| 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. |
A Major Upgrade To Phy Is Coming Soon — Stay Tuned
We'll help clarify entire units in one hour or less — guaranteed.
A self paced course with videos, problems sets, and everything you need to get a 5. Trusted by over 15k students and over 200 schools.
A 2.00 x102 g block on a 50.0 cm long string swings in a circle on a horizontal, frictionless table at 75.0 rpm. What is the speed of block? What is the tension in the string?
A piece of metal of weight \(W\) is suspended by two identical strings. Each string passes through a pulley and is attached to a block of mass \(m\) . The system is in equilibrium.What must be true for \(m\) such that the two strings attached to the piece of metal are almost horizontal.
For linear motion the term “inertia” refers to the same physical concept of
A person with a weight of \( 600 \) \( \text{N} \) stands on a scale in an elevator. What is the acceleration of the elevator when the scale reads \( 900 \) \( \text{N} \)?
A rocket-powered hockey puck has a thrust of \(4.40 \, \text{N}\) and a total mass of \(1.00 \, \text{kg}\). It is released from rest on a frictionless table, \(2.10 \, \text{m}\) from the edge of a \(2.10 \, \text{m}\) drop. The front of the rocket is pointed directly toward the edge. Assuming that the thrust of the rocket is present for the entire time of travel, how far does the puck land from the base of the table?
A block hangs from the ceiling by a massless rope. A \( 3.0 \, \text{kg} \) block is attached to the first block and hangs below it on another piece of massless rope. The tension in the top rope is \( 63.0 \, \text{N} \).
If an elephant were chasing you, its enormous mass would be most threatening. But if you zigzagged, its mass would be to your advantage. Why?
Traveling at a speed of 15.9 m/s, the driver of an automobile suddenly locks the wheels by slamming on the brakes. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and the road is 0.659. What is the speed of the automobile after 1.59 s have elapsed? Ignore the effects of air resistance.
Two objects, \( A \) and \( B \), move toward one another. Object \( A \) has twice the mass and half the speed of object \( B \). Which of the following describes the forces the objects exert on each other when they collide and provides the best explanation?
A mass moving with a constant speed \( u \) encounters a rough surface and comes to a stop. The mass takes a time \( t \) to stop after encountering the rough surface. The coefficient of dynamic friction between the rough surface and the mass is \( 0.40 \). Which of the following expressions gives the initial speed \( u \)?
\(v = \sqrt{Rg\tan\theta}\)
\(10.3\,\text{m/s}\)
By continuing you (1) agree to our Terms of Use and Terms of Sale and (2) consent to sharing your IP and browser information used by this site’s security protocols as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
| 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] | |
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] |
One price to unlock most advanced version of Phy across all our tools.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
Try our free calculator to see what you need to get a 5 on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam.
Understand you mistakes quicker.
Phy automatically provides feedback so you can improve your responses.
10 Free Credits To Get You Started
By continuing you agree to nerd-notes.com Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and our usage of user data.
Feeling uneasy about your next physics test? We'll boost your grade in 3 lessons or less—guaranteed
