| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[p_i = m v_i\] | Linear momentum is the product of mass and velocity. We take motion toward the wall as positive. |
| 2 | \[p_i = (0.10\,\text{kg})(+25\,\text{m/s}) = +2.5\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\] | Substitute the given mass and initial speed. |
| 3 | \[v_f = -19\,\text{m/s}\] | After rebounding, the ball moves in the opposite direction, so the velocity is negative in our sign convention. |
| 4 | \[p_f = m v_f = (0.10\,\text{kg})(-19\,\text{m/s}) = -1.9\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\] | Compute the final momentum with the reversed velocity. |
| 5 | \[\Delta p = p_f – p_i \] | Change in momentum equals final minus initial momentum (vector subtraction). |
| 6 | \[\Delta p = -1.9\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s} – (+2.5\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}) = -4.4\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\] | Carry out the subtraction, keeping the signs. |
| 7 | \[|\Delta p| = 4.4\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\] | The problem asks for the magnitude of the change, so we take the absolute value. |
| 8 | \[\boxed{4.4\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}}\] | Numerical result corresponds to choice (d). |
| Choice | Reasoning for Each Choice |
|---|---|
| (a) \(72\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\) | This value might come from confusing momentum with kinetic–energy terms, e.g. writing \(m(v_i^2+v_f^2)\) (forgetting the factor 1/2 and the unit mismatch): \(0.10(25^2+19^2)\approx72\). It ignores both proper units and the vector nature of momentum. |
| (b) \(1.8\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\) | A student could mis-read the rebound speed as \(18\,\text{m/s}\) and then report “final momentum only,” i.e. \(p_f \approx m(18)=1.8\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\), forgetting to compute the change and omitting the sign. |
| (c) \(1.2\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\) | This can result from ignoring direction but doubling the mass by mistake: using \(m=0.20\,\text{kg}\) and \(|v_i-v_f|=6\,\text{m/s}\): \(0.20\times6=1.2\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\). |
| (d) \(4.4\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\) | Correct: \(|\Delta p| = m|v_f – v_i| = 0.10\times| -19 – 25 | = 4.4\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m/s}\). |
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Two identical blocks are connected to the opposite ends of a compressed spring. The blocks initially slide together on a frictionless surface with velocity \( v \) to the right. The spring is then released by remote control. At some later instant, the left block is moving at \( \frac{v}{2} \) to the left, and the other block is moving to the right. What is the speed of the center of mass of the system at that instant?
You are lying in bed and want to shut your bedroom door. You have a bouncy “superball” and a blob of clay, both with the same mass \( m \). Which one would be more effective to throw at your door to close it?
If you want to double the momentum of a gas molecule, by what factor must you increase its kinetic energy?
Two blocks are on a horizontal, frictionless surface. Block \( A \) is moving with an initial velocity of \( v_0 \) toward block \( B \), which is stationary. The two blocks collide, stick together, and move off with a velocity of \( \frac{v_0}{3} \). Which block, if either, has the greater mass?
Block 2 initially is at rest. Block 1 travels towards block 2 and collides with Block 2 as shown above. Find the final velocities of both blocks assuming the collision is elastic.
Two particles of equal mass \( m_0 \) are moving with equal speeds \( v_0 \) along paths inclined at \( 60^\circ \) to the \( x \)-axis, as shown above. They collide and stick together in a perfectly inelastic collision. Their velocity after the collision has magnitude:
The two blocks of masses \( M \) and \( 2M \) travel at the same speed \( v \) but in opposite directions. They collide and stick together. How much mechanical energy is lost to other forms of energy during the collision?
A small block of mass \( M \) is released from rest at the top of the curved frictionless ramp shown above. The block slides down the ramp and is moving with a speed \( 3.5v_0 \) when it collides with a larger block of mass \( 1.5M \) at rest at the bottom of the incline. The larger block moves to the right at a speed \( 2v_0 \) immediately after the collision.
Express your answers to the following questions in terms of the given quantities and fundamental constants.
A firecracker in a coconut blows the coconut into three pieces. Two pieces of equal mass fly off south and west, perpendicular to each other, at \( 18 \) \( \text{m/s} \). The third piece has \( 2.5 \) times the mass as the other two.
A “doomsday” asteroid with a mass of \( 1010 \, \text{kg} \) is hurtling through space. Unless the asteroid’s speed is changed by about \( 0.20 \, \text{cm/s} \), it will collide with Earth and cause tremendous damage. Researchers suggest that a small “space tug” sent to the asteroid’s surface could exert a gentle constant force of \( 2.5 \, \text{N} \). For how long must this force act?
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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] | |
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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