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AP Physics

Unit 2 - Linear Forces

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Part (a): Acceleration of the blocks

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[ F_{g_x} = m g \sin \theta \] Calculate the component of gravitational force along the incline for one block.
2 \[ F_{f_A} = \mu_A m_A g \cos \theta \] Calculate the frictional force for block A. Frictional force is the product of the friction coefficient, mass, gravitational acceleration, and the cosine of the incline angle.
3 \[F_{f_B} = \mu_B m_B g \cos \theta \] Calculate the frictional force for block B using its coefficient of friction.
4 \[ F_{\text{net}} = 2 F_{g_x} – F_{f_A} – F_{f_B} \] Net force is the sum of both gravitational components minus the frictional forces for both blocks.
5 \[ F_{\text{net}} = 2 (m g \sin \theta) – (\mu_A m g \cos \theta \]
\[+ \mu_B m g \cos \theta) \]
Substitute the expressions for gravitational and frictional forces into the net force equation.
6 \[ F_{\text{net}} = 2 \cdot 5 \cdot 9.8 \sin(32) – (0.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 9.8 \cos(32) \]

\[+ 0.3 \cdot 5 \cdot 9.8 \cos(32)) \]

Substitute known values: \( m = 5 \ \text{kg}, \ g = 9.8 \ \text{m/s}^2, \ \theta = 32^\circ \).
7 \[ F_{\text{net}} = 52.012 – 8.3 – 12.5 = \]

\[31.2 \ \text{N} \]

Calculate the net force acting on both blocks by subtracting the calculated frictional forces from the gravitational force component.
8 \[a = \frac{F_{\text{net}}}{2m} = \frac{31.2}{2 \times 5} \] Use Newton’s second law \( F = ma \) to solve for acceleration.
9 \[ \boxed{3.1 \ \text{m/s}^2} \] Calculate the acceleration of the blocks.

Part (b): Tension in the cord

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[ T = m_A g \sin \theta – F_{f_A} – m_A a \] Consider block A. The tension is the net force after subtracting the force needed for acceleration and friction.
2 \[ T = 5 \cdot 9.8 \sin(32) – (0.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 9.8 \cos(32)) – 5 \cdot 3.1 \] Substitute known values for mass, gravitational acceleration, incline angle, friction coefficient, and acceleration.
3 \[T = 26 – 8.3 – 15.6 = 2.1 \ \text{N} \] Calculate the tension in the cord between the blocks.
4 \[ \boxed{2.1 \ \text{N}} \] Express the tension in the cord as the final answer.

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  1. \(3.1 \, \text{m/s}^2\)
  2. \(2.1 \, \text{N}\)

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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]

Metric Prefixes

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]

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