| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(d = \frac{1}{2} g t^2\) | Use the formula for the distance traveled by an object under free fall where \( g \) is the gravitational acceleration and \( t \) is the time elapsed. |
| 2 | \(d_1 = \frac{1}{2} g t^2\) | Distance traveled by the first ball after time \( t \). |
| 3 | \(d_2 = \frac{1}{2} g (t-3)^2\) | Distance traveled by the second ball, which is dropped 3 seconds later. So, after time \( t \), it has been falling for \( t-3 \) seconds. |
| 4 | \(\Delta d = d_1 – d_2\) | The distance between the two balls is the difference between \( d_1 \) and \( d_2 \). |
| 5 | \(\Delta d = \frac{1}{2} g t^2 – \frac{1}{2} g (t-3)^2\) | Substitute the expressions for \( d_1 \) and \( d_2 \). |
| 6 | \(\Delta d = \frac{1}{2} g \left[ t^2 – (t-3)^2 \right]\) | Factor out \(\frac{1}{2} g\). |
| 7 | \(\Delta d = \frac{1}{2} g \left[ t^2 – (t^2 – 6t + 9) \right]\) | Expand the term \((t-3)^2\) to get \(t^2 – 6t + 9\). |
| 8 | \(\Delta d = \frac{1}{2} g \left[ t^2 – t^2 + 6t – 9 \right]\) | Distribute the negative sign across the terms inside the parenthesis. |
| 9 | \(\Delta d = \frac{1}{2} g \left[ 6t – 9 \right]\) | Simplify the expression by combining like terms (the \(t^2\) terms cancel each other out). |
| 10 | \(\Delta d = 3g \left( t – \frac{3}{2} \right)\) | Further simplify the expression by factoring out constants. |
| 11 | \(\Delta d \propto t\) | The expression \( \Delta d = 3g \left( t – \frac{3}{2} \right) \) shows that the distance between the balls \( \Delta d \) increases with time \( t \). |
| 12 | (b) increasing | Therefore, the correct answer is that the distance between the two balls is increasing with time. |
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The figure shows the velocity-versus-time graph for a basketball player traveling up and down the court in a straight-line path. Find the displacement of the player…
Which of the following graphs shows runners moving at the same speed? Assume the \(y\)-axis is measured in meters and the \(x\)-axis is measured in seconds.
A rollercoaster leaves the station at rest. Its speed increases steadily for \( 6 \) \( \text{s} \) as it heads down the first drop. The ride then levels out and it moves at a constant speed for \( 4 \) \( \text{s} \) before hitting the brakes and stopping in \( 3 \) \( \text{s} \). Draw the velocity vs. time graph or explain it in terms of functions.
A \( 0.20 \) \( \text{kg} \) object moves along a straight line. The net force acting on the object varies with the object’s displacement as shown in the graph above. The object starts from rest at displacement \( x = 0 \) and time \( t = 0 \) and is displaced a distance of \( 20 \) \( \text{m} \). Determine each of the following.
When we refer to an object’s speed, we’re talking about:
A driver is driving at \( 40 \, \text{m/s} \) when the light turns red in front of her. It takes the driver \( 0.9 \, \text{s} \) to react and hit the brakes. After this, the car slows with an acceleration of \( 3.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). What is the total distance traveled by the car?
A block starts from rest at the top of a \(50^\circ\) incline. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the incline is \(0.4\). If the block reaches a velocity of \(7 \, \text{m/s}\) at the bottom of the incline, what is the length of the incline?
An object’s velocity \(v\) as a function of time \(t\) is given in the graph. Which of the following statements is true about the motion of the object?
A ball is thrown straight up. What are the velocity and acceleration of the ball at the highest point in its path?
A ball is dropped off a high cliff, and \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \) later another ball is thrown vertically downward with an initial speed of \( 30 \) \( \text{m/s} \). How long will it take the second ball to overtake the first?
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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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