| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( F_{\text{net}} = m_{4}a \) | The net force acting on the \(4 \, \text{kg}\) block is equal to its mass times its acceleration. |
| 2 | \( F_{\text{gravity}} = m_{4}g \) | The force of gravity acting on the \(4 \, \text{kg}\) block is equal to its mass times the acceleration due to gravity \(g\). |
| 3 | \( F_{\text{net}} = m_{4}g – T \) | The net force acting on the \(4 \, \text{kg}\) block is the gravitational force minus the tension in the string. |
| 4 | \( m_{4}a = m_{4}g – T \) | Substitute the net force into Newton’s second law. |
| 5 | \( T = m_{1}g + m_{1}a + m_{2}g + m_{2}a \) | The tension in the string also depends on the forces acting on the \(1.0\, \text{kg}\) and \(2.0 \, \text{kg}\) blocks. |
| 6 | \( T = m_{1}(g + a) + m_{2}(g + a) \) | Combine the tensions for the \(1.0 \, \text{kg}\) and \(2.0 \, \text{kg}\) blocks since they share the same strings. |
| 7 | \( m_{4}a = m_{4}g – \left[m_{1}(g + a) + m_{2}(g + a)\right] \) | Substitute the tension \(T\) from step 6 into the equation from step 4. |
| 8 | \( 4a = 4g – (1 + 2)(g + a) \) | Substitute \(m_{4} = 4\, \text{kg}\), \(m_{1} = 1\, \text{kg}\), and \(m_{2} = 2\, \text{kg}\). |
| 9 | \( 4a = 4g – 3(g + a) \) | Combine the masses for the \(1.0 \, \text{kg}\) and \(2.0 \, \text{kg}\) blocks. |
| 10 | \( 4a = 4g – 3g -3a \) | Distribute the 3 to both terms. |
| 11 | \( 7a = g \) | Combine like terms to isolate \(a\). |
| 12 | \( a = \frac{g}{7} \approx \frac{9.8\, \text{m/s}^2}{7} \approx 1.4\, \text{m/s}^2 \) | Solve for \(a\), the acceleration of the \(4 \, \text{kg}\) block. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(T = m_4 g – m_4 a\) | The tension in the string is the gravitational force on the \(4 \, \text{kg}\) block minus the force due to its acceleration. |
| 2 | \(T = 4 \times 9.8 – 4 \times 1.4\) | Substitute \(m_4 = 4\, \text{kg}\), \(g = 9.8\, \text{m/s}^2\), and \(a = 1.4\, \text{m/s}^2\). |
| 3 | \(T = 39.2 – 5.6\) | Calculate the products. |
| 4 | \( T = 33.6 \, \text{N} \) | Final value for the tension in the string supporting the \(4 \, \text{kg}\) block. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( T_1 = m_1 (g + a) \) | The tension in the string is the gravitational force on the \(1 \, \text{kg}\) block plus the force due to its acceleration. |
| 2 | \( T_1 = 1 \times (9.8 + 1.4) \) | Substitute \(m_1 = 1\, \text{kg}\), \(g = 9.8\, \text{m/s}^2\), and \(a = 1.4\, \text{m/s}^2\). |
| 3 | \( T_1 = 1 \times 11.2 \) | Combine the terms inside the parentheses. |
| 4 | \( T_1 = 11.2 \, \text{N} \) | Final value for the tension in the string connected to the \(1 \, \text{kg}\) block. |
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An object is moving at constant velocity. Which of the following could be the free-body diagram representing the forces acting on the object?
A force \(F\) is used to hold a block of mass \(m\) on an incline as shown in the diagram above. The plane makes an angle of \(\theta\) with the horizontal and \(F\) is perpendicular to the plane. The coefficient of friction between the plane and the block is \(\mu\). What is the minimum force \(F\) necessary to keep the block at rest?
A stone hangs by a fine thread from the ceiling, and a section of the same thread dangles from the bottom of the stone. If a person gives a sharp pull on the dangling thread, where is the thread likely to break: below the stone or above it? What if the person gives a slow and steady pull?
A skier with a mass of \(58 \, \text{kg}\) glides up a snowy incline that forms an angle of \(28^\circ\) with the horizontal. The skier initially moves at a speed of \(7.2 \, \text{m/s}\). After traveling a distance of \(2.3 \, \text{m}\) up the slope, the skier’s speed reduces to \(3.8 \, \text{m/s}\).
The exoplanet HD 69830b has a mass 10 times that of the Earth and a radius 5 times that of the Earth. The value of g on HD 69830b is most nearly
A rocket-powered hockey puck has a thrust of \(4.40 \, \text{N}\) and a total mass of \(1.00 \, \text{kg}\). It is released from rest on a frictionless table, \(2.10 \, \text{m}\) from the edge of a \(2.10 \, \text{m}\) drop. The front of the rocket is pointed directly toward the edge. Assuming that the thrust of the rocket is present for the entire time of travel, how far does the puck land from the base of the table?

A block is initially at rest on top of an inclined ramp that makes an angle \( \theta_0 \) with the horizontal. The distance measured along the base of the ramp is \( D \). After the block is released from rest, it slides down the frictionless ramp and then continues onto a rough horizontal surface until it finally comes to rest at the position \( x = 4D \) measured from the base of the ramp. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the rough horizontal surface is \( \mu_k \).
A rocket launches upward by expelling exhaust gases downward. This is an illustration of Newton’s ____ Law.
Which of the following must be true for an object at translational equilibrium?

Block \(m_2\) is stacked on top of block \(m_1\). Block \(m_1\) is connected by a light cord to block \(m_3\), which is pulled along a frictionless surface with a force \(F\) as shown in the diagram above. Block \(m_1\) is accelerated at the same rate as block \(m_2\) because of the frictional forces between the two blocks. If all three blocks have the same mass \(m\), what is the minimum coefficient of static friction between block \(m_1\) and block \(m_2\)?
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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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