| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[m = 25\,\text{g} = 0.025\,\text{kg},\quad d = 24\,\text{cm} = 0.24\,\text{m},\quad r = \frac{d}{2} = 0.12\,\text{m}\] | Convert to SI units and compute the wheel radius \(r\) from the given diameter \(d\). |
| \[\alpha = 470\,\text{rad/s}^2,\quad \Delta\theta = \frac{3}{4}(2\pi) = \frac{3\pi}{2}\] | The angular acceleration is given, and \(\tfrac{3}{4}\) of a revolution corresponds to angular displacement \(\Delta\theta\). |
| \[\tau = I\alpha\] | Torque \(\tau\) relates to angular acceleration \(\alpha\) through rotational dynamics. |
| \[I = mr^2\] | The wheel is negligible mass, so the rotating inertia is dominated by the ball modeled as a point mass at radius \(r\). |
| \[W = \tau\Delta\theta\] | Work done by a constant torque over an angular displacement is \(W = \tau\Delta\theta\). |
| \[W = (I\alpha)\Delta\theta = (mr^2\alpha)\Delta\theta\] | Substitute \(\tau = I\alpha\) and \(I = mr^2\) into the work expression, as indicated in the hint. |
| \[mr^2\alpha\Delta\theta = mgh\] | Use conservation of energy from the very start (rest) to the maximum height: the work put in becomes gravitational potential energy \(mgh\). |
| \[r^2\alpha\Delta\theta = gh\] | Cancel \(m\) from both sides, showing the height does not depend on the ball’s mass. |
| \[h = \frac{r^2\alpha\Delta\theta}{g}\] | Solve algebraically for the maximum height above the starting reference implied by the energy equation. |
| \[h = \frac{(0.12)^2(470)\left(\frac{3\pi}{2}\right)}{9.8}\] | Substitute \(r = 0.12\,\text{m}\), \(\alpha = 470\,\text{rad/s}^2\), \(\Delta\theta = \frac{3\pi}{2}\), and \(g = 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\). |
| \[h = \frac{(0.0144)(470)\left(\frac{3\pi}{2}\right)}{9.8} = \frac{6.768\left(\frac{3\pi}{2}\right)}{9.8}\] | Compute \(r^2\) and multiply by \(\alpha\) to simplify the numerator step-by-step using algebra. |
| \[h = \frac{6.768(1.5\pi)}{9.8} = \frac{10.152\pi}{9.8}\] | Rewrite \(\frac{3\pi}{2} = 1.5\pi\) and multiply constants. |
| \[\boxed{h \approx 3.25\,\text{m above the center}}\] | The maximum height reached above the center of the wheel. |
A Major Upgrade To Phy Is Coming Soon — Stay Tuned
We'll help clarify entire units in one hour or less — guaranteed.
A self paced course with videos, problems sets, and everything you need to get a 5. Trusted by over 15k students and over 200 schools.
An ice skater that is spinning in circles has an initial rotational inertia \(I_i\). You can approximate her shape to be a cylinder. She is spinning with velocity \(\omega_i\). As she extends her arms, her rotational inertia changes by a factor of \(x\) and her angular velocity changes by a factor of \(y\). Which one of the following options best describe \(x\) and \(y\)?

Refer to the diagram above and solve all equations in terms of \(R\), \(M\), \(k\), and constants.
A Christmas ornament made from a thin hollow glass sphere hangs from a thin wire of negligible mass. It is observed to oscillates with a frequency of \( 2.50 \) \( \text{Hz} \) in a city where \( g = 9.80 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). What is the radius of the ornament? The moment of inertia of the ornament is given by \( I = \frac{5}{3} mr^2 \).
An experimenter has a simple pendulum of length \( L \) and a mass–spring system with mass \( m \) and spring constant \( k \). Both are found to have the same period of oscillation \( T \) on Earth. If both systems are taken to the Moon, where the acceleration due to gravity is approximately \( \frac{1}{6} g \) of Earth, what will happen to their periods?
A 84.4 kg climber is scaling the vertical wall. His safety rope is made of a material that behaves like a spring that has a spring constant of 1.34 x 103 N/m. He accidentally slips and falls 0.627 m before the rope runs out of slack. How much is the rope stretched when it breaks his fall and momentarily brings him to rest?
A car traveling to the right with a speed \( v \) brakes to a stop in a distance \( d \). What is the work done on the car by the frictional force \( F \)? (Assume that the frictional force is constant)
Old-fashioned clocks and watches have an hour hand, a minute hand and a second hand. What is the angular frequency of the second hand?
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 \( 20{,}000 \text{ rpm} \).

Two spheres of equal size and equal mass are rotated with an equal amount of torque. One of the spheres is solid with its mass evenly distributed throughout its volume, and the other is hollow with all of its mass concentrated at the edges. Which sphere would rotate faster if the same amount of torque is applied for the same period of time for both?
A solid sphere of mass \( M \) and radius \( R \) rolls without slipping down an inclined plane starting from rest. Select all that would affect the angular velocity of the sphere at the bottom of the incline.
\(3.25\,\text{m}\)
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] | 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 |
One price to unlock most advanced version of Phy across all our tools.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
Try our free calculator to see what you need to get a 5 on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam.
A quick explanation
Credits are used to grade your FRQs and GQs. Pro users get unlimited credits.
Submitting counts as 1 attempt.
Viewing answers or explanations count as a failed attempts.
Phy gives partial credit if needed
MCQs and GQs are are 1 point each. FRQs will state points for each part.
Phy customizes problem explanations based on what you struggle with. Just hit the explanation button to see.
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
NEW! PHY AI accurately solves all questions
🔥 Get up to 30% off Elite Physics Tutoring
🧠 NEW! Learn Physics From Scratch Self Paced Course
🎯 Need exam style practice questions?