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Part A – Angular Speed
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T\cos(\theta)=mg\] | The vertical component of the tension \(T\) balances the gravitational force \(mg\) on the ball. |
| 2 | \[T\sin(\theta)=m\omega^2r\] | The horizontal component of \(T\) provides the centripetal force (\(m\omega^2r\)) needed for circular motion. |
| 3 | \[\frac{T\sin(\theta)}{T\cos(\theta)}=\frac{m\omega^2r}{mg}\] | Dividing the horizontal equation by the vertical one eliminates \(T\) to relate \(\omega\) and \(\theta\). |
| 4 | \[\tan(\theta)=\frac{\omega^2r}{g}\] | This simplifies the relationship between the angle \(\theta\) and the angular speed \(\omega\). |
| 5 | \[\omega^2=\frac{g\tan(\theta)}{r}\] | Solving for \(\omega^2\) in terms of \(\tan(\theta)\), \(r\), and \(g\). |
| 6 | \[\sin(\theta)=\frac{r}{\ell}\quad \text{and}\quad \cos(\theta)=\sqrt{1-\frac{r^2}{\ell^2}}=\frac{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}{\ell}\] | Using the geometry of the conical pendulum, where the horizontal radius \(r\) relates to the string length \(\ell\) and angle \(\theta\). |
| 7 | \[\tan(\theta)=\frac{\sin(\theta)}{\cos(\theta)}=\frac{r}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}\] | Expressing \(\tan(\theta)\) in terms of the given variables \(r\) and \(\ell\). |
| 8 | \[\omega^2=\frac{g}{r}\cdot\frac{r}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}=\frac{g}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}\] | Substituting the expression for \(\tan(\theta)\) into the equation for \(\omega^2\) simplifies the result. |
| 9 | \[\boxed{\omega=\sqrt{\frac{g}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}}}\] | Taking the square root yields the final expression for the angular speed \(\omega\) in terms of \(\ell\), \(r\), and \(g\). |
Part B – Tension
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T\cos(\theta)=mg\] | The vertical component of the tension balances the weight of the ball. |
| 2 | \[T=\frac{mg}{\cos(\theta)}\] | Solving for the tension \(T\) from the vertical equilibrium equation. |
| 3 | \[\cos(\theta)=\frac{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}{\ell}\] | Expressing \(\cos(\theta)\) in terms of the string length \(\ell\) and the horizontal radius \(r\) using geometry. |
| 4 | \[T=\frac{mg}{\frac{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}{\ell}}=\frac{mg\ell}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}\] | Substituting \(\cos(\theta)\) into the equation for \(T\) and simplifying. |
| 5 | \[\boxed{T=\frac{mg\ell}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}}\] | This is the final expression for the tension \(T\) in the string in terms of \(L\) (\(\ell\)), \(m\), \(r\), and \(g\). |
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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 block of mass \( 4.0 \) \( \text{kg} \) rests on an inclined plane. The coefficient of static friction between the block and the plane \( \mu_s \) is \( 0.4 \). Which of the following gives the angle of inclination at which the block will start to slide?
Three students are pulling on a bag of skittles. Each is pulling with a horizontal force. If student 1 pulls Eastward with [katex]170 \, \text{N}[/katex], student 2 pulls Southward with [katex]100 \, \text{N}[/katex] and student 3 pulls with [katex]200 \, \text{N}[/katex] at an angle of [katex]20^\circ [/katex] west of north, what is the net force caused by the three students on the bag of skittles?
Describe two examples in which the force of friction exerted on an object is in the direction of motion of the object.
An object moves at constant speed in a circular path of radius \( r \) at a rate of \( 1 \) revolution per second. What is its acceleration in terms of \(r\)?
A spacecraft somewhere in between the Earth and the Moon experiences zero net force acting on it. This is because the Earth and the Moon pull the spacecraft in equal but opposite directions. Find the distance \(D\) away from Earth such that the spacecraft experiences zero net force. The distance between the Moon and Earth is \(\sim 3.844 \times 10^8 \, \text{m}\).
Note: You may need the mass of the Earth and the Moon. You can find this in the formula table.
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).
What is the weight of a person who has a mass of \(75 \, \text{kg}\)?
A communications satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude of \(35{,}000 \, \text{km}\) above the Earth’s surface. Take the mass of Earth to be \(6 \times 10^{24} \, \text{kg}\) and the radius of Earth to be \(6.4 \times 10^6 \, \text{m}\). What is the satellite’s velocity?

Two masses, \( m_1 \) and \( m_2 \), are connected by a cord and arranged as shown in the diagram, with \( m_1 \) sliding along a frictionless surface and \( m_2 \) hanging from a light, frictionless pulley. What would be the mass of the falling mass, \( m_2 \), if both the sliding mass, \( m_1 \), and the tension, \( T \), in the cord were known?
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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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