| 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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If the coefficient of static friction is \( \mu_s = 0.5 \), how much force must be applied to a spring (spring constant of \( 0.8 \) \( \text{N/m} \)) which is attached to a block of wood (mass \( 4.0 \) \( \text{kg} \)) in order to just begin to move the block?
The tub of a washer goes into its spin-dry cycle, starting from rest and reaching an angular speed of \( 5.0 \) \( \text{rev/s} \) in \( 8.0 \) \( \text{s} \). At this point, the person doing the laundry opens the lid, and a safety switch turns off the washer. The tub slows to rest in \( 12.0 \) \( \text{s} \). Through how many revolutions does the tub turn during the entire \( 20 \)-s interval? Assume constant angular acceleration while it is starting and stopping.
A solid sphere, solid cylinder, and a hollow pipe all have equal masses and radii. If the three of them are released simultaneously from the top of an inclined plane and do not slip, which one will reach the bottom first?
A rod of length \( L \) is rotated about its center with \( I = \frac{ML^{2}}{12} \). What is the moment of inertia at a point \( \frac{L}{4} \) away from the center?

The diagram above shows a top view of a child of mass \(M\) on a circular platform of mass \(5M\)that is rotating counterclockwise. Assume the platform rotates without friction. Which of the following describes an action by the child that will result in an increase in the total angular momentum of the child-platform system?
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

A uniform rod of mass \( M_0 \) and length \( L \) is free to rotate about a pivot at its left end and is released from rest when the rod is \( 30^{\circ} \) below the horizontal, as shown in the figure. With respect to the pivot, the rod has rotational inertia \( I_0 = \dfrac{1}{3} M_0 L^2 \). Which of the following expressions correctly represents the magnitude of the net torque exerted on the rod about the pivot at the moment the rod is released?
A \(5\)-meter long ladder is leaning against a wall, with the bottom of the ladder \(3\) meters from the wall. The ladder is uniform and has a mass of \(20 \, \text{kg}\). A person of mass \(80 \, \text{kg}\) is standing on the ladder at a distance of \(4\) meters from the bottom of the ladder. What is the force exerted by the wall on the ladder?

The object shown in the diagram below consists of a cylinder of mass \( 100 \) \( \text{kg} \) and radius \( 25.0 \) \( \text{cm} \) connected by four thin rods, each of mass \( 5.00 \) \( \text{kg} \) and length \( 0.75 \) \( \text{m} \), to a thin-outer ring of mass \( 20.0 \) \( \text{kg} \). A small chunk of metal of mass \( 1.00 \) \( \text{kg} \) is welded to the outer ring. Determine the moment of inertia of the entire assembly about the center of the inner cylinder, treating the metal chunk as a point mass. Hint: The moment of inertia of a disk about it center is \(\tfrac{1}{2} M R^2\), a thin rod about it center is \(\tfrac{1}{12}ML^2\), and a thin hoop about its center is \(I = MR^2\).
A horizontal \( 300 \) \( \text{N} \) force pushes a \( 40 \) \( \text{kg} \) object across a horizontal \( 10 \) \( \text{meter} \) frictionless surface. After this, the block slides up a \( 20^\circ \) incline. Assuming the incline has a coefficient of kinetic friction of \( 0.4 \), how far along the incline will the object slide?
\(\mu = \frac{2}{7}\tan\theta\)\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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