| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\Delta L = \tau_{\text{net}}\,\Delta t\] | The change in angular momentum about the pivot equals the angular impulse. This is the most direct way to get \(\Delta L\) after \(1\,\text{s}\) without needing \(\omega\) or \(I\). |
| 2 | \[\tau_{\text{net}} = \sum \tau_i = \sum \left(r_i F_i\right)\] | Net torque about the pivot is the sum of torques from all weights (gravity forces) acting at their lever arms \(r_i\). The pivot force produces zero torque about the pivot. |
| 3 | \[r_A = 0-0.25 = -0.25\,\text{m},\quad m_A=1.0\,\text{kg}\] | Object \(A\) is at the left end (\(0\,\text{m}\)). Its position relative to the pivot at \(0.25\,\text{m}\) is \(-0.25\,\text{m}\) (left of pivot). |
| 4 | \[r_B = 0.50-0.25 = +0.25\,\text{m},\quad m_B=0.50\,\text{kg}\] | Object \(B\) is at \(0.50\,\text{m}\), which is \(+0.25\,\text{m}\) (right of pivot). |
| 5 | \[r_{\text{stick}} = 0.50-0.25 = +0.25\,\text{m},\quad m_{\text{stick}}=0.50\,\text{kg}\] | The meter stick is uniform, so its weight acts at its center of mass at \(0.50\,\text{m}\), giving the same lever arm \(+0.25\,\text{m}\). |
| 6 | \[\tau_{\text{net}} = g\left(m_A r_A + m_B r_B + m_{\text{stick}} r_{\text{stick}}\right)\] | Each torque from a weight equals \(\tau_i = r_i (m_i g)\), with sign set by whether it tends to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise about the pivot. |
| 7 | \[\tau_{\text{net}} = g\left[(1.0)(-0.25) + (0.50)(+0.25) + (0.50)(+0.25)\right]\] | Substitute the masses and lever arms. The two right-side contributions are positive and the left-side contribution is negative. |
| 8 | \[\tau_{\text{net}} = g\left[-0.25 + 0.125 + 0.125\right] = g(0)=0\] | The torques exactly balance initially, so the net external torque about the pivot is zero. |
| 9 | \[\Delta L = \tau_{\text{net}}\Delta t = (0)(1\,\text{s}) = 0\] | With zero net torque, angular impulse is zero, so angular momentum about the pivot does not change after \(1\,\text{s}\) (it remains whatever it started as, which is also zero because it was released from rest). |
| 10 | \[\boxed{\Delta L = 0\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{s}}\] | Final result for the change in angular momentum of the meter stick about the pivot after one second. |
| 11 | \[\text{Correct choice: (a)}\] | (b) and (c) are nonzero and would require a nonzero net torque. (d) is incorrect because the net torque (and thus \(\Delta L\)) is determinable directly from given masses and lever arms. |
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In both cases, a massless rod is supported by a fulcrum, and a \(200 \, \text{kg}\) hanging mass is suspended from the left end of the rod by a cable. A downward force \(F\) keeps the rod in rest. The rod in Case A is \(50 \, \text{cm}\) long, and the rod in Case B is \(40 \, \text{cm}\) long (each rod is marked at \(10 \, \text{cm}\) intervals). The magnitude of each vertical force \(F\) exerted on the rod will be
A \(350\ \text{g}\) ball is attached to the end of a thin, uniform rod of mass \(500\ \text{g}\) and length \(1.2\ \text{m}\). The system is rotated in a horizontal circle about the opposite end of the rod. Calculate the moment of inertia of the system about the axis of rotation. Hint: the moment of inertia of a thin rod about the end of the rod is \(I = \tfrac{1}{3} m L^2\).

A meterstick is supported at its center, which is aligned with the center of a cradle located at position \( x = 0 \) \( \text{m} \). Two identical objects of mass \( 1.0 \) \( \text{kg} \) are suspended from the meterstick. One object hangs \( 0.25 \) \( \text{m} \) to the left of the support point, and the other object hangs \( 0.50 \) \( \text{m} \) to the right of the support point. The system is released from rest and is free to rotate. Which of the following claims correctly describes the subsequent motion of the system containing the meterstick, cradle, and the two objects?
An object moves at a constant speed of [katex] 9.0 \frac{m}{s} [/katex] in a circular path of radius of 1.5 m. What is the angular acceleration of the object?
A Christmas ornament made from a thin hollow glass sphere hangs from a thin wire of negligible mass. It is observed to oscillates with a frequency of \( 2.50 \) \( \text{Hz} \) in a city where \( g = 9.80 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). What is the radius of the ornament? The moment of inertia of the ornament is given by \( I = \frac{5}{3} mr^2 \).
A meter stick of mass [katex] .2 [/katex] kg is pivoted at one end and supported horizontally. A force of [katex] 3 [/katex] N downwards is applied to the free end, perpendicular to the length of the meter stick. What is the net torque about the pivot point?
Angular momentum cannot be conserved if
A centrifuge in a medical laboratory is rotating at an angular speed of \( 3600 \) \( \text{rev/min} \). When switched off, it rotates \( 50.0 \) times before coming to rest. Find the constant angular deceleration of the centrifuge.
An airliner arrives at the terminal, and the engines are shut off. The rotor of one of the engines has an initial clockwise angular velocity of \( 2000 \) \( \text{rad/s} \). The engine’s rotation slows with an angular acceleration of magnitude \( 80.0 \) \( \text{rad/s}^2 \).
To increase the moment of inertia of a body about an axis, you must
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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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