| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[m_1 = 4\,\text{kg},\; m_2 = 6\,\text{kg},\; v_{1i}=+1.8\,\text{m/s},\; v_{2i}=-1.2\,\text{m/s},\; v_{1f}=-0.6\,\text{m/s},\; v_{2f}=+1.4\,\text{m/s}\] | Assign masses and velocities; rightward is positive. |
| 2 | \[p_i = m_1 v_{1i} + m_2 v_{2i}\] | Total linear momentum before collision. |
| 3 | \[p_i = 4(1.8) + 6(-1.2) = 7.2 – 7.2 = 0\,\text{kg·m/s}\] | Numeric value of initial momentum of the system. |
| 4 | \[p_f = m_1 v_{1f} + m_2 v_{2f}\] | Total linear momentum after collision. |
| 5 | \[p_f = 4(-0.6) + 6(1.4) = -2.4 + 8.4 = 6.0\,\text{kg·m/s}\] | Numeric value of final momentum of the system. |
| 6 | \[\Delta p = p_f – p_i = 6.0 – 0 = 6.0 \neq 0\] | Momentum of system changed; therefore momentum conservation is violated. |
| 7 | \[KE_i = \tfrac{1}{2}m_1 v_{1i}^2 + \tfrac{1}{2}m_2 v_{2i}^2 = 0.5(4)(1.8)^2 + 0.5(6)(1.2)^2 = 10.8\,\text{J}\] | Kinetic energy before collision (needed for options b & c). |
| 8 | \[KE_f = \tfrac{1}{2}m_1 v_{1f}^2 + \tfrac{1}{2}m_2 v_{2f}^2 = 0.5(4)(0.6)^2 + 0.5(6)(1.4)^2 = 6.6\,\text{J}\] | Kinetic energy after collision. |
| 9 | \[KE_f < KE_i\] | Energy decreases, ruling out any increase and showing it is not elastic. |
| 10 | \[\boxed{\text{(d)}}\] | (a) Incorrect: objects did not stick. (b) Incorrect: neither momentum nor kinetic energy is conserved. (c) Incorrect: kinetic energy decreases. Only (d) matches the observed violation of momentum conservation. |
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If the coefficient of static friction is \( \mu_s = 0.5 \), how much force must be applied to a spring (spring constant of \( 0.8 \) \( \text{N/m} \)) which is attached to a block of wood (mass \( 4.0 \) \( \text{kg} \)) in order to just begin to move the block?
A \(6 \, \text{kg}\) cube rests against a compressed spring with a force constant of \(1{,}800 \, \text{N/m}\), initially compressed by \(0.3 \, \text{m}\). Upon release, the cube slides on a horizontal surface with a kinetic friction coefficient of \(\mu_k = 0.12\) for \(3 \, \text{m}\), then ascends a \(12^\circ\) slope, stopping after \(4.5 \, \text{m}\). Determine the coefficient of kinetic friction on the slope.
A rescue helicopter lifts a 79 kg person straight up by means of a cable. The person has an upward acceleration of 0.70 m/s2 and is lifted through a distance of 11 m.
A person holds a book at rest a few feet above a table. The person then lowers the book at a slow constant speed and places it on the table. Which of the following accurately describes the change in the total mechanical energy of the Earth–book system?

A super dart of mass \(20 \, \text{g}\), traveling at \(350 \, \text{m/s}\), strikes a steel plate at an angle of \(30^\circ\) with the plane of the plate, as shown in the figure. It bounces off the plate at the same angle but at a speed of \(320 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the magnitude of the impulse that the plate gives to the bullet?
An object is projected vertically upward from ground level. It rises to a maximum height \( H \). If air resistance is negligible, which of the following must be true for the object when it is at a height \( H/2 \) ?
A \( 240 \) \( \text{kg} \) block is dropped from \( 3.0 \) meters onto a spring, compresses the spring and comes to rest.
A uniform solid cylinder of mass \( M \) and radius \( R \) 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 \( F \) , causing the cylinder to rotate about its center of mass. After the cylinder has rotated through an angle \( \theta \), what is the kinetic energy of the cylinder in terms of \( F \) and \( \theta \)?

A platform is initially rotating on smooth ice with negligible friction, as shown above. A stationary disk is dropped directly onto the center of the platform. A short time later, the disk and platform rotate together at the same angular velocity, as shown at right in the figure. How does the angular momentum of only the platform change, if at all, after the disk drops? And what is the best justification.
You kick a ball straight up. Compare the sign of the work done by gravity on the ball while it goes up with the sign of the work done by gravity while it goes down.
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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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