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| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[\text{Forces on the ladder:}\] | We identify all external forces acting on the uniform ladder in static equilibrium, with a smooth (frictionless) wall and a rough ground. |
| \[W=50\,\text{N}\ \text{acting at the center (at }L/2\text{ from either end)}\] | The ladder is uniform, so its weight 0\(W\) acts downward at its center of mass located at \(L/2\). |
| \[N_g\ \text{at ground, upward}\] | The ground exerts a normal reaction \(N_g\) on the ladder, perpendicular to the ground (vertical upward). |
| \[f_s\ \text{at ground, horizontal toward the wall}\] | Static friction at the ground prevents the bottom from sliding outward (away from the wall). The impending motion would make the bottom slip outward, so friction must act toward the wall. |
| \[N_w\ \text{at wall, horizontal away from the wall}\] | The wall is smooth, so it exerts only a normal force \(N_w\), perpendicular to the wall (horizontal). It pushes the ladder away from the wall. |
| \[f_w=0\] | Because the wall is smooth, there is no friction force at the wall. |
| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[\sum F_y=0:\quad N_g-W=0\] | Static equilibrium requires the net vertical force to be zero. Only \(N_g\) (up) and \(W\) (down) act vertically. |
| \[N_g=W\] | From \(N_g-W=0\), the ground normal equals the weight. |
| \[\sum F_x=0:\quad f_s-N_w=0\] | Static equilibrium requires the net horizontal force to be zero. Horizontally we have friction \(f_s\) (toward wall) and wall normal \(N_w\) (away from wall). |
| \[f_s=N_w\] | From \(f_s-N_w=0\), the friction force must balance the wall normal force. |
| \[\sum \tau_{\text{about bottom}}=0\] | Take torques about the bottom contact point to eliminate \(N_g\) and \(f_s\) from the torque equation (they act at the pivot, producing no moment arm). |
| \[\tau_{N_w}=N_w(L\sin\theta)\] | The top contact point is at height \(L\sin\theta\). The force \(N_w\) is horizontal, so its perpendicular moment arm about the bottom is \(L\sin\theta\). |
| \[\tau_W=W\left(\frac{L}{2}\cos\theta\right)\] | The weight acts at the midpoint. Its horizontal distance from the bottom is \((L/2)\cos\theta\). Since \(W\) is vertical, that horizontal distance is the perpendicular lever arm. |
| \[\sum \tau=0:\quad N_w(L\sin\theta)-W\left(\frac{L}{2}\cos\theta\right)=0\] | Choose counterclockwise positive. \(N_w\) tends to rotate the ladder counterclockwise; \(W\) tends to rotate it clockwise. |
| \[N_w\sin\theta=\frac{W}{2}\cos\theta\] | Cancel \(L\) from both terms and rearrange. |
| \[N_w=\frac{W}{2}\cot\theta\] | Solve the torque balance for \(N_w\) in terms of \(\theta\). |
| \[f_s=N_w=\frac{W}{2}\cot\theta\] | Use \(f_s=N_w\) from horizontal equilibrium. |
| \[f_s\le \mu N_g\] | Static friction can take any value up to its maximum \(\mu N_g\). The minimum angle occurs at impending slip, where friction is at maximum. |
| \[\frac{W}{2}\cot\theta=\mu W\] | At the threshold of slipping, set \(f_s=\mu N_g\) and use \(N_g=W\). |
| \[\frac{1}{2}\cot\theta=\mu\] | Cancel \(W\) (nonzero) from both sides. |
| \[\cot\theta=2\mu\] | Multiply both sides by \(2\). |
| \[\tan\theta=\frac{1}{2\mu}\] | Take the reciprocal to solve for \(\theta\) using \(\tan\theta\). |
| \[\tan\theta=\frac{1}{2(0.4)}=\frac{1}{0.8}=1.25\] | Substitute \(\mu=0.4\) and compute. |
| \[\theta=\arctan(1.25)\approx 51.3^\circ\] | Compute the angle whose tangent is \(1.25\). |
| \[\boxed{\theta_{\min}\approx 51.3^\circ}\] | This is the minimum angle so that the required friction does not exceed the maximum static friction. |
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A rod may freely rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the rod and is along the plane of the page. The rod is divided into four sections of equal length of 0.2 m each, and four forces are exerted on the rod, as shown in the figure. Frictional forces are considered negligible. Which of the following describes an additional torque that must be applied in order to keep the rod from rotating?
Four systems are in rotational motion. Which of the following combinations of rotational inertia and angular speed for each of the systems corresponds to the greatest rotational kinetic energy?
| System | Rotational Inertia | Angular Speed |
|---|---|---|
| A | \( I_0 \) | \( \omega_0 \) |
| B | \( I_0 \) | \( 4\, \omega_0 \) |
| C | \( 2 I_0 \) | \( 2\, \omega_0 \) |
| D | \( 6 I_0 \) | \( \omega_0 \) |
Two uniform disks have the same radius but different masses: disk \( 1 \) has a mass \( M \), disk \( 2 \) has a mass \( 2M \). What is the ratio of the moment of inertia of the first disk to the second disk?
A \( 6.00 \, \text{m} \) long, \( 500 \, \text{kg} \) steel uniform beam extends horizontally from the point where it has been bolted to the framework of a new building under construction. A \( 70 \, \text{kg} \) construction worker stands at the far end of the beam. What is the magnitude of the torque about the bolt due to the worker and the weight of the beam?
Two points, A and B, are on a disk that rotates about an axis. Point A is \( 3 \) times as far from the axis as point B. If the speed of point B is \( v \), then what is the speed of point A?
A ladder at rest is leaning against a wall at an angle. Which of the following forces must have the same magnitude as the frictional force exerted on the ladder by the floor?
A pulley system consists of two blocks of mass \( 5 \) \( \text{kg} \) and \( 10 \) \( \text{kg} \), connected by a rope of negligible mass that passes over a pulley of radius \( 0.1 \) \( \text{m} \) and mass \( 2 \) \( \text{kg} \). The pulley is free to rotate about its axis. The system is released from rest, and the block of mass \( 10 \) \( \text{kg} \) starts to move downwards. Assume the pulley has a frictional force of \(5.7\) Newtons acting on the outer edge of the pulley.
| Wagon | Wheel Structure | Moment of Inertia | Wheel Mass | Wheel Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagon \(A\) | Solid disk | \[\frac{1}{2} M R^2\] | \[ 0.5 \, \text{kg} \] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{m} \] |
| Wagon \(B\) | Solid disk | \[\frac{1}{2} M R^2\] | \[ 0.2 \, \text{kg} \] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{m} \] |
| Wagon \(C\) | Hollow hoop | \[M R^2\] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{kg} \] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{m} \] |
Three wagons have identical total mass (including their wheels) and each has four wheels. However, the wheels on each wagon have different designs with varying mass distributions and radii as shown in a reference chart. When accelerating each wagon from a standstill to \( 10 \) \( \text{m/s} \), which wagon requires the most energy input?

A system of two wheels fixed to each other is free to rotate about a frictionless axis through the common center of the wheels and perpendicular to the page. Four forces are exerted tangentially to the rims of the wheels, as shown in the figure. The magnitude of the net torque on the system about the axis is
A horizontal uniform meter stick of mass 0.2 kg is supported at its midpoint by a pivot point. A mass of 0.1 kg is attached to the left end of the meter stick, and another mass of 0.15 kg is attached to the right end of the meter stick. The meter stick is free to rotate in the horizontal plane around the pivot point. What is the tension in the string supporting the left end of the meter stick?
\(\boxed{\theta_{\min}\approx 51.3^\circ}\)
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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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