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| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\phi_m = 180^\circ,\; \phi_{2M} = 0^\circ,\; \phi_M = 120^\circ\] | Define the angular positions (\(\phi\)) of masses \(m\), \(2M\), and \(M\) measured counter-clockwise from the right-hand horizontal. |
| 2 | \[\tau = -Rmg\cos\phi\] | The torque produced by a mass at angle \(\phi\) is found from \(\vec\tau = \vec r \times \vec F\); with \(\vec F = (0,-mg)\) only the \(x\)-component \(R\cos\phi\) enters. |
| 3 | \[\tau_{m}=+Rmg,\; \tau_{2M}=-2RMg,\; \tau_M=+\tfrac{1}{2}RMg\] | Insert \(\cos 180^\circ=-1,\;\cos 0^\circ=1,\;\cos 120^\circ=-\tfrac{1}{2}\) into the expression from Step 2 and note the resulting signs (positive = counter-clockwise). |
| 4 | \[\tau_{\text{net}} = Rg\big(m + \tfrac{1}{2}M – 2M\big) = 0\] | Static equilibrium requires the algebraic sum of torques about the axle to vanish. |
| 5 | \[m = \tfrac{3M}{2}\] | Solve the torque balance for \(m\). |
| 6 | \[\boxed{m=\tfrac{3M}{2}}\] | This matches choice (c); other options leave a non-zero net torque and the wheel would rotate. |
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A system consists of two small disks, of masses \( m \) and \( 2m \), attached to a rod of negligible mass of length \( 3l \) as shown above. The rod is free to turn about a vertical axis through point \( P \). The two disks rest on a rough horizontal surface; the coefficient of friction between the disks and the surface is \( \mu \). At time \( t = 0 \), the rod has an initial counterclockwise angular velocity \( \omega_0 \) about \( P \). The system is gradually brought to rest by friction. Develop expressions for the following quantities in terms of \( \mu \), \( m \), \( l \), \( g \), and \( \omega_0 \).
A 0.72-m-diameter solid sphere can be rotated about an axis through its center by a torque of 10.8 N·m which accelerates it uniformly from rest through a total of 160 revolutions in 15.0 s. What is the mass of the sphere?
A uniform solid cylinder of mass [katex] M [/katex] and radius [katex] R [/katex] is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. A massless string is attached to the cylinder and is wrapped around it. The string is then pulled with a constant force [katex] F [/katex] , causing the cylinder to rotate about its center of mass. After the cylinder has rotated through an angle [katex] \theta [/katex], what is the kinetic energy of the cylinder in terms of [katex] F [/katex] and [katex] \theta [/katex]?

Two disks, A and B, each experience a net external torque that varies over an interval of \( 5 \) \( \text{s} \). Disk B has a rotational inertia that is twice that of Disk A. The graph shown represents the angular momentum of the two disks as functions of time between \( t = 0 \) \( \text{s} \) and \( t = 5 \) \( \text{s} \). The average magnitudes of the net torques exerted on disks A and B from \( t = 0 \) \( \text{s} \) to \( t = 5 \) \( \text{s} \) are \( \tau_A \) and \( \tau_B \), respectively. Which of the following expressions correctly relates the magnitudes of the average torques?
An airliner arrives at the terminal, and the engines are shut off. The rotor of one of the engines has an initial clockwise angular velocity of \( 2000 \) \( \text{rad/s} \). The engine’s rotation slows with an angular acceleration of magnitude \( 80.0 \) \( \text{rad/s}^2 \).
A race car travels in a circular track of radius \( 200 \) \( \text{m} \). If the car moves with a constant speed of \( 80 \) \( \text{m/s} \),
A meter stick of mass 200 grams is balanced at the 40-cm mark when a 100-gram mass is suspended from the 10-cm mark. What is the distance from the pivot point to the center of mass of the meter stick? Give your answer in centimeters.
Consider a rigid body that is rotating. Which of the following is an accurate statement?
Why are doorknobs located on the side of the door opposite the hinges?
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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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