| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\omega = \sqrt{\dfrac{g}{L}}\] | For small angles, a simple pendulum performs simple harmonic motion with angular frequency given by \(\sqrt{g/L}\). |
| 2 | \[\omega = \sqrt{\dfrac{9.81\,\text{m/s}^2}{1.2\,\text{m}}}\] | Substitute \(g = 9.81\,\text{m/s}^2\) and \(L = 1.2\,\text{m}\). |
| 3 | \[\boxed{\omega = 2.86\,\text{rad/s}}\] | Evaluate the square root. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T = \dfrac{2\pi}{\omega}\] | The period of simple harmonic motion is the reciprocal of the frequency: \(T = 2\pi/\omega\). |
| 2 | \[T = \dfrac{2\pi}{2.86}\] | Insert the value of \(\omega\) from part (a). |
| 3 | \[\boxed{T = 2.20\,\text{s}}\] | Compute the quotient. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\theta_{\max} = 10^{\circ} \times \dfrac{\pi}{180^{\circ}}\] | Convert the amplitude from degrees to radians: \(10^{\circ}=0.1745\,\text{rad}\). |
| 2 | \[\Delta x_{\max} = L\,\theta_{\max}\] | Arc length for small angles: \(\Delta x = L\theta\). |
| 3 | \[v_{\max} = \omega\,\Delta x_{\max}\] | For SHM, maximum speed equals \(\omega\) times maximum displacement. |
| 4 | \[v_{\max} = 2.86\,(1.2)(0.1745)\] | Insert \(\omega\), \(L\), and \(\theta_{\max}\). |
| 5 | \[\boxed{v_{\max} = 0.60\,\text{m/s}}\] | Multiply to find the speed. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[a_{\max} = \omega^{2}\,\Delta x_{\max}\] | In SHM, maximum acceleration equals \(\omega^{2}\) times maximum displacement. |
| 2 | \[a_{\max} = (2.86)^2\,(0.209)\] | Use \(\Delta x_{\max}=0.209\,\text{m}\) from part (c). |
| 3 | \[\boxed{a_{\max} = 1.71\,\text{m/s}^{2}}\] | Compute the product. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\omega = 2\pi f\] | Angular frequency relates to frequency: \(\omega = 2\pi f\). |
| 2 | \[g’ = L\,\omega^{2}\] | For a pendulum, \(\omega^{2} = g’/L\Rightarrow g’ = L\omega^{2}\). |
| 3 | \[\omega = 2\pi(2.3)\] | Insert \(f = 2.3\,\text{Hz}\). |
| 4 | \[g’ = 1.2\,[2\pi(2.3)]^{2}\] | Substitute \(L = 1.2\,\text{m}\) and the expression for \(\omega\). |
| 5 | \[\boxed{g’ = 2.5 \times 10^{2}\,\text{m/s}^{2}}\] | Evaluate to obtain the exoplanet’s gravitational acceleration. |
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A student is designing an experiment to find the spring constant \( k \) of a spring using only a set of known masses and a stopwatch. Which procedure would work?

A simple pendulum oscillates with amplitude \(A\) and period \(T\), as represented on the graph above. Which option best represents the magnitude of the pendulum’s velocity \(v\) and acceleration \(a\) at time \(\frac{T}{2}\)?
At time \( t = 0 \), an object is released from rest at position \( x = +x_{\text{max}} \) and undergoes simple harmonic motion along the \( x \)-axis about the equilibrium position of \( x = 0 \). The period of oscillation of the object is \( T \). Which of the following expressions is equal to the object’s position at time \( t = \dfrac{T}{8} \)?
A block attached to spring demonstrates simple harmonic motion about its equilibrium position with amplitude \( A \) and angular frequency \( \omega \). What is the maximum magnitude of the block’s velocity?
A block of mass \( m \) is attached to a horizontal spring with spring constant \( k \) and undergoes simple harmonic motion with amplitude \( A \) along the \( x \)-axis. Which of the following equations could represent the position \( x \) of the object as a function of time?
A block with a mass of \( 4 \) \( \text{kg} \) is attached to a spring on the wall that oscillates back and forth with a frequency of \( 4 \) \( \text{Hz} \) and an amplitude of \( 3 \) \( \text{m} \). What would the frequency be if the block were replaced by one with one‑fourth the mass and the amplitude of the block is increased to \( 9 \) \( \text{m} \)?

A student sets an object attached to a spring into oscillatory motion and uses a motion detector to record the velocity of the object as a function of time. The total change in the object’s speed between \(1.0 \, \text{s}\) and \(1.1 \, \text{s}\) is most nearly
Block \( 1 \) of mass \( m_1 \) and Block \( 2 \) of mass \( m_2 = 2 m_1 \) are each attached to identical horizontal springs. Each block is displaced from equilibrium by an unknown amount and the blocks are released from rest simultaneously, undergoing simple harmonic motion. A student claims that Block \( 1 \) will make its first return to its equilibrium position before Block \( 2 \) first returns to its equilibrium position. Is this claim correct? Why or why not?
What is the effect on the period of a pendulum if you double its length?
A \(10 \, \text{meter}\) long pendulum on the earth, is set into motion by releasing it from a maximum angle of less than \(10^\circ\) relative to the vertical. At what time \(t\) will the pendulum have fallen to a perfectly vertical orientation?
\(2.86\,\text{rad/s}\)
\(2.20\,\text{s}\)
\(0.60\,\text{m/s}\)
\(1.71\,\text{m/s^{2}}\)
\(2.5\times 10^{2}\,\text{m/s^{2}}\)
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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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