| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[ m_{\text{bullet}}\, v_i = \left(m_{\text{bullet}} + m_{\text{block}}\right)\, v_x \] | Apply conservation of momentum for this inelastic collision where the bullet embeds in the block. |
| 2 | \[ 0.0350 \times 425 = \left(0.0350 + 0.550\right)\, v_x \] | Substitute the given values: the bullet mass is \(0.0350\) kg, its velocity is \(425\) m/s, and the block mass is \(0.550\) kg. |
| 3 | \[ v_x = \frac{0.0350 \times 425}{0.0350 + 0.550} = \frac{14.875}{0.585} \] | Compute the bullet’s momentum \(0.0350 \times 425 = 14.875\) and the total mass \(0.0350 + 0.550 = 0.585\) kg to solve for \(v_x\). |
| 4 | \[ \boxed{v_x \approx 25.4 \; \text{m/s}} \] | The velocity of the bullet and block together right after the collision is approximately \(25.4\) m/s. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[ a = -\mu_k\, g \] | Friction produces a deceleration given by the product of the kinetic friction coefficient \(\mu_k\) and gravitational acceleration \(g\). The negative sign indicates deceleration. |
| 2 | \[ a = -0.40 \times 9.80 = -3.92 \; \text{m/s}^2 \] | Substitute \(\mu_k = 0.40\) and \(g = 9.80 \; \text{m/s}^2\) to calculate the acceleration. |
| 3 | \[ v_x^2 = (25.4)^2 + 2\,(-3.92)\,(10.0) \] | Use the kinematic equation where the initial velocity is the \(25.4\) m/s from part (a) and the displacement \(\Delta x\) is \(10.0\) m. |
| 4 | \[ v_x^2 \approx 645.16 – 78.4 = 566.76 \] | Simplify the expression by computing \((25.4)^2 \approx 645.16\) and \(2 \times 3.92 \times 10.0 = 78.4\). |
| 5 | \[ v_x \approx \sqrt{566.76} \approx 23.8 \; \text{m/s} \] \quad \text{or} \quad \boxed{v_x \approx 23.8 \; \text{m/s}} \] |
Taking the square root yields the final velocity after sliding \(10.0\) m: approximately \(23.8\) m/s. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[ m_1\, v_i = \left(m_1 + m_2\right)\, v_x \] | Apply conservation of momentum for the second collision where the bullet-embedded block (\(m_1 = 0.585\) kg) collides inelastically with a stationary block (\(m_2 = 2.50\) kg). |
| 2 | \[ v_x = \frac{0.585 \times 23.8}{0.585 + 2.50} \] | Substitute \(v_i = 23.8\) m/s from part (b) and add the masses \(0.585\) kg and \(2.50\) kg for the collision. |
| 3 | \[ v_x \approx \frac{13.923}{3.085} \approx 4.51 \; \text{m/s} \] | Calculate the post-collision velocity; the numerator \(0.585 \times 23.8 \approx 13.923\) and the total mass is \(3.085\) kg. |
| 4 | \[ 0 = (4.51)^2 + 2\,(-3.92)\,d \] | Use the kinematic equation to find the distance \(d\) traveled before coming to a stop, with \(a = -3.92\) m/s² due to friction. |
| 5 | \[ d = \frac{(4.51)^2}{2 \times 3.92} \] | Solve for \(d\) by rearranging the kinematics equation. |
| 6 | \[ \boxed{d \approx 2.60 \; \text{m}} \] | Evaluating the expression gives a stopping distance of approximately \(2.60\) m after the collision. |
A Major Upgrade To Phy Is Coming Soon — Stay Tuned
We'll help clarify entire units in one hour or less — guaranteed.
A self paced course with videos, problems sets, and everything you need to get a 5. Trusted by over 15k students and over 200 schools.
A \(2 \, \text{kg}\) model rocket is launched with a thrust force of \(275 \, \text{N}\) and reaches a height of \(90 \, \text{m}\), at which point the thrust cuts out, but the rocket continues moving at \(150 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the average air resistance force acting on the rocket during its ascent?
| Experiment | Initial Velocity of Cart X \( (\text{m/s}) \) | Initial Velocity of Cart Y \( (\text{m/s}) \) | Final Velocity of Cart X \( (\text{m/s}) \) | Final Velocity of Cart Y \( (\text{m/s}) \) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| \( 1 \) | \( 1 \) | \( 0 \) | \( 0 \) | \( 1 \) |
| \( 2 \) | \( 1 \) | \( -1 \) | \( -1 \) | \( 1 \) |
| \( 3 \) | \( 2 \) | \( 1 \) | \( 1 \) | \( 2 \) |
A student performs several experiments in which two carts collide as they travel along a horizontal surface. Cart X and Cart Y both have a mass of \( 1 \) \( \text{kg} \). Data collected from the three experiments are shown in the table above. During which experiment does the center of mass of the system of two carts have the greatest change in its momentum?
A spring stretches \( 8.0 \) \( \text{cm} \) when a \( 13 \) \( \text{N} \) force is applied. How far does it stretch when a \( 26 \) \( \text{N} \) force is applied?
A \( 7.3 \) \( \text{kg} \) mass is placed on a spring with a spring constant of \( 34 \) \( \text{N/cm} \). How much does this stretch the spring?
A “doomsday” asteroid with a mass of \( 1010 \, \text{kg} \) is hurtling through space. Unless the asteroid’s speed is changed by about \( 0.20 \, \text{cm/s} \), it will collide with Earth and cause tremendous damage. Researchers suggest that a small “space tug” sent to the asteroid’s surface could exert a gentle constant force of \( 2.5 \, \text{N} \). For how long must this force act?
From the top of a \( 74.0 \) \( \text{m} \) high building, a \( 1.00 \) \( \text{kg} \) ball is dropped in the presence of air resistance. The ball reaches the ground with a speed of \( 31.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \), indicating that drag was significant. How much energy was lost in the form of air resistance/drag during the fall?
A baseball, mass \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\), is traveling to the right at \(32.2 \, \text{m/s}\) when it is hit by a bat and travels the opposite direction at \(72.2 \, \text{m/s}\). The bat hits the ball with a force of \(1,222 \, \text{N}\). What is the ball’s change in momentum and how long was the ball in contact with the bat?
The efficiency of a pulley system is 55%. The
pulleys are used to raise a mass of 90.0 kg to a height of
5.60 m. What force is exerted on the rope of the pulley
system if the rope is pulled for 22 m in order to raise
the mass to the required height?
Two blocks are on a horizontal, frictionless surface. Block \( A \) is moving with an initial velocity of \( v_0 \) toward block \( B \), which is stationary. The two blocks collide, stick together, and move off with a velocity of \( \frac{v_0}{3} \). Which block, if either, has the greater mass?
An object is projected vertically upward from ground level. It rises to a maximum height \( H \). If air resistance is negligible, which of the following must be true for the object when it is at a height \( H/2 \) ?
By continuing you (1) agree to our Terms of Use and Terms of Sale 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 |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| 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 |
One price to unlock most advanced version of Phy across all our tools.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
We crafted THE Ultimate A.P Physics 1 Program so you can learn faster and score higher.
Try our free calculator to see what you need to get a 5 on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam.
A quick explanation
Credits are used to grade your FRQs and GQs. Pro users get unlimited credits.
Submitting counts as 1 attempt.
Viewing answers or explanations count as a failed attempts.
Phy gives partial credit if needed
MCQs and GQs are are 1 point each. FRQs will state points for each part.
Phy customizes problem explanations based on what you struggle with. Just hit the explanation button to see.
Understand you mistakes quicker.
Phy automatically provides feedback so you can improve your responses.
10 Free Credits To Get You Started
By continuing you agree to nerd-notes.com Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and our usage of user data.
Feeling uneasy about your next physics test? We'll boost your grade in 3 lessons or less—guaranteed
NEW! PHY AI accurately solves all questions
🔥 Get up to 30% off Elite Physics Tutoring
🧠 NEW! Learn Physics From Scratch Self Paced Course
🎯 Need exam style practice questions?