| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ \omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} \] | This is the formula for the angular frequency of a mass-spring system, where \(k=20.0\,\text{N/m}\) and \(m=1.5\,\text{kg}\). |
| \[ \omega = \sqrt{\frac{20.0}{1.5}} \approx 3.65\,\text{rad/s} \] | Substitute the given values to calculate \(\omega\). |
| \[ f = \frac{\omega}{2\pi} \approx \frac{3.65}{6.28} \approx 0.582\,\text{Hz} \] | Convert the angular frequency to the ordinary frequency using \(f=\omega/(2\pi)\). |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ v_{\text{max}} = A\,\omega \] | The maximum speed in simple harmonic motion is the product of the amplitude \(A\) and the angular frequency \(\omega\). |
| \[ v_{\text{max}} = 0.10\,\text{m} \times 3.65\,\text{rad/s} \approx 0.365\,\text{m/s} \] | Substitute the amplitude \(A=0.10\,\text{m}\) and the computed \(\omega\) into the formula. |
| \[ \text{Occurs at } x=0 \] | The maximum speed occurs at the equilibrium position where the displacement is zero. |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ a_{\text{max}} = \omega^2\,A \] | The maximum acceleration in simple harmonic motion is given by \(a_{\text{max}}=\omega^2 A\). |
| \[ a_{\text{max}} = (3.65\,\text{rad/s})^2 \times 0.10\,\text{m} \approx 1.33\,\text{m/s}^2 \] | Substitute \(\omega \approx 3.65\,\text{rad/s}\) and \(A = 0.10\,\text{m}\) into the equation. |
| \[ \text{Occurs at } x = \pm 0.10\,\text{m} \] | The magnitude of acceleration is maximum at the extreme positions (\(x=\pm A\)) of the oscillation. |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ E = \frac{1}{2}\,k\,A^2 \] | The total mechanical energy in a mass-spring system is stored as potential energy in the spring at maximum displacement. |
| \[ E = \frac{1}{2} \times 20.0\,\text{N/m} \times (0.10\,\text{m})^2 \] | Substitute the given values \(k=20.0\,\text{N/m}\) and \(A=0.10\,\text{m}\) into the energy formula. |
| \[ E = 0.1\,\text{J} \] | Simplify the expression to obtain the total energy of the system. |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ x(t) = A\,\cos(\omega t + \phi) \] | This is the general solution for the displacement in simple harmonic motion, where \(\phi\) is the phase constant. |
| \[ x(0) = A\,\cos(\phi) = 0.10\,\text{m} \] | At \(t=0\), the mass is released from rest at \(x=0.10\,\text{m}\), which implies \(\phi = 0\) because \(\cos(0)=1\). |
| \[ x(t) = 0.10\,\text{m}\,\cos\Big(\sqrt{\frac{20.0}{1.5}}\,t\Big) \] | Substitute \(A=0.10\,\text{m}\), \(\omega=\sqrt{\frac{20.0}{1.5}}\), and \(\phi=0\) into the general solution to obtain the displacement as a function of time. |
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A 0.2 kg object is attached to a horizontal spring undergoes SHM with the total energy of 0.4 J. The kinetic energy as a function of position presented by the graph.
A skier with a mass of \(58 \, \text{kg}\) glides up a snowy incline that forms an angle of \(28^\circ\) with the horizontal. The skier initially moves at a speed of \(7.2 \, \text{m/s}\). After traveling a distance of \(2.3 \, \text{m}\) up the slope, the skier’s speed reduces to \(3.8 \, \text{m/s}\).
A child pushes horizontally on a box of mass m with constant speed v across a rough horizontal floor. The coefficient of friction between the box and the floor is µ. At what rate does the child do work on the box?
What force is necessary to stretch an ideal spring with a spring constant of \( 120 \) \( \text{N/m} \) by \( 30 \) \( \text{cm} \)?
The two blocks of masses \( M \) and \( 2M \) travel at the same speed \( v \) but in opposite directions. They collide and stick together. How much mechanical energy is lost to other forms of energy during the collision?
A mass–spring system is oscillating in simple harmonic motion. At the exact moment the mass passes through its equilibrium position, which of the following statements is true?
When can the motion of a pendulum be modeled as simple harmonic motion?
A constant force of strength \( 20 \) \( \text{N} \) acts on an object of mass \( 3 \) \( \text{kg} \) as it moves a distance of \( 4 \) \( \text{m} \). If this force is applied perpendicular to the \( 4 \) \( \text{m} \) displacement, the work done by the force is equal to:
A pendulum has a period of \(2.0 \, \text{s}\) on Earth. What is its length?

A particle of mass \(m\) slides down a fixed, frictionless sphere of radius \(R\), starting from rest at the top.
In terms of \(m\), \(g\), \(R\), and \(\theta\), determine each of the following for the particle while it is sliding on the sphere.
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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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