Objective: Calculate the minimum height h above the bottom of the loop from which a block must start on a frictionless track to successfully complete a vertical loop of radius R .
Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
---|---|---|
1 | E_{\text{initial}} = E_{\text{final}} | Conservation of Energy principle. |
2 | mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + mg(2R) | At the top of the loop, the block’s energy is the sum of its kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy. |
3 | v^2 = \frac{5gR}{2} | Minimum velocity at the top of the loop to maintain circular motion without falling is \sqrt{gR} , where g is the acceleration due to gravity. |
4 | h = \frac{5R}{2} | Substitute v^2 into the energy equation and solve for h . |
4 | v_{\text{top}}^2 = gR | Minimum velocity at the top of the loop to avoid falling, where v_{\text{top}} is the velocity at the top of the loop. |
5 | mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv_{\text{top}}^2 + mg(2R) | Energy conservation: Initial potential energy equals final kinetic energy plus final potential energy. |
6 | gh = \frac{1}{2}gR + 2gR | Substituting v_{\text{top}}^2 = gR and simplifying. |
7 | h = \frac{5}{2}R | Solving for h in terms of R . |
The minimum height h from which the block must start to successfully complete the loop is \boxed{\frac{5}{2}R} .
Phy can also check your working. Just snap a picture!
A car travels at a constant speed around a circular track whose radius is 2.6 km. the car goes once around the track in 360 s. What is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car?
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?
The distance from earth to sun is 1.0 AU. The distance from Saturn to sun is 9 AU. Find the period of Saturn’s orbit in years. You can assume that the orbits are circular.
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.
The International Space Station has a mass of 4.2 x105 kg and orbits Earth at a distance of 4.0 x102 km above the surface. Earth has a radius of 6.37 x106 m, and mass of 5.97 x1024 kg. Calculate the following:
By continuing you (1) agree to our Terms of Sale and Terms of Use and (2) consent to sharing your IP and browser information used by this site’s security protocols as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
Kinematics | Forces |
---|---|
\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2 | F = ma |
v = v_i + at | F_g = \frac{G m_1m_2}{r^2} |
a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t} | f = \mu N |
R = \frac{v_i^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g} |
Circular Motion | Energy |
---|---|
F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r} | KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 |
a_c = \frac{v^2}{r} | PE = mgh |
KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f |
Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
---|---|
p = m v | \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 |
---|
F = -k x |
T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}} |
T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}} |
Constant | Description |
---|---|
g | Acceleration due to gravity, typically 9.8 , \text{m/s}^2 on Earth’s surface |
G | Universal Gravitational Constant, 6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2 |
\mu_k and \mu_s | Coefficients of kinetic (\mu_k) and static (\mu_s) friction, dimensionless. Static friction (\mu_s) is usually greater than kinetic friction (\mu_k) as it resists the start of motion. |
k | Spring constant, in \text{N/m} |
M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} | Mass of the Earth |
M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} | Mass of the Moon |
M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} | Mass of the Sun |
Variable | SI Unit |
---|---|
s (Displacement) | \text{meters (m)} |
v (Velocity) | \text{meters per second (m/s)} |
a (Acceleration) | \text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)} |
t (Time) | \text{seconds (s)} |
m (Mass) | \text{kilograms (kg)} |
Variable | Derived SI Unit |
---|---|
F (Force) | \text{newtons (N)} |
E, PE, KE (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | \text{joules (J)} |
P (Power) | \text{watts (W)} |
p (Momentum) | \text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)} |
\omega (Angular Velocity) | \text{radians per second (rad/s)} |
\tau (Torque) | \text{newton meters (Nm)} |
I (Moment of Inertia) | \text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)} |
f (Frequency) | \text{hertz (Hz)} |
General Metric Conversion Chart
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: \text{5 km}
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: \text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}
Perform the multiplication: \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}
Simplify to get the final answer: \boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | 10^{-12} | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | 10^{-9} | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | 10^{-6} | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | 10^{-3} | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | 10^{-2} | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | 10^{-1} | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | 10^{0} | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | 10^{1} | 10 |
Hecto- | h | 10^{2} | 100 |
Kilo- | k | 10^{3} | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | 10^{6} | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | 10^{9} | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | 10^{12} | 1,000,000,000,000 |
The most advanced version of Phy. Currently 50% off, for early supporters.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
Trial –> Phy Pro
A quick explanation
UBQ credits are specifically used to grade your FRQs and GQs.
You can still view questions and see answers without credits.
Submitting an answer counts as 1 attempt.
Seeing answer or explanation counts as a failed attempt.
Lastly, check your average score, across every attempt, in the top left.
MCQs are 1 point each. GQs are 1 point. FRQs will state points for each part.
Phy can give partial credit for GQs & FRQs.
Phy sees everything.
It customizes responses, explanations, and feedback based on what you struggle with. Try your best on every question!
Understand you mistakes quicker.
For GQs and FRQs, Phy provides brief feedback as to how you can improve your answer.
Aim to increase your understadning and average score with every attempt!
10 Free Credits To Get You Started
*Phy Pro members get unlimited credits
By continuing you agree to nerd-notes.com Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and our usage of user data.