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AP Physics

Unit 3 - Circular Motion

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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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  1. \(\boxed{\omega=\sqrt{\frac{g}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}}}\)
  2. \(\boxed{T=\frac{mg\ell}{\sqrt{\ell^2-r^2}}}\).

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque 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 MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[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
VariableSI 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]
VariableDerived 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. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. 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]

  3. 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]

  4. 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]

Nano-

n

[katex]10^{-9}[/katex]

Micro-

µ

[katex]10^{-6}[/katex]

Milli-

m

[katex]10^{-3}[/katex]

Centi-

c

[katex]10^{-2}[/katex]

Deci-

d

[katex]10^{-1}[/katex]

(Base unit)

[katex]10^{0}[/katex]

Deca- or Deka-

da

[katex]10^{1}[/katex]

Hecto-

h

[katex]10^{2}[/katex]

Kilo-

k

[katex]10^{3}[/katex]

Mega-

M

[katex]10^{6}[/katex]

Giga-

G

[katex]10^{9}[/katex]

Tera-

T

[katex]10^{12}[/katex]

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