex] | Add step 5 and step 6 equations. |
| 8 | [katex] a = \frac{(m_B – m_A) \cdot g}{m_A + m_B} [/katex] | Solve for acceleration a. |
Use the given number from the problem.
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | [katex] a = \frac{(2.4 – 3.2) \cdot 9.8}{3.2 + 2.4} [/katex] | Plug in known values. |
| 10 | [katex] a = \frac{-0.8 \cdot 9.8}{5.6} [/katex] | Simplify the numerator and denominator. |
| 11 | [katex] a = -1.4 , \text{m/s}^2 [/katex] | Calculate the acceleration. |
[katex] \boxed{a = -1.4 , \text{m/s}^2} [/katex] Negative sign indicates downward direction.
Part b: Calculate the tension in the string
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex] T = m_A \cdot (g + a) [/katex] | Tension equals mass A times (gravity plus acceleration). |
Using the previously calculated acceleration:
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | [katex] T = 3.2 \cdot (9.8 – 1.4) [/katex] | Plug in known values for mass and acceleration |
| 3 | [katex] T = 3.2 \cdot 8.4 [/katex] | Simplify the terms in the parentheses. |
| 4 | [katex] T = 26.88 , \text{N} [/katex] | Calculate the tension. |
[katex] \boxed{T = 26.88 , \text{N}} [/katex]
Part c: Calculate the final speed of mass A before it hits the ground
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex] v = \sqrt{2 \cdot} [/katex] | a |
| 2 | [katex] v = \sqrt{2 \cdot 1.4 \cdot 0.5} [/katex] | Plug in the magnitude of a and s = 0.5m. |
| 3 | [katex] v = \sqrt{1.4} [/katex] | Calculate the expression under the square root. |
| 4 | [katex] v = 1.18 , \text{m/s} [/katex] | Find the square root to get the final velocity. |
[katex] \boxed{v = 1.18 , \text{m/s}} [/katex]
Just ask: "Help me solve this problem."
A car can decelerate at \( -3.80 \, \text{m/s}^2 \) without skidding when coming to rest on a level road. What would its deceleration be if the road is inclined at \( 9.3^\circ \) and the car moves uphill? Assume the same static friction coefficient.
A cannon fires a cannonball forward. The recoil of the cannon is backward. Why doesn’t the cannon move backward as fast as the cannonball moves forward?
Two objects (49.0 and 24.0 kg) are connected by a massless string that passes over a massless, frictionless pulley. The pulley hangs from the ceiling. Find the acceleration of the objects and the tension in the string.

In the diagram shown, a \(20 \, \text{N}\) force is applied to block \(B\) (\(7 \, \text{kg}\)). Block \(A\) has a mass of \(3 \, \text{kg}\). Assume frictionless conditions.
A spring launches a \(4 \, \text{kg}\) block across a frictionless horizontal surface. The block then ascends a \(30^\circ\) incline with a kinetic friction coefficient of \(\mu_k = 0.25\), stopping after \(55 \, \text{m}\) on the incline. If the spring constant is \(800 \, \text{N/m}\), find the initial compression of the spring. Disregard friction while in contact with the spring.
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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] |
General Metric Conversion Chart
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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