| Step | Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[K_i = \frac{1}{2} m v_i^2\] | The box begins with kinetic energy \(K_i\). |
| 2 | \[W_s = K_f – K_i\] | The spring’s work \(W_s\) equals the change in kinetic energy \(\Delta K\). |
| 3 | \[K_f = 0\] | At maximum compression the box momentarily stops, so \(K_f = 0\). |
| 4 | \[W_s = -K_i\] | Since \(K_i > 0\) and \(K_f = 0\), the spring does negative work (it removes energy from the box). |
| Step | Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[K_i = \frac{1}{2}(20)(4.0)^2 = 160\,\text{J}\] | Compute the initial kinetic energy using \(m = 20\,\text{kg}\) and \(v_i = 4.0\,\text{m/s}\). |
| 2 | \[|W_s| = K_i = 160\,\text{J}\] | The magnitude of the spring’s work equals the lost kinetic energy. |
| Step | Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[W_s = -\frac{1}{2}k x_{\max}^2\] | Work done by a spring compressing from \(0\) to \(x_{\max}\). |
| 2 | \[-160 = -\frac{1}{2}k(0.50)^2\] | Insert \(|W_s| = 160\,\text{J}\) and \(x_{\max} = 0.50\,\text{m}\). |
| 3 | \[k = 1.28 \times 10^3\,\text{N/m}\] | Solve for the spring constant. |
| Step | Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[a_{\max} = \frac{k x_{\max}}{m}\] | For simple harmonic motion, acceleration magnitude is \(|a| = (k/m)|x|\); maximum occurs at amplitude. |
| 2 | \[a_{\max} = \frac{(1.28\times10^3)(0.50)}{20} = 32\,\text{m/s}^2\] | Substitute \(k\), \(x_{\max}\), and \(m\). |
| Step | Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[f = \frac{1}{2\pi}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\] | Frequency of a mass–spring system on a frictionless surface. |
| 2 | \[f = \frac{1}{2\pi}\sqrt{\frac{1.28\times10^3}{20}} \approx 1.27\,\text{Hz}\] | Insert \(k\) and \(m\) and simplify. |
| Step | Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[E = \frac{1}{2}kA^2 = 160\,\text{J}\] | Total mechanical energy \(E\) equals the initial kinetic energy; amplitude \(A = 0.50\,\text{m}\). |
| 2 | \[K(x) = E – \frac{1}{2}k x^2 = 160 – 640 x^2\] | Kinetic energy as a function of position for simple harmonic motion. |
| 3 | \[K(\pm0.50) = 0,\; K(0)=160\,\text{J}\] | Shows the endpoints and midpoint values used for sketching. |
| 4 | \[\text{Parabolic}\] | The graph is an inverted parabola opening downward, symmetric about \(x=0\), peaking at \(160\,\text{J}\) and touching the horizontal axis at \(x = \pm0.50\,\text{m}\). |
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A \( 0.30 \text{-kg} \) mass is suspended on a spring. In equilibrium the mass stretches the spring \( 2.0 \) \( \text{cm} \) downward. The mass is then pulled an additional distance of \( 1.0 \) \( \text{cm} \) down and released from rest. Write down its equation of motion.

A ball of mass \(m\) is released from rest at a distance \(h\) above a frictionless plane inclined at an angle of \(45^\circ\) to the horizontal as shown above. The ball bounces horizontally off the plane at point \(P_1\) with the same speed with which it struck the plane and strikes the plane again at point \(P_2\). In terms of \(g\) and \(h\), determine each of the following quantities:
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
A snowboarder starts from rest and slides down a \(32^\circ\) incline that’s \(75 \, \text{m}\) long.
Jill does twice as much work as Jack does and in half the time. Jill’s power output is
A \( 240 \) \( \text{kg} \) block is dropped from \( 3.0 \) meters onto a spring, compresses the spring and comes to rest.

Block 2 initially is at rest. Block 1 travels towards block 2 and collides with Block 2 as shown above. Find the final velocities of both blocks assuming the collision is elastic.
A man weighing \( 700 \) \( \text{N} \) and a woman weighing \( 400 \) \( \text{N} \) have the same momentum. What is the ratio of the man’s kinetic energy \( K_m \) to that of the woman \( K_w \)?
A baseball is thrown vertically into the air with a velocity \( v \), and reaches a maximum height \( h \). At what height was the baseball moving with one-half its original velocity? Assume air resistance is negligible.
A stone is falling at a constant velocity vertically down a tube filled with oil. Which of the following statements about the energy changes of the stone during its motion are correct?
I. The gain in kinetic energy is less than the loss in gravitational potential energy.
II. The sum of kinetic and gravitational potential energy of the stone is constant.
III. The work done by the force of gravity has the same magnitude as the work done by friction.
\(\text{Negative}\)
\(160\,\text{J}\)
\(1.28\times10^{3}\,\text{N/m}\)
\(32\,\text{m/s^{2}}\)
\(1.27\,\text{Hz}\)
\(K(x)=160-640x^{2}\)
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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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