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| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[a=\frac{g\sin\theta}{1+\frac{I}{m r^2}}\] | This is the general acceleration for an object that rolls without slipping down an incline. It accounts for both translational and rotational motion. |
| 2 | \[I=\frac{2}{5}mr^2\] | For a uniform solid sphere, the moment of inertia is given by \(I=\frac{2}{5}mr^2\). Thus, the ratio \( \frac{I}{mr^2}=\frac{2}{5}\) is a constant. |
| 3 | \[a=\frac{g\sin\theta}{1+\frac{2}{5}}=\frac{g\sin\theta}{\frac{7}{5}}=\frac{5}{7}g\sin\theta\] | Substituting \(\frac{I}{mr^2}=\frac{2}{5}\) into the acceleration formula shows that the acceleration of any uniform solid sphere rolling without slipping is \(\frac{5}{7}g\sin\theta\), independent of its mass or radius. |
| 4 | \[\Delta x=\frac{1}{2}at^2 \quad \rightarrow \quad t=\sqrt{\frac{2\Delta x}{a}}\] | Since both spheres traverse the same distance \(\Delta x\) with the same acceleration \(a\), the time \(t\) to reach the bottom is identical for both. |
| 5 | \[\boxed{t_{\text{small}}=t_{\text{large}}}\] | This confirms that both spheres reach the bottom at the same time, despite differences in mass and size because the ratio \(\frac{I}{mr^2}\) is the same for both. |
| 6 | \[\boxed{(c) \; \text{Both reach the bottom at the same time}}\] | The answer is (c). The large sphere is not faster because the acceleration for rolling objects depends on the distribution of mass, which is identical in ratio for both spheres. Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect because they suggest a difference in arrival time or insufficient information, neither of which applies here. |
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A uniform, solid, \( 100 \) \( \text{kg} \) cylinder with a diameter of \( 1.0 \) \( \text{m} \) is mounted so it is free to rotate about a fixed, horizontal, frictionless axis that passes through the centers of its circular ends. A \( 10 \) \( \text{kg} \) block is hung from a very light, thin cord wrapped around the cylinder’s circumference. When the block is released, the cord unwinds and the block accelerates downward. What is the acceleration of the block?
A solid metal bar is at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface. It is free to rotate about a vertical axis at the left end. The figures below show forces of different magnitudes that are exerted on the bar at different locations. In which case does the bar’s angular speed about the axis increase at the fastest rate?
A net torque is applied to the edge of a spinning object as it rotates about its internal axis. The table shows the net torque exerted on the object at different instants in time. How can a student use the data table to determine the change in angular momentum of the object from \( 0 \) to \( 6 \) \( \text{s} \)? Justify your selection.
| Time \( (\text{s}) \) | Net Torque \( (\text{N} \cdot \text{m}) \) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 1.5 |
| 4 | 3.0 |
| 6 | 4.5 |
Two points, A and B, are on a disk that rotates about an axis. Point A is \( 3 \) times as far from the axis as point B. If the speed of point B is \( v \), then what is the speed of point A?
A planet of constant mass orbits the sun in an elliptical orbit. Neglecting any friction effects, what happens to the planet’s rotational kinetic energy about the sun’s center?
A seesaw is balanced on a fulcrum, with a boy of mass \( M_1 \) sitting on one end and a girl of mass \( M_2 \) sitting on the other end. The seesaw is a uniform plank of length \( L \) and mass \( M \). The fulcrum is located at the midpoint of the plank. Does \( M_1 = M_2 \)? Justify your working.
A high-speed drill rotating counterclockwise at \( 2400 \) \( \text{rpm} \) comes to a halt in \( 2.5 \) \( \text{s} \).

A system consists of a disk rotating on a frictionless axle and a piece of clay moving toward it, as shown in the figure above. The outside edge of the disk is moving at a linear speed \( v \), and the clay is moving at speed \( \frac{v}{2} \). The clay sticks to the outside edge of the disk. How does the angular momentum of the system after the clay sticks compare to the angular momentum of the system before the clay sticks, and what is an explanation for the comparison?
A centrifuge accelerates uniformly from rest to 15,000 rpm in 240 s. Through how many revolutions did it turn in this time?
You try to open a door, but you are unable to push at a right angle to the door. So, you push the door at an angle of \( 35^{\circ} \) from the horizontal. How much harder would you have to push to open the door just as fast as if you were to push it at \( 90^{\circ} \)?
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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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