| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[W_{\text{water}} = \rho g V = (1000\, \text{kg/m}^3)(9.8\, \text{m/s}^2)(5.0\times10^{-3}\, \text{m}^3)=4.9\times10^{1}\, \text{N}\] | Use \( W = \rho g V \) to convert the given water volume into its weight. |
| 2 | \[W_{\text{total}} = 2.0\, \text{N} + 4.9\times10^{1}\, \text{N} + 3.0\, \text{N}=\boxed{5.4\times10^{1}\, \text{N}}\] | Add weights of the beaker, water, and ball. Tension is internal, so it does not affect total weight. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\text{Forces:}\; W=3.0\,\text{N (down)},\; T=4.0\,\text{N (down)},\; B\,\text{(up)}\] | Identify all forces acting on the ball: its weight \(W\), the downward tension \(T\), and the upward buoyant force \(B\). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[B = W + T = 3.0\, \text{N} + 4.0\, \text{N} = \boxed{7.0\, \text{N}}\] | The ball is in static equilibrium, so upward buoyant force equals the sum of downward forces. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[P = \rho g h = (1000\, \text{kg/m}^3)(9.8\, \text{m/s}^2)(0.20\, \text{m}) = \boxed{2.0\times10^{3}\, \text{Pa}}\] | Use hydrostatic relation \(P = \rho g h\) at the given depth \(h=0.20\,\text{m}\). |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\text{Initial displaced weight} = B = 7.0\,\text{N} > W_{\text{ball}} = 3.0\,\text{N}\] | While submerged, the ball displaces water whose weight equals the buoyant force (7 N). |
| 2 | \[\text{Floating displacement} = W_{\text{ball}} = 3.0\,\text{N}\] | Once free, a floating object displaces only its own weight in fluid. |
| 3 | \[\boxed{\text{Water level lower}}\] | The displaced volume (and thus water level) decreases from that producing 7 N to that producing 3 N, so the level drops. |
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.
How large must a heating duct be if air moving \( 3 \ \frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}} \) along it can replenish the air in a room of \( 300 \ \text{m}^3 \) volume every \( 15 \) minutes? Assume the air’s density remains constant.
A solid plastic cube with uniform density (side length = \(0.5\) \(\text{m}\)) of mass \(100\) \(\text{kg}\) is placed in a vat of fluid whose density is \(1200\) \(\text{kg/m}^3\). What fraction of the cube’s volume floats above the surface of the fluid?
The side of an above-ground pool is punctured, and water gushes out through the hole. If the total depth of the pool is \( 2.5 \) \( \text{m} \), and the puncture is \( 1 \) \( \text{m} \) above the ground level, what is the efflux speed of the water?

The figure above shows a portion of a conduit for water, one with rectangular cross sections. If the flow speed at the top is \( v \), what is the flow speed at the bottom?
Caleb is filling up water balloons for the Physics Olympics balloon toss competition. Caleb sets a \( 0.50 \text{-kg} \) spherical water balloon on the kitchen table and notices that the bottom of the balloon flattens until the pressure on the bottom is reduced to \( 630 \frac{\text{N}}{\text{m}^2} \). What is the area of the flat spot on the bottom of the balloon?
Suppose we wish to make a neutrally buoyant hollow sphere out of titanium (\(\rho = 4500 \text{kg/m}^3\)). If the sphere has an outer radius of \( 1.5 \) \( \text{m} \), what must be its inner radius?
An air mattress pump blows air above a beach ball at \( 8 \) \( \text{m/s} \). The air below the beach ball is moving at \( \approx 0 \) \( \text{m/s} \). Assuming the beach ball diameter is \( 0.1 \) \( \text{m} \), meaning the areas for the top \& bottom are each \( \approx 0.03 \) \( \text{m}^2 \), and the density of air is \( 1 \) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \), what is the lift force on the beach ball?

A Venturi meter is a device used for measuring the speed of a fluid within a pipe. The drawing shows a gas flowing at a speed \( v_2 \) through a horizontal section of pipe with a cross-sectional area \( A_2 = 542 \) \( \text{cm}^2 \). The gas has a density of \( 1.35 \) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \). The Venturi meter has a cross-sectional area of \( A_1 = 215 \) \( \text{cm}^2 \) and has been substituted for a section of the larger pipe. The pressure difference between the two sections \( P_2 – P_1 = 145 \) \( \text{Pa} \).
Balsa wood with an average density of \( 130 \) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \), is floating in pure water. What percentage of the wood is submerged?
Which of the following statements is an expression of the equation of continuity?
\(5.4\times10^{1}\,\text{N}\)
\(W\,\text{down},\;T\,\text{down},\;B\,\text{up}\)
\(7.0\,\text{N}\)
\(2.0\times10^{3}\,\text{Pa}\)
\(\text{lower}\)
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] | 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 |
One price to unlock most advanced version of Phy across all our tools.
per month
Billed Monthly. Cancel Anytime.
We crafted THE Ultimate A.P Physics 1 Program so you can learn faster and score higher.
Try our free calculator to see what you need to get a 5 on the 2026 AP Physics 1 exam.
A quick explanation
Credits are used to grade your FRQs and GQs. Pro users get unlimited credits.
Submitting counts as 1 attempt.
Viewing answers or explanations count as a failed attempts.
Phy gives partial credit if needed
MCQs and GQs are are 1 point each. FRQs will state points for each part.
Phy customizes problem explanations based on what you struggle with. Just hit the explanation button to see.
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
NEW! PHY AI accurately solves all questions
🔥 Get up to 30% off Elite Physics Tutoring
🧠 NEW! Learn Physics From Scratch Self Paced Course
🎯 Need exam style practice questions?