| 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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A ball of radius \( r \) rolls on the inside of a circular track of radius \( R \). If the ball starts from rest at the left vertical edge of the track, what will be its speed when it reaches the lowest point of the track, rolling without slipping? For a solid spherical ball, the moment of inertia is \(\frac{2}{5} m r^2\).
How does the speed \(v_1\) of a block \(m\) reaching the bottom of slide 1 compare with \(v_2\), the speed of a block \(2m\) reaching the end of slide 2? The blocks are released from the same height.
Two masses \(m_1\) and \(4m_1\) are on an incline. Both surfaces have the same coefficient of kinetic friction. Both objects start from rest at the same height. Which mass has the largest speed at the bottom?
Two boxes are tied together by a string and are sitting at rest on a frictionless surface. Between the two boxes is a massless compressed spring. The string trying the two boxes is then cut and the spring expands, pushing the boxes apart. The box on the left has four times the mass of the box on the right.

A \( 4700 \, \text{kg} \) truck carrying a \( 900 \, \text{kg} \) crate is traveling at \( 25 \, \text{m/s} \) to the right along a straight, level highway, as shown above. The truck driver then applies the brakes, and as it slows down, the truck travels \( 55 \, \text{m} \) in the next \( 3.0 \, \text{s} \). The crate does not slide on the back of the truck.
A person holds a book at rest a few feet above a table. The person then lowers the book at a slow constant speed and places it on the table. Which of the following accurately describes the change in the total mechanical energy of the Earth–book system?
The maximum energy a bone can absorb without breaking is surprisingly small. Experimental data show that a leg bone of a healthy, \( 80 \) \( \text{kg} \) human can absorb about \( 240 \) \( \text{J} \). From what maximum height could a \( 80 \) \( \text{kg} \) person jump and land rigidly upright on both feet without breaking their legs? Assume that all energy is absorbed by the leg bones in a rigid landing. Express your answer with the appropriate units.
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.
If a small motor does 520 J of work to move a toy car 260 meters in a time of 37 seconds.
A golfer hits a shot to a green that is elevated \(2.80 \, \text{m}\) above the point where the ball is struck. The ball leaves the club at a speed of \(18.9 \, \text{m/s}\) at an angle of \(52.0^\circ\) above the horizontal. It rises to its maximum height and then falls down to the green. Ignoring air resistance, find the speed of the ball just before it lands.
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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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