| 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. |
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A boy and a girl are balanced on a massless seesaw. The boy has a mass of \(60 \, \text{kg}\) and the girl’s mass is \(50 \, \text{kg}\). If the boy sits \(1.5 \, \text{m}\) from the pivot point on one side of the seesaw, where must the girl sit on the other side for equilibrium?

A uniform, rigid rod of length \( 2 \) \( \text{m} \) lies on a horizontal surface. One end of the rod can pivot about an axis that is perpendicular to the rod and along the plane of the page. A \( 10 \) \( \text{N} \) force is applied to the rod at its midpoint at an angle of \( 37^{\circ} \). A second force \( F \) is applied to the free end of the rod so that the rod remains at rest, as shown in the figure. The magnitude of the torque produced by force \( F \) is most nearly

The axle (the black dot) in Figure 1 is half the distance from the center to the rim. Suppose \( d = 30 \) \( \text{cm} \). What is the torque that the axle must apply to prevent the disk from rotating? Express your answer in newton-meters. Use positive value for the counterclockwise torque and negative value for the clockwise torque.
Flywheels (rapidly rotating disks) are widely used in industry for storing energy. They are spun up slowly when extra energy is available, then decelerate quickly when needed to supply a boost of energy. A flywheel, \( 20 \text{ cm} \) in diameter, can spin at \( 20{,}000 \text{ rpm} \).
The moment of inertia of a solid cylinder about its axis is given by \( 0.5MR^2 \). If this cylinder rolls without slipping, the ratio of its rotational kinetic energy to its translational kinetic energy is
A rod of length \( L \) is rotated about its center with \( I = \frac{ML^{2}}{12} \). What is the moment of inertia at a point \( \frac{L}{4} \) away from the center?
A rod of length \( L \) is rotated about its center with \( I = \frac{ML^{2}}{12} \). What is the moment of inertia at either end of the rod?
Which of the following must be zero if an object is spinning at a constant rate? There may be more than one right answer.

A uniform meter stick has a mass of \( 45.0 \) \( \text{g} \) placed at the \( 20 \) \( \text{cm} \) mark. If a pivot is placed at the \( 42.5 \) \( \text{cm} \) mark and the meter stick remains horizontal in static equilibrium, what is the mass of the meter stick?
Two masses, \( m_1 \) and \( m_2 \), are suspended on either side of a pulley with a radius \( R \), as shown. The heavier mass, \( m_2 \), is initially held at rest above the ground by a distance \( h \) before being released. An student measures that it takes an amount of time \( t \) for the heavier mass to hit the ground after being released.
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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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