| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[m v_i = (m+M) v_x\] | Linear momentum is conserved during the perfectly inelastic collision because no external horizontal forces act. The small block of mass \(m\) with speed \(v_i\) sticks to the block \(M\); both move together with speed \(v_x\). |
| 2 | \[v_x = \frac{m}{m+M}v_i\] | Algebraically solve for the common speed \(v_x\). |
| 3 | \[\boxed{v_x = \frac{m}{m+M}v}\] | Replace \(v_i\) by the given speed \(v\) of the incoming block. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\tfrac{1}{2}(m+M) v_x^2 = \tfrac{1}{2} k A^2\] | The kinetic energy of the joined masses right after impact transforms completely into spring potential energy at maximum compression (amplitude \(A\)). |
| 2 | \[A = v_x\sqrt{\frac{m+M}{k}}\] | Solve the energy equation for \(A\). |
| 3 | \[A = \frac{m v}{m+M}\sqrt{\frac{m+M}{k}}\] | Substitute the expression for \(v_x\) obtained in part (a). |
| 4 | \[\boxed{A = \frac{m v}{\sqrt{k\,(m+M)}}}\] | Simplify the radicals and fractions. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m+M}{k}}\] | The system now behaves as a simple mass–spring oscillator with effective mass \(m+M\) and spring constant \(k\). The standard formula for the period of such an oscillator is used. |
| 2 | \[\boxed{T = 2\pi \sqrt{\dfrac{m+M}{k}}}\] | Final expression for the period. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[E = \tfrac{1}{2}(m+M) v_x^2\] | Total mechanical energy after collision equals the kinetic energy just after impact; this energy stays constant and equals the maximum spring potential energy. |
| 2 | \[E = \tfrac{1}{2}(m+M)\left(\frac{m}{m+M}v\right)^2\] | Insert the value of \(v_x\) from part (a). |
| 3 | \[\boxed{E = \frac{m^2 v^2}{2\,(m+M)}}\] | Simplify the algebraic expression. |
A Major Upgrade To Phy Is Coming Soon — Stay Tuned
We'll help clarify entire units in one hour or less — guaranteed.
A self paced course with videos, problems sets, and everything you need to get a 5. Trusted by over 15k students and over 200 schools.
A block attached to spring demonstrates simple harmonic motion about its equilibrium position with amplitude \( A \) and angular frequency \( \omega \). What is the maximum magnitude of the block’s velocity?
In \(3.0 \, \text{minutes}\), a ski lift raises \(10\) skiers at constant speed to a height of \(85 \, \text{m}\). The ski lift is \(55^\circ\) above the horizontal and the average mass of each skier is \(67.5 \, \text{kg}\). What is the average power provided by the tension in the cable pulling the lift?
What force is necessary to stretch an ideal spring with a spring constant of \( 120 \) \( \text{N/m} \) by \( 30 \) \( \text{cm} \)?
A car traveling to the right with a speed \( v \) brakes to a stop in a distance \( d \). What is the work done on the car by the frictional force \( F \)? (Assume that the frictional force is constant)
From the figure above, determine which characteristic fits this collision best.
It takes \(4 \, \text{s}\) for an individual to push a \(70 \, \text{kg}\) box up a \(5 \, \text{m}\) long, \(12^\circ\) ramp. The box starts from rest and achieves a speed of \(2.5 \, \text{m/s}\) at the top. Friction does \(350 \, \text{J}\) of work during its ascent. Calculate the power output of the individual pushing the box.
A 0.5 kg pendulum bob is raised to 1.0 m above the floor, as shown in the figure. The bob is then released from rest. When the bob is 0.8 m above the floor, its speed is most nearly
A \(2 \, \text{kg}\) model rocket is launched with a thrust force of \(275 \, \text{N}\) and reaches a height of \(90 \, \text{m}\), at which point the thrust cuts out, but the rocket continues moving at \(150 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the average air resistance force acting on the rocket during its ascent?
A satellite in circular orbit around the Earth moves at constant speed. This orbit is maintained by the force of gravity between the Earth and the satellite, yet no work is done on the satellite. How is this possible?
How does the speed \(v_1\) of a block \(m\) reaching the bottom of slide 1 compare with \(v_2\), the speed of a block \(2m\) reaching the end of slide 2? The blocks are released from the same height.
\(v_x = \frac{m}{m+M} v\)
\(A = \frac{m v}{\sqrt{k (m+M)}}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m+M}{k}}\)
\(E = \frac{m^2 v^2}{2(m+M)}\)
By continuing you (1) agree to our Terms of Use and Terms of Sale and (2) consent to sharing your IP and browser information used by this site’s security protocols as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
| 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] | |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] |
One price to unlock most advanced version of Phy across all our tools.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
We crafted THE Ultimate A.P Physics 1 Program so you can learn faster and score higher.
Try our free calculator to see what you need to get a 5 on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam.
Understand you mistakes quicker.
Phy automatically provides feedback so you can improve your responses.
10 Free Credits To Get You Started
By continuing you agree to nerd-notes.com Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and our usage of user data.
Feeling uneasy about your next physics test? We'll boost your grade in 3 lessons or less—guaranteed
