# Part (a): At what times is the object 20 m above the ground?
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(y = v_0 t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2\) | Use the kinematic equation for vertical displacement where \(y\) is the height, \(v_0\) is the initial velocity, \(t\) is the time, and \(a\) is the acceleration. |
| 2 | \(20 = 64 t – \frac{1}{2} \cdot 9.8 \cdot t^2\) | Substitute \(y = 20 \text{ m}\), \(v_0 = 64 \text{ m/s}\), and \(a = -9.8 \text{ m/s}^2\). Note the negative sign of acceleration due to gravity. |
| 3 | \(4.9 t^2 – 64 t + 20 = 0\) | Rearrange the equation into standard quadratic form \(a t^2 + b t + c = 0\) where \(a = 4.9\), \(b = -64\), and \(c = 20\). |
| 4 | \(t = \frac{64 \pm \sqrt{(-64)^2 – 4 \cdot 4.9 \cdot 20}}{2 \cdot 4.9}\) | Use the quadratic formula \(t = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 – 4ac}}{2a}\) to solve for \(t\). |
| 5 | \(t_1 = \frac{64 + 60.88}{9.8} \approx 12.74 \text{ s}, \\ t_2 = \frac{64 – 60.88}{9.8} \approx 0.32 \text{ s}\) | Calculate the two possible values for \(t\). The results are \(t_1 \approx 12.74 \text{ s}\) and \(t_2 \approx 0.32 \text{ s}\). |
| 6 | \(t = 0.32 \text{ s}, 12.74 \text{ s}\) | Final answer: There are two times when the object is 20 m above the ground, at \(0.32 \text{ s}\) and \(12.74 \text{ s}\). |
# Part (b): Why are there two answers for part (a)?
| Step | Explanation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two Answers Explanation | There are two answers because the object passes 20 m twice: once while going up and once while coming back down. |
# Part (c): How long does it take to come back to the ground?
| Step | Derivation/Formula/Answer | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(y = v_0 t + \frac{1}{2} a t^2\) | Use the kinematic equation for vertical displacement where \(y\) is zero as it returns to the ground. |
| 2 | \(0 = 64 t – \frac{1}{2} \cdot 9.8 \cdot t^2\) | Substitute \(y = 0 \text{ m}\), \(v_0 = 64 \text{ m/s}\), and \(a = -9.8 \text{ m/s}^2\). |
| 3 | \(0 = 64 t – 4.9 t^2\) | Simplify the equation by calculating \(\frac{1}{2} \cdot 9.8 = 4.9\). |
| 4 | \(0 = t (64 – 4.9t)\) | Factor out \(t\) to solve for the time at which the object returns to the ground. |
| 5 | \(t = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad 64 = 4.9t \Rightarrow t = \frac{64}{4.9} \approx 13.06 \text{ s}\) | The first solution \(t = 0\) corresponds to the initial throw. Solving \(64 – 4.9t = 0\) gives the time it takes to reach the ground. |
| 6 | \(t = 13.06 \text{ s}\) | Final answer: The object takes \(13.06 \text{ s}\) to come back to the ground. |
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.
Which of these scenarios involve accelerated motion? (Select all that apply)
A ball is thrown straight up. What are the velocity and acceleration of the ball at the highest point in its path?
The graph below is a plot of position versus time. For which labeled segments is the velocity positive and the acceleration negative?
Above is the graph of an object’s velocity as a function of time. Which of the following is true about the motion?
A 135.0 N force is applied to a 30.0 kg box at 42 degree angle to the horizontal. If the force of friction is 85.0, what is the net force and acceleration? If the object starts from rest, how far has it traveled in 3.3 sec?
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
Toy car W travels across a horizontal surface with an acceleration of \( a_w \) after starting from rest. Toy car Z travels across the same surface toward car W with an acceleration of \( a_z \), after starting from rest. Car W is separated from car Z by a distance \( d \). Which of the following pairs of equations could be used to determine the location on the horizontal surface where the two cars will meet, and why?
A \( 1000 \) \( \text{kg} \) car is traveling east at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) when it collides perfectly inelastically with a northbound \( 2000 \) \( \text{kg} \) car traveling at \( 15 \) \( \text{m/s} \). If the coefficient of kinetic friction is \( 0.9 \), how far, and at what angle do the two cars skid before coming to a stop?
An object can move upward while having a downward acceleration.
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
