# (a) Displacement during the first two seconds
The displacement is the area under the velocity-time graph from \(t = 0\) to \(t = 2\) seconds.
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height}\) | The graph from \(t = 0\) to \(t = 2\) forms a right triangle. Calculate its area. |
| 2 | \(\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 2 \, \text{s} \times 4 \, \text{m/s}\) | Substitute the base (time interval) and height (velocity) into the area formula. |
| 3 | \(\text{Displacement} = 4 \,\text{meters}\) | The area (in square units) represents the player’s displacement in meters. |
# (b) Displacement between \(t = 4 \, \text{s}\) and \(t = 9 \, \text{s}\)
Calculate the area under the velocity-time graph between \(t = 4 \, \text{s}\) and \(t = 9 \, \text{s}\).
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(A_{\text{rectangle}} = \text{base} \times \text{height}\) | Calculate the area of the rectangle from \(t = 4\) to \(t = 8\). |
| 2 | \(A_{\text{rectangle}} = (8 – 4) \, \text{s} \times 2 \, \text{m/s} = 8 \, \text{meters}\) | Substitute the base (4 seconds) and height (2 m/s) into the equation. |
| 3 | \(A_{\text{triangle}} = \frac{1}{2} \times (9 – 8) \, \text{s} \times 2 \, \text{m/s} = 1 \, \text{meter}\) | Calculate the area of the triangle from \(t = 8\) to \(t = 9\). |
| 4 | \(\text{Total displacement} = 8 \, \text{meters} + 1 \, \text{meter} = 9 \, \text{meters}\) | Sum of the rectangle and triangle areas give the total displacement. |
# (c) Displacement between \(t = 4 \, \text{s}\) and \(t = 10 \, \text{s}\)
Calculate the area under the velocity-time graph between \(t = 4 \, \text{s}\) and \(t = 10 \, \text{s}\), including the negative area.
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(A_{\text{rectangle}} = \text{base} \times \text{height} = 8 \, \text{meters}\) | Area calculated previously for rectangle from \(t = 4\) to \(t = 8\). |
| 2 | \(A_{\text{triangle1}} = \frac{1}{2} \times (9 – 8) \, \text{s} \times 2 \, \text{m/s} = 1 \, \text{meter}\) | Area calculated previously for triangle from \(t = 8\) to \(t = 9\). |
| 3 | \(A_{\text{triangle2}} = \frac{1}{2} \times (10 – 9) \, \text{s} \times (-2) \, \text{m/s} = -1 \, \text{meter}\) | Calculate the area (negative) for the triangle from \(t = 9\) to \(t = 10\). |
| 4 | \(\text{Total displacement} = 8 \, \text{meters} + 1 \, \text{meter} – 1 \, \text{meter} = 8 \, \text{meters}\) | Sum the areas of the rectangle and the two triangles. |
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In which of the following is the rate of change of the particle’s momentum zero?

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In which of the following is the particle’s acceleration constant?
The graph above shows velocity as a function of time for an object moving along a straight line. For which of the following sections of the graph is the acceleration constant and nonzero?

The motion of a particle is described in the velocity vs. time graph shown above. Over the nine-second interval shown, we can say that the speed of the particle…
A car moves forward at a steady \( 10 \) \( \text{m/s} \) for \( 5 \) \( \text{s} \). The driver slams the brakes and brings it to rest in \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \). Without waiting, the driver immediately accelerates backward (negative velocity) for \( 3 \) \( \text{s} \) until reaching \( 8 \) \( \text{m/s} \) in reverse. Draw the velocity vs. time graph.
An elevator starts at rest on the ground floor. It accelerates upward smoothly for \( 2 \) \( \text{s} \) until reaching a steady upward speed. It continues at that constant speed for \( 5 \) \( \text{s} \) before gently slowing to rest at the next floor in \( 3 \) \( \text{s} \). Draw the velocity vs. time graph.
You throw a ball straight upward. It leaves your hand at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) and slows at a steady rate until it stops at the peak. The ball then comes back down, speeding up steadily until it hits the ground with the same speed it left your hand. Draw the velocity vs. time graph or explain it in terms of functions.

On another planet, a ball is in free fall after being released from rest at time \( t = 0 \). A graph of the height of the ball above the planet’s surface as a function of time \( t \) is shown. The acceleration due to gravity on the planet is most nearly
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(a) 4 m
(b) 9 m
(c) 8 m
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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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