| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \(Mgh = \frac{1}{2}Mv_x^2 + \frac{1}{2}\,I\left(\frac{v_x}{R}\right)^2\) | This is the energy conservation statement. The gravitational potential energy \(Mgh\) is converted into translational kinetic energy \((1/2)Mv_x^2\) and rotational kinetic energy \((1/2)I\omega^2\), with the no-slip condition \(v_x=R\omega\). |
| \(I=\frac{2}{5}MR^2\) | This is the moment of inertia for a solid sphere. |
| \(\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{2}{5}MR^2\left(\frac{v_x}{R}\right)^2 = \frac{1}{5}Mv_x^2\) | Simplify the rotational kinetic energy term by canceling one \(R^2\) with \(v_x^2/R^2\). |
| \(Mgh = \frac{1}{2}Mv_x^2 + \frac{1}{5}Mv_x^2 = \frac{7}{10}Mv_x^2\) | Combine the translational and rotational kinetic energy terms. |
| \(v_x^2=\frac{10}{7}gh\) \quad and \quad \(v_x=\sqrt{\frac{10}{7}gh}\) | Solve for the translational speed \(v_x\). Notice the mass \(M\) cancels out. |
| \(v_x=R\,\omega \quad \Rightarrow \quad \omega=\frac{v_x}{R}=\frac{\sqrt{\frac{10}{7}gh}}{R}\) | Use the no-slip condition to express the angular velocity \(\omega\) in terms of \(gh\) and \(R\). |
| \(\omega = \sqrt{\frac{10}{7}\frac{gh}{R^2}}\) | This final expression shows that \(\omega\) depends on the height \(h\), gravitational acceleration \(g\), and inversely on the radius \(R\) of the sphere. |
| Analysis of parameters |
|
| Final Dependence: \(\omega=\frac{\sqrt{\frac{10}{7}gh}}{R}\) | This clearly shows that among the given options, only (a), (c), and (d) affect the angular velocity at the bottom of the incline. |
A Major Upgrade To Phy Is Coming Soon — Stay Tuned
We'll help clarify entire units in one hour or less — guaranteed.
A solid ball and a cylinder roll down an inclined plane. Which reaches the bottom first?
Pulleys \( X \) and \( Y \) are each attached to a block by a string that wraps around the pulley. Both blocks are released and have the same linear acceleration \( a \). As the blocks fall, the pulleys rotate about their centers. Pulley \( Y \) has a larger radius than Pulley \( X \). How does the angular acceleration \( \alpha_X \) of Pulley \( X \) compare to the angular acceleration \( \alpha_Y \) of Pulley \( Y \)?
While traveling in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, Mars gains speed during the part of the orbit where it is getting closer to the Sun. Which of the following can be used to explain this gain in speed?
A uniform solid sphere of mass M and radius R is placed on a frictionless horizontal surface. A massless string is wrapped around the sphere and is pulled with a force F. The string makes an angle of θ with the horizontal. What is the minimum value of the coefficient of static friction between the sphere and the surface required for the sphere to start rolling without slipping?
Two uniform disks have the same mass but different radii: disk \( 1 \) has a radius \( R \) and disk \( 2 \) has a radius \( 2R \). What is the ratio of the moment of inertia of the first disk to the second disk?
A windmill blade with a rotational inertia of \( 6.0 \) \( \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2 \) has an initial angular velocity of \( 8 \) \( \text{rad/s} \) in the clockwise direction. It is then given an angular acceleration of \( 4 \) \( \text{rad/s}^2 \) in the clockwise direction for \( 10 \) seconds. What is the change in rotational kinetic energy of the blade over this time interval?
To increase the moment of inertia of a body about an axis, you must
A wheel of radius \( R \) and negligible mass is mounted on a horizontal frictionless axle so that the wheel is in a vertical plane. Three small objects having masses \( m \), \( M \), and \( 2M \), respectively, are mounted on the rim of the wheel, as shown above. If the system is in static equilibrium, what is the value of \( m \) in terms of \( M \)?
A \( 50 \, \text{kg} \) person is sitting on a seesaw \( 1.2 \, \text{m} \) from the balance point. On the other side, a \( 70 \, \text{kg} \) person is balanced. How far from the balance point is the second person sitting?
Two thin coins are made from identically the same metal, but one coin has triple the diameter of the other. What is the ratio of the moment of inertia of the large coin compared to the small coin? Take the axis of rotation to be perpendicular to the coin and through its center; assume that the coins have the same thickness. Hint: The moment of inertia of a solid disk about its center is \(\frac{1}{2} M R^{2}\).
By continuing you (1) agree to our Terms of Use and Terms of Sale and (2) consent to sharing your IP and browser information used by this site’s security protocols as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
| 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] |
One price to unlock most advanced version of Phy across all our tools.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
We crafted THE Ultimate A.P Physics 1 Program so you can learn faster and score higher.
Try our free calculator to see what you need to get a 5 on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam.
Understand you mistakes quicker.
Phy automatically provides feedback so you can improve your responses.
10 Free Credits To Get You Started
By continuing you agree to nerd-notes.com Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and our usage of user data.
Feeling uneasy about your next physics test? We'll boost your grade in 3 lessons or less—guaranteed
