| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $$F_{\parallel} = F\cos(\theta)$$ | The horizontal force \( F \) is resolved into a component along the inclined plane. The component along the plane is given by \( F\cos(\theta) \). |
| 2 | $$F_{g\,\parallel} = mg\sin(\theta)$$ | The gravitational force has a component down the incline given by \( mg\sin(\theta) \). |
| 3 | $$N = mg\cos(\theta)+ F\sin(\theta)$$ | The normal force \( N \) is found by resolving forces perpendicular to the incline. Gravity gives \( mg\cos(\theta) \) and the horizontal force contributes \( F\sin(\theta) \) pushing the block into the plane. |
| 4 | $$F_{f} = \mu N = \mu\left(mg\cos(\theta)+ F\sin(\theta)\right)$$ | The frictional force is given by the coefficient of friction \( \mu \) times the normal force. |
| 5 | $$m\,a = F\cos(\theta)- mg\sin(\theta)- \mu\left(mg\cos(\theta)+ F\sin(\theta)\right)$$ | Applying Newton’s second law along the incline, the net force is the sum of the component of \( F \) along the plane minus both the gravitational and frictional forces. |
| 6 | $$a = \frac{F\cos(\theta)- mg\sin(\theta)- \mu\left(mg\cos(\theta)+ F\sin(\theta)\right)}{m}$$ | This is the final expression for the block’s acceleration \( a \) up the incline in terms of \( m,\,\theta,\,\mu,\,F, \) and \( g \). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $$0 = F\cos(\theta)- mg\sin(\theta)- \mu\left(mg\cos(\theta)+ F\sin(\theta)\right)$$ | For the block to slide up the plane with constant velocity, the acceleration must be zero. Hence the net force along the incline is zero. |
| 2 | $$F\cos(\theta)- \mu F\sin(\theta) = mg\sin(\theta)+ \mu mg\cos(\theta)$$ | Rearrange the equation by grouping the terms involving \( F \) on the left and the gravitational terms on the right. |
| 3 | $$F \left(\cos(\theta)- \mu \sin(\theta)\right) = mg\left(\sin(\theta)+ \mu\cos(\theta)\right)$$ | Factor out \( F \) on the left-hand side and \( mg \) on the right-hand side for clarity. |
| 4 | $$F = \frac{mg\left(\sin(\theta)+ \mu\cos(\theta)\right)}{\cos(\theta)- \mu\sin(\theta)}$$ | Solve the equation for \( F \) by dividing both sides by \(\cos(\theta)- \mu \sin(\theta)\). |
| 5 | $$\cos(\theta)- \mu\sin(\theta)> 0 \quad \Longrightarrow \quad \tan(\theta) < \frac{1}{\mu}$$ | For \( F \) to be physically meaningful (i.e., a positive real number), the denominator must be positive. Rearranging the inequality yields the condition \( \tan(\theta) < \frac{1}{\mu} \). |
| 6 | $$\boxed{F = \frac{mg\left(\sin(\theta)+ \mu\cos(\theta)\right)}{\cos(\theta)- \mu\sin(\theta)}}$$ | This is the final expression for the magnitude of the applied horizontal force required to make the block slide with a constant velocity, including the physical condition on \( \theta \) and \( \mu \). |
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When a horizontal force of \( 4.5 \, \text{N} \) acts on a block on a resistance-free surface, it produces an acceleration of \( 2.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). Suppose a second \( 4.0 \, \text{kg} \) block is dropped onto the first. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the combination if the same force continues to act? Assume that the second block does not slide on the first block.
A \(2 \, \text{kg}\) ball is swung in a vertical circle. The length of the string the ball is attached to is \(0.7 \, \text{m}\). It takes \(0.4 \, \text{s}\) for the ball to travel one revolution (assume the ball travels at constant speed).
Are astronauts really “weightless” while in orbit?
Which of the following statements about the acceleration due to gravity is TRUE?
A sled moves with constant speed down a sloped hill. The angle of the hill with respect to the horizontal is \(10.0^\circ\). What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the sled and the hill’s surface?
A \( 1000 \) \( \text{kg} \) car is traveling east at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) when it collides perfectly inelastically with a northbound \( 2000 \) \( \text{kg} \) car traveling at \( 15 \) \( \text{m/s} \). If the coefficient of kinetic friction is \( 0.9 \), how far, and at what angle do the two cars skid before coming to a stop?
According to Newton’s third law, each team in a tug of war pulls with equal force on the other team. What, then, determines which team will win?
A skier with a mass of \(58 \, \text{kg}\) glides up a snowy incline that forms an angle of \(28^\circ\) with the horizontal. The skier initially moves at a speed of \(7.2 \, \text{m/s}\). After traveling a distance of \(2.3 \, \text{m}\) up the slope, the skier’s speed reduces to \(3.8 \, \text{m/s}\).
A body starting from rest moves along a straight line under the action of a constant force. After traveling a distance \( d \) the speed of the body is \( v \). The speed of the body when it has travelled a distance \( \dfrac{d}{2} \) from its initial position is
A block is given a brief push so that it slides up a ramp. After the block reaches its highest point, it slides back down, but the magnitude of its acceleration is less on the descent than on the ascent. Why?
a) \( a = \frac{F (\cos \theta – \mu \sin \theta) – mg (\mu \cos \theta + \sin \theta)}{m} \)
b) \( F = \frac{\mu m g \cos \theta + \mu F \sin \theta + m g \sin \theta}{\cos \theta} \)
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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] | |
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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