| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[v_{\text{esc,E}} = \sqrt{\frac{2 G M_E}{R_E}}\] | To leave Earth, a spacecraft must at least reach the Earth escape velocity, given by the standard gravitational formula with mass \(M_E\) and radius \(R_E\). |
| 2 | \[E_{\text{esc,E}} = \frac{1}{2} v_{\text{esc,E}}^{2} = \frac{G M_E}{R_E}\] | Escape energy per unit mass from Earth equals the gravitational potential energy that must be overcome, \(G M_E / R_E\). |
| 3 | \[v_{\text{esc,M}} = \sqrt{\frac{2 G M_M}{R_M}}\] | Analogous expression for escaping the Moon’s weaker gravitational field with mass \(M_M\) and radius \(R_M\). |
| 4 | \[E_{\text{esc,M}} = \frac{1}{2} v_{\text{esc,M}}^{2} = \frac{G M_M}{R_M}\] | Escape energy per unit mass from the Moon. |
| 5 | \[\frac{E_{\text{esc,E}}}{E_{\text{esc,M}}} = \frac{M_E / R_E}{M_M / R_M} \approx 22\] | Substituting numerical values \(M_E = 5.97\times10^{24}\,\text{kg},\, R_E = 6.37\times10^{6}\,\text{m},\, M_M = 7.35\times10^{22}\,\text{kg},\, R_M = 1.74\times10^{6}\,\text{m}\) shows Earth’s gravity well is about \(22\) times deeper than the Moon’s. |
| 6 | \[\Delta v_{\text{out}} \gg \Delta v_{\text{return}}\] | The outbound leg (Earth \(\to\) Moon) needs a much larger total \(\Delta v\) to climb out of Earth’s gravity well than the return leg needs to leave the Moon’s weaker gravity. |
| 7 | \[F_{\text{atm}} \text{ assists on return}\] | On the way back, Earth’s atmosphere provides free braking (aerodynamic drag and heating), so less propellant is required for deceleration; launch from Earth, however, must fight this same atmosphere, costing extra fuel. |
| 8 | \[m_{\text{fuel,out}} > m_{\text{fuel,ret}}\] | Because the larger \(\Delta v\) and atmospheric losses occur on departure from Earth, the mass of propellant needed going to the Moon is substantially greater than that needed to come home. |
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The box in the diagram is sliding to the right across a horizontal table, under the influence of the forces shown. Which force(s) is doing negative work on the box?
A \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\) cart, on a frictionless \(2 \, \text{m}\) long table, is being pulled by a \(0.1 \, \text{kg}\) mass connected by a string and hanging over a pulley. The system is released from rest. After the hanging mass falls \(0.5 \, \text{m}\), calculate the speed of the cart on the table. Use ONLY forces and energy.
A lighter car and a heavier truck, each traveling to the right with the same speed \( v \) hit their brakes. The retarding frictional force F on both cars turns out to be constant and the same. After both vehicles travel a distance \( D \) (and both are still moving), which of the following statements is true?
A theme park ride consists of a large vertical wheel of radius \( R \) that rotates counterclockwise on a horizontal axle through its center. The cars on the wheel move at a constant speed \( v \). Points \( A \) and \( D \) represent the position of a car at the highest and lowest point of the ride, respectively. While passing point \( A \), a student releases a small rock of mass \( m \), which falls to the ground without hitting anything. Which of the following best represents the kinetic energy of the rock when it is at the same height as point \( D \)?
Two balls are thrown off a building with the same speed, one straight up and one at a 45° angle. Which statement is true if air resistance can be ignored?
An average adult elephant \( (5000 \, \text{kg}) \) is strapped to a spring, which is then pulled \( 2 \, \text{meters} \) away from its equilibrium position and released. The elephant starts oscillating back and forth with a period of \( 10 \) seconds.
Using only work and energy, find the velocity of the masses after they have traveled \(0.8 \, \text{m}\). Refer to the image above.
A communications satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude of \(35{,}000 \, \text{km}\) above the Earth’s surface. Take the mass of Earth to be \(6 \times 10^{24} \, \text{kg}\) and the radius of Earth to be \(6.4 \times 10^6 \, \text{m}\). What is the satellite’s velocity?
A runner is moving at \( 4 \) \( \text{m/s} \). She is opposed by magic in the form of air resistance, which exerts a constant \( 20 \) \( \text{Newtons} \) force in the direction opposite her velocity. At what rate is she using energy to remain at constant velocity?
A pendulum consists of a ball of mass \( m \) suspended at the end of a massless cord of length \( L \). The pendulum is drawn aside through an angle of \( 60^\circ \) with the vertical and released. At the low point of its swing, the speed of the pendulum ball is
\(\text{More fuel is required because a spacecraft must overcome Earth’s far deeper gravitational potential and atmospheric drag, whereas leaving the Moon needs far less }\Delta v\text{ and Earth’s atmosphere assists braking on return.}\)
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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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