| 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 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?
A stone is falling at a constant velocity vertically down a tube filled with oil. Which of the following statements about the energy changes of the stone during its motion are correct?
I. The gain in kinetic energy is less than the loss in gravitational potential energy.
II. The sum of kinetic and gravitational potential energy of the stone is constant.
III. The work done by the force of gravity has the same magnitude as the work done by friction.
A ski tow carries people to the top of a nearby mountain. It operates on a slope of angle \( 15.7^\circ \) of length \( 260 \) \( \text{m} \). The rope moves at a speed of \( 13.0 \) \( \text{km/h} \) and provides power for \( 54 \) riders at one time, with an average mass per rider of \( 67.0 \) \( \text{kg} \).
A \( 25.0 \) \( \text{kg} \) block is placed at the top of an inclined plane set at an angle of \( 35 \) degrees to the horizontal. The block slides down the \( 1.5 \) \( \text{m} \) slope at a constant rate. How much work did friction do on the block?
A \(0.50 \, \text{kg}\) mass is attached to a spring constant \(20 \, \text{N/m}\) along a horizontal, frictionless surface. The object oscillates in simple harmonic motion and has a speed of \(1.5 \, \text{m/s}\) at the equilibrium position. What is the total energy of the system?
You are working out on a rowing machine. Each time you pull the rowing bar toward you, it moves a distance of \(1.25 \, \text{m}\) in a time of \(0.84 \, \text{s}\). The readout on the display indicates that the average power you are producing is \(76 \, \text{W}\). What is the magnitude of the force that you exert on the handle?
The total energy of a system in SHM is given by \( E \). At what displacement from equilibrium is the kinetic energy equal to the potential energy?

A simple pendulum consists of a bob of mass 1.8 kg attached to a string of length 2.3 m. The pendulum is held at an angle of 30° from the vertical by a light horizontal string attached to a wall, as shown above.
An experimenter has a simple pendulum of length \( L \) and a mass–spring system with mass \( m \) and spring constant \( k \). Both are found to have the same period of oscillation \( T \) on Earth. If both systems are taken to the Moon, where the acceleration due to gravity is approximately \( \frac{1}{6} g \) of Earth, what will happen to their periods?
A box having a mass of \( 1.5 \) \( \text{kg} \) is accelerated across a table at \( 1.5 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). The coefficient of kinetic friction on the box is \( 0.3 \).
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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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