| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(y = \frac{1}{2} g t^2\) | Since the ball is in free fall, its vertical motion is described by the kinematic formula for position under constant acceleration, where \(y\) is the vertical displacement, \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\)) and \(t\) is the time of fall. |
| 2 | \(t = \sqrt{\frac{2y}{g}}\) | To find the time it takes for the ball to reach the ground, solve for \(t\) from the vertical displacement equation, using \(y = 20 \, \text{m}\) for the height of the cliff. |
| 3 | \(v_y = g t\) | Use the vertical velocity formula where \(v_y\) is the velocity in the vertical direction at time \(t\). |
| 4 | \(v_y = g \sqrt{\frac{2y}{g}}\) | Substitute the expression for \(t\) from step 2 into the formula for \(v_y\) to express the vertical velocity as a function of \(y\) and \(g\). |
| 5 | \(v_y = \sqrt{2gy}\) | Simplify the expression for \(v_y\). |
| 6 | \(v_y = \sqrt{2 \cdot 9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2 \cdot 20 \, \text{m}}\) | Plug in the values for \(g\) and \(y\) to calculate \(v_y\). |
| 7 | \(v_y = 19.8 \, \text{m/s}\) | Calculate the numerical value of \(v_y\). |
| 8 | \(v = \sqrt{v_x^2 + v_y^2}\) | The total velocity \(v\) right before hitting the ground is found using the Pythagorean theorem, where \(v_x\) is the horizontal velocity. |
| 9 | \(v = \sqrt{11^2 + 19.8^2}\) | Given the horizontal velocity \(v_x = 11 \, \text{m/s}\), use the vertical velocity calculated previously. |
| 10 | \(v = 22.7 \, \text{m/s}\) | Calculate the final total velocity of the ball just before it hits the ground. |
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A ball is launched horizontally from a height. At the same time, another ball is dropped vertically from the same height. Which hits the ground first?
A ball is launched and lands \( 20 \) \( \text{m} \) away below the launch point \( 2.5 \) \( \text{s} \) later. The maximum height reached is \( 8.0 \) \( \text{m} \). What was the original launch velocity?
A ball of mass \( M \) is attached to a string of length \( L \). It moves in a vertical circle and at the bottom the ball just clears the ground. The tension at the bottom of the path is \( 3 \) times the weight of the ball. Give all answers in terms of \( M \), \( L \), and \( g \).
Which launch angle gives the greatest horizontal range, assuming level ground and no air resistance?
A train is moving to the right at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \). A passenger on the train throws a ball horizontally to the left at \( 5 \) \( \text{m/s} \) (relative to the train).
Water balloons are tossed from the roof of a building, all with the same speed but with different launch angles. Which one has the highest speed when it hits the ground? Ignore air resistance. Without using equations, explain your answer.
A officer fires a pistol horizontally toward a target \(120 \,\text{m}\) at a velocity of \(200 \, \text{m/s}\). If the officer aimed directly at the bull’s eye
A batter hits a fly ball which leaves the bat \( 0.90 \) \( \text{m} \) above the ground at an angle of \( 61^\circ \) with an initial speed of \( 28 \) \( \text{m/s} \) heading toward centerfield. Ignore air resistance.
A projectile is launched at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) and lands \( 35 \) \( \text{m} \) away on level ground. At what two horizontal positions is the projectile exactly \( 5.0 \) \( \text{m} \) above the ground?
Three identical rocks are launched with identical speeds from the top of a platform of height \( h_0 \).
Which of the following correctly relates the magnitude \( v_y \) of the vertical component of the velocity of each rock immediately before it hits the ground?
22.7 m/s
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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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