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| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[ p = \frac{F}{A} \] | Pressure in a hydraulic system is given by the force divided by the area over which the force is applied. |
| 2 | \[ A_{\text{small}} = \frac{\pi d_{\text{small}}^2}{4} \] | The area of a circular piston is found using the formula with the diameter. Here, \(d_{\text{small}} = 3.0\,\text{cm} = 0.03\,\text{m}\). |
| 3 | \[ p = \frac{72}{\frac{\pi (0.03)^2}{4}} \] | This expresses the pressure produced by the \(72\,\text{N}\) applied on the small piston. |
| 4 | \[ A_{\text{big}} = \frac{\pi d_{\text{big}}^2}{4} \quad \text{and} \quad p = \frac{20000}{A_{\text{big}}} \] | The larger piston supports the ride with a force of \(20000\,\text{N}\), and its area relates to its diameter by the same formula. |
| 5 | \[ \frac{72}{\frac{\pi (0.03)^2}{4}} = \frac{20000}{\frac{\pi d_{\text{big}}^2}{4}} \] | Since the pressure is identical throughout the hydraulic fluid, we equate the pressures exerted on both pistons. |
| 6 | \[ \frac{72}{(0.03)^2} = \frac{20000}{d_{\text{big}}^2} \] | The common factor \(\frac{\pi}{4}\) cancels out from both sides. |
| 7 | \[ d_{\text{big}}^2 = \frac{20000 \times (0.03)^2}{72} \] | We isolate \(d_{\text{big}}^2\) by cross-multiplying. |
| 8 | \[ d_{\text{big}}^2 = \frac{20000 \times 0.0009}{72} = \frac{18}{72} = 0.25 \] | Calculating \((0.03)^2 = 0.0009\); then \(20000 \times 0.0009 = 18\) and finally \(\frac{18}{72} = 0.25\). |
| 9 | \[ d_{\text{big}} = \sqrt{0.25} = 0.5 \;\text{m} \] | Taking the square root of both sides provides the diameter of the large piston. |
| 10 | \[ \boxed{0.50\,\text{m}} \] | This is the final answer for the diameter of the piston that holds the ride. |
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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.

A horizontal tube with two vertical T-branches (A and B) is partially submerged in a liquid, with the open ends of the branches exposed to the air. However, the section of the tube above point B is hidden from view and may either be wider or narrower than the section above A.
Air is blown through the horizontal tube, causing the liquid levels in the vertical branches to rise as shown. Based on the observed water levels, which of the following best describes the characteristics of the hidden section of the tube above B?

An object is suspended from a spring scale first in air, then in water, as shown in the figure above. The spring scale reading in air is \( 17.8 \) \( \text{N} \), and the spring scale reading when the object is completely submerged in water is \( 16.2 \) \( \text{N} \). The density of water is \( 1000 \) \( \text{kg/m}^3 \).
A \(2\)-N force is used to push a small piston \(10\) \(\text{cm}\) downward in a simple hydraulic machine. If the opposite large piston rises by \(0.5\) \(\text{cm}\), what is the maximum weight the large piston can lift?
Find the approximate minimum mass needed for a spherical ball with a \(40\) \(\text{cm}\) radius to sink in a liquid of density \(1.4 \times 10^3\) \(\text{kg/m}^3\). Use \(9.8 \text{m/s}^2\) for \(g\).
Two blocks of the same size are floating in a container of water. The first block is submerged \( 80\% \) while the second block is submerged by \( 20\% \) beneath the water. Which of the following is a correct statement about the two blocks?
A cube of unknown material and uniform density floats in a container of water with \(60\%\) of its volume submerged. If this same cube were placed in a container of oil with density \(800\) \(\text{kg/m}^3\), what portion of the cube’s volume would be submerged while floating?
A sample of an unknown material appears to weigh \( 285 \) \( \text{N} \) in air and \( 195 \) \( \text{N} \) when immersed in alcohol of specific gravity \( 0.700 \).
A cube of side length \( s \) rests on the bottom surface of a container of fluid. The fluid is at a height \( y \) above the bottom of the tank. The fluid has density \( \rho \) and the atmospheric pressure is \( P_{\text{atm}} \).
Which of the following expressions is equal to the absolute pressure exerted by the fluid on the top surface of the cube?

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?
\(0.50\,\text{m}\)
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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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