| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(T_{\text{max}} = mg\) | The maximum tension \(T_{\text{max}}\) that the wire can withstand is equal to the weight of the heaviest load it can support without breaking. Here, \(m = 70.0 \, \text{kg}\) (mass of the person) and \(g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\) (acceleration due to gravity). |
| 2 | \(T_{\text{max}} = 70.0 \, \text{kg} \cdot 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\) | Calculate the maximum tension \(T_{\text{max}}\) using the product of mass and acceleration due to gravity. |
| 3 | \(T_{\text{max}} = 686 \, \text{N}\) | Performing the multiplication yields the maximum tension value. |
| 4 |
\(T = m_{\text{load}}(g + a)\) |
Using netwons 2nd law, add all the forces acting on the load being lifted. In this case the Tension and weight act in opposite directions, thus \(T – m_{\text{load}}g = m_{\text{load}}a\). Re-arrange the equation for \(T\) and factor out \(m_{\text{load}}\) |
| 5 | \(686 \, \text{N} = 45.0 \, \text{kg} \cdot (9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 + a)\) | Since the wire can just barely support \(686 \, \text{N}\), set the tension required to lift the load equal to this maximum. |
| 6 | \(9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 + a = \frac{686 \, \text{N}}{45.0 \, \text{kg}}\) | Divide both sides by the mass of the load to solve for the acceleration. |
| 7 | \(a = \frac{686 \, \text{N}}{45.0 \, \text{kg}} – 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\) | Solve for \(a\) by subtracting gravity’s acceleration from the result of the division. |
| 8 | \(a \approx 5.4 \, \text{m/s}^2\) | Calculate the value of \(a\). This is the maximum vertical acceleration that can be achieved without breaking the wire. |
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A child on Earth has a weight of \(500 \, \text{N}\). Determine the weight of the child if the Earth were to triple in both mass and radius (\(3M\) and \(3r\)).
A person stands on a scale in an elevator. If the scale reads \( 600 \, \text{N} \) when that person is riding upward at a constant velocity of \( 4 \, \text{m/s} \), what is the scale reading when the elevator is at rest? Hint: The reading on the scale is simply the normal force.
A child on a sled reaches the bottom of a hill with a velocity of \( 10.0 \, \text{m/s} \) and travels \( 25.0 \, \text{m} \) along a horizontal straightaway to a stop. If the child and sled together have a mass of \( 60.0 \, \text{kg} \), what is the average retarding force on the sled on the horizontal straightaway?
A 0.035 kg bullet moving horizontally at 350 m/s embeds itself into an initially stationary 0.55 kg block. Air resistance is negligible.
Why is more fuel required for a spacecraft to travel from the Earth to the Moon than to return from the Moon to the Earth?
A car is driving at \(25 \, \text{m/s}\) when a light turns red \(100 \, \text{m}\) ahead. The driver takes an unknown amount of time to react and hit the brakes, but manages to skid to a stop at the red light. If \(\mu_s = 0.9\) and \(\mu_k = 0.65\), what was the reaction time of the driver?
A \( 200 \)\( \text{ lb} \) block is resting on a \( 30^{\circ} \) incline. The coefficient of static friction between the block and the plane is \( \mu_s = 0.8 \). Will the block remain at rest?
Suppose an object is accelerated by a force of \( 100 \) \( \text{N} \). Suddenly a second force of \( 100 \) \( \text{N} \) in the opposite direction is exerted on the object, so that the forces cancel. The object
Three identical blocks are being pulled or pushed across a rough horizontal surface by force of identical magnitude F, as shown in the drawing below. Rank the kinetic frictional forces that act on the blocks from smallest to greatest.

Find the escape speed from a planet of mass \(6.89 \times 10^{25} \, \text{kg}\) and radius \(6.2 \times 10^{6} \, \text{m}\).
\(a \approx 5.4 \, \text{m/s}^2\)
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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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