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Part (a): Find the speed of the third piece
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Let [katex] m [/katex] be the mass of each smaller piece, thus the mass of the third piece is [katex] 2.5m [/katex]. | According to the problem, the third piece has 2.5 times the mass of each of the other two pieces. |
| 2 | [katex] \vec{p}_{\text{total}} = \vec{0} [/katex] | The total initial momentum is zero since the coconut was stationary before exploding. |
| 3 | Let [katex] \vec{v}_3 [/katex] be the velocity of the third piece and [katex] \theta [/katex] its angle from west towards south. Then, [katex] \vec{p}_{\text{total}} = m \vec{v}_S + m \vec{v}_W + 2.5m \vec{v}_3 = \vec{0} [/katex] [katex] \vec{v}_S = 18\, \text{m/s} \, \hat{j} \quad \text{and} \quad \vec{v}_W = -18\, \text{m/s} \, \hat{i} [/katex] [katex] -m \cdot 18 \, \hat{i} + m \cdot 18 \, \hat{j} + 2.5m \vec{v}_3 = \vec{0} [/katex] |
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 | [katex] \vec{v}_3 = \left(\frac{18}{2.5}\right) \hat{i} – \left(\frac{18}{2.5}\right) \hat{j} [/katex] [katex] \vec{v}_3 = 7.2 \hat{i} – 7.2 \hat{j} \; \text{m/s} [/katex] |
Rearrange to find the velocity vector of the third piece. Cancel [katex]m[/katex] and solve for [katex] \vec{v}_3 [/katex]. |
| 5 | [katex] \text{Speed of third piece } |\vec{v}_3| = \sqrt{(7.2)^2 + (7.2)^2} = \sqrt{103.68} \approx 10.18 \; \text{m/s} [/katex] |
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 | [katex] \tan(\theta) = \frac{-7.2}{7.2} = -1 [/katex] [katex] \theta = \tan^{-1}(-1) = 135^\circ \, \text{(from east counterclockwise)} [/katex] |
The angle [katex] \theta [/katex] 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 | [katex] F = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t} [/katex] | Force experienced by the bystander can be reduced by increasing the impact time [katex]\Delta t[/katex] or reducing the momentum change [katex]\Delta p[/katex]. |
| 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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| 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] | |
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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