Part a:
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(y = y_0 + v_0 t – \frac{1}{2} g t^2\) | This is the kinematic equation for vertical position, where \(y_0\) is the initial position, \(v_0\) is the initial velocity, \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \(t\) is the time. |
| 2 | Substitute \(y = 0\), \(y_0 = 800\ \text{m}\), \(v_0 = 65\ \text{m/s}\), \(g = 9.8\ \text{m/s}^2\) | The object hits the ground when \(y=0\). It is thrown upward from a height of 800 m and the initial velocity is upward, hence positive. |
| 3 | \(0 = 800 + 65t – 4.9t^2\) | Rearrange the substituted equation and simplify \(g/2\) from \(9.8/2\) to \(4.9\). |
| 4 | \(4.9t^2 – 65t – 800 = 0\) | This is a quadratic equation in the form of \(at^2 + bt + c = 0\). |
| 5 | \(t = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 – 4ac}}{2a}\) | Apply the quadratic formula to solve for \(t\). Here, \(a = 4.9\), \(b = -65\), and \(c = -800\). |
| 6 | \(t = \frac{-(-65) \pm \sqrt{(-65)^2 – 4 \cdot 4.9 \cdot (-800)}}{2 \cdot 4.9}\) | Plug in the values of \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\). |
| 10 | \(t \approx 21.03\ \text{s} \textbf{ (positive root)}\) | Discard negative time and keep the physically meaningful positive root, being the actual time the object takes to hit the ground. |
Part b:
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v = v_0 – gt\) | Use the kinematic equation for velocity in vertical motion, taking downward as the negative direction. |
| 2 | \(v = 65 – 9.8 \times 21.04\) | Substitute the values of \(g\) and \(t\) into the equation. |
| 3 | \(v \approx -141.14\ \text{m/s}\) | Subtract to find the final velocity, where negative indicates direction downwards. |
Part c:
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(v \propto v_0\) | The final velocity is proportional to the initial velocity when all other factors remain the same. |
| 2 | \(v_{\text{final, new}} = 2v_0 – gt\) | Note this is the equation we used in part b to find the final speed. Time, however, is not the same in the two scenarios. So unless you have found time with the double the initial speed, do NOT use this equation again. |
| 3 | \(v_{\text{final, new}} = {2v_0}^2 + 2g\Delta \theta\) | Use this kinematic equation instead. |
| 4 | \({v_{\text{final, new}}}^2 = = 180.54 \, m/s\) | Plug in values and solve for the new final speed. |
| 5 | \( \frac{v_{\text{final, new}}}{v_{\text{final, orginal}}\) | Find the factor the final velocity has increased by. |
| 6 | \( \frac{180.54}{141.14} \approx 1.28 \) | Plug in values and solve. |
| 7 | Factor = 1.28 | If the initial velocity doubles the final velocity of the ball increases by a factor of 1.28. |
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What does displacement mean in the context of motion?
A projectile is launched at a speed of \( 22 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at an angle of \( 60^{\circ} \) above the horizontal. It lands on a ramp that is \( 5 \) \( \text{m} \) lower than the launch height. How long does it take for the projectile to hit the ramp?
A tennis ball is thrown straight up with an initial speed of \( 22.5 \, \text{m/s} \). It is caught at the same distance above ground.

The motions of a car and a truck along a straight road are represented by the velocity–time graphs in the figure. The two vehicles are initially alongside each other at time \(t = 0\). At time \(T\), what is true of the distances traveled by the vehicles since time \(t = 0\)?
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 car increases its forward velocity uniformly from \(40 ~ \text{m/s}\) to \(80 ~ \text{m/s}\) while traveling a distance of \(200 ~ \text{m}\). What is its acceleration during this time?
A stone is thrown vertically upward with a speed of \( 24.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \).
Will Clark throws a baseball with a horizontal component of velocity of \(25 \, \text{m/s}\). It takes \(3 \, \text{s}\) to come back to its original height. Calculate the baseball’s:
A truck is traveling at \(35 \, \text{m/s}\) when the driver realizes the truck has no brakes. He sees a ramp off the road, inclined at \(20^\circ\), and decides to go up it to help the truck come to a stop. How far does the truck travel before coming to a stop (assume no friction)?
Which car controls directly allow the driver to cause acceleration?
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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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