Part (a): Find the speed of the third piece
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Let \( m \) be the mass of each smaller piece, thus the mass of the third piece is \( 2.5m \). | According to the problem, the third piece has 2.5 times the mass of each of the other two pieces. |
| 2 | \( \vec{p}_{\text{total}} = \vec{0} \) | The total initial momentum is zero since the coconut was stationary before exploding. |
| 3 | Let \( \vec{v}_3 \) be the velocity of the third piece and \( \theta \) its angle from west towards south. Then, \( \vec{p}_{\text{total}} = m \vec{v}_S + m \vec{v}_W + 2.5m \vec{v}_3 = \vec{0} \) \( \vec{v}_S = 18\, \text{m/s} \, \hat{j} \quad \text{and} \quad \vec{v}_W = -18\, \text{m/s} \, \hat{i} \) \( -m \cdot 18 \, \hat{i} + m \cdot 18 \, \hat{j} + 2.5m \vec{v}_3 = \vec{0} \) |
Set the total momentum as the vector sum of individual momenta. The pieces are moving south and west with the same speed but in perpendicular directions. |
| 4 | \( \vec{v}_3 = \left(\frac{18}{2.5}\right) \hat{i} – \left(\frac{18}{2.5}\right) \hat{j} \) \( \vec{v}_3 = 7.2 \hat{i} – 7.2 \hat{j} \; \text{m/s} \) |
Rearrange to find the velocity vector of the third piece. Cancel \(m\) and solve for \( \vec{v}_3 \). |
| 5 | \( \text{Speed of third piece } |\vec{v}_3| = \sqrt{(7.2)^2 + (7.2)^2} = \sqrt{103.68} \approx 10.18 \; \text{m/s} \) |
Calculate the magnitude to find the speed of the third piece. |
| 6 | 10.18 m/s | Answer for part (a), the speed of the third piece. |
Part (b): Find the direction of the third piece
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( \tan(\theta) = \frac{-7.2}{7.2} = -1 \) \( \theta = \tan^{-1}(-1) = 135^\circ \, \text{(from east counterclockwise)} \) |
The angle \( \theta \) is measured from the negative x-axis, thus the piece is moving to the northeast. Alternatively we can state that its 45 degrees north east. |
| 2 | 45 degrees north east | Answer for part (b). |
Part (c): Reducing the impact force of the collision for the bystander
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( F = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t} \) | Force experienced by the bystander can be reduced by increasing the impact time \(\Delta t\) or reducing the momentum change \(\Delta p\). |
| 2 | Wear protective gear or position a net/barrier | By wearing protective gear or positioning an absorbent barrier (like a net), the bystander can prolong the impact time and reduce the force. |
| 3 | Use protective measures or barriers | Answer for part (c), suggesting that protective gear or an impact-absorbing barrier would reduce the effect of the collision. |
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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?
| 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 pool cue ball, mass \(0.7 \, \text{kg}\), is traveling at \(2 \, \text{m/s}\) when it collides head-on with another ball, mass \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\), traveling in the opposite direction with a speed of \(1.2 \, \text{m/s}\). After the collision, the cue ball travels in the opposite direction at \(0.3 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the velocity of the other ball?

A bullet (mass: \(0.05 \, \text{kg}\)) is fired horizontally (\(v = 200 \, \text{m/s}\)) at a block (mass: \(1.3 \, \text{kg}\)) initially at rest on a frictionless surface. The block is attached to a spring (\(k = 2500 \, \text{N/m}\)). The bullet becomes embedded. Calculate:

Refer to the diagram above and solve all equations in terms of \(R\), \(M\), \(k\), and constants.

Two particles of equal mass \( m_0 \) are moving with equal speeds \( v_0 \) along paths inclined at \( 60^\circ \) to the \( x \)-axis, as shown above. They collide and stick together in a perfectly inelastic collision. Their velocity after the collision has magnitude:
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?
A cardinal (Richmondena cardinalis) of mass \( 3.80 \times 10^{-2} \) \( \text{kg} \) and a baseball of mass \( 0.150 \) \( \text{kg} \) have the same kinetic energy. What is the ratio of the cardinal’s magnitude \( p_c \) of momentum to the magnitude \( p_b \) of the baseball’s momentum?
Astronaut Jennifer’s lifeline to her spaceship comes loose and she finds herself stranded, “floating” \( 100 \) \( \text{m} \) from the mothership. She suddenly throws her \( 2.00 \) \( \text{kg} \) wrench at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) in a direction away from the ship. If she and her spacesuit have a combined mass of \( 200 \) \( \text{kg} \), how long does it take her to coast back to her spaceship?
A \(0.10 \, \text{kg}\) ball, traveling horizontally at \(25 \, \text{m/s}\), strikes a wall and rebounds at \(19 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the magnitude of the change in the momentum of the ball during the rebound?
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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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