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| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( PE = KE \) | Use conservation of mechanical energy from the top to the bottom of the ramp, where potential energy (PE) is converted to kinetic energy (KE). |
| 2 | \( Mgh = \frac{1}{2}M(3.5v_0)^2 \) | Initial potential energy \( Mgh \) at the top is equal to the kinetic energy \( \frac{1}{2}M(3.5v_0)^2 \) at the bottom. |
| 3 | \( gh = \frac{1}{2}(3.5v_0)^2 \) | Cancel the mass \( M \) from both sides (as it does not affect the energy balance). |
| 4 | \( h = \frac{(3.5v_0)^2}{2g} \) | Solve for the height \( h \). |
| 5 | \( h = \frac{12.25v_0^2}{2g} \) | Calculate \( (3.5)^2 = 12.25 \) to obtain the final expression. |
| 6 | \( h = \frac{12.25v_0^2}{2g} \) | Final simplified expression for the height \( h \). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( p_i = p_f \) | Apply conservation of momentum before and after the collision. |
| 2 | \( M(3.5v_0) = 1.5M(2v_0) + Mv_x \) | Initial momentum of the system equals the final momentum. Find the speed \( v_x \) of the small block immediately after the collision. |
| 3 | \( 3.5v_0 = 3v_0 + v_x \) | Cancel \( M \) from both sides and solve for \( v_x \). |
| 4 | \( v_x = 0.5v_0 \) | Calculate \( v_x \). |
| 5 | \( \text{Work done by friction} = \Delta KE \) | The work done by friction is equal to the change in kinetic energy of the larger block. |
| 6 | \( \mu \cdot 1.5MgD = \frac{1}{2}1.5M(2v_0)^2 \) | The friction work (\( \mu \times \text{force} \times \text{distance} \)) equals the initial kinetic energy of the larger block. |
| 7 | \( \mu \cdot gD = 2v_0^2 \) | Simplify the equation by canceling \( 1.5M \) from both sides. |
| 8 | \( \mu = \frac{2v_0^2}{gD} \) | Solve for \( \mu \). |
| 9 | \( \mu = \frac{2v_0^2}{gD} \) | Final expression for the coefficient of friction \(\mu\). |
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Two blocks are on a horizontal, frictionless surface. Block \( A \) is moving with an initial velocity of \( v_0 \) toward block \( B \), which is stationary. The two blocks collide, stick together, and move off with a velocity of \( \frac{v_0}{3} \). Which block, if either, has the greater mass?

A block is attached to a horizontal spring and is initially at rest at the equilibrium position \( x = 0 \), as shown in Figure \( 1 \). The block is then moved to position \( x = -A \), as shown in Figure \( 2 \), and released from rest, undergoing simple harmonic motion. At the instant the block reaches position \( x = +A \), another identical block is dropped onto and sticks to the block, as shown in Figure \( 3 \). The two–block–spring system then continues to undergo simple harmonic motion. Which of the following correctly compares the total mechanical energy \( E_{\text{tot},2} \) of the two–block–spring system after the collision to the total mechanical energy \( E_{\text{tot},1} \) of the one–block–spring system before the collision?

A simple pendulum consists of a bob of mass 1.8 kg attached to a string of length 2.3 m. The pendulum is held at an angle of 30° from the vertical by a light horizontal string attached to a wall, as shown above.
One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \(h\) above the floor. A block of mass \(M\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \(x\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \(D\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \(M, x, D, h,\) and any constants.
A pendulum consists of a mass \( M \) hanging at the bottom end of a massless rod of length \( \ell \) which has a frictionless pivot at its top end. A mass \( m \), moving with velocity \( v \), impacts \( M \) and becomes embedded. In terms of the given variables and constants, what is the smallest value of \( v \) sufficient to cause the pendulum (with embedded mass \( m \)) to swing clear over the top of its arc?
Two identical arrows, one with \( 2 \) times the speed of the other, are fired into a bale of hay. Assuming the hay exerts a constant “frictional” force on the arrows, the faster arrow will penetrate how much farther than the slower arrow?
A simple pendulum consists of a sphere tied to the end of a string of negligible mass. The sphere is pulled back until the string is horizontal and then released from rest. Assume the gravitational potential energy is zero when the sphere is at its lowest point.
What angle will the string make with the horizontal when the kinetic energy and the potential energy of the sphere-Earth system are equal?
A \(81 \, \text{kg}\) student dives off a \(45 \, \text{m}\) tall bridge with an \(18 \, \text{m}\) long bungee cord tied to his feet and to the bridge. You can consider the bungee cord to be a flexible spring. What spring constant must the bungee cord have for the student’s lowest point to be \(2.0 \, \text{m}\) above the water?
A \(0.025 \, \text{kg}\) golf ball moving at \(18.0 \, \text{m/s}\) crashes through the window of a house in \(5.0 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{s}\). After the crash, the ball continues in the same direction with a speed of \(10.0 \, \text{m/s}\).

In the laboratory, you are given a cylindrical beaker containing a fluid and you are asked to determine the density \( \rho \) of the fluid. You are to use a spring of negligible mass and unknown spring constant \( k \) that is attached to a vertical stand.
\( h = \frac{12.25v_0^2}{2g} \)
\( \mu = \frac{2v_0^2}{gD} \)
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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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