| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( \Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2 \) | We start with the kinematic equation for displacement with constant acceleration. The object starts from rest, so \(v_i = 0\). |
| 2 | \( 5 = \frac{1}{2} a (1)^2 \) | The object travels \(5 \, \text{m}\) in the first second. Plugging \( \Delta x = 5 \, \text{m} \) and \( t = 1 \, \text{s} \) into the displacement formula. |
| 3 | \( a = 10 \, \text{m/s}^2 \) | Solve for the acceleration \(a\). |
| 4 | \( \Delta x_{2} = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2 = 0 + \frac{1}{2} \times 10 \times (2)^2 \) | Calculate the total distance traveled in the first two seconds using the same kinematic equation with \( t = 2 \, \text{s} \). |
| 5 | \[ \Delta x_{2} = 20 \, \text{m}\] | Distance traveled in the first two seconds |
| 6 | \[ 15 = \Delta x_2 – \Delta x_1 \] | The distance traveled in the second second is \(15 \, \text{m}\). |
| 7 | \( \Delta x_3 = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2 = 0 + \frac{1}{2} \times 10 \times (3)^2 \) | Calculate the total distance traveled in the first three seconds using \( t = 3 \, \text{s} \). |
| 8 | \( \Delta x_3 = 45 \, \text{m} \) | Distance traveled in the first three seconds. |
| 9 | \( \Delta x_{3\text{rd}} = \Delta x_3 – \Delta x_2 \) | To find the distance covered in the third second alone, subtract the total distance of the first two seconds from the total distance of the first three seconds. |
| 10 | \( \Delta x_{3\text{rd}} = 45 \, \text{m} – 20 \, \text{m} \) | Substitute the calculated values for \( \Delta x_3 \) and \( \Delta x_2 \). |
| 11 | \( \Delta x_{3\text{rd}} = 25 \, \text{m} \) | The additional distance covered in the third second. |
| 12 | (e) 25 m | Correct answer |
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A ball rolls down a ramp and gains speed. Its velocity is increasing in the negative direction. What can be said about its acceleration?
An object undergoes constant acceleration. Starting from rest, the object travels \( 5 \, \text{m} \) in the first second. Then it travels \( 15 \, \text{m} \) in the next second. What total distance will be covered after the 3rd second?

The graph in the figure shows the position of a particle as it travels along the x-axis. At what value of \(t\) is the speed of the particle equal to \(0 \, \text{m/s}\)?
note that the slope of position vs time is velocity. And the graph most closely reemsbles a flat or 0 slope at 3 seconds
A cart is initially moving at 0.5 m/s along a track. The cart comes to rest after traveling 1 m. The experiment is repeated on the same track, but now the cart is initially moving at 1 m/s. How far does the cart travel before coming to rest?
An elevator of height \(h\) ascends with constant acceleration \(a\). When it crosses a platform, it has acquired a velocity \(u\). At this instant a bolt drops from the top of the elevator. Find the time for the bolt to hit the floor of the elevator. Give your answer in terms of \(h\), \(a\), and any constant.
A red car, initially at rest, travels east with an acceleration of \( 3.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). At the same time as the red car starts to move, a blue car is traveling west at \( 15 \, \text{m/s} \) and accelerating at \( 1.2 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). If they are \( 600 \, \text{m} \) apart the moment the red car starts to move and they are traveling towards each other, where and when will they meet?
A rock is dropped from a sea cliff, and the sound of it striking the ocean is heard \( 3.4 \) \( \text{s} \) later. If the speed of sound is \( 340 \) \( \text{m/s} \), how high is the cliff?
A coin is dropped from a hot air-balloon that is \(250 \, \text{m}\) above the ground rising at \(11 \, \text{m/s}\) upwards. For the coin, assume up is positive and find the following:
Which of the following graphs represent an object at rest?
Mary and Sally are in a foot race. When Mary is \( 22 \) \( \text{m} \) from the finish line, she has a speed of \( 4.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \) and is \( 5.0 \) \( \text{m} \) behind Sally, who has a speed of \( 5.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \). Sally thinks she has an easy win and, during the remaining portion of the race, decelerates at a constant rate of \( 0.40 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \) until she reaches the finish line. What constant acceleration must Mary maintain during the remaining portion of the race if she wishes to cross the finish line side-by-side with Sally?
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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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