(a) How far does the textbook travel horizontally after it is released?
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_{0x} = v_0 \cos(\theta)\) | Calculate the initial horizontal velocity. Use the initial speed and the angle of projection. |
| 2 | \(v_{0y} = v_0 \sin(\theta)\) | Calculate the initial vertical velocity. Use the initial speed and the angle of projection. |
| 3 | \(v_{0x} = 20 \cos(36^\circ) \approx 16.2 \, \text{m/s}\) | Substitute \( v_0 = 20 \, \text{m/s} \) and \( \theta = 36^\circ \) into the horizontal velocity formula. |
| 4 | \(v_{0y} = 20 \sin(36^\circ) \approx 11.8 \, \text{m/s}\) | Substitute \( v_0 = 20 \, \text{m/s} \) and \( \theta = 36^\circ \) into the vertical velocity formula. |
| 5 | \(y = v_{0y} t – \frac{1}{2} g t^2 + \text{initial height}\) | Use the equation of motion in the vertical direction. The textbook is moving under gravity. |
| 6 | \(0 = 12 + 11.8 t – \frac{1}{2} \cdot 9.8 t^2\) | Set the displacement \( y \) to zero because we are calculating the time \( t \) when the textbook reaches the ground. \( g = 9.8 \text{m/s}^2 \). |
| 7 | \(4.9 t^2 – 11.8 t – 12 = 0\) | Simplify the quadratic equation to solve for \( t \). |
| 8 | \( t = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 – 4ac}}{2a} \) | Use the quadratic formula where \( a = 4.9 \), \( b = -11.8 \), and \( c = -12 \). |
| 9 | \( t \approx 3.18 \, \text{s} \) | Solve the equation and take the positive root. This is the time the textbook stays in the air. |
| 10 | \( x = v_{0x} \cdot t \) | Calculate the horizontal distance the textbook travels. Use the horizontal velocity and the time. |
| 11 | \( x \approx 16.2 \times 3.18 \approx 51.5 \, \text{m} \) | Substitute \( v_{0x} = 16.2 \, \text{m/s} \) and \( t = 3.18 \, \text{s} \) into the horizontal distance formula to get the final answer. |
| \( \text{The horizontal distance traveled is approximately } 51.5 \, \text{m}\) | ||
(b) What is the book’s velocity (speed and direction) when it reaches the ground?
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_y = v_{0y} – g t \) | Calculate the final vertical velocity using the initial vertical velocity, gravitational acceleration, and time. |
| 2 | \(v_y = 11.8 – 9.8 \times 3.18 \approx -19.4 \, \text{m/s}\) | Substitute \( v_{0y} = 11.8 \, \text{m/s} \), \( g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \), and \( t = 3.18 \, \text{s} \) into the vertical velocity formula. |
| 3 | \(v_{\text{total}} = \sqrt{v_{x}^2 + v_y^2} \) | Calculate the magnitude of the total velocity using the Pythagorean theorem. |
| 4 | \(v_{\text{total}} \approx \sqrt{16.2^2 + (-19.4)^2} \approx 25.3 \, \text{m/s} \) | Substitute \( v_{x} = 16.2 \, \text{m/s} \) and \( v_y = -19.4 \, \text{m/s} \) into the total velocity formula. |
| 5 | \(\theta = \tan^{-1} \left(\frac{v_y}{v_x}\right) \) | Calculate the direction of the velocity. Use the inverse tangent to find the angle. |
| 6 | \(\theta \approx \tan^{-1} \left(\frac{-19.4}{16.2}\right) \approx -50.1^\circ \) | The vector points 50.1° below the x-axis. |
| \( \text{The velocity when the book reaches the ground is approximately } 25.3 \, \text{m/s} \text{ at } -50.1^\circ \) | ||
(c) What is the book’s maximum height above the ground?
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v_y = 0 \) | The vertical velocity at the maximum height is zero. |
| 2 | \(v_y = v_{0y} – g t\) | Use the vertical motion equation to find the time to reach maximum height. |
| 3 | \(0 = 11.8 – 9.8 t\) | Set final vertical velocity \( v_y = 0 \) and solve for \( t \). |
| 4 | \(t = \frac{11.8}{9.8} \approx 1.20 \, \text{s}\) | Solving the equation gives the time to reach maximum height. |
| 5 | \(H = v_{0y} t – \frac{1}{2} g t^2 + \text{initial height}\) | Use the vertical motion equation to find the maximum height. |
| 6 | \(H \approx 11.8 \times 1.2 – \frac{1}{2} \times 9.8 \times (1.2)^2 + 12 \) | Substitute \( v_{0y} = 11.8 \, \text{m/s} \), \( g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \), \( t = 1.2 \, \text{s} \), and initial height = 12 m. |
| 7 | \(H \approx 19.1 \, \text{m}\) | Calculate the maximum height above the ground. |
| \( \text{The maximum height above the ground is approximately } 19.1 \, \text{m} \) | ||
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.
A skier is accelerating down a \( 30.0^{\circ} \) hill at \( 3.80 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \).
Which of the following statements about the acceleration due to gravity is TRUE?
One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \(h\) above the floor. A block of mass \(M\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \(x\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \(D\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \(M, x, D, h,\) and any constants.
A projectile is fired with an initial speed of \( 36.6 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at an angle of \( 42.2^\circ \) above the horizontal on a long flat firing range.
A baseball is hit high and far across a field. Which of the following statements is true? At the highest point:
Consider a ball thrown up from the surface of the earth into the air at an angle of \( 30^\circ \) above the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible. The ball’s acceleration just after release is most nearly
A cannon fires projectiles on a flat range at a fixed speed but with variable angle. The maximum range of the cannon is \(L\). What is the range of the cannon when it fires at an angle of \(30^\circ\) above the horizontal? Ignore air resistance.
A ball is shot from the top of a building with an initial velocity of \( 18 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at an angle \( \theta = 42^\circ \) above the horizontal.
Barry Bonds hits a \(125 \,\text{m}\) home run. Assuming that the ball left the bat at an angle of \(45^\circ\) from the horizontal, calculate how long the ball was in the air.
A ball is launched horizontally from a height. At the same time, another ball is dropped vertically from the same height. Which hits the ground first?
a) 51.5 m
b) 25.3 m/s at 50.1° below the horizontal
c) 19.1 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?