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| Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Visualizing the vector | Imagine any vector drawn as the longest side (the hypotenuse) of a right triangle. The whole vector represents the full length. |
| Step 2: Forming a component | The component along a given direction is like drawing a perpendicular line from the tip of the vector, forming the triangle’s adjacent side. |
| Step 3: Comparing triangle sides | In a right triangle, the length of the adjacent side (the component) is always less than or equal to the hypotenuse (the whole vector). It becomes equal only when the angle between them is 0° (i.e., the vector aligns perfectly with the direction). |
| Step 4: Final conclusion | Thus, the magnitude of any component of a vector must be less than or equal to the magnitude of the vector. It cannot be greater because that would contradict the basic properties of triangles.
Option (a) is correct because it states this exact relationship. Options (b) and (c) are overly restrictive or impossible, and option (d) incorrectly suggests that the component’s magnitude could sometimes exceed the full vector. |
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A skier is accelerating down a \( 30.0^{\circ} \) hill at \( 3.80 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \).
You are adding vectors of length \( 20 \) and \( 40 \) units. Which of the following choices is a possible resultant magnitude?
When we refer to an object’s speed, we’re talking about:
Gregory was walking through the halls of the school when he realized that he was walking in perpendicular directions and he could easily calculate his displacement using the incredibly useful techniques he learned in physics. He recognized that he walked \(12.5\ \text{m}\) left and then \(18.9\ \text{m}\) down. How far must he walk to the right so that his resultant displacement is \(20.1\ \text{m}\)?
An airplane is traveling \( 900. \) \( \text{km/h} \) in a direction \( 38.5^\circ \) west of north.
While Santa was delivering presents to the children of Nashville, Tennessee he experienced a strong wind perpendicular to his motion.
Determine the sum of the three vectors given below. Calculate the resultant \( \vec{R} \) expressed as:
(a) Vector components
(b) Resultant vector (its total magnitude and direction)
\[\vec{A} = 26.5 \, \text{m} \ @ \ 56^\circ \, \text{NW}\]
\[\vec{B} = 44 \, \text{m} \ @ \ 28^\circ \, \text{NE}\]
\[\vec{C} = 31 \, \text{m} \, \text{South}\]
Two racing boats set out from the same dock and speed away at the same constant speed of 101 km/h for half an hour (0.5 hr). Boat 1 is headed 27.6° south of west, and Boat 2 is headed 35.3° south of west, as shown in the graph above. During this half-hour calculate:
A person is standing at the edge of the water and looking out at the ocean. The height of the person’s eyes above the water is \( h = 1.8 \, \text{m} \), and the radius of the Earth is \( R = 6.38 \times 10^6 \, \text{m} \). How far is it to the horizon (in meters)? In other words, find the distance \( d \) from the person’s eyes to the horizon. Note at the horizon, the angle between the line of sight and the radius of the Earth is \( 90^\circ \).)
\(\Delta x \leq |\vec{V}|\); equality occurs only when the vector is completely aligned with the axis.
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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] | |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] |
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