| Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[\Delta PE = m g H\] | The block begins at height \(H\); gravitational potential energy depends on its mass and height. |
| \[KE_1 = \frac{1}{2} m v_1^{2}\] | Kinetic energy of the block of mass \(m\) at the bottom of slide 1. |
| \[m g H = \frac{1}{2} m v_1^{2}\] | Mechanical energy is conserved (slides are friction-free). |
| \[v_1 = \sqrt{2 g H}\] | Solve for \(v_1\); the mass \(m\) cancels. |
| \[KE_2 = \frac{1}{2} (2m) v_2^{2}\] | Kinetic energy of the block of mass \(2m\) at the bottom of slide 2. |
| \[2 m g H = \frac{1}{2} (2m) v_2^{2}\] | Apply conservation of mechanical energy for the heavier block; slide shape does not affect this energy balance. |
| \[v_2 = \sqrt{2 g H}\] | Solving gives the same speed expression; the larger mass again cancels. |
| \[v_1 = v_2\] | Both blocks reach the bottom with identical speed because only height (not mass or path) determines the final kinetic energy. |
| \[v_1 > v_2\] | Incorrect (choice b): would require mass to influence speed, but it cancels in the energy equation. |
| \[v_1 < v_2\] | Incorrect (choice c and statement in a): heavier mass does not create a larger speed under conservative forces. |
| \[v_1 \text{ unrelated to } v_2\] | Incorrect (choice e): slide curvature does not matter when no non-conservative forces act; both depend only on the drop height. |
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A typical \( 68 \)\(-\text{kg} \) person can maintain a steady energy expenditure of \( 480 \) \( \text{W} \) on a bicycle. Approximately how many Calories are “burned” when the person rides a bicycle for \( 15 \) minutes? A typical energy efficiency for the human body is \( 25\% \), which takes into account the release of thermal energy.

A block of mass \( 0.5 \) \( \text{kg} \) is attached to a horizontal spring with a spring constant of \( 150 \) \( \text{N/m} \). The block is released from rest at position \( x = 0.05 \) \( \text{m} \), as shown, and undergoes simple harmonic motion, reaching a maximum position of \( x = 0.1 \) \( \text{m} \). The speed of the block when it passes through position \( x = 0.09 \) \( \text{m} \) is most nearly
A spring with a spring constant of \( 50. \) \( \text{N/m} \) is hanging from a stand. A second spring with a spring constant of \( 100. \) \( \text{N/m} \) is hanging from the first spring. How far do they stretch if a \( 0.50 \) \( \text{kg} \) mass is hung from the bottom spring?
A \( 25.0 \) \( \text{kg} \) block is placed at the top of an inclined plane set at an angle of \( 35 \) degrees to the horizontal. The block slides down the \( 1.5 \) \( \text{m} \) slope at a constant rate. How much work did friction do on the block?
In which one of the following circumstances does the principle of conservation of mechanical energy apply, even though a nonconservative force acts on the moving object?
In \(3.0 \, \text{minutes}\), a ski lift raises \(10\) skiers at constant speed to a height of \(85 \, \text{m}\). The ski lift is \(55^\circ\) above the horizontal and the average mass of each skier is \(67.5 \, \text{kg}\). What is the average power provided by the tension in the cable pulling the lift?

A bullet (mass: \(0.05 \, \text{kg}\)) is fired horizontally (\(v = 200 \, \text{m/s}\)) at a block (mass: \(1.3 \, \text{kg}\)) initially at rest on a frictionless surface. The block is attached to a spring (\(k = 2500 \, \text{N/m}\)). The bullet becomes embedded. Calculate:

Two blocks, \( m_2 > m_1 \), having the same kinetic energy, move from a frictionless surface onto a surface having friction coefficient \( \mu_k \). Which block will travel further before stopping.
A horizontal force of \(110 \, \text{N}\) is applied to a \(12 \, \text{kg}\) object, moving it \(6 \, \text{m}\) on a horizontal surface where the kinetic friction coefficient is \(\mu_k = 0.25\). The object then slides up a \(17^\circ\) inclined plane. Assuming the \(110 \, \text{N}\) force is no longer acting on the incline, and the coefficient of kinetic friction there is \(\mu_k = 0.45\), calculate the distance the object will slide on the incline.
A \( 1.5 \; \text{kg} \) mass attached to a spring with a force constant of \( 20.0 \; \text{N/m} \) oscillates on a horizontal, frictionless track. At \( t = 0 \), the mass is released from rest at \( x = 10.0 \; \text{cm} \). (That is, the spring is stretched by \( 10.00 \; \text{cm} \).)
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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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