| 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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A \(6 \, \text{kg}\) cube rests against a compressed spring with a force constant of \(1{,}800 \, \text{N/m}\), initially compressed by \(0.3 \, \text{m}\). Upon release, the cube slides on a horizontal surface with a kinetic friction coefficient of \(\mu_k = 0.12\) for \(3 \, \text{m}\), then ascends a \(12^\circ\) slope, stopping after \(4.5 \, \text{m}\). Determine the coefficient of kinetic friction on the slope.
Two blocks connected to a compressed spring move right at speed \( v \). After releasing the spring, the left block moves left at speed \( v_2 \), the right block moves right. What is the center speed of the blocks then?
A mechanic pushes a \(2500 \, \text{kg}\) car from rest to a final speed \(v\) by doing \(5.0 \times 10^3 \, \text{J}\) of work on the car. Frictional effect between the car and the ground are negligible. What is the final speed of the car?
A truck going \(15 \, \text{km/h}\) has a head-on collision with a small car going \(30 \, \text{km/h}\). Which statement best describes the situation?
What force is necessary to stretch an ideal spring with a spring constant of \( 120 \) \( \text{N/m} \) by \( 30 \) \( \text{cm} \)?
You are lying in bed and want to shut your bedroom door. You have a bouncy “superball” and a blob of clay, both with the same mass \( m \). Which one would be more effective to throw at your door to close it?
A crate is pulled 2.5 m at constant velocity along a 25° incline. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the crate and the plane is 0.250. What is the efficiency of this procedure?
A space probe far from the Earth is traveling at 14.8 km/s. It has mass 1312 kg. The probe fires its rockets to give a constant thrust of 156 kN for 220 seconds. It accelerates in the same direction as its initial velocity. In this time it burns 150 kg of fuel. Calculate final speed of the space probe in km/s.
Note: This is a bonus question. Skip if you haven’t yet taken calculus.
A spring with a spring constant of \( 600. \) \( \text{N/m} \) is used for a scale to weigh fish. What is the mass of a fish that would stretch the spring by \( 7.5 \) \( \text{cm} \) from its normal length?
A car traveling to the right with a speed \( v \) brakes to a stop in a distance \( d \). What is the work done on the car by the frictional force \( F \)? (Assume that the frictional force is constant)
\( h = \frac{12.25v_0^2}{2g} \)
\( \mu = \frac{2v_0^2}{gD} \)
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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] | |
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] |
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