AP Physics

Unit 3 - Circular Motion

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Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[m_{\text{child+chair}}=25\,\text{kg}+4\,\text{kg}=29\,\text{kg}\] The chain supports both the child and the chair during the ride, so the rotating mass is the combined mass.
2 \[m_{\text{operator+chair}}=90\,\text{kg}+4\,\text{kg}=94\,\text{kg}\] The operator’s stationary demonstration also includes the chair, so the test load is the combined mass of the operator and chair.
3 \[T_{\text{test}}=(94)(9.81)\approx 922\,\text{N}\] When the operator sits motionless, the chain tension is just the weight of the operator plus chair. This shows the chain can hold at least about \(922\,\text{N}\), not necessarily that this is its breaking force.
4 \[\omega=\frac{2\pi}{P}=\frac{2\pi}{3}\,\text{rad/s}\] The chair completes one rotation every \(3\,\text{s}\), so its angular speed is \(2\pi/3\,\text{rad/s}\).
5 \[r=L\sin\theta\] The ride is a conical pendulum. The chair moves in a horizontal circle whose radius is not the full chain length, but the horizontal component of the chain length.
6 \[T_{\text{ride}}\cos\theta=mg\] The vertical component of the chain tension balances the weight of the child plus chair.
7 \[T_{\text{ride}}\sin\theta=m\omega^2r=m\omega^2L\sin\theta\] The horizontal component of the tension provides the centripetal force needed for circular motion.
8 \[T_{\text{ride}}=m\omega^2L\] Since the chair is rotating with \(\sin\theta\neq 0\), cancel \(\sin\theta\) from both sides of the horizontal force equation.
9 \[T_{\text{ride}}=(29)\left(\frac{2\pi}{3}\right)^2(10)\approx 1.27\times 10^3\,\text{N}\] The tension in the chain during the ride with the child is about \(1270\,\text{N}\).
10 \[\cos\theta=\frac{mg}{T_{\text{ride}}}=\frac{g}{\omega^2L}\approx \frac{9.81}{\left(\frac{2\pi}{3}\right)^2(10)}\approx 0.224\] This gives the angle of the chain from the vertical and confirms the conical-pendulum geometry.
11 \[\theta\approx \cos^{-1}(0.224)\approx 77.1^\circ\] The chain is at a large angle from vertical when the ride rotates at the stated speed.
12 \[T_{\text{ride}}\approx 1270\,\text{N}>T_{\text{test}}\approx 922\,\text{N}\] The moving child plus chair requires a larger chain tension than the load demonstrated by the stationary operator plus chair.
13 \[\boxed{\text{No, the operator has not shown that the ride is safe for the child.}}\] The demonstration only proves the chain held a stationary load of about \(922\,\text{N}\). The ride requires about \(1270\,\text{N}\) while rotating, so the operator’s test is insufficient evidence of safety.

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\(\boxed{\text{No, the operator has not shown that the ride is safe for a }25\,\text{kg}\text{ child.}}}\)
\(\boxed{T_{\text{test}}\approx 922\,\text{N},\quad T_{\text{ride}}\approx 1.27\times 10^3\,\text{N}}}\)

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque 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 MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
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]

Metric Prefixes

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]

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