| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[v = 75\,\text{mph}\] | Both situations involve an initial speed of \(v\) for the moving car. |
| 2 | \[F_{\text{avg}} = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t}\] | Average impact force equals the impulse \(\Delta p\) divided by the common collision time \(\Delta t\). |
| 3 | \[\Delta p_1 = m(0 – v) = -m v\] | Case 1: the car’s momentum changes from \(+m v\) to 0, so \(|\Delta p_1| = m v\). |
| 4 | \[\Delta p_2 = m(-u – v) = -m(u + v)\] | Case 2: after striking the rigid wall the car rebounds with speed \(u\,(>0)\) opposite its approach, giving a larger magnitude change \(|\Delta p_2| = m(u+v)\). |
| 5 | \[|\Delta p_2| > |\Delta p_1|\] | Because \(u\) is positive, \(u+v>v\); hence the impulse in Case 2 exceeds that in Case 1. |
| 6 | \[F_2 > F_1\] | With the same \(\Delta t\), the greater impulse in Case 2 produces the larger average force. |
| 7 | \[\boxed{\text{Case 2 has the greatest impact force}}\] | Therefore, option (b) is correct. |
| 8 | \[\text{Options (a) and (c)}\] | These assume the impulse is the same or larger in Case 1, but they ignore the additional momentum reversal (\(+v\) to \(-u\)) when bouncing from an immovable wall. |
| 9 | \[\text{Options (d) and (e)}\] | Enough information is given: equal masses, equal initial speeds, identical collision times, and stated rebound; thus we can decide without extra data. |
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A block of mass \(M_1\) travels horizontally with a constant speed \(v_0\) on a plateau of height \(H\) until it comes to a cliff. A toboggan of mass \(M_2\) is positioned on level ground below the cliff. The center of the toboggan is a distance \(D\) from the base of the cliff.

Block 2 initially is at rest. Block 1 travels towards block 2 and collides with Block 2 as shown above. Find the final velocities of both blocks assuming the collision is elastic.
Two blocks are on a horizontal, frictionless surface. Block \( A \) is moving with an initial velocity of \( v_0 \) toward block \( B \), which is stationary. The two blocks collide, stick together, and move off with a velocity of \( \frac{v_0}{3} \). Which block, if either, has the greater mass?
You are lying in bed and want to shut your bedroom door. You have a bouncy “superball” and a blob of clay, both with the same mass \( m \). Which one would be more effective to throw at your door to close it?
| Experiment | Initial Velocity of Cart X \( (\text{m/s}) \) | Initial Velocity of Cart Y \( (\text{m/s}) \) | Final Velocity of Cart X \( (\text{m/s}) \) | Final Velocity of Cart Y \( (\text{m/s}) \) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| \( 1 \) | \( 1 \) | \( 0 \) | \( 0 \) | \( 1 \) |
| \( 2 \) | \( 1 \) | \( -1 \) | \( -1 \) | \( 1 \) |
| \( 3 \) | \( 2 \) | \( 1 \) | \( 1 \) | \( 2 \) |
A student performs several experiments in which two carts collide as they travel along a horizontal surface. Cart X and Cart Y both have a mass of \( 1 \) \( \text{kg} \). Data collected from the three experiments are shown in the table above. During which experiment does the center of mass of the system of two carts have the greatest change in its momentum?
A rubber ball and a lump of clay have equal mass. They are thrown with equal speed against a wall. The ball bounces back with nearly the same speed with which it hit. The clay sticks to the wall. Which one of these objects experiences the greater impulse?
A kickball is rolled by the pitcher at a speed of 10 m/s and it is kicked by another student. The kickball deforms a little during the kick, and then rebounds with a velocity of 15 m/s as its shape restores to a perfect sphere. Select all that must be true about the kickball and the kicking foot system.
A bullet at speed \( v_0 \) trikes and embeds itself in a block of wood which is suspended by a string, causing the bullet and block to rise to a maximum height h. Which of the following statements is true?
A \(2 \, \text{kg}\) object slides east at \(4 \, \text{m/s}\) and collides with a stationary \(3 \, \text{kg}\) object. After the collision, the \(2 \, \text{kg}\) object is traveling at an unknown velocity at \(15^\circ\) north of east and the \(3 \, \text{kg}\) object is traveling at \(38^\circ\) south of east. What is each object’s final velocity?

A \(20 \, \text{g}\) piece of clay moving at a speed of \(50 \, \text{m/s}\) strikes a \(500 \, \text{g}\) pendulum bob at rest. The length of a string is \(0.8 \, \text{m}\). After the collision, the clay-bob system starts to oscillate as a simple pendulum.
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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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