| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[E_i = mgh\] | Initial mechanical energy is purely gravitational because the apple is released from rest \(v_i = 0\). |
| \[E_f = \frac{1}{2} m v_x^2\] | At ground level the potential is defined zero, so only kinetic energy remains with \(v_x = 40\,\text{m/s}\). |
| \[E_{\text{lost}} = E_i – E_f\] | The difference is the mechanical energy dissipated by air resistance. |
| \[\frac{E_{\text{lost}}}{E_i}\times100 = \left(1-\frac{E_f}{E_i}\right)100\] | Defines the percentage of energy dissipated. |
| \[\frac{E_f}{E_i} = \frac{\tfrac{1}{2} m v_x^2}{mgh} = \frac{v_x^2}{2gh}\] | Mass \(m\) cancels, leaving only known quantities. |
| \[\frac{v_x^2}{2gh}= \frac{40^2}{2\times9.8\times500}=\frac{1600}{9800}\approx0.163\] | Numeric evaluation of the remaining fraction of mechanical energy. |
| \[\%\,\text{lost}=\left(1-0.163\right)\times100\approx83.7\%\] | Convert the lost fraction to a percentage. |
| \[\boxed{84\%}\] | Closest listed choice; corresponds to option (d). |
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The maximum energy a bone can absorb without breaking is surprisingly small. Experimental data show that a leg bone of a healthy, \( 80 \) \( \text{kg} \) human can absorb about \( 240 \) \( \text{J} \). From what maximum height could a \( 80 \) \( \text{kg} \) person jump and land rigidly upright on both feet without breaking their legs? Assume that all energy is absorbed by the leg bones in a rigid landing. Express your answer with the appropriate units.
An average adult elephant \( (5000 \, \text{kg}) \) is strapped to a spring, which is then pulled \( 2 \, \text{meters} \) away from its equilibrium position and released. The elephant starts oscillating back and forth with a period of \( 10 \) seconds.

A \( 0.20 \) \( \text{kg} \) object moves along a straight line. The net force acting on the object varies with the object’s displacement as shown in the graph above. The object starts from rest at displacement \( x = 0 \) and time \( t = 0 \) and is displaced a distance of \( 20 \) \( \text{m} \). Determine each of the following.

A pump, submerged at the bottom of a well that is \( 35 \) \( \text{m} \) deep, is used to pump water uphill to a house that is \( 50 \) \( \text{m} \) above the top of the well, as shown to the right. The density of water is \( 1000 \) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \). All pressures are gauge pressures. Neglect the effects of friction, turbulence, and viscosity.
One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \(h\) above the floor. A block of mass \(M\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \(x\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \(D\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \(M, x, D, h,\) and any constants.
The launching mechanism of a toy gun consists of a spring with an unknown spring constant, \( k \). When the spring is compressed \( 0.120 \, \text{m} \) vertically, a \( 35.0 \, \text{g} \) projectile is able to be fired to a maximum height of \( 25 \, \text{m} \) above the position of the projectile when the spring is compressed. Assume that the barrel of the gun is frictionless.
A pendulum bob of mass m on a cord of length L is pulled sideways until the cord makes an angle \( \theta \) with the vertical. The change in potential energy of the bob during the displacement is:
A rescue helicopter lifts a 79 kg person straight up by means of a cable. The person has an upward acceleration of 0.70 m/s2 and is lifted through a distance of 11 m.
A \( 240 \) \( \text{kg} \) block is dropped from \( 3.0 \) meters onto a spring, compresses the spring and comes to rest.
A satellite in circular orbit around the Earth moves at constant speed. This orbit is maintained by the force of gravity between the Earth and the satellite, yet no work is done on the satellite. How is this possible?
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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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