| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [katex] F_{\text{net}} = T – mg [/katex] | Write the net force equation for the ball at the bottom of the circle. Here, [katex] T [/katex] is the tension in the string and [katex] mg [/katex] is the gravitational force acting downwards on the ball. |
| 2 | [katex] F_{\text{net}} = \frac{mv^2}{r} [/katex] | Use the centripetal force formula where [katex] m [/katex] is mass, [katex] v [/katex] is the speed, and [katex] r [/katex] is the radius of the circle. |
| 3 | [katex] \frac{mv^2}{r} = T – mg [/katex] | Set the net force equal to the centripetal force. This combines both equations from Steps 1 and 2. |
| 4 | [katex] T = \frac{mv^2}{r} + mg [/katex] | Rearrange the equation to solve for the tension [katex] T [/katex] in the string. |
| 5 | [katex] T = \frac{(2.0 \, \text{kg})(4.0 \, \text{m/s})^2}{0.65 \, \text{m}} + (2.0 \, \text{kg})(9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2) [/katex] | Substitute the known values: mass [katex] m = 2.0 \, \text{kg} [/katex], speed [katex] v = 4.0 \, \text{m/s} [/katex], radius [katex] r = 0.65 \, \text{m} [/katex], and gravitational acceleration [katex] g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 [/katex]. |
| 6 | [katex] T = \frac{(2.0)(16)}{0.65} + 19.6 [/katex] | Calculate intermediate values for clarity: [katex] 4.0^2 = 16 [/katex] and [katex] (2.0)(9.8) = 19.6 [/katex]. |
| 7 | [katex] T = \frac{32}{0.65} + 19.6 [/katex] | Continue simplifying the equation. |
| 8 | [katex] T = 49.23 + 19.6 [/katex] | Divide to find the centripetal force component: [katex] \frac{32}{0.65} = 49.23 [/katex]. |
| 9 | [katex] T = 68.83 \, \text{N} [/katex] | Sum the forces to arrive at the final tension in the string: [katex] 49.23 + 19.6 = 68.83 [/katex]. |
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Two wires are tied to the \(500 \, \text{g}\) sphere as shown above. The sphere revolves in a horizontal circle at a constant speed of \(7.2 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the tension in the upper wire? What is the tension in the lower wire?

A roller coaster ride at an amusement park lifts a car of mass \( 700 \, \text{kg} \) to point \( A \) at a height of \( 90 \, \text{m} \) above the lowest point on the track, as shown above. The car starts from rest at \( A \), rolls with negligible friction down the incline and follows the track around a loop of radius \( 20 \, \text{m} \). Point \( B \), the highest point on the loop, is at a height of \( 50 \, \text{m} \) above the lowest point on the track.
A planet of constant mass orbits the sun in an elliptical orbit. Neglecting any friction effects, what happens to the planet’s rotational kinetic energy about the sun’s center?
An airplane can safely bank when subjected to a centripetal acceleration of 8 g’s. If the airplane flies at a constant speed of 400 m/s, how long does it take to make a 180° turn?
Which of the following best explains why astronauts experience weightlessness while orbiting the earth?

In the figure above, the marble rolls down the track and around a loop-the-loop of radius \( R \). The marble has mass \( m \) and radius \( r \). What minimum height \( h_{min} \) must the track have for the marble to make it around the loop-the-loop without falling off? Express your answer in terms of the variables \( R \) and \( r \).
A ball of mass m is fastened to a string. The ball swings at constant speed in a vertical circle of radius R with the other end of the string held fixed. Neglecting air resistance, what is the difference between the string’s tension at the bottom of the circle and at the top of the circle?
A 2.00 x102 g block on a 50.0 cm long string swings in a circle on a horizontal, frictionless table at 75.0 rpm. What is the speed of block? What is the tension in the string?
A person’s back is against the inner wall of a spinning cylinder with no support under their feet. If the radius is \(R\), find an expression for the minimum angular speed so the person does not slide down the wall. The coefficient of static friction is \(\mu_s\).
If you haven’t studied angular velocity \(\omega\) yet, just find the minumum linear velocity \(v\).
Two identical object rests on a platform rotating at constant speed. Object A is at distance of half the platform’s radius from the center. Object B lays at edge of the platform. Assuming the platform continues rotating at the same speed, how does the centripetal force of the two objects compare?
69 N
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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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