AP Physics

Unit 1 - Vectors and Kinematics

Intermediate

Mathematical

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Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
(a) How much time does it take for a diver to reach the water?
1 Use the vertical motion equation:

\( y = y_0 + v_{0y} t + \dfrac{1}{2} a t^2 \)

Relates vertical position, initial velocity, time, and acceleration.
2 Set final position \( y = 0 \, \text{m} \), initial position \( y_0 = 36 \, \text{m} \), initial velocity \( v_{0y} = +2 \, \text{m/s} \), and acceleration \( a = -9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \):

\( 0 = 36 + 2 t – 4.9 t^2 \)

Plugged in known values; acceleration is negative due to gravity.
3 Rearrange the equation to standard quadratic form:

\( -4.9 t^2 + 2 t + 36 = 0 \)
Multiply both sides by -1:
\( 4.9 t^2 – 2 t – 36 = 0 \)

Prepared to solve the quadratic equation for \( t \).
4 Use the quadratic formula \( t = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 – 4ac}}{2a} \), where \( a = 4.9 \), \( b = -2 \), \( c = -36 \):

Discriminant \( D = b^2 – 4ac \):
\( D = (-2)^2 – 4(4.9)(-36) = 4 + 705.6 = 709.6 \)

Calculated the discriminant for the quadratic equation.
5 Solve for \( t \):

\( t = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \dfrac{-(-2) \pm \sqrt{709.6}}{2 \times 4.9} \)
\( \sqrt{709.6} \approx 26.65 \)
\( t = \dfrac{2 \pm 26.65}{9.8} \)

Applied quadratic formula to find possible values of \( t \).
6 Select the positive root (physical solution):

\( t = \dfrac{2 + 26.65}{9.8} \approx \dfrac{28.65}{9.8} \approx 2.92 \, \text{s} \)

Negative time is not physically meaningful here; chose positive time.
(b) What is the diver’s velocity right before they hit the water?
7 Use the velocity equation:

\( v = v_0 + a t \)

Relates final velocity, initial velocity, acceleration, and time.
8 Substitute known values \( v_0 = +2 \, \text{m/s} \), \( a = -9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \), \( t = 2.92 \, \text{s} \):

\( v = 2 + (-9.8)(2.92) \)
\( v = 2 – 28.62 \approx -26.62 \, \text{m/s} \)

Calculated final velocity; negative sign indicates downward direction.
9 Express the speed and direction:

The diver’s speed is \( 26.62 \, \text{m/s} \) downward.

Provided the magnitude and clarified the direction.

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A) \( 2.92 \, \text{s} \)

B) \( -26.62 \, \text{m/s} \)

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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]

General Metric Conversion Chart

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]

  1. 1. Some answers may vary by 1% due to rounding.
  2. Gravity values may differ: \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\) or \(10 \, \text{m/s}^2\).
  3. Variables can be written differently. For example, initial velocity (\(v_i\)) may be \(u\), and displacement (\(\Delta x\)) may be \(s\).
  4. Bookmark questions you can’t solve to revisit them later
  5. 5. Seek help if you’re stuck. The sooner you understand, the better your chances on tests.

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