| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[ v_{x}=\text{constant} \] | Since there is no horizontal acceleration in projectile motion (ignoring air resistance), the horizontal velocity \(v_{x}\) remains constant throughout the flight. Thus, statement (a) is valid. |
| \[ a_{y}=-g \] | The acceleration in the vertical direction for a projectile is constant and equal to \(-g\) (with up taken as positive). It does not change from being positive to zero then negative. Therefore, statement (b) is not valid. |
| \[ a_{y}=-g \] | This correctly represents the constant downward acceleration due to gravity (when up is positive). Hence, statement (c) is valid. |
| \[ v_{y}=0 \quad \text{(at the highest point)} \] | At the highest point of the trajectory the vertical component of the velocity becomes zero. Therefore, statement (d) is valid. |
| \[ v=v_{x}\quad \text{(since } v_{y}=0 \text{ at the top)} \] | Even though \(v_{y}\) is zero at the top, the projectile still has a nonzero horizontal component \(v_{x}\). Thus, the overall speed is not zero, making statement (e) invalid. |
Conclusion: The invalid statements are (b) and (e).
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Barry Bonds hits a \(125 \,\text{m}\) home run. Assuming that the ball left the bat at an angle of \(45^\circ\) from the horizontal, calculate how long the ball was in the air.

A ball of mass \( 0.5 \, \text{kg} \), initially at rest, is kicked directly toward a fence from a point \( 32 \, \text{m} \) away, as shown above. The velocity of the ball as it leaves the kicker’s foot is \( 20 \, \text{m/s} \) at an angle of \( 37^\circ \) above the horizontal. The top of the fence is \( 2.5 \, \text{m} \) high. The ball hits nothing while in flight and air resistance is negligible.
A circus cannon fires an acrobat into the air at an angle of \( 45^\circ \) above the horizontal, and the acrobat reaches a maximum height \( y \) above her original launch height. The cannon is now aimed so that it fires straight up, at an identical speed, into the air at an angle of \( 90^\circ \) to the horizontal. In terms of \( y \), what is the acrobat’s new maximum height?
A projectile is launched at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) and lands \( 35 \) \( \text{m} \) away on level ground. At what two horizontal positions is the projectile exactly \( 5.0 \) \( \text{m} \) above the ground?
A ball is thrown horizontally from the roof of a building \( 7.5 \) \( \text{m} \) tall and lands \( 9.5 \) \( \text{m} \) from the base. What was the ball’s initial speed?
A javelin thrower, of height \( 1.8 \) \( \text{m} \), throws a javelin with initial velocity of \( 26 \) \( \text{m s}^{-1} \) at \( 38^{\circ} \) to the horizontal. Calculate the time taken for the javelin to reach the ground from its maximum height. Give your answer in seconds and to an appropriate number of significant figures.
You kick a soccer ball with an initial velocity directed 53° above the horizontal. The ball lands on a roof 7.2 m high. The wall of the building is 25 m away, and it takes the ball 2.1 seconds to pass directly over the wall.
A major-league pitcher can throw a baseball in excess of \( 41.0 \, \text{m/s} \). If a ball is thrown horizontally at this speed, how much will it drop by the time it reaches a catcher who is \( 17.0 \, \text{m} \) away from the point of release?
A person shoots a basketball with a speed of \( 12 \, \text{m/s} \) at an angle of \( 35^\circ \) above the horizontal. If the person is \( 2.4 \, \text{m} \) tall and the hoop is \( 3.05 \, \text{m} \) above the ground, how far back must the person stand in order to make the shot?
An eagle is flying horizontally at \(6 \, \text{m/s}\) with a fish in its claws. It accidentally drops the fish.
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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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