| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\] | Use the period formula for a mass–spring system, where \(T\) is the period, \(m\) the mass, and \(k\) the spring constant. |
| 2 | \[k = \frac{4\pi^2m}{T^2}\] | Solve for \(k\) by squaring the period equation and isolating \(k\). |
| 3 | \[k = \frac{4\pi^2 (5000)}{10^2} = \frac{4\pi^2 (5000)}{100} = 200\pi^2\] | Substitute \(m=5000\;\text{kg}\) and \(T=10\;\text{s}\) into the equation. |
| 4 | \[\boxed{k = 200\pi^2 \;\text{N/m}}\] | This is the final expression for the spring constant. |
Part (b): Equation of Motion
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\] | This is the standard form for simple harmonic motion, with amplitude \(A\), angular frequency \(\omega\), and phase \(\phi\). |
| 2 | \[A = 2,\quad \phi = 0\] | The elephant is pulled \(2\;\text{m}\) from equilibrium and released from rest, so the amplitude is \(2\;\text{m}\) and the initial phase is zero. |
| 3 | \[\omega = \frac{2\pi}{T} = \frac{2\pi}{10} = \frac{\pi}{5}\] | Calculate the angular frequency using the given period \(T=10\;\text{s}\). |
| 4 | \[x(t) = 2 \cos\Big(\frac{\pi}{5}t\Big)\] | Substitute \(A=2\), \(\omega=\pi/5\), and \(\phi=0\) into the standard equation. |
| 5 | \[\boxed{x(t) = 2 \cos\Big(\frac{\pi}{5}t\Big)}\] | This is the final equation of motion for the elephant on the spring. |
Part (c): Time to Travel from a Displacement of \(0.5\;\text{m}\) to \(1\;\text{m}\)
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[x(t) = 2 \cos\Big(\frac{\pi}{5}t\Big)\] | Recall the equation of motion from part (b). |
| 2 | \[2 \cos\Big(\frac{\pi}{5}t_1\Big) = 1\] | Set \(x(t_1)=1\;\text{m}\) to find the time \(t_1\) when the displacement is \(1\;\text{m}\). |
| 3 | \[\cos\Big(\frac{\pi}{5}t_1\Big) = \frac{1}{2}\] | Simplify the equation from step 2. |
| 4 | \[\frac{\pi}{5}t_1 = \cos^{-1}\Big(\frac{1}{2}\Big) = \frac{\pi}{3}\] | Use the inverse cosine; note that \(\cos^{-1}(1/2) = \pi/3\) within the relevant interval. |
| 5 | \[t_1 = \frac{5}{\pi}\cdot \frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{5}{3}\] | Solve for \(t_1\) by isolating it. |
| 6 | \[2 \cos\Big(\frac{\pi}{5}t_2\Big) = 0.5\] | Set \(x(t_2)=0.5\;\text{m}\) to determine the time \(t_2\) when the displacement is \(0.5\;\text{m}\). |
| 7 | \[\cos\Big(\frac{\pi}{5}t_2\Big) = 0.25\] | Simplify the equation from step 6. |
| 8 | \[\frac{\pi}{5}t_2 = \cos^{-1}(0.25)\] | Express \(t_2\) in terms of the inverse cosine. |
| 9 | \[t_2 = \frac{5}{\pi}\cos^{-1}(0.25)\] | Solve for \(t_2\) by isolating it. |
| 10 | \[\Delta t = \Big|t_2 – t_1\Big| = \frac{5}{\pi}\Big|\cos^{-1}(0.25) – \frac{\pi}{3}\Big|\] | The time interval required to travel between the two displacements is the difference between \(t_2\) and \(t_1\). The absolute value ensures a positive time difference regardless of the order of passage. |
| 11 | \[\boxed{\Delta t = \frac{5}{\pi}\Big(\cos^{-1}(0.25) – \frac{\pi}{3}\Big) \approx 0.43\;\text{s}}\] | This is the final expression and its approximate numerical value for the time interval. |
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A box of mass \( 20 \) \( \text{kg} \) moves to the right on a horizontal frictionless surface with a speed of \( 4.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \). The box collides with and remains attached to one end of a spring of negligible mass whose other end is fixed to a wall. After the collision, the spring compresses a maximum distance of \( 0.50 \) \( \text{m} \), and the box then oscillates back and forth.
At time \( t = 0 \), an object is released from rest at position \( x = +x_{\text{max}} \) and undergoes simple harmonic motion along the \( x \)-axis about the equilibrium position of \( x = 0 \). The period of oscillation of the object is \( T \). Which of the following expressions is equal to the object’s position at time \( t = \dfrac{T}{8} \)?
The graph represents the position \( x \) as a function of time \( t \) for an object undergoing simple harmonic motion. Which of the following equations could represent the position \( x \) as a function of time \( t \)?
When the mass of a simple pendulum is tripled, the time required for one complete vibration
A \( 240 \) \( \text{kg} \) block is dropped from \( 3.0 \) meters onto a spring, compresses the spring and comes to rest.
For an object oscillating in SHM, what is the relationship between its displacement, velocity, and acceleration graphs as a function of time?
A 0.4 kg object is attached to a horizontal spring undergoes SHM with the total energy of 0.2 J. The potential energy as a function of position presented by the graph.
A block attached to a 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?
Block \( 1 \) of mass \( m_1 \) and Block \( 2 \) of mass \( m_2 = 2 m_1 \) are each attached to identical horizontal springs. Each block is displaced from equilibrium by an unknown amount and the blocks are released from rest simultaneously, undergoing simple harmonic motion. A student claims that Block \( 1 \) will make its first return to its equilibrium position before Block \( 2 \) first returns to its equilibrium position. Is this claim correct? Why or why not?
The launching mechanism of a toy gun consists of a spring with an unknown spring constant, \( k \). When the spring is compressed \( 0.120 \, \text{m} \) vertically, a \( 35.0 \, \text{g} \) projectile is able to be fired to a maximum height of \( 25 \, \text{m} \) above the position of the projectile when the spring is compressed. Assume that the barrel of the gun is frictionless.
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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] | |
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] |
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