AP Physics

Unit 3 - Circular Motion

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Proportional Analysis

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Assuming circular motion and that earths period of orbit around the sun is one year we can make a general equation relating Period and radius of orbit.

Step Formula Derivation Reasoning
1 [katex] \frac{mv^2}{r} = \frac{GMm}{r^2} [/katex] Equating centripetal force to gravitational force for a stable orbit.
2 [katex] v = \frac{2\pi r}{T} [/katex] Expressing orbital velocity in terms of the orbit’s circumference and period.
3 [katex] \left(\frac{2\pi r}{T}\right)^2 = \frac{GM}{r^2} [/katex] Substituting the expression for [katex] v [/katex] into the force equation.
4 [katex] \frac{4\pi^2 r^3}{T^2} = GM [/katex] Rearranging the equation to isolate [katex] GM [/katex].
5 [katex] \frac{R_{\text{Earth}}^3}{T_{\text{Earth}}^2} = \frac{R_{\text{Saturn}}^3}{T_{\text{Saturn}}^2} [/katex] Recognizing that [katex] GM [/katex] is constant, and applying the formula to both Earth and Saturn.
6 [katex] T_{\text{Saturn}} = T_{\text{Earth}} \times \left( \frac{R_{\text{Saturn}}}{R_{\text{Earth}}} \right)^{\frac{3}{2}} [/katex] Solving for [katex] T_{\text{Saturn}} [/katex] in terms of known quantities.
7 [katex] T_{\text{Saturn}} = 365 , \text{days} \times (9)^{\frac{3}{2}} [/katex] Substituting [katex] T_{\text{Earth}} = 365 , \text{days} [/katex] and [katex] R_{\text{Saturn}} = 9 , \text{AU} [/katex].
8 [katex] T_{\text{Saturn}} \approx 27 , \text{years} [/katex] Calculating the period of Saturn’s orbit.

This table illustrates the steps taken to determine the orbital period of Saturn, showing how the increase in the radius of Saturn’s orbit by a factor of 9 results in an increase in the orbital period squared, leading to a period of approximately 27 years.

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KinematicsForces
[katex]\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2[/katex][katex]F = ma[/katex]
[katex]v = v_i + at[/katex][katex]F_g = \frac{G m_1m_2}{r^2}[/katex]
[katex]a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}[/katex][katex]f = \mu N[/katex]
[katex]R = \frac{v_i^2 \sin(2\theta)}{g}[/katex] 
Circular MotionEnergy
[katex]F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}[/katex][katex]KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2[/katex]
[katex]a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}[/katex][katex]PE = mgh[/katex]
 [katex]KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f[/katex]
MomentumTorque and Rotations
[katex]p = m v[/katex][katex]\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)[/katex]
[katex]J = \Delta p[/katex][katex]I = \sum mr^2[/katex]
[katex]p_i = p_f[/katex][katex]L = I \cdot \omega[/katex]
Simple Harmonic Motion
[katex]F = -k x[/katex]
[katex]T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}[/katex]
[katex]T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}[/katex]
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]

General Metric Conversion Chart

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]

  1. Some answers may be slightly off by 1% depending on rounding, etc.
  2. Answers will use different values of gravity. Some answers use 9.81 m/s2, and other 10 m/s2 for calculations.
  3. Variables are sometimes written differently from class to class. For example, sometime initial velocity [katex] v_i [/katex] is written as [katex] u [/katex]; sometimes [katex] \Delta x [/katex] is written as [katex] s [/katex].
  4. Bookmark questions that you can’t solve so you can come back to them later. 
  5. Always get help if you can’t figure out a problem. The sooner you can get it cleared up the better chances of you not getting it wrong on a test!

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