| 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. |
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A box with a mass of \( M \) rests on a scale in an elevator that is moving downwards. The elevator slows with an acceleration of \( \dfrac{g}{4} \). Which of the following will give the reading of the scale?
List at least 2 everyday forces that are not conservative, and explain why they aren’t.
A car can decelerate at \( -3.80 \, \text{m/s}^2 \) without skidding when coming to rest on a level road. What would its deceleration be if the road is inclined at \( 9.3^\circ \) and the car moves uphill? Assume the same static friction coefficient.

Two wires are tied to the \(500 \, \text{g}\) sphere as shown above. The sphere revolves in a horizontal circle at a constant speed of \(7.2 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the tension in the upper wire? What is the tension in the lower wire?
An object of unknown mass is acted upon by multiple forces:
The coefficients of friction are \(\mu_s = 0.6\) and \(\mu_k = 0.2\). Starting from rest, the object travels \(10 \, \text{m}\) in \(4.5 \, \text{s}\). What is the mass of the unknown object?
A satellite circling Earth completes each orbit in \(132 \, \text{minutes}\).
While traveling in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, Mars gains speed during the part of the orbit where it is getting closer to the Sun. Which of the following can be used to explain this gain in speed?
A spring with a spring constant of \( 600. \) \( \text{N/m} \) is used for a scale to weigh fish. What is the mass of a fish that would stretch the spring by \( 7.5 \) \( \text{cm} \) from its normal length?
A brick slides on a horizontal surface. Which of the following will increase the magnitude of the frictional force on it?

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:
\(\boxed{\mu \approx 0.51}\)
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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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