| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \( \Delta x = v_i \cos( \theta) t \) | Use the horizontal motion equation. This relates displacement to initial velocity, angle, and time. Here, \(\theta = 45°\) and \(\Delta x = 125 \, \text{m}\). |
| 2 | \( y = v_i \sin( \theta) t – \frac{1}{2} g t^2 \) | Use the vertical motion equation. This relates height to initial velocity, angle, time, and gravitational acceleration \( g \approx 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). |
| 3 | \( y = 0 \, \text{m} \) | At landing, the height is assumed to be zero since the baseball is hit and lands at the same vertical level. |
| 4 | \( 0 = v_i \sin( \theta) t – \frac{1}{2} g t^2 \) | Substitute \( y = 0 \) into the vertical motion equation. |
| 5 | \( t = 0 \) or \( t = \frac{2 v_i \sin( \theta)}{ g} \) | Solving the quadratic equation, we discard the trivial solution \( t = 0 \) and use \( t = \frac{2 v_i \sin( \theta)}{ g} \). |
| 6 | \( \Delta x = v_i \cos( \theta) t \) | Substitute \( t \) into the horizontal motion equation and solve for \( v_i \). |
| 7 | \( 125 = v_i \cos( 45°) \frac{2 v_i \sin( 45°)}{ g} \) | Replace \( t \) with the expression found and simplify using \(\cos(45°) = \sin(45°) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \). |
| 8 | \( 125 = \frac{v_i^2 \cdot 2 (\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})^2}{ 9.8} \) | Simplify the trigonometric expressions. |
| 9 | \( 125 = \frac{v_i^2}{ 9.8} \) | Simplify further and solve for \( v_i \). |
| 10 | \( v_i = \sqrt{125 \cdot 9.8 } \approx 35 \, \text{m/s} \) | Calculate the initial velocity \( v_i \). |
| 11 | \( t = \frac{2 \cdot 35 \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}}{ 9.8} \approx 5 \, \text{s} \) | Substituting \(v_i \) into the time equation to find the total time of flight |
| 12 | \(\boxed{5 \, \text{s}}\) | The total time of flight for the ball was 5 seconds. |
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Which launch angle gives the greatest horizontal range, assuming level ground and no air resistance?
The highest barrier that a projectile can clear is 16.2 m, when the projectile is launched at an angle of 22.0° above the horizontal. What is the projectile’s launch speed?
A ball is kicked at a speed of \( v_0 \) at an angle \( \theta \) above the horizontal. The ball travels 25 meters horizontally. If the ball is kicked at \( 2v_0 \), what will the horizontal displacement be?
If a baseball pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand horizontally at a velocity of \( 150 \) \( \text{km/h} \), by what \( \% \) will the pull of gravity change the magnitude of the velocity when the ball reaches the batter, \( 18 \) \( \text{m} \) away? For this estimate, ignore air resistance and spin on the ball.
A drinking fountain projects water at an initial angle of \( 50^ \circ \) above the horizontal, and the water reaches a maximum height of \( 0.150 \) \( \text{m} \) above the point of exit. Assume air resistance is negligible.
A ball is thrown horizontally from the roof of a building \( 7.5 \) \( \text{m} \) tall and lands \( 9.5 \) \( \text{m} \) from the base. What was the ball’s initial speed?
A rock is thrown at an angle of \( 42^\circ \) above the horizontal at a speed of \( 14 \, \text{m/s} \). Determine how long it takes the rock to hit the ground.

Projectiles 1 and 2 are launched from level ground at the same time and follow the trajectories shown in the figure. Which one of the projectiles, if either, returns to the ground first, and why?
A ball is kicked horizontally off a 20 m tall cliff at a speed of 11 m/s. What is the final velocity of the ball right before it hits the ground?
A golfer hits a shot to a green that is elevated \(2.80 \, \text{m}\) above the point where the ball is struck. The ball leaves the club at a speed of \(18.9 \, \text{m/s}\) at an angle of \(52.0^\circ\) above the horizontal. It rises to its maximum height and then falls down to the green. Ignoring air resistance, find the speed of the ball just before it lands.
5 seconds
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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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