AP Physics

Unit 6 - Rotational Motion

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Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[L=5\,\text{m},\quad \Delta x_{\text{bottom}}=3\,\text{m}\] Given ladder length and the horizontal distance of the bottom from the wall.
2 \[\cos\theta=\frac{3}{5}\Rightarrow \sin\theta=\frac{4}{5}\] Use the right triangle formed by the wall, floor, and ladder to get the ladder angle \(\theta\) above the floor.
3 \[y_{\text{top}}=L\sin\theta=5\left(\frac{4}{5}\right)=4\,\text{m}\] The top of the ladder is \(4\,\text{m}\) up the wall; this is the vertical lever arm for the wall’s horizontal force.
4 \[m_L=20\,\text{kg},\quad m_P=80\,\text{kg},\quad g=9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\] List masses and gravitational acceleration for torque balance.
5 \[W_L=m_L g=20(9.8)=196\,\text{N}\] Weight of the uniform ladder acts at its center (midpoint).
6 \[W_P=m_P g=80(9.8)=784\,\text{N}\] Weight of the person acts at their location on the ladder.
7 \[x_L=\left(\frac{L}{2}\right)\cos\theta=2.5\left(\frac{3}{5}\right)=1.5\,\text{m}\] Horizontal distance from the bottom to the ladder’s center of mass (needed for torque from \(W_L\) about the bottom).
8 \[x_P=(4)\cos\theta=4\left(\frac{3}{5}\right)=2.4\,\text{m}\] Horizontal distance from the bottom to the person’s line of action (torque arm for \(W_P\) about the bottom).
9 \[\sum \tau_{\text{bottom}}=0:\quad F_W(y_{\text{top}})-W_L x_L-W_P x_P=0\] Take torques about the bottom contact point so unknown floor forces produce no torque. The wall force \(F_W\) is horizontal at the top, giving lever arm \(y_{\text{top}}\).
10 \[F_W(4)-196(1.5)-784(2.4)=0\] Substitute \(y_{\text{top}}=4\,\text{m}\), \(W_L\), \(x_L\), \(W_P\), and \(x_P\) into the torque equation.
11 \[F_W(4)=294+1881.6=2175.6\] Compute the total clockwise torque from the ladder and person weights.
12 \[F_W=\frac{2175.6}{4}=543.9\,\text{N}\] Solve for the wall’s horizontal force on the ladder.
13 \[\boxed{F_W\approx 5.44\times 10^2\,\text{N}}\] Final force exerted by the wall on the ladder (horizontal reaction at the top).

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\(5.44\times 10^2\,\text{N}\)

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque 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 MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[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
VariableSI 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]
VariableDerived 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. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. 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]

  3. 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]

  4. 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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