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| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex]x_{M_1} = \frac{L}{2}[/katex] | The boy is sitting at one end of the seesaw, which places him at a distance of half the length of the plank ([katex]L[/katex]) from the fulcrum. |
| 2 | [katex]x_{M_2} = \frac{L}{2}[/katex] | The girl is sitting at the other end of the seesaw opposite to the boy, also at a distance of half the length of the plank from the fulcrum. |
| 3 | [katex]x_M = \frac{L}{2}[/katex] | The mass of the plank ([katex]M[/katex]) is uniformly distributed, thus its center of mass is at the midpoint of the plank, which coincides with the fulcrum. |
| 4 | [katex] \tau_{M_1} = M_1 \cdot g \cdot \frac{L}{2} [/katex] | Calculate the torque due to the boy’s mass at one end of the seesaw. Torque is given by [katex] \tau = r \times F [/katex] where [katex] r [/katex] is the distance from the pivot point and [katex] F [/katex] is the force due to weight, which is [katex] M_1 \cdot g [/katex]. |
| 5 | [katex] \tau_{M_2} = M_2 \cdot g \cdot \frac{L}{2} [/katex] | Calculate the torque due to the girl’s mass at the other end. Similar to step 4, using the girl’s mass. |
| 6 | [katex] \tau_M = M \cdot g \cdot 0 [/katex] | Calculate the torque due to the seesaw’s own mass. Since the seesaw’s center of mass is exactly at the fulcrum, the distance [katex] r [/katex] is zero, thus the torque is zero. |
| 7 | [katex] \tau_{total} = \tau_{M_1} – \tau_{M_2} [/katex] | Sum the torques. Torque due to the boy is assumed counterclockwise and positive, while that due to the girl is clockwise and negative (or vice versa depending on assignment). |
| 8 | [katex] M_1 \cdot g \cdot \frac{L}{2} = M_2 \cdot g \cdot \frac{L}{2} [/katex] | For the seesaw to be balanced, the total torque must be 0. Setting the torques equal gives this balance condition. |
| 9 | [katex] M_1 = M_2 [/katex] | Solve for the relationship between [katex] M_1 [/katex] and [katex] M_2 [/katex]. Since all other factors are equal and cancel out, the masses must be equal for balance. |
| 10 | [katex] M_1 = M_2 [/katex] | This shows that for the seesaw to remain balanced with a plank mass placed uniformly, the masses of the boy and girl must be equal. This is the condition for mechanical equilibrium. |
Just ask: "Help me solve this problem."

A uniform meter stick has a mass of \( 45.0 \) \( \text{g} \) placed at the \( 20 \) \( \text{cm} \) mark. If a pivot is placed at the \( 42.5 \) \( \text{cm} \) mark and the meter stick remains horizontal in static equilibrium, what is the mass of the meter stick?

In an experiment, an external torque is applied to the edge of a disk of radius \( 0.5 \) \( \text{m} \) such that the edge of the disk speeds up as it continues to rotate. The tangential speed as a function of time is shown for the edge of the disk. The rotational inertia of the disk is \( 0.125 \) \( \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2 \). Can a student use the graph and the known information to calculate the net torque exerted on the edge of the disk?
If a constant net torque is applied to an object it will (select all that applies):
Suppose just two external forces act on a stationary, rigid object and the two forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Under what condition does the object start to rotate?
A uniform stick has length \( L \). The moment of inertia about the center of the stick is \( I_0 \). A particle of mass \( M \) is attached to one end of the stick. The moment of inertia of the combined system about the center of the stick is
Yes. Both children have identical masses. See working in explanation.
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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] |
General Metric Conversion Chart
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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