| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[T = F\] | The rope is ideal, so the tension \(T\) is uniform and equal to the person’s pull \(F\). |
| \[W = T\] | The load is stationary, therefore the upward tension balances its weight: \(W = T\). |
| \[\boxed{\;W = F\;}\] | Substituting \(T = F\) gives the load’s weight. |
| \[\vec{F}_1 = F\hat{j}\] | Vertical segment pulls straight down on the pulley with magnitude \(F\). |
| \[\vec{F}_2 = F\bigl(\tfrac12\hat{i}+\tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}\hat{j}\bigr)\] | The slanted segment makes \(60^\circ\) to the horizontal, so its horizontal component is \(F\cos60 = \tfrac12F\) and its vertical (down) component is \(F\sin60 = \tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}F\). |
| \[\vec{F}_{\text{net}} = \vec{F}_1 + \vec{F}_2\] | Net force on the pulley is the vector sum of the two tensions. |
| \[|\vec{F}_{\text{net}}| = F\sqrt{\bigl(\tfrac12\bigr)^2 + \bigl(1+\tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}\bigr)^2}\] | Combine horizontal and vertical components: horizontal \(= \tfrac12F\); vertical \(= F + \tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}F\). |
| \[|\vec{F}_{\text{net}}| \approx 1.93F < 2F\] | Magnitude is less than \(2F\) because the two tension forces are not in opposite directions. |
| \[\boxed{\;|\vec{F}_{\text{net}}|<2F\;}\] | Concludes net force on pulley. |
Incorrect options: (a) & (b) assume the weight is less than the applied force, which contradicts the uniform tension. Option (d) overestimates the net force, treating the two tensions as colinear; they are angled, so their vector sum is smaller than \(2F\).
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The figure above shows a cart of mass \( M \) accelerating to the right with acceleration \( a \). A block of mass \( m \) is pressed against the cart’s front vertical surface and is held there only by friction. The coefficient of friction between the block and the cart is \( \mu \). What is the minimum acceleration \( a \) of the cart such that the block will not fall?
Suppose an object is accelerated by a force of \( 100 \) \( \text{N} \). Suddenly a second force of \( 100 \) \( \text{N} \) in the opposite direction is exerted on the object, so that the forces cancel. The object

A crane’s trolley at point \( P \) moves for a few seconds to the right with constant acceleration, and the \( 870 \, \text{kg} \) load hangs on a light cable at a \( 5^\circ \) angle to the vertical as shown. What is the acceleration of the trolley and load?
A skateboarder, with an initial speed of \( 20.0 \, \text{m/s} \), rolls to the end of friction-free incline of length \( 25 \, \text{m} \). At what angle is the incline oriented above the horizontal?
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
The exoplanet HD 69830b has a mass 10 times that of the Earth and a radius 5 times that of the Earth. The value of g on HD 69830b is most nearly
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?
In an experiment where a constant horizontal force pulls on a box across a rough floor starting from rest, what would happen to the acceleration of the box if its mass were doubled but the pulling force remained unchanged?
A stone hangs by a fine thread from the ceiling, and a section of the same thread dangles from the bottom of the stone. If a person gives a sharp pull on the dangling thread, where is the thread likely to break: below the stone or above it? What if the person gives a slow and steady pull?
A spring stretches \( 8.0 \) \( \text{cm} \) when a \( 13 \) \( \text{N} \) force is applied. How far does it stretch when a \( 26 \) \( \text{N} \) force is applied?
The load weight is \(F\) and the net force on the pulley is \(F\sqrt{2+\sqrt{3}}\), which is less than \(2F\). Therefore, the correct option is \(\boxed{(c)}\).
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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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