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Part (a): Minimum coefficient
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[x_2 = \tfrac{L}{2}\cos\theta,\quad x_1 = d\cos\theta,\quad y_{\text{top}} = L\sin\theta\] | Set geometry: horizontal lever arms to the weights are \( \tfrac{L}{2}\cos\theta \) for the ladder’s center (mass \( m_2 \)) and \( d\cos\theta \) for the person (mass \( m_1 \)); the top contact is at height \( L\sin\theta \). |
| \[N_1(L\sin\theta) – m_2 g\left(\tfrac{L}{2}\cos\theta\right) – m_1 g(d\cos\theta) = 0\] | Torque about the bottom with \( \)counterclockwise positive: wall normal \( N_1 \) gives a positive moment \( N_1(L\sin\theta) \); weights \( m_2 g \) and \( m_1 g \) at offsets \( \tfrac{L}{2}\cos\theta \) and \( d\cos\theta \) give clockwise (negative) moments. |
| \[N_1 = \frac{g\cos\theta\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)}{L\sin\theta}\] | Solve the torque equation algebraically for \( N_1 \). |
| \[f – N_1 = 0\] | Horizontal force balance: the floor friction \( f \) (to the right) balances the wall’s leftward normal \( N_1 \), so \( f = N_1 \). |
| \[N_2 – (m_1 + m_2)g = 0\] | Vertical force balance: the ground normal \( N_2 \) supports the total weight \( (m_1+m_2)g \). |
| \[f = \mu_{\min} N_2\] | Impending slip condition at the threshold of motion defines \( \mu_{\min} \) via \( f = \mu_{\min} N_2 \). With \( f = N_1 \), one has \( \mu_{\min} = \tfrac{N_1}{N_2} \). |
| \[\mu_{\min} = \frac{\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)\cos\theta}{(m_1+m_2)L\sin\theta}\] | Substitute \( N_1 = \tfrac{g\cos\theta\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)}{L\sin\theta} \) and \( N_2 = (m_1+m_2)g \); the \( g \) cancels, yielding the simplified ratio. |
| \[\boxed{\mu_{\min} = \frac{\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)\cos\theta}{(m_1+m_2)L\sin\theta}}\] | Final expression for the minimum coefficient ensuring no slip. |
Part (b): Friction magnitude
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[\mu_s = \tfrac{3}{2}\,\mu_{\min}\] | Given that the available static friction coefficient \( \mu_s \) exceeds the minimum \( \mu_{\min} \) by a factor of \( \tfrac{3}{2} \). |
| \[f = N_1\] | In static equilibrium, the actual friction adjusts to balance horizontal forces; thus \( f \) equals the wall normal \( N_1 \), not \( \mu_s N_2 \) unless at the threshold. |
| \[N_1 = \frac{g\cos\theta\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)}{L\sin\theta}\] | Use the same torque result from part (a); it does not depend on \( \mu_s \). |
| \[\boxed{f = \frac{g\cos\theta\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)}{L\sin\theta}}\] | Substitute to obtain the friction magnitude; since \( \mu_s > \mu_{\min} \), this satisfies \( f \le \mu_s N_2 \) with margin. |
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A solid sphere, solid cylinder, and a hollow pipe all have equal masses and radii. If the three of them are released simultaneously from the top of an inclined plane and do not slip, which one will reach the bottom first?
Two points, A and B, are on a disk that rotates about an axis. Point A is \( 3 \) times as far from the axis as point B. If the speed of point B is \( v \), then what is the speed of point A?

A sphere starts from rest and rolls down an incline of height \( H = 1.0 \) \( \text{m} \) at an angle of \( 25^\circ \) with the horizontal, as shown above. The radius of the sphere \( R = 15 \) \( \text{cm} \), and its mass \( m = 1.0 \) \( \text{kg} \). The moment of inertia for a sphere is \( \frac{2}{5}mR^2 \). What is the speed of the sphere when it reaches the bottom of the plane?
Which of the following must be zero if an object is spinning at a constant rate? There may be more than one right answer.
Consider a solid uniform sphere of radius \(R\) and mass \(M\) rolling without slipping. Which form of its kinetic energy is larger, translational or rotational?

In the figure above, the marble rolls down the track and around a loop-the-loop of radius \( R \). The marble has mass \( m \) and radius \( r \). What minimum height \( h_{min} \) must the track have for the marble to make it around the loop-the-loop without falling off? Express your answer in terms of the variables \( R \) and \( r \).
A disk of known radius and rotational inertia can rotate without friction in a horizontal plane around its fixed central axis. The disk has a cord of negligible mass wrapped around its edge. The disk is initially at rest, and the cord can be pulled to make the disk rotate. Which of the following procedures would best determine the relationship between applied torque and the resulting change in angular momentum of the disk?
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.
The moment of inertia of a solid cylinder about its axis is given by \( 0.5MR^2 \). If this cylinder rolls without slipping, the ratio of its rotational kinetic energy to its translational kinetic energy is
How long does it take for a rotating object to speed up from 15.0 rad/s to 33.3 rad/s if it has a uniform angular acceleration of 3.45 rad/s2?
\(\mu_{\min} = \frac{\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)\cos\theta}{(m_1+m_2)L\sin\theta}\)
\(f = \frac{g\cos\theta\left(\tfrac{m_2 L}{2} + m_1 d\right)}{L\sin\theta}\)
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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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