| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\text{Choose }a: \text{4 kg down, others up}\] | Set a common magnitude \(a\). The 4 kg block moves downward; 2 kg and 1 kg move upward. |
| 2 | \[m_1 g- T_1 = m_1 a\] | Newton’s 2ⁿᵈ for 4 kg (down is positive). |
| 3 | \[T_1- m_2 g- T_2 = m_2 a\] | 2 kg block: up is positive. |
| 4 | \[T_2- m_3 g = m_3 a\] | 1 kg block: up is positive. |
| 5 | \[T_1 = m_1(g-a)\qquad T_2 = m_3(g+a)\] | Solve Steps 2 and 4 for \(T_1\) and \(T_2\). |
| 6 | \[m_1(g-a)-m_2 g-m_3(g+a)=m_2 a\] | Substitute \(T_1\) and \(T_2\) into Step 3. |
| 7 | \[a=g\frac{m_1-m_2-m_3}{m_1+m_2+m_3}\] | Collect like terms and isolate \(a\). |
| 8 | \[a=9.8\,(\mathrm{m/s^2})\frac{4-2-1}{4+2+1}=1.4\,\mathrm{m/s^2}\] | Insert \(m_1=4\,\text{kg},\; m_2=2\,\text{kg},\; m_3=1\,\text{kg}\). |
| 9 | \[\boxed{a=1.4\,\mathrm{m/s^2}\text{ (4 kg downward)}}\] | Final acceleration magnitude and direction for the 4 kg block. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T_1=m_1(g-a)\] | From Step 5 of part (a). |
| 2 | \[T_1=4\,(9.8-1.4)=33.6\,\mathrm{N}\] | Insert \(m_1=4\,\text{kg}\) and \(a=1.4\,\mathrm{m/s^2}\). |
| 3 | \[\boxed{T_1=33.6\,\mathrm{N}}\] | Numerical tension in the string holding the 4 kg block. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T_2=m_3(g+a)\] | From Step 5 of part (a). |
| 2 | \[T_2=1\,(9.8+1.4)=11.2\,\mathrm{N}\] | Insert \(m_3=1\,\text{kg}\) and \(a=1.4\,\mathrm{m/s^2}\). |
| 3 | \[\boxed{T_2=11.2\,\mathrm{N}}\] | Numerical tension in the lower string. |
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A uniform rope of weight \( 30 \, \text{N} \) hangs from a hook. A box of mass \( 40 \, \text{kg} \) is suspended from the rope. What is the tension in the rope?
A \(3300 \, \text{m}\)-high mountain is located on the equator. How much faster does a climber on top of the mountain move than a surfer at a nearby beach? The Earth’s radius is \(6400 \, \text{km}\) and the Earth’s mass is \(5.97 \times 10^{24} \, \text{kg}\).
There are two cables that lift an elevator, each with a force of \(10{,}000 \, \text{N}\). The \(1{,}000 \, \text{kg}\) elevator is lifted from the first floor and accelerates over \(10 \, \text{m}\) until it reaches its top speed of \(6 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the mass of the people in the elevator?
By pressing a painting of mass \( 2.00 \) \( \text{kg} \) against a wall, a man is trying to determine whether it is appropriately positioned. The wall is perpendicular to the pushing force. The coefficient of static friction between the image and the wall is \( 0.660 \). What is the bare minimum pushing force that must be applied?

A ball of mass \( m \) is suspended from two strings of unequal length as shown above. The magnitudes of the tensions \( T_1 \) and \( T_2 \) in the strings must satisfy which of the following relations?
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?

Find the tension in each cable supporting the gymnast who weighs \( 600 \) \( \text{N} \). The gymnast is at rest, holding a junction point where two cables are attached: one cable is horizontal, and the second cable is attached to the ceiling making an angle of \( 37^{\circ} \) above the horizontal, as shown in the diagram.

A \( 4700 \, \text{kg} \) truck carrying a \( 900 \, \text{kg} \) crate is traveling at \( 25 \, \text{m/s} \) to the right along a straight, level highway, as shown above. The truck driver then applies the brakes, and as it slows down, the truck travels \( 55 \, \text{m} \) in the next \( 3.0 \, \text{s} \). The crate does not slide on the back of the truck.
Which of the following best explains why astronauts experience weightlessness while orbiting the earth?
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
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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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