| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[h = L \sin \theta\] | Vertical height gained is the product of slope length \(L\) and the sine of the incline angle \(\theta\). |
| 2 | \[M = n m_r\] | Total mass \(M\) moved each minute equals number of riders \(n = 5\) times mass per rider \(m_r = 72\,\text{kg}\). |
| 3 | \[W_{\text{useful}} = M g h\] | Work required each minute is the gravitational potential energy change \(M g h\). |
| 4 | \[\eta = 0.35\] | Only \(35\%\) of motor energy is available for lifting; \(\eta\) represents this efficiency. |
| 5 | \[W_{\text{motor}} = \frac{W_{\text{useful}}}{\eta}\] | The motor must supply extra energy to compensate for the \(65\%\) lost to friction. |
| 6 | \[P = \frac{W_{\text{motor}}}{60}\] | Average power equals motor work per minute divided by \(60\,\text{s}\). |
| 7 | \[P = \frac{n m_r g L \sin \theta}{\eta \times 60}\] | Combine expressions from previous steps into one formula for power. |
| 8 | \[P(9.81) = \frac{5 \times 72 \times 9.81 \times 695 \sin 34^\circ}{0.35 \times 60} \approx 6.54 \times 10^{4}\,\text{W}\] | Calculate using \(g = 9.81\,\text{m/s}^2\) and evaluate. |
| 9 | \[P(10) = \frac{5 \times 72 \times 10 \times 695 \sin 34^\circ}{0.35 \times 60} \approx 6.67 \times 10^{4}\,\text{W}\] | Alternative evaluation using \(g = 10\,\text{m/s}^2\). |
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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.
You are working out on a rowing machine. Each time you pull the rowing bar toward you, it moves a distance of \(1.25 \, \text{m}\) in a time of \(0.84 \, \text{s}\). The readout on the display indicates that the average power you are producing is \(76 \, \text{W}\). What is the magnitude of the force that you exert on the handle?
A cardinal (Richmondena cardinalis) of mass \( 3.80 \times 10^{-2} \) \( \text{kg} \) and a baseball of mass \( 0.150 \) \( \text{kg} \) have the same kinetic energy. What is the ratio of the cardinal’s magnitude \( p_c \) of momentum to the magnitude \( p_b \) of the baseball’s momentum?
A \(0.50 \, \text{kg}\) mass is attached to a spring constant \(20 \, \text{N/m}\) along a horizontal, frictionless surface. The object oscillates in simple harmonic motion and has a speed of \(1.5 \, \text{m/s}\) at the equilibrium position. What is the total energy of the system?
A girl throws a stone from a bridge. Consider the following ways she might throw the stone. The speed of the stone as it leaves her hand is the same in each case.
Case A: Thrown straight up.
Case B: Thrown straight down.
Case C: Thrown out at an angle of 45° above horizontal.
Case D: Thrown straight out horizontally.
In which case will the speed of the stone be greatest when it hits the water below if there is no significant air resistance, assuming equal initial speeds?
A cart with a mass of \( 20 \) \( \text{kg} \) is pressed against a wall by a horizontal spring with spring constant \( k = 244 \) \( \text{N/m} \) placed between the cart and the wall. The spring is compressed by \( 0.1 \) \( \text{m} \). While the spring is compressed, an additional constant horizontal force of \( 20 \) \( \text{N} \) continues to push the cart toward the wall. What is the resulting acceleration of the cart?
Two balls are thrown off a building with the same speed, one straight up and one at a 45° angle. Which statement is true if air resistance can be ignored?
A 0.035 kg bullet moving horizontally at 350 m/s embeds itself into an initially stationary 0.55 kg block. Air resistance is negligible.
A typical \( 68 \text{-kg} \) person generates a steady mechanical power output of \( 120 \text{ W} \) at the pedals of a bicycle. Approximately how many Calories are “burned” (total metabolic energy expended) when the person rides a bicycle for \( 15 \text{ minutes} \)? A typical energy efficiency for the human body is \( 25\% \), which takes into account the release of thermal energy. Note (\( 1 \text{ Cal} = 4186 \text{ J} \)).

A block is attached to a horizontal spring and is initially at rest at the equilibrium position \( x = 0 \), as shown in Figure \( 1 \). The block is then moved to position \( x = -A \), as shown in Figure \( 2 \), and released from rest, undergoing simple harmonic motion. At the instant the block reaches position \( x = +A \), another identical block is dropped onto and sticks to the block, as shown in Figure \( 3 \). The two–block–spring system then continues to undergo simple harmonic motion. Which of the following correctly compares the total mechanical energy \( E_{\text{tot},2} \) of the two–block–spring system after the collision to the total mechanical energy \( E_{\text{tot},1} \) of the one–block–spring system before the collision?
\(P_{avg}(g=9.81)=6.54\times10^{4}\,\text{W}\)
\(P_{avg}(g=10)=6.67\times10^{4}\,\text{W}\)
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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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