| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[m_b v_i = (m_b + M) v_x\] | Linear momentum of the bullet–block system is conserved because the external horizontal forces are negligible. Here \(m_b\) is the bullet mass, \(M\) the block mass, \(v_i\) the bullet’s initial speed, and \(v_x\) the common speed just after impact. |
| 2 | \[v_x = \frac{m_b v_i}{m_b + M}\] | Algebraically solve the previous relation for the unknown \(v_x\). |
| 3 | \[v_x = \frac{0.0500\,\text{kg}\,\times\,50.0\,\text{m/s}}{0.0500\,\text{kg}+0.300\,\text{kg}} = 7.14\,\text{m/s}\] | Substitute the given numerical values: \(m_b = 0.0500\,\text{kg}\), \(M = 0.300\,\text{kg}\), and \(v_i = 50.0\,\text{m/s}\). |
| 4 | \[\boxed{v_x = 7.14\,\text{m/s}}\] | State the final speed of the combined mass immediately after the collision. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\tfrac12 (m_b+M) v_x^2 = (m_b+M) g h\] | After impact, kinetic energy converts into gravitational potential energy at the highest point; mechanical energy is conserved because non-conservative work is negligible. |
| 2 | \[h = \frac{v_x^2}{2g}\] | Solve the energy equation for vertical rise \(h\); the common mass cancels out. |
| 3 | \[h = \frac{(7.14\,\text{m/s})^2}{2\,(9.80\,\text{m/s}^2)} = 2.60\,\text{m}\] | Insert \(v_x = 7.14\,\text{m/s}\) and \(g = 9.80\,\text{m/s}^2\) to compute the height. |
| 4 | \[\boxed{h = 2.60\,\text{m}}\] | Quote the vertical distance the system rises. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[h = \frac{(m_b v_i)^2}{2g\,(m_b+M)^2}\] | Combine momentum \(m_b v_i=(m_b+M)v_x\) with energy \(h=v_x^2/2g\) to express \(h\) only in terms of parameters \(m_b\) and \(v_i\). |
| 2 | \[h’_v = 4h\] | Doubling \(v_i\) multiplies the numerator of the above expression by \(2^2=4\), while the denominator is unchanged; thus height becomes four times larger. |
| 3 | \[\frac{h’_m}{h}=4\left(\frac{m_b+M}{2m_b+M}\right)^2\] | Replacing \(m_b\) by \(2m_b\) changes both numerator and denominator; the ratio displayed compares the new height to the original. |
| 4 | \[\frac{h’_m}{h}=3.06\,\text{(for given masses)}\] | With \(m_b=0.0500\,\text{kg}\) and \(M=0.300\,\text{kg}\), doubling mass raises height by a factor \(3.06<4\). |
| 5 | \[\boxed{\text{Doubling }v_i\text{ increases }h\text{ the most}}\] | Because height depends on the square of speed but less strongly on bullet mass, option (i) has the greater effect; option (iii) is therefore false. |
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A \( 1.0 \, \text{kg} \) lump of clay is sliding to the right on a frictionless surface with a speed of \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \). It collides head-on and sticks to a \( 0.5 \, \text{kg} \) metal sphere that is sliding to the left with a speed of \( 4 \, \text{m/s} \). What is the kinetic energy of the combined objects after the collision?
A karate master is about to split a piece of wood with her hand. Select all she must do in order to deliver the maximum force to split the wood.

In which of the following is the rate of change of the particle’s momentum zero?
A “doomsday” asteroid with a mass of \( 1010 \, \text{kg} \) is hurtling through space. Unless the asteroid’s speed is changed by about \( 0.20 \, \text{cm/s} \), it will collide with Earth and cause tremendous damage. Researchers suggest that a small “space tug” sent to the asteroid’s surface could exert a gentle constant force of \( 2.5 \, \text{N} \). For how long must this force act?
It takes \(4 \, \text{s}\) for an individual to push a \(70 \, \text{kg}\) box up a \(5 \, \text{m}\) long, \(12^\circ\) ramp. The box starts from rest and achieves a speed of \(2.5 \, \text{m/s}\) at the top. Friction does \(350 \, \text{J}\) of work during its ascent. Calculate the power output of the individual pushing the box.
An experimenter has a simple pendulum of length \( L \) and a mass–spring system with mass \( m \) and spring constant \( k \). Both are found to have the same period of oscillation \( T \) on Earth. If both systems are taken to the Moon, where the acceleration due to gravity is approximately \( \frac{1}{6} g \) of Earth, what will happen to their periods?

A small block moving with a constant speed \(v\) collides inelastically with a block \(M\) attached to one end of a spring \(k\). The other end of the spring is connected to a stationary wall. Ignore friction between the blocks and the surface.
Two identical blocks are connected to the opposite ends of a compressed spring. The blocks initially slide together on a frictionless surface with velocity \( v \) to the right. The spring is then released by remote control. At some later instant, the left block is moving at \( \frac{v}{2} \) to the left, and the other block is moving to the right. What is the speed of the center of mass of the system at that instant?
A \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\) cart, on a frictionless \(2 \, \text{m}\) long table, is being pulled by a \(0.1 \, \text{kg}\) mass connected by a string and hanging over a pulley. The system is released from rest. After the hanging mass falls \(0.5 \, \text{m}\), calculate the speed of the cart on the table. Use ONLY forces and energy.
A golf club exerts an average horizontal force of \(1000 \, \text{N}\) on a \(0.045 \, \text{kg}\) golf ball that is initially at rest on the tee. The club is in contact with the ball for \(1.8 \, \text{milliseconds}\). What is the speed of the golf ball just as it leaves the tee?
\(7.14\,\text{m/s}\)
\(2.60\,\text{m}\)
\(\text{Doubling bullet’s velocity}\)
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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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