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| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\text{Real forces on the car: }\{\vec{W},\vec{N}\}\] | Because the road is slick and friction is negligible, there is no friction force. The only real forces are the car’s weight \(\vec{W}=M\vec{g}\) (downward) and the normal force \(\vec{N}\) (perpendicular to the road surface). |
| 2 | \[\vec{W}=Mg\,\text{(straight down)}\] | Weight always acts vertically downward with magnitude \(Mg\). |
| 3 | \[\vec{N}\perp\text{banked surface},\quad \angle(\vec{N},\text{vertical})=\theta\] | The normal force is perpendicular to the road. Since the road is banked at angle \(\theta\) above horizontal, the normal tilts by \(\theta\) from the vertical (toward the center of the circular path). |
| 4 | \[\text{Choose axes: }\hat{x}\text{ horizontal toward center (radial inward)},\;\hat{y}\text{ vertical upward}\] | This coordinate system matches the physics: centripetal acceleration is purely horizontal inward (radial), and there is no vertical acceleration because the car stays on the surface (constant height while going around). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\sum F_y = Ma_y = 0\] | There is no vertical acceleration for steady circular motion on the bank (the car does not accelerate upward or downward). |
| 2 | \[N\cos\theta – Mg = 0\] | Resolve \(\vec{N}\) into components using axes from part (a): vertical component is \(N\cos\theta\) upward, weight is \(Mg\) downward. |
| 3 | \[N\cos\theta = Mg\] | From \(\sum F_y=0\), the upward and downward forces balance. |
| 4 | \[\sum F_x = Ma_x = M\frac{v^2}{R}\] | Horizontal inward (radial) acceleration is centripetal with magnitude \(v^2/R\). |
| 5 | \[N\sin\theta = M\frac{v^2}{R}\] | The only horizontal inward force is the inward component of the normal force, \(N\sin\theta\). |
| 6 | \[\frac{N\sin\theta}{N\cos\theta} = \frac{M\frac{v^2}{R}}{Mg}\] | Divide the horizontal equation by the vertical equation to eliminate \(N\) and \(M\). |
| 7 | \[\tan\theta = \frac{v^2}{Rg}\] | Simplify: \(\sin\theta/\cos\theta=\tan\theta\) and \(\left(Mv^2/R\right)/(Mg)=v^2/(Rg)\). |
| 8 | \[v^2 = Rg\tan\theta\] | Solve algebraically for \(v^2\). |
| 9 | \[\boxed{v = \sqrt{Rg\tan\theta}}\] | This is the required speed for a frictionless banked curve; mass \(M\) cancels, so the speed does not depend on \(M\). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[v = \sqrt{Rg\tan\theta}\] | Use the result from part (b). |
| 2 | \[v = \sqrt{(30.0\,\text{m})(9.80\,\text{m/s}^2)\tan(20.0^\circ)}\] | Substitute \(R=30.0\,\text{m}\), \(g=9.80\,\text{m/s}^2\), \(\theta=20.0^\circ\). (\(M\) is not needed because it cancels.) |
| 3 | \[v = \sqrt{(294\,\text{m}^2/\text{s}^2)\tan(20.0^\circ)}\] | Compute \((30.0)(9.80)=294\). |
| 4 | \[v \approx \sqrt{(294)(0.364)}\] | Use \(\tan(20.0^\circ)\approx 0.364\). |
| 5 | \[v \approx \sqrt{107}\] | Compute \((294)(0.364)\approx 107\). |
| 6 | \[\boxed{v \approx 10.3\,\text{m/s}}\] | Take the square root: \(\sqrt{107}\approx 10.3\), giving the car’s speed on the banked, frictionless curve. |
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A person pulls a rope with a force \( F \) at an angle of \( 60^\circ \) to the horizontal. The rope is connected to a load over a frictionless pulley as shown in the diagram. The load is stationary. Which of the following is correct about the weight of the load and the net force exerted on the pulley by the rope?
If the acceleration of an object is \( 0 \), are no forces acting on it? Explain.
Find the downward acceleration of an elevator, given that the ratio of a person’s stationary weight to their weight in the elevator is \(5:4\).
Which of the following do not affect the maximum speed that a car can drive in a circle? Choose both correct answers.
A group of astronauts in a spaceship are attempting to land on Mars. As they approach the planet, they begin to plan their descent to the surface.
When a falling meteoroid is at a distance above the Earth’s surface of \( 3.00 \) times the Earth’s radius, what is its acceleration due to the Earth’s gravitation?
A car is safely negotiating an unbanked circular turn at a speed of \(17 \, \text{m/s}\) on dry road. However, a long wet patch in the road appears and decreases the maximum static frictional force to one-fifth of its dry-road value. If the car is to continue safely around the curve, by what factor would the it need to change the original velocity?

The block is moving horizontally at a constant velocity. There are two applied forces on the object as shown in the image. In which direction is the friction force acting on the object?
A child has a toy tied to the end of a string and whirls the toy at constant speed in a horizontal circular path of radius \(R\). The toy completes each revolution of its motion in a time period \(T\). What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the toy (in terms of \(T\), \(R\), and \(g\))?
Two ice skaters push off against each other. Skater A has twice the mass of Skater B. Which statement is correct?
\(v = \sqrt{Rg\tan\theta}\)
\(10.3\,\text{m/s}\)
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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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