| Step | Formula Derivation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( E_{\text{total}} = E_{\text{kinetic}} + E_{\text{potential}} \) | Total mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic and potential energy. |
| 2 | \( E_{\text{kinetic}} = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \) | Kinetic energy formula, where \( E_{\text{kinetic}} \) is kinetic energy, \( m \) is mass, and \( v \) is velocity. |
| 3 | \( E_{\text{potential}} = mgh \) | Potential energy formula, where \( E_{\text{potential}} \) is potential energy, \( h \) is height, and \( g \) is gravitational acceleration. |
| 4 | At the top, \( E_{\text{total}} = E_{\text{potential}} \) | Initially, all energy is potential energy since velocity is zero. |
| 5 | At the bottom, \( E_{\text{total}} = E_{\text{kinetic}} \) | At the bottom, all energy is converted to kinetic energy, assuming negligible air resistance. |
| 6 | \( mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \) | Equating potential energy at the top with kinetic energy at the bottom. |
| 7 | \( 2gh = v^2 \) | Cancel \( m \) and rearrange the equation. |
| 8 | \( v = \sqrt{2gh} \) | Take the square root to find \( v \). |
| 9 | \( v_A = \sqrt{2gH} \) | Apply the formula to ball A, dropped from height \( H \). |
| 10 | \( v_B = \sqrt{2g \cdot 3.5H} \) | Apply the formula to ball B, dropped from height \( 3.5H \). |
| 11 | \( \frac{v_A}{v_B} = \frac{\sqrt{2gH}}{\sqrt{7gH}} \) | Compare the velocities of the two balls. |
| 12 | \( \boxed{\frac{v_A}{v_B} = \sqrt{\frac{2}{7}}} \) | Simplify to find the ratio. |
The derivation uses energy principles to arrive at the final velocity formula, and the ratio of velocities of ball A to ball B is \( \sqrt{\frac{2}{7}} \).
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A \(6 \, \text{kg}\) cube rests against a compressed spring with a force constant of \(1{,}800 \, \text{N/m}\), initially compressed by \(0.3 \, \text{m}\). Upon release, the cube slides on a horizontal surface with a kinetic friction coefficient of \(\mu_k = 0.12\) for \(3 \, \text{m}\), then ascends a \(12^\circ\) slope, stopping after \(4.5 \, \text{m}\). Determine the coefficient of kinetic friction on the slope.
A proton (mp = 1.67 x10-27 kg) is being accelerated along a straight line at 3.6 ×1015 m/s2 in a machine. The proton has an initial speed of 2.4 x107 m/s and travels 3.5 cm.

A 0.2 kg object is attached to a horizontal spring undergoes SHM with the total energy of 0.4 J. The kinetic energy as a function of position presented by the graph.
A lighter car and a heavier truck, each traveling to the right with the same speed \( v \) hit their brakes. The retarding frictional force F on both cars turns out to be constant and the same. After both vehicles travel a distance \( D \) (and both are still moving), which of the following statements is true?
A bullet of mass \(0.0500 \, \text{kg}\) traveling at \(50.0 \, \text{m/s}\) is fired horizontally into a wooden block suspended from a long rope. The mass of the wooden block is \(0.300 \, \text{kg}\) and it is initially at rest. The collision is completely inelastic and after impact the bullet + wooden block move together until the center of mass of the system rises a vertical distance \(h\) above its initial position.
A crate is pulled 2.5 m at constant velocity along a 25° incline. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the plane is 0.250. What is the efficiency of this procedure?
A uniform solid cylinder of mass \( M \) and radius \( R \) is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. A massless string is attached to the cylinder and is wrapped around it. The string is then pulled with a constant force \( F \) , causing the cylinder to rotate about its center of mass. After the cylinder has rotated through an angle \( \theta \), what is the kinetic energy of the cylinder in terms of \( F \) and \( \theta \)?
A block of mass \( m \) is moving on a horizontal frictionless surface with a speed \( v_0 \) as it approaches a block of mass \( 2m \) which is at rest and has an ideal spring attached to one side.
When the two blocks collide, the spring is completely compressed and the two blocks momentarily move at the same speed, and then separate again, each continuing to move.
The escape speed of an object of mass \( m \) from a planet of mass \( M \) and radius \( r \) depends on the gravitational constant and
A runner is moving at \( 4 \) \( \text{m/s} \). She is opposed by magic in the form of air resistance, which exerts a constant \( 20 \) \( \text{Newtons} \) force in the direction opposite her velocity. At what rate is she using energy to remain at constant velocity?
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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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