| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(y = v_0y t – \frac{1}{2} g t^2\) for both balls | These are the equations of motion in the vertical direction (y) for the two balls, assuming upward motion is positive. The first term in both equations represents the initial vertical velocity component times time (t), and the second term is due to the acceleration due to gravity (g) acting downward. |
| 2 | \(v_0y\) up = \(v_0\), \(v_0y\) angle = \(v_0 \cos(45^\circ) = \frac{v_0}{\sqrt{2}}\) | The initial vertical velocities. For the straight up throw, the entire velocity is vertical, hence \(v_0y\) up = \(v_0\). For the angled throw, the vertical component is \(v_0 \cos(45^\circ)\) since the projection is at 45°. |
| 3 | Total time in air for each ball can be calculated using the equation: \(t_\text{total} = \frac{2v_{0y}}{g}\) | The time of flight until each ball returns to the original level of projection can be determined from the formula, substituting in each ball’s initial vertical speed. This accounts for the time to ascend to the peak and to descend back to the ground level. |
| 4 | \(t_\text{straight up} = \frac{2v_0}{g}\), \(t_\text{at angle} = \frac{2(v_0/\sqrt{2})}{g} = \frac{\sqrt{2}v_0}{g}\) | Conclusion: \(t_\text{straight up} > t_\text{at angle}\). The time taken for each is different due to differences in their initial vertical velocities. |
| 5 | \( PE + KE_i = KE_f \)
\( mgh + \frac{1}{2}mv^2 = KE_f \) Height and total speeds are the same in both cases regardless of direction. |
Since mechanical energy is conserved (ignoring air resistance), the final kinetic energy will be equal to kinetic + potential energy of the ball as it was thrown. Since both balls start with the same energy (same height and speed), the final kinetic energies of both balls must be the same. This would imply identical, final speeds. |
| 6 | Answer: (b) | Both with the same speed, based on the conservation of mechanical energy, (b) as the correct statement. |
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While traveling in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, Mars gains speed during the part of the orbit where it is getting closer to the Sun. Which of the following can be used to explain this gain in speed?
A horizontal spring with spring constant 162 N/m is compressed 50 cm and used to launch a 3 kg box across a frictionless, horizontal surface. After the box travels some distance, the surface becomes rough. The coefficient of kinetic friction of the box on the rough surface is 0.2. Find the total distance the box travels before stopping.
A bullet at speed \( v_0 \) trikes and embeds itself in a block of wood which is suspended by a string, causing the bullet and block to rise to a maximum height h. Which of the following statements is true?
Water balloons are tossed from the roof of a building, all with the same speed but with different launch angles. Which one has the highest speed when it hits the ground? Ignore air resistance. Without using equations, explain your answer.
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?
Which launch angle gives the greatest horizontal range, assuming level ground and no air resistance?
A block of mass 3.0 kg is hung from a spring, causing it to stretch 12 cm at equilibrium. The 3.0 kg block is then taken off and the spring returns to its original height. Now a 4.0 kg block is placed on the spring and released from rest. How far will the 4.0 kg block fall before its direction is reversed?
A \( 0.0350 \) \( \text{kg} \) bullet moving horizontally at \( 425 \) \( \text{m/s} \) embeds itself into an initially stationary \( 0.550 \) \( \text{kg} \) block.

An object of mass \( m = 3.0 \) \( \text{kg} \) is attached to one end of a string with negligible mass and length \( L = 0.80 \) \( \text{m} \). The object is released from rest at time \( t = 0 \), when the string is horizontal. At time \( t = t_1 \) the object is at the location shown in the figure, where the string is vertical. Which of the following is most nearly the magnitude of the tension in the string at time \( t = t_1 \)?
If you want to double the momentum of a gas molecule, by what factor must you increase its kinetic energy?
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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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