| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ Mg\sin\theta – f = Ma \] | This is Newton’s second law for translation along the incline, where \(Mg\sin\theta\) is the component of gravity down the plane and \(f\) is the friction force. |
| \[ fR = I\alpha \quad \text{with} \quad a = \alpha R \] | The friction force provides the torque needed for rolling without slipping, and the rolling condition relates linear acceleration \(a\) to angular acceleration \(\alpha\). |
| \[ f = \frac{Ia}{R^2} \] | Rearranging the torque equation yields an expression for \(f\) in terms of \(a\). |
| \[ f = \frac{2}{5}Ma \] | Substitute the moment of inertia for a uniform solid sphere \(I = \frac{2}{5}MR^2\) into the previous expression. |
| \[ Mg\sin\theta – \frac{2}{5}Ma = Ma \] | Insert \(f = \frac{2}{5}Ma\) into Newton’s second law and set up the equation for \(a\). |
| \[ Mg\sin\theta = \left(1+\frac{2}{5}\right)Ma = \frac{7}{5}Ma \] | Simplify the equation to combine like terms and isolate \(a\). |
| \[ a = \frac{5}{7}g\sin\theta \] | Solve for the linear acceleration \(a\) of the sphere along the incline. |
| \[ f = \frac{2}{5}M\left(\frac{5}{7}g\sin\theta\right) = \frac{2}{7}Mg\sin\theta \] | Determine the friction force required for rolling by substituting \(a\) back into \(f = \frac{2}{5}Ma\). |
| \[ \frac{2}{7}Mg\sin\theta = \mu Mg\cos\theta \] | For the sphere to roll without slipping, the required friction force must be available, i.e., it must equal the maximum static friction \(\mu Mg\cos\theta\). |
| \[ \mu = \frac{2}{7}\tan\theta \] | Solve for the minimum coefficient of friction \(\mu\) needed to prevent slipping. |
| \[ \boxed{\mu = \frac{2}{7}\tan\theta} \] | This boxed expression is the final answer for part (a). |
| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ Mgh = \frac{1}{2}Mv_x^2 + \frac{1}{2}I\left(\frac{v_x}{R}\right)^2 \quad \Rightarrow \quad v_x = \sqrt{\frac{10}{7}gh} \] | For a rolling sphere, the gravitational potential energy converts into both translational and rotational kinetic energy. |
| \[ Mgh = \frac{1}{2}Mv_x^2 \quad \Rightarrow \quad v_x = \sqrt{2gh} \] | Without friction (\(\mu = 0\)), the sphere slides without rotating, so all potential energy becomes translational kinetic energy. |
| \[ \sqrt{2gh} > \sqrt{\frac{10}{7}gh} \] | Since \(2 > \frac{10}{7}\), the translational speed of a sliding sphere is higher than that of a rolling sphere, where some energy goes into rotation. |
| \(\text{Speed is greater when } \mu = 0\) | Thus, with zero friction the sphere attains a higher speed at the bottom because no energy is diverted to rotational motion. |
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An ice skater performs a pirouette (a fast spin) by pulling in his outstretched arms close to his body. What happens to his angular momentum about the axis of rotation?
A horizontal uniform meter stick of mass 0.2 kg is supported at its midpoint by a pivot point. A mass of 0.1 kg is attached to the left end of the meter stick, and another mass of 0.15 kg is attached to the right end of the meter stick. The meter stick is free to rotate in the horizontal plane around the pivot point. What is the tension in the string supporting the left end of the meter stick?

A \( 4700 \, \text{kg} \) truck carrying a \( 900 \, \text{kg} \) crate is traveling at \( 25 \, \text{m/s} \) to the right along a straight, level highway, as shown above. The truck driver then applies the brakes, and as it slows down, the truck travels \( 55 \, \text{m} \) in the next \( 3.0 \, \text{s} \). The crate does not slide on the back of the truck.
Initially, a ball has an angular velocity of \( 5.0 \) \( \text{rad/s} \) counterclockwise. Some time later, after rotating through a total angle of \( 5.5 \) \( \text{radians} \), the ball has an angular velocity of \( 1.5 \) \( \text{rad/s} \) clockwise.
A rod of length \( L \) is rotated about its center with \( I = \frac{ML^{2}}{12} \). What is the moment of inertia at either end of the rod?
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 sphere of mass \( M \) and radius \( r \), and rotational inertia \( I \) is released from the top of an inclined plane of height \( h \). The surface has considerable friction. Using only the variables mentioned, derive an expression for the sphere’s center of mass velocity.
Consider a uniform hoop of radius R and mass M rolling without slipping. Which is larger, its translational kinetic energy or its rotational kinetic energy?

The axle (the black dot) in Figure 1 is half the distance from the center to the rim. Suppose \( d = 30 \) \( \text{cm} \). What is the torque that the axle must apply to prevent the disk from rotating? Express your answer in newton-meters. Use positive value for the counterclockwise torque and negative value for the clockwise torque.
A forward horizontal force of \(12 \, \text{N}\) is used to pull a \(240 \, \text{N}\) crate at constant velocity across a horizontal floor. The coefficient of friction is
\(\mu = \frac{2}{7}\tan\theta\)\n\(\text{Greater}\)
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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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