| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\vec{a}_{\text{net}}=\frac{\Delta \vec{v}}{\Delta t}\] | The net acceleration from time \(t_A\) to \(t_B\) points in the same direction as the change in velocity \(\Delta \vec{v}\), as described by the formula for acceleration. |
| 2 | \[\Delta \vec{v}=\vec{v}_x-\vec{v}_i\] | The initial velocity \(\vec{v}_i\) is vector \(A\), pointing northeast. The final velocity \(\vec{v}_x\) is vector \(B\), pointing northwest. |
| 3 | \[\Delta \vec{v}=\vec{B}-\vec{A}\] | To subtract vector \(A\), add the opposite of vector \(A\). Since \(A\) points northeast, \(-A\) points southwest. You can redraw the vectors and connect them via tip-to-tail to see the direction of the resultant vector. |
| 4 | \[\Delta \vec{v}=\vec{B}+\left(-\vec{A}\right)\] | Alternatively, you can look at the components. Vector \(B\) points northwest and \(-A\) points southwest. Since both have leftward components the horizontal components combine toward the west. |
| 5 | \[\Delta \vec{v}\rightarrow \text{West}\] | The upward component of \(B\) and the downward component of \(-A\) cancel. Therefore the only resulting vectors are the westwards ones from step 4, thus acceleration points west. |
| 6 | \[\boxed{\text{West}}\] | The correct answer is \(\boxed{\text{(d) West}}\). Choice \(\text{(a)}\) north is incorrect because it assumes vectors A and B were added rather than subtracted. Choice \(\text{(b)}\) south is incorrect because the vertical components cancel rather than point downward. Choice \(\text{(c)}\) southwest is incorrect because the net vertical component is not significantly downward. Choice \(\text{(e)}\) east is incorrect because both \(\vec{B}\) and \(-\vec{A}\) contribute leftward components. |
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On Saturday, Ashley rode her bicycle to visit Maria. Maria’s house is directly east of Ashley’s. The graph shows how far Ashley was from her house after each minute of her trip. (Hint – Use the standard units of velocity \(\text{m/s}\) for all parts)
A car travels east at a steady \( 30 \) \( \text{m/s} \) for \( 5 \) \( \text{s} \). What is its acceleration during this motion?
Ball 1 is dropped from rest at time \( t = 0 \) from a tower of height \( h \). At the same instant, ball 2 is launched upward from the ground with the initial speed \( v_0 \). If air resistance is negligible, at what time \( t \) will the two balls pass each other?
The graph shows the acceleration as a function of time for an object that is at rest at time \( t = 0 \) \( \text{s} \). The distance traveled by the object between \( 0 \) and \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \) is most nearly
An object’s velocity \(v\) as a function of time \(t\) is given in the graph. Which of the following statements is true about the motion of the object?
Gregory was walking through the halls of the school when he realized that he was walking in perpendicular directions and he could easily calculate his displacement using the incredibly useful techniques he learned in physics. He recognized that he walked \(12.5\ \text{m}\) left and then \(18.9\ \text{m}\) down. How far must he walk to the right so that his resultant displacement is \(20.1\ \text{m}\)?
A skater glides across the ice at a constant \( 6 \) \( \text{m/s} \). After \( 4 \) \( \text{s} \), friction gradually slows them down until they come to rest in \( 6 \) \( \text{s} \). They pause for \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \), then push off in the opposite direction, steadily gaining speed for \( 5 \) \( \text{s} \). Draw the velocity vs. time graph.
A ball is launched horizontally from a height. At the same time, another ball is dropped vertically from the same height. Which hits the ground first?
An airplane accelerates down a runway at \( 10 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). It reaches a final velocity of \( 200 \, \text{m/s} \) until it finally lifts off the ground. Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.
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] | |
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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