| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_f = v_i + at \) | Use the first equation of motion to relate the initial velocity, final velocity, and time. |
| 2 | \(0 \, \text{m/s} = 5.0 \, \text{m/s} – 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \cdot t \) | At maximum height, the final velocity \(v_f\) is zero, the initial velocity \(v_i\) is \(5.0 \, \text{m/s}\), and the acceleration \(a\) is \(-9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\) (due to gravity). |
| 3 | \( t = \frac{5.0 \, \text{m/s}}{9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2} \approx 0.51 \, \text{s} \) | Calculate the time interval for the rock to reach its maximum height. This is only the time to reach the maximum height, so the total time to fall back to the original location is double this time. |
| 4 | \( t_{\text{total}} = 2 \cdot 0.51 \, \text{s} \approx 1.02 \, \text{s} \) | Multiply by 2 to get the total time interval for the rock to return to its original location. |
| 5 | \(\boxed{1.02 \, \text{s}}\) | Final answer for part (a) |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_f = v_i + at \) | Use the first equation of motion to relate the initial velocity, final velocity, and time. |
| 2 | \(v_f = 5.0 \, \text{m/s} – 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \cdot 1.02 \, \text{s} \) | The initial velocity \(v_i\) is \(5.0 \, \text{m/s}\), the acceleration \(a\) is \(-9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\) (due to gravity), and the total time \(t\) is \(1.02 \, \text{s}\). |
| 3 | \(v_f \approx 5.0 \, \text{m/s} – 10.0 \, \text{m/s} = -5.0 \, \text{m/s} \) | Calculate the final velocity when the rock returns to the same height. Note the negative sign indicates the direction is downward. |
| 4 | \(\boxed{-5.0 \, \text{m/s}}\) | Final answer for part (b). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(a = -g\) | Acceleration due to gravity is always acting downward. |
| 2 | \(a = -9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\) | Even at maximum height, the acceleration due to gravity remains \(-9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\). |
| 3 | \(\boxed{-9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2}\) | Final answer for part (c). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_f = 0 \, \text{m/s}\) | At maximum height, the velocity of the rock is zero as it changes direction. |
| 2 | \(\boxed{0 \, \text{m/s}}\) | Final answer for part (d) |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2a\Delta x\) | Use the third equation of motion to relate initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration, and displacement. |
| 2 | \(0 = (5.0 \, \text{m/s})^2 + 2(-9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2)\Delta x\) | At maximum height, the final velocity \(v_f\) is zero. The initial velocity \(v_i\) is \(5.0 \, \text{m/s}\), and acceleration \(a\) is \(-9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2\). |
| 3 | \(0 = 25 – 19.6 \Delta x \) | Simplify the equation. |
| 4 | \( 19.6 \Delta x = 25 \) | Rearrange the equation to solve for height \( \Delta x \). |
| 5 | \( \Delta x = \frac{25}{19.6} \approx 1.28 \, \text{m} \) | Calculate the maximum height using the final value obtained from the rearranged equation. |
| 6 | \( \boxed{1.28 \, \text{m}} \) | Final answer for part (e). |
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.
Which of these scenarios involve accelerated motion? (Select all that apply)

On another planet, a ball is in free fall after being released from rest at time \( t = 0 \). A graph of the height of the ball above the planet’s surface as a function of time \( t \) is shown. The acceleration due to gravity on the planet is most nearly
An object is released from rest near the surface of a planet. The velocity of the object as a function of time is expressed in the following equation. \( v_y = (-3) \, \text{m/s}^2 \, t \) All frictional forces are considered to be negligible. What distance does the object fall \( 10 \) \( \text{s} \) after it is released from rest?
A ball is dropped from the top of a tall building. At the same instant, a second ball is thrown upward from the ground level. When the two balls pass one another, one on the way up, the other on the way down, compare the magnitudes of their acceleration:

The motions of a car and a truck along a straight road are represented by the velocity–time graphs in the figure. The two vehicles are initially alongside each other at time \(t = 0\). At time \(T\), what is true of the distances traveled by the vehicles since time \(t = 0\)?
A helicopter is ascending vertically with a speed of \( 5.40 \) \( \text{m/s} \). At a height of \( 105 \) \( \text{m} \) above the Earth, a package is dropped from the helicopter. How much time does it take for the package to reach the ground?
A skater glides across the ice at a constant \( 6 \) \( \text{m/s} \). After \( 4 \) \( \text{s} \), friction gradually slows them down until they come to rest in \( 6 \) \( \text{s} \). They pause for \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \), then push off in the opposite direction, steadily gaining speed for \( 5 \) \( \text{s} \). Draw the velocity vs. time graph.
In which of the following is the particle’s acceleration constant?
A cart with an initial velocity of \(5.0 ~ \text{m/s}\)to the right experiences a constant acceleration of \(2.0 ~ \text{m/s}^2\) to the right. What is the cart’s displacement during the first \(6.0 ~ \text{s}\) of this motion?
Two objects are dropped from rest from the same height. Object \( A \) falls through a distance \( d_A \) during a time \( t \), and object \( B \) falls through a distance \( d_B \) during a time \( 2t \). If air resistance is negligible, what is the relationship between \( d_A \) and \( d_B \)?
A) \( 1.02 \, \text{s} \)
B) \( -5 \, \text{m/s} \)
C) \( -9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)
D) \( 0 \, \text{m/s} \)
E) \( 1.28 \, \text{m} \)
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] | 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 |
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.
A quick explanation
Credits are used to grade your FRQs and GQs. Pro users get unlimited credits.
Submitting counts as 1 attempt.
Viewing answers or explanations count as a failed attempts.
Phy gives partial credit if needed
MCQs and GQs are are 1 point each. FRQs will state points for each part.
Phy customizes problem explanations based on what you struggle with. Just hit the explanation button to see.
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
NEW! PHY AI accurately solves all questions
🔥 Get up to 30% off Elite Physics Tutoring
🧠 NEW! Learn Physics From Scratch Self Paced Course
🎯 Need exam style practice questions?