AP Physics

Unit 6 - Rotational Motion

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(a) Cable tension \(T\)

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[m_b = 225\,\text{kg},\quad m_s = 45.0\,\text{kg},\quad g = 9.80\,\text{m/s}^2\] Identify given masses: block \(m_b\), uniform strut \(m_s\). Use \(g\) for weight calculations.
2 \[W_b = m_b g = (225)(9.80)=2205\,\text{N}\] Weight of the hanging block acts downward at the strut end.
3 \[W_s = m_s g = (45.0)(9.80)=441\,\text{N}\] Weight of the uniform strut acts downward at its center of mass (midpoint).
4 \[\theta_s = 45^\circ,\quad \theta_T = 30^\circ\] Strut makes \(45^\circ\) with the horizontal; cable makes \(30^\circ\) with the horizontal (as shown).
5 \[\Delta x_{\text{end}} = L\cos 45^\circ,\quad \Delta x_{\text{mid}} = \tfrac{L}{2}\cos 45^\circ\] For torques about the hinge, the lever arm for vertical weights equals the horizontal distance to their lines of action.
6 \[\phi = |45^\circ-30^\circ|=15^\circ\] The angle between the strut (position vector) and the cable force is \(15^\circ\), needed for the cable torque magnitude.
7 \[\tau_T = T\,L\sin 15^\circ\] Torque magnitude from cable about hinge: \(\tau = rF\sin\phi\) with \(r=L\).
8 \[\tau_{W_b} = W_b\,(L\cos 45^\circ)\] Block’s weight produces clockwise torque about hinge with lever arm \(L\cos45^\circ\).
9 \[\tau_{W_s} = W_s\,\Big(\tfrac{L}{2}\cos 45^\circ\Big)\] Strut’s weight acts at midpoint, so lever arm is \(\tfrac{L}{2}\cos45^\circ\), also clockwise.
10 \[\sum \tau_{\text{hinge}}=0:\quad T L\sin 15^\circ – W_b(L\cos45^\circ) – W_s\Big(\tfrac{L}{2}\cos45^\circ\Big)=0\] Equilibrium requires net torque about hinge equals zero. Cable torque counterclockwise balances clockwise torques from weights.
11 \[T\sin 15^\circ = \cos45^\circ\Big(W_b+\tfrac{1}{2}W_s\Big)\] Cancel \(L\) and factor \(\cos45^\circ\) to solve for \(T\).
12 \[T = \dfrac{\cos45^\circ\,(W_b+\tfrac{1}{2}W_s)}{\sin15^\circ}\] Algebraic isolation of \(T\).
13 \[T = \dfrac{(0.7071)\,(2205+0.5\cdot441)}{0.2588} = \dfrac{(0.7071)(2425.5)}{0.2588} \approx 6626\,\text{N}\] Substitute numeric values: \(\cos45^\circ\approx0.7071\), \(\sin15^\circ\approx0.2588\).
14 \[\boxed{T \approx 6.63\times 10^3\,\text{N}}\] Final cable tension.

(b) Hinge horizontal force component on strut

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[\sum F_x=0:\quad H_x + T_x = 0\] Only horizontal forces are the hinge reaction \(H_x\) and the cable’s horizontal component \(T_x\) (weights are vertical).
2 \[T_x = -T\cos30^\circ\] The cable pulls the strut toward the left along the cable, so its horizontal component on the strut is negative (left).
3 \[H_x – T\cos30^\circ=0\] Substitute \(T_x\) into equilibrium equation.
4 \[H_x = T\cos30^\circ\] Solve for hinge horizontal component.
5 \[H_x = (6626)(0.8660)\approx 5739\,\text{N}\] Compute with \(\cos30^\circ\approx0.8660\).
6 \[\boxed{H_x \approx 5.74\times 10^3\,\text{N}\ \text{(to the right)}}\] Direction is to the right to balance the cable’s leftward pull.

(c) Hinge vertical force component on strut

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[\sum F_y=0:\quad H_y + T_y – W_b – W_s = 0\] Vertical forces: hinge reaction \(H_y\) (unknown), cable vertical component \(T_y\) (downward), and the two weights (downward).
2 \[T_y = -T\sin30^\circ\] Cable pulls the strut down along the cable direction at the strut end, so the vertical component is negative (down).
3 \[H_y – T\sin30^\circ – W_b – W_s = 0\] Substitute \(T_y\) into the vertical equilibrium equation.
4 \[H_y = T\sin30^\circ + W_b + W_s\] Algebraic solution for \(H_y\).
5 \[H_y = (6626)(0.5) + 2205 + 441 = 3313 + 2646 = 5959\,\text{N}\] Use \(\sin30^\circ=0.5\) and add total downward loads the hinge must support.
6 \[\boxed{H_y \approx 5.96\times 10^3\,\text{N}\ \text{(upward)}}\] Upward hinge force balances all downward forces.

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\(T \approx 6.63\times 10^3\,\text{N},\quad H_x \approx 5.74\times 10^3\,\text{N},\quad H_y \approx 5.96\times 10^3\,\text{N}\)

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque 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 MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[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
VariableSI 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]
VariableDerived 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. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. 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]

  3. 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]

  4. 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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