| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[ K_{\text{trans}} = \tfrac{1}{2} M_{\text{tot}} v^{2} \] | The wagons have the same total mass and reach the same speed, so each gains identical translational kinetic energy. |
| 2 | \[ K_{\text{rot}} = \tfrac{1}{2} I \omega^{2}, \qquad \omega = \frac{v}{R} \] | Rotational kinetic energy of a wheel rolling without slipping; the angular speed is \(\omega=v/R\). |
| 3 | Solid disk: \[ I_{\text{disk}} = \tfrac{1}{2} M_{w} R^{2}\] \[ K_{\text{rot,disk}} = \tfrac{1}{2}\left(\tfrac{1}{2}M_{w}R^{2}\right)\left(\tfrac{v}{R}\right)^{2}=\tfrac{1}{4}M_{w}v^{2} \] | Substitute the disk’s moment of inertia into the rotational energy formula. |
| 4 | Hollow hoop: \[ I_{\text{hoop}} = M_{w} R^{2}\] \[ K_{\text{rot,hoop}} = \tfrac{1}{2}\left(M_{w}R^{2}\right)\left(\tfrac{v}{R}\right)^{2}=\tfrac{1}{2}M_{w}v^{2} \] | The hoop’s larger moment of inertia doubles the rotational energy (for the same mass) compared with a disk. |
| 5 | \[ K_{\text{total,wheel}} = K_{\text{trans,wheel}} + K_{\text{rot}} = \tfrac{1}{2}M_{w}v^{2}+K_{\text{rot}} \] | Each wheel possesses both translational and rotational kinetic energy. |
| 6 | Disk wheel: \[ K_{\text{total,disk}} = \tfrac{1}{2}M_{w}v^{2}+\tfrac{1}{4}M_{w}v^{2}=\tfrac{3}{4}M_{w}v^{2} \] | The extra energy beyond pure translation is \(\Delta K_{\text{disk}} = \tfrac{1}{4}M_{w}v^{2}\). |
| 7 | Hoop wheel: \[ K_{\text{total,hoop}} = \tfrac{1}{2}M_{w}v^{2}+\tfrac{1}{2}M_{w}v^{2}=M_{w}v^{2} \] | The extra energy for a hoop is \(\Delta K_{\text{hoop}} = \tfrac{1}{2}M_{w}v^{2}\). |
| 8 |
Wagon A (disk, \(M_{w}=0.5\,\text{kg}\)): \[ \Delta K_{A}=4\left(\tfrac{1}{4}\times0.5\,v^{2}\right)=0.5\,v^{2} \] Wagon B (disk, \(M_{w}=0.2\,\text{kg}\)): \[ \Delta K_{B}=4\left(\tfrac{1}{4}\times0.2\,v^{2}\right)=0.2\,v^{2} \] Wagon C (hoop, \(M_{w}=0.1\,\text{kg}\)): \[ \Delta K_{C}=4\left(\tfrac{1}{2}\times0.1\,v^{2}\right)=0.2\,v^{2} \] |
Multiply the extra energy per wheel by four wheels for each wagon, using the correct wheel masses. |
| 9 | With \(v=10\,\text{m/s}\) (so \(v^{2}=100\)): \[ \Delta K_{A}=0.5\times100=50\,\text{J} \] \[ \Delta K_{B}=0.2\times100=20\,\text{J} \] \[ \Delta K_{C}=0.2\times100=20\,\text{J} \] |
Compute the numerical extra rotational energy required for each wagon’s wheels. |
| 10 | \[\boxed{\text{Wagon A}}\] | All wagons share the same translational energy, but Wagon A has the largest additional wheel energy (50 J). Hence it needs the most total energy input. |
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A wheel 31 cm in diameter accelerates uniformly from 240rpm to 360rpm in 6.8 s. How far will a point on the edge of the wheel have traveled in this time?
A man with mass \( m \) is standing on a rotating platform in a science museum. The platform can be approximated as a uniform disk of radius \( R \) that rotates without friction at a constant angular velocity \( \omega \). Two students are discussing what the man should do if he wishes to change the angular velocity of the platform.
Student A says that the man should run towards the center of the platform, because this will decrease the moment of inertia of the man-platform system. Since \( L \propto I \), the angular momentum will decrease proportionately and the platform will slow down.
Student B says that since the platform is rotating counterclockwise, the man should run in a clockwise direction to slow the platform down. His feet will exert a frictional torque on the platform, which will cause an angular acceleration of the man-platform system.
Explain what is correct and incorrect about each students statement if anything.
A miniature, solid globe with mass \( 0.25 \) \( \text{kg} \) and radius \( 0.10 \) \( \text{m} \) is spinning in place about a vertical axis with the equator horizontal, as shown. A point on the globe’s equator, represented by the dot in the figure, has a linear speed of \( 4.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \). The rotational inertia of a solid sphere of mass \( m \) and radius \( r \) is \( \tfrac{2}{5}mr^{2} \). The rotational kinetic energy of the globe is most nearly
A seesaw is balanced on a fulcrum, with a boy of mass \( M_1 \) sitting on one end and a girl of mass \( M_2 \) sitting on the other end. The seesaw is a uniform plank of length \( L \) and mass \( M \). The fulcrum is located at the midpoint of the plank. Does \( M_1 = M_2 \)? Justify your working.
A planet of constant mass orbits the sun in an elliptical orbit. Neglecting any friction effects, what happens to the planet’s rotational kinetic energy about the sun’s center?
A solid ball and a cylinder roll down an inclined plane. Which reaches the bottom first?
A high-speed flywheel in a motor is spinning at \( 500 \) \( \text{rpm} \) when a power failure suddenly occurs. The flywheel has a mass of \( 40 \) \( \text{kg} \) and a diameter of \( 75 \) \( \text{cm} \). The power is off for \( 30 \) \( \text{s} \) and during this time the flywheel slows due to friction in its axle bearings. During this time the flywheel makes \( 200 \) complete revolutions.

The elliptical orbit of a comet is shown above. Positions 1 and 2 are, respectively, the farthest and nearest positions to the Sun, and at position 1 the distance from the comet to the Sun is 10 times that at position 2. At position 2, the comet’s kinetic energy is

Three forces of equal magnitude are applied to a \(3 \, \text{m} \times 2 \, \text{m}\) rectangle. Force \(F_1\) and \(F_2\) act at \(45^\circ\) angles to the vertical as shown, while \(F_3\) acts horizontally.
In short:
\(F_1\): applied at \((0, -2)\), direction SW \(45^\circ\)
\(F_2\): applied at \((2, -2)\), direction NW \(45^\circ\)
\(F_3\): applied at \((3, -1)\), direction east
Points of rotation: \(A = (0, 0)\), \(B = (0, -1)\), \(C = (1, -1)\)
A student is asked to design an experiment to determine the change in angular momentum of a disk that rotates about its center and the product of the average torque applied to the disk and the time interval in which the torque is exerted. A net force is applied tangentially to the surface of the disk. The rotational inertia of the disk about its center is \(I = MR^2\). Which two of the following quantities should the student measure to determine the change in angular momentum of the disk after 10 s? Select two answers.
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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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