AP Physics

Unit 1 - Vectors and Kinematics

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Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 Choose east as +x. Set the red car’s start at the origin.
\[x_R(0)=0,\quad v_{R0}=0,\quad a_R=+3.5,\text{m/s}^2\]
Blue car starts 600 m to the east:
\[x_B(0)=600,\text{m},\quad v_{B0}=-15,\text{m/s},\quad a_B=-1.2,\text{m/s}^2\]
Since the blue car moves west, its velocity is negative. Interpreting “accelerating at 1.2 m/s²” while traveling west means its acceleration is also westward (negative) in this coordinate system.
2 Constant-acceleration position functions:
\[x_R(t)=x_R(0)+v_{R0}t+\tfrac{1}{2} a_R t^2=\tfrac{1}{2}(3.5)t^2=1.75t^2\]
\[x_B(t)=x_B(0)+v_{B0}t+\tfrac{1}{2} a_B t^2=600-15t-0.6t^2\]
Use \(x=x_0+v_0 t+\tfrac{1}{2} a t^2\) for each car.
3 They meet when \(x_R(t)=x_B(t)\):
\[1.75t^2=600-15t-0.6t^2\]
\[2.35t^2+15t-600=0\]
Meeting means same position at the same time; rearranging gives a quadratic in \(t\).
4 Quadratic formula for \(at^2+bt+c=0\) with \(a=2.35\), \(b=15\), \(c=-600\):
\[t=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\]
Discriminant:
\[D=b^2-4ac=15^2-4(2.35)(-600)=225+5640=5865\]
Solve the quadratic exactly; keep sufficient precision to avoid inconsistent positions later.
5 Compute \(\sqrt{5865}\) accurately:
\[\sqrt{5865}\approx 76.583\]
Then
\[t=\frac{-15+76.583}{2(2.35)}=\frac{61.583}{4.7}\approx 13.103,\text{s}\]
Choose the (+) root because time must be positive; the other root is negative and not physical.
6 Meeting position (use either car; results should match when using the same \(t\)):
\[x= x_R(t)=1.75t^2\approx 1.75(13.103)^2\]
\[(13.103)^2\approx 171.683\quad\Rightarrow\quad x\approx 1.75(171.683)\approx 300.45,\text{m}\]
Check with blue car:
\[x_B=600-15t-0.6t^2\approx 600-15(13.103)-0.6(171.683)\approx 300.45,\text{m}\]
Using consistent precision eliminates the earlier mismatch; both equations must give the same meeting point.

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\(t\approx 13.10\,\text{s}\), \(x\approx 300.45\,\text{m}\) east of the red car’s starting point (i.e., \(600-300.45\approx 299.55\,\text{m}\) west of the blue car’s starting point).

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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]

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