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AP Physics

Unit 6 - Rotational Motion

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(a) Calculate the linear speed of the sphere when it reaches the bottom of the incline.

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 [katex]h = L \sin(\theta)[/katex] Calculate the vertical height [katex]h[/katex] fallen by the sphere using the length of the incline [katex]L[/katex] and the sine of the incline angle [katex]\theta[/katex].
2 [katex]h = 7.0 \sin(35^\circ)[/katex] Substitute [katex]L = 7.0 \, m[/katex] and [katex]\theta = 35^\circ[/katex].
3 [katex]PE_{\text{top}} = KE_{\text{trans}} + KE_{\text{rot}}[/katex] Use the conservation of mechanical energy, where potential energy at the top is equal to the sum of transnational kinetic energy and rotational kinetic energy at the bottom.
4 [katex]mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{2}I\omega^2[/katex] Express the conservation of energy equation in terms of [katex]v[/katex] (linear velocity) and [katex]\omega[/katex] (angular velocity).
5 [katex]I = \frac{2}{5}MR^2[/katex] Substitute the given moment of inertia for a solid sphere, where [katex]I = \frac{2}{5}MR^2[/katex].
6 [katex]v = R\omega[/katex] Relation between linear velocity and angular velocity for rolling without slipping.
7 [katex]\omega = \frac{v}{R}[/katex] Rearrange the equation for [katex]\omega[/katex].
8 [katex]mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{2}(\frac{2}{5}MR^2)(\frac{v}{R})^2[/katex] Substitute [katex]I[/katex] and [katex]\omega[/katex] in terms of [katex]v[/katex] and [katex]R[/katex].
9 [katex]mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{5}mv^2[/katex] Simplify the equation by canceling [katex]M[/katex] and [katex]R[/katex].
10 [katex]mgh = \frac{7}{10}mv^2[/katex] Combine like terms.
11 [katex]v^2 = \frac{10}{7}gh[/katex] Isolate [katex]v^2[/katex].
12 [katex]v = \sqrt{\frac{10}{7}gh}[/katex] Take the square root to find [katex]v[/katex].
13 [katex]v = \sqrt{\frac{10}{7}(9.8)(7.0 \sin(35^\circ))}[/katex] Substitute the values of [katex]g[/katex] and [katex]h[/katex].
14 [katex]\boxed{v \approx 7.5 \, \text{m/s}}[/katex] Final answer.

(b) Determine the angular speed of the sphere at the bottom of the incline.

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 [katex]\omega = \frac{v}{R}[/katex] Use the relation between linear and angular velocities for a rolling object.
2 [katex]\omega = \frac{7.5}{0.15}[/katex] Substitute [katex]v = 7.5 \, \text{m/s}[/katex] and [katex]R = 0.15 \, m[/katex] (converted from cm).
3 [katex]\boxed{\omega \approx 50 \, \text{rad/s}}[/katex] Final answer.

(c) Does the linear speed depend on the radius or mass of the sphere?

Step Analysis Conclusion
1 From the energy conservation equation, the mass [katex]m[/katex] cancelled out and the final expression for [katex]v[/katex] didn’t include the radius [katex]R[/katex]. The linear speed does not depend on the mass or radius of the sphere as both factors were eliminated in deriving [katex]v[/katex].

(d) Does the angular speed depend on the radius or mass of the sphere?

Step Analysis Conclusion
1 Angular speed [katex]\omega[/katex] was found from [katex]v[/katex] divided by [katex]R[/katex], but it did not involve mass [katex]m[/katex]. Angular speed does depend on the radius and does not depend on the mass of the sphere.

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  1. [katex]v \approx 7.5 \, \text{m/s}[/katex]
  2. [katex]\omega \approx 50 \, \text{rad/s}[/katex]
  3. According to the equation derived in part (a) the speed does not depend on the radius or mass of sphere.
  4. Angular speed does depend on the radius and does not depend on the mass of the sphere.

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque 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 MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[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
VariableSI 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]
VariableDerived 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. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. 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]

  3. 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]

  4. 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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