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| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex] F_{\text{centripetal}} = \frac{mv^2}{r} [/katex] | Centripetal force formula, required for circular motion. |
| 2 | [katex] F_{\text{friction, dry}} = \mu_{\text{dry}} mg [/katex] | Static frictional force on dry road, where [katex] \mu_{\text{dry}} [/katex] is the coefficient of static friction on dry road and [katex] mg [/katex] is the gravitational force. |
| 3 | [katex] F_{\text{friction, wet}} = \frac{\mu_{\text{dry}}}{5} mg [/katex] | Static frictional force on wet road, reduced to one-fifth of its dry-road value. |
| 4 | [katex] F_{\text{centripetal, dry}} = F_{\text{friction, dry}} [/katex] | For safe negotiation of the turn on dry road, the centripetal force equals the static frictional force. |
| 5 | [katex] F_{\text{centripetal, wet}} = F_{\text{friction, wet}} [/katex] | For safe negotiation of the turn on wet road, the centripetal force equals the reduced static frictional force. |
| 6 | [katex] \frac{mv_{\text{dry}}^2}{r} = \mu_{\text{dry}} mg, \quad \frac{mv_{\text{wet}}^2}{r} = \frac{\mu_{\text{dry}}}{5} mg [/katex] | Applying the centripetal force formula for both dry and wet road conditions. |
| 7 | [katex] \frac{v_{\text{wet}}^2}{v_{\text{dry}}^2} = \frac{1}{5} [/katex] | Ratio of the squares of velocities on wet and dry roads. |
| 8 | [katex] \frac{v_{\text{wet}}}{v_{\text{dry}}} = \sqrt{\frac{1}{5}} [/katex] | Taking the square root to find the ratio of velocities. |
Let’s calculate the factor by which the velocity needs to change.
| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | [katex] \frac{v_{\text{wet}}}{v_{\text{dry}}} \approx 0.447 [/katex] | Calculated ratio of velocities. |
To safely negotiate the turn on a wet road, the velocity of the car needs to be reduced by a factor of approximately [katex] \boxed{0.447}[/katex] or [katex] \boxed{\frac{4}{9}}[/katex] compared to its velocity on a dry road.
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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?
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.
A centripetal force of \( 5.0 \) newtons is applied to a rubber stopper 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 stopper?
A ball of mass \( M \) is attached to a string of length \( L \). It moves in a vertical circle and at the bottom the ball just clears the ground. The tension at the bottom of the path is \( 3 \) times the weight of the ball. Give all answers in terms of \( M \), \( L \), and \( g \).
Suppose you are a passenger traveling in car along a road that bends to the left. Why will you feel like you are being thrown against the door. What causes this force?
A curve with a radius of \( 125 \) \( \text{m} \) is properly banked for a car traveling \( 40 \) \( \text{m/s} \). What must be the coefficient of static friction \( (\mu_s) \) for a car not to skid on the same curve when traveling at \( 53 \) \( \text{m/s} \)?
The International Space Station has a mass of \(4.2 \times 10^{5} \, \text{kg}\) and orbits Earth at a distance of \(4.0 \times 10^{2} \, \text{km}\) above the surface. Earth has a radius of \(6.37 \times 10^{6} \, \text{m}\) and a mass of \(5.97 \times 10^{24} \, \text{kg}\). Calculate the following:
A point P is at a distance \( R \) from the axis of rotation of a rigid body whose angular velocity and angular acceleration are \( \omega \) and \( \alpha \) respectively. The linear speed, centripetal acceleration, and tangential acceleration of the point can be expressed as:
| Linear speed | Centripetal acceleration | Tangential acceleration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| \( (a) \) | \( R\omega \) | \( R\omega^{2} \) | \( R\alpha \) |
| \( (b) \) | \( R\omega \) | \( R\alpha \) | \( R\omega^{2} \) |
| \( (c) \) | \( R\omega^{2} \) | \( R\alpha \) | \( R\omega \) |
| \( (d) \) | \( R\omega \) | \( R\omega^{2} \) | \( R\omega \) |
| \( (e) \) | \( R\omega^{2} \) | \( R\alpha \) | \( R\omega^{2} \) |

A simple pendulum consists of a bob of mass 1.8 kg attached to a string of length 2.3 m. The pendulum is held at an angle of 30° from the vertical by a light horizontal string attached to a wall, as shown above.
A neighbor’s child wants to go to a carnival to experience the wild rides. The neighbor is worried about safety because one of the rides looks particularly dangerous. She knows that you have taken physics and so asks you for advice.
The ride in question has a 4 kg chair which hangs freely from a 10 m long chain attached to a pivot on the top of a tall tower. When the child enters the ride, the chain is hanging straight down. The child is then attached to the chair with a seat belt and shoulder harness. When the ride starts up, the chain rotates about the tower. Soon the chain reaches its maximum speed and remains rotating at that speed, which corresponds to one rotation about the tower every 3 seconds.
When you ask the operator, he says the ride is perfectly safe. He demonstrates this by sitting in the stationary chair. The chain creaks but holds, and he weighs 90 kg.
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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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