| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v^2 = v_0^2 + 2gh\) | This is the formula for the final speed \( v \) of the stone in terms of the initial speed \( v_0 \), acceleration due to gravity \( g \), and the height \( h \) from which the stone is released, based on the equations of motion under constant acceleration. |
| 2 | \(v = \sqrt{v_0^2 + 2gh}\) | From the formula for the final speed squared, solve for \( v \) by taking the square root on both sides. |
| 3 | Analysis for Case A: \(v_A = \sqrt{(v_0)^2 + 2gh}\) | In Case A, the stone is thrown straight up. As it falls back down, it passes the release point with speed \( v_0 \) (directed downwards), then continues to accelerate due to gravity. |
| 4 | Analysis for Case B: \(v_B = \sqrt{(v_0)^2 + 2gh}\) | In Case B, the stone is thrown straight down, adding to the initial kinetic energy as it continues to accelerate due to gravity. |
| 5 | Analysis for Case C: \(v_C = \sqrt{(v_0)^2 + 2gh}\) | In Case C, the stone is thrown at an angle. The vertical component of the initial velocity contributes to reaching a maximum height, then it falls back gaining speed, reaching the same speed at height \( h \) due to symmetry of projectile motion under gravity. |
| 6 | Analysis for Case D: \(v_D = \sqrt{(v_0)^2 + 2gh}\) | In Case D, the stone is thrown horizontally. It means it has no initial vertical velocity component, but it gains vertical velocity solely due to gravity as it falls. |
| 7 | Comparison of \( v_A, v_B, v_C, \) and \( v_D \) | All expressions for the final velocities in different cases turn out to be identical when hitting the water, since in each case, the vertical motion is independent of the horizontal motion, and each starts at the same initial vertical speed relative to the bridge (point considered zero velocity vertically for cases C and D). |
| 8 | The speed will be greatest | Since \( v_A = v_B = v_C = v_D \), the speed of the stone when it hits the water will be the same in all cases, option (e). |
This analysis clearly shows that regardless of the direction in which the stone is thrown (if air resistance is ignored), given the same release conditions in terms of speed, the final speed just before impact will be the same.
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A mass \( m_1 \) traveling with an initial velocity \( v \) has an elastic collision with a mass \( m_2 \) that is initially at rest.
A block starts at rest on a frictionless inclined track which then turns into a circular loop of radius \( R \) and is vertical. In terms of \( R \) and constants, find the minimum height \( h \) above the bottom of the loop the block must start from so it makes it around the loop.

A block is initially at rest on top of an inclined ramp that makes an angle \( \theta_0 \) with the horizontal. The distance measured along the base of the ramp is \( D \). After the block is released from rest, it slides down the frictionless ramp and then continues onto a rough horizontal surface until it finally comes to rest at the position \( x = 4D \) measured from the base of the ramp. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the rough horizontal surface is \( \mu_k \).
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 pendulum consists of a mass \( M \) hanging at the bottom end of a massless rod of length \( \ell \) which has a frictionless pivot at its top end. A mass \( m \), moving with velocity \( v \), impacts \( M \) and becomes embedded. In terms of the given variables and constants, what is the smallest value of \( v \) sufficient to cause the pendulum (with embedded mass \( m \)) to swing clear over the top of its arc?
An elastic cord is \( 80\) \( \text{cm} \) long when it is supporting a mass of \( 10. \) \( \text{kg} \) hanging from it at rest. When an additional \( 4.0 \) \( \text{kg} \) is added, the cord is \( 82.5 \) \( \text{cm} \) long.
The diagram above shows a marble rolling down an incline, the bottom part of which has been bent into a loop. The marble is released from point A at a height of \(0.80 \, \text{m}\) above the ground. Point B is the lowest point and point C the highest point of the loop. The diameter of the loop is \(0.35 \, \text{m}\). The mass of the marble is \(0.050 \, \text{kg}\). Friction forces and any gain in kinetic energy due to the rotating of the marble can be ignored. When answering the following questions, consider the marble when it is at point C.
A \(2,000 \, \text{kg}\) car collides with a stationary \(1,000 \, \text{kg}\) car. Afterwards, they slide \(6 \, \text{m}\) before coming to a stop. The coefficient of friction between the tires and the road is \(0.7\). Find the initial velocity of the \(2,000 \, \text{kg}\) car before the collision?
A rescue helicopter lifts a 79 kg person straight up by means of a cable. The person has an upward acceleration of 0.70 m/s2 and is lifted through a distance of 11 m.
Find the escape speed from a planet of mass \(6.89 \times 10^{25} \, \text{kg}\) and radius \(6.2 \times 10^{6} \, \text{m}\).
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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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