| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[A_1 v_i = A_2 v_x\] | Conservation of mass (continuity equation) requires that the volumetric flow rate remains constant, where \(A_1\) and \(A_2\) are the cross-sectional areas of the basement and second floor pipes, respectively. |
| \[A = \frac{\pi}{4}d^2\] | This is the formula for the area of a circle, with \(d\) as the diameter of the pipe. We use it to express \(A_1\) and \(A_2\) in terms of the given diameters. |
| \[v_x = \left(\frac{A_1}{A_2}\right)v_i = \left(\frac{d_1}{d_2}\right)^2 v_i\] | Substituting the area formula into the continuity equation, the constant factors cancel and we obtain \(v_x\) in terms of the diameters \(d_1\) and \(d_2\) and the initial speed \(v_i\). |
| \[v_x = \left(\frac{0.02}{0.013}\right)^2 (0.5)\] | Substitute \(d_1 = 0.02\,\text{m}\), \(d_2 = 0.013\,\text{m}\), and \(v_i = 0.5\,\text{m/s}\) into the equation. |
| \[v_x \approx (1.5385)^2 \times 0.5 \approx 2.367 \times 0.5 \approx 1.18\,\text{m/s}\] | Evaluating the ratio gives approximately \(1.5385\) which squared is about \(2.367\). Multiplying by \(0.5\,\text{m/s}\) results in a speed of approximately \(1.18\,\text{m/s}\) in the second floor pipe. |
| \[\boxed{v_x \approx 1.18\,\text{m/s}}\] | This is the final expression for the flow speed in the 1.3 cm diameter pipe on the second floor. |
| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[P_1 + \frac{1}{2}\rho v_i^2 + \rho g h_1 = P_2 + \frac{1}{2}\rho v_x^2 + \rho g h_2\] | This is Bernoulli’s equation applied between the basement (point 1) and the second floor (point 2). It relates pressure, kinetic, and potential energy per unit volume along a streamline. |
| \[h_1 = 0,\quad h_2 = 5\,\text{m}\] | We set the basement as the reference level (\(h_1 = 0\)) so that the second floor is at an elevation of \(5\,\text{m}\). |
| \[P_1 = 3\,\text{atm} = 3 \times 101325 = 303975\,\text{Pa}\] | The initial pressure is given as \(3\,\text{atm}\); converting to Pascals using \(1\,\text{atm} = 101325\,\text{Pa}\) yields \(303975\,\text{Pa}\). |
| \[P_2 = P_1 + \frac{1}{2}\rho (v_i^2 – v_x^2) – \rho g (h_2 – h_1)\] | Rearrange Bernoulli’s equation to solve for \(P_2\), the pressure in the second floor pipe. |
| \[P_2 = 303975 + \frac{1}{2}(1000)(0.5^2 – 1.18^2) – (1000)(9.8)(5)\] | Substitute \(\rho = 1000\,\text{kg/m}^3\) for water, \(g = 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\), \(v_i = 0.5\,\text{m/s}\), and \(v_x \approx 1.18\,\text{m/s}\) into the equation. |
| \[0.5^2 = 0.25,\quad 1.18^2 \approx 1.392\] | Calculate the squares of the velocities for the kinetic energy terms. |
| \[\frac{1}{2}\times 1000\times(0.25 – 1.392) \approx 500\times(-1.142) \approx -571\,\text{Pa}\] | The kinetic energy difference contributes a change of approximately \(-571\,\text{Pa}\) (negative since the speed increases in the smaller pipe). |
| \[1000 \times 9.8 \times 5 = 49000\,\text{Pa}\] | This term accounts for the increase in gravitational potential energy due to the 5 m elevation gain. |
| \[P_2 = 303975 – 571 – 49000 \approx 254404\,\text{Pa}\] | Subtract the kinetic and potential energy contributions from the initial pressure to find the pressure at the second floor. |
| \[\boxed{P_2 \approx 254400\,\text{Pa}}\] | This is the final pressure in the 1.3 cm diameter pipe on the second floor. In atmospheres, this is roughly \(254400/101325 \approx 2.51\,\text{atm}\). |
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.
A student designs an experiment to determine the density of an unknown fluid. The student pours the fluid into a graduated cylinder and attaches an object to a force probe. The object has a density greater than the density of the fluid. The student partially submerges the object into the fluid and records both the volume of fluid displaced in the graduated cylinder and the reading on the force probe. The student then submerges the object further and, at each trial, records the new values of displaced volume and force probe reading until the object is fully submerged. The student constructs a graph of force probe reading (vertical axis) as a function of volume of fluid displaced (horizontal axis). Which of the following statements correctly describes how a feature of this graph is related to the density of the fluid?

A helium-filled balloon is attached by a string of negligible mass to a small \(0.015 \ \text{kg}\) object that is just heavy enough to keep the balloon from rising. The total mass of the balloon, including the helium, is \(0.0050 \ \text{kg}\). The density of air is \(\rho_{\text{air}} = 1.29 \ \text{kg/m}^3\), and the density of helium is \(\rho_{\text{He}} = 0.179 \ \text{kg/m}^3\). The buoyant force on the \(0.015 \ \text{kg}\) object is small enough to be negligible.
Wanda watches the fish in her fish tank and notices that the angelfish like to feed at the water’s surface, while the catfish feed \( 0.300 \) \( \text{m} \) below at the bottom of the tank. If the average density of the water in the tank is \( 1000\) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \), what is the absolute pressure on the catfish?
A drinking fountain projects water at an initial angle of \( 50^ \circ \) above the horizontal, and the water reaches a maximum height of \( 0.150 \) \( \text{m} \) above the point of exit. Assume air resistance is negligible.
Diamond has a density of \( 3500 \) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \). During a physics lab, a diamond drops out of Virginia’s necklace and falls into her graduated cylinder filled with \( 5.00 \times 10^{-5} \) \( \text{m}^3 \) of water. This causes the water level to rise to the \( 5.05 \times 10^{-5} \) \( \text{m}^3 \) mark. What is the mass of Virginia’s diamond?
A spherical balloon has a radius of \(7.15\) \(\text{m}\) and is filled with helium. How large a cargo can it lift, assuming that the skin and structure of the balloon have a mass of \(930\) \(\text{kg}\)?
Take the density of helium and air to be \(0.18\) \(\text{kg/m}^3\) and \(1.24\) \(\text{kg/m}^3\), respectively.
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.
The difference in pressure between the atmosphere and the human lungs is \( 1.05 \times 10^5 \) \( \text{Pa} \). What is the longest straw you could use to draw up milk whose density is \( 1030 \) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \)?

The figure shows a container filled with water to a depth \( d \). The container has a hole a distance \( y \) above its bottom, allowing water to exit with an initially horizontal velocity. Which of the following correctly predicts and explains how the speed of the water as it exits the hole would change if the distance \( y \) above the bottom of the container increased?
Two points, \( A \) and \( B \), are in a pipe carrying a flowing ideal fluid. Point \( B \) is \( 2.0 \) \( \text{m} \) higher than point \( A \), and the fluid speed at \( B \) is twice the speed at \( A \). If the pressure at \( A \) is \( P_A \), which of the following expressions correctly represents the pressure at \( B \) \( (P_B) \)?
\(1.18\,\text{m/s}\)\n\(254400\,\text{Pa}\)
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.
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?