| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(a_y = -g, \quad a_x = 0\) | At any point in the projectile’s trajectory, the only acceleration acting is due to gravity, which acts downward. Therefore, the vertical acceleration \(a_y\) is \(-g\), and the horizontal acceleration \(a_x\) is zero. |
| 2 | \(v_y = 0\) | At the highest point, the vertical component of the velocity is zero for a brief moment. This is because the ball changes direction from going upward to downward. |
| 3 | \(v_x \neq 0\) | The horizontal component of the velocity remains constant throughout the flight because there is no horizontal acceleration acting on the ball. Hence, \(v_x\) is not zero. |
| 4 | \(v = \sqrt{v_x^2 + v_y^2}\) | The magnitude of the velocity at any point is given by the Pythagorean theorem combining \(v_x\) and \(v_y\). |
| 5 | \(v = v_x \text{ at the highest point}\) | At the highest point, since \(v_y = 0\), the velocity of the ball \(v\) is equal to the horizontal component \(v_x\). |
| 6 | Correct Answer: (e) | Since the vertical component \(v_y\) is zero and the horizontal component \(v_x\) remains unchanged and non-zero, the x component of velocity is greater than the y component of velocity at the highest point. |
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Suppose the water at the top of Niagara Falls has a horizontal speed of \( 2.7 \, \text{m/s} \) just before it cascades over the edge of the falls. At what vertical distance below the edge does the velocity vector of the water point downward at a \( 75^\circ \) angle below the horizontal?
During projectile motion (neglecting air resistance), what is the vertical acceleration at the highest point, assuming the initial velocity is upwards in the positive direction?
A soccer ball is kicked horizontally off an \( 85 \) \( \text{m} \) high cliff at a speed of \( 34 \) \( \text{m/s} \). What is the ball’s final speed when it hits the ground below?
Wile E. Coyote is (still) chasing after his arch-nemesis, the Roadrunner across a cliff that is \(125 \, \text{m}\) high. The Coyote is running in the horizontal direction towards the edge of a cliff when, at the last second, the Roadrunner steps out of the way and the witless coyote falls to the canyon floor.
A officer fires a pistol horizontally toward a target \(120 \,\text{m}\) at a velocity of \(200 \, \text{m/s}\). If the officer aimed directly at the bull’s eye
A projectile is launched at angle \( \theta \) to the horizontal, with velocity \( v \), maximum vertical displacement \( s \), and angle \( \theta \) between \( 0^{\circ} \) and \( 45^{\circ} \). What will the maximum vertical displacement be if the projectile is now launched at an angle of \( 2 \theta \) from the horizontal with velocity \( v \)?
A major-league pitcher can throw a baseball in excess of \( 41.0 \, \text{m/s} \). If a ball is thrown horizontally at this speed, how much will it drop by the time it reaches a catcher who is \( 17.0 \, \text{m} \) away from the point of release?
A projectile has the least speed at what point in its path?
A plane, 220 meters high, is dropping a supply crate to an island below. It is traveling with a horizontal velocity of 150 m/s. At what horizontal distance must the plane drop the supply crate for it to land on the island? Use \( g = 9.81 \, m/s^2\).
One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \(h\) above the floor. A block of mass \(M\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \(x\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \(D\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \(M, x, D, h,\) and any constants.
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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] | |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] |
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