| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[ \frac{1}{2}m v_{0}^{2} = m g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) \] | This is the energy conservation for a frictionless slide where all the gravitational potential energy \(m g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ)\) is converted into kinetic energy \(\frac{1}{2}m v_{0}^{2}\) at the bottom. |
| 2 | \[ v_{0} = \sqrt{2g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ)} \] | Solve for the frictionless final speed \(v_{0}\) by isolating it in the energy equation. |
| 3 | \[ \frac{1}{2}m v_{x}^{2} = m g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) – \mu \; m g \Delta x \cos(34^\circ) \] | For a slide with kinetic friction, the work done by friction \(\mu m g \Delta x \cos(34^\circ)\) is subtracted from the available gravitational potential energy. |
| 4 | \[ v_{x} = \frac{1}{2}v_{0} \] | It is given that the child’s speed at the bottom with friction is exactly half the frictionless speed. |
| 5 | \[ \frac{1}{2}m \left(\frac{1}{2}v_{0}\right)^2 = m g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) – \mu \; m g \Delta x \cos(34^\circ) \] | Substitute \(v_{x} = \frac{1}{2}v_{0}\) into the energy equation with friction. |
| 6 | \[ \frac{1}{2} \left(\frac{1}{2}v_{0}\right)^2 = g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) – \mu \; g \Delta x \cos(34^\circ) \] | Cancel the mass \(m\) from both sides since it appears throughout. |
| 7 | \[ \frac{1}{2} \left(\frac{1}{4}v_{0}^2\right) = \frac{1}{8}v_{0}^2 = g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) – \mu \; g \Delta x \cos(34^\circ) \] | Simplify the left side by computing \(\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{1}{4}\) and then multiplying by \(\frac{1}{2}\). |
| 8 | \[ \text{Since} \; \frac{1}{2}v_{0}^2 = g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ), \; \text{we have} \; \frac{1}{8}v_{0}^2 = \frac{1}{4}g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) \] | Replace \(\frac{1}{8}v_{0}^2\) using the frictionless energy equation for consistency. |
| 9 | \[ \frac{1}{4}g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) = g \Delta x \sin(34^\circ) – \mu \; g \Delta x \cos(34^\circ) \] | Equate the expression obtained from energy with friction to the simplified form of frictionless energy. |
| 10 | \[ \frac{1}{4}\sin(34^\circ) = \sin(34^\circ) – \mu \cos(34^\circ) \] | Cancel \(g \Delta x\) from both sides since they are nonzero. |
| 11 | \[ \sin(34^\circ) – \frac{1}{4}\sin(34^\circ) = \mu \cos(34^\circ) \] | Simplify the right side by subtracting \(\frac{1}{4}\sin(34^\circ)\) from \(\sin(34^\circ)\). |
| 12 | \[ \frac{3}{4}\sin(34^\circ) = \mu \cos(34^\circ) \] | This gives the relationship that relates \(\mu\) to the sine and cosine of \(34^\circ\). |
| 13 | \[ \mu = \frac{\frac{3}{4}\sin(34^\circ)}{\cos(34^\circ)} = \frac{3}{4}\tan(34^\circ) \] | Solve for \(\mu\) by dividing both sides by \(\cos(34^\circ)\). |
| 14 | \[ \boxed{\mu \approx 0.51} \] | Substitute \(\tan(34^\circ) \approx 0.67\) to get a numerical value \(\mu \approx \frac{3}{4} \times 0.67 \approx 0.50-0.51\). This is the coefficient of kinetic friction. |
A Major Upgrade To Phy Is Coming Soon — Stay Tuned
We'll help clarify entire units in one hour or less — guaranteed.
A self paced course with videos, problems sets, and everything you need to get a 5. Trusted by over 15k students and over 200 schools.
Which of the following statements about the acceleration due to gravity is TRUE?
A 2.0 kg wood box slides down a vertical wood wall while you push on it at a 45 ° angle. The coefficient of kinetic friction of wood µk = 0.200. What magnitude of force should you apply to cause the box to slide down at a constant speed?
A person stands on a scale in an elevator. If the scale reads \( 600 \, \text{N} \) when that person is riding upward at a constant velocity of \( 4 \, \text{m/s} \), what is the scale reading when the elevator is at rest? Hint: The reading on the scale is simply the normal force.
A vertical rope of negligible mass supports a block that weighs \(30 N\). The breaking strength of the rope is \( 50 N\). The largest acceleration that can be given to the block by pulling up on it with the rope without breaking the rope is most nearly
The gravitational force that the Moon exerts on Earth is often cited as the source of the tides we witness. However, the gravitational force the Sun exerts on Earth is over \(100\) times greater than the force the Moon exerts on Earth.
Why is the force from the Moon credited for the tides, and not the force from the Sun?

An adult exerts a horizontal force on a swing that is suspended by a rope of length \( L \), holding it at an angle \( \theta \) with the vertical. The child in the swing has a weight \( W \) and dimensions that are negligible. In terms of \( W \) and \( \theta \), determine:
A student kicks a soccer ball. The ball exerts a force back on the student’s foot. Why doesn’t the student’s foot accelerate backward as much as the ball accelerates forward?
A child whirls a ball in a vertical circle. Assuming the speed of the ball is constant (an approximation), when would the tension in the cord connected to the ball be greatest?
A “doomsday” asteroid with a mass of \( 1010 \, \text{kg} \) is hurtling through space. Unless the asteroid’s speed is changed by about \( 0.20 \, \text{cm/s} \), it will collide with Earth and cause tremendous damage. Researchers suggest that a small “space tug” sent to the asteroid’s surface could exert a gentle constant force of \( 2.5 \, \text{N} \). For how long must this force act?
A hockey puck glides on perfectly frictionless ice at constant velocity. Which statement is true?
\(\boxed{\mu \approx 0.51}\)
By continuing you (1) agree to our Terms of Use and Terms of Sale and (2) consent to sharing your IP and browser information used by this site’s security protocols as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
| 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 |
One price to unlock most advanced version of Phy across all our tools.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
Try our free calculator to see what you need to get a 5 on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam.
A quick explanation
Credits are used to grade your FRQs and GQs. Pro users get unlimited credits.
Submitting counts as 1 attempt.
Viewing answers or explanations count as a failed attempts.
Phy gives partial credit if needed
MCQs and GQs are are 1 point each. FRQs will state points for each part.
Phy customizes problem explanations based on what you struggle with. Just hit the explanation button to see.
Understand you mistakes quicker.
Phy automatically provides feedback so you can improve your responses.
10 Free Credits To Get You Started
By continuing you agree to nerd-notes.com Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and our usage of user data.
Feeling uneasy about your next physics test? We'll boost your grade in 3 lessons or less—guaranteed
NEW! PHY AI accurately solves all questions
🔥 Get up to 30% off Elite Physics Tutoring
🧠 NEW! Learn Physics From Scratch Self Paced Course
🎯 Need exam style practice questions?