| 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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Two masses \(m_1\) and \(4m_1\) are on an incline. Both surfaces have the same coefficient of kinetic friction. Both objects start from rest at the same height. Which mass has the largest speed at the bottom?

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?

Three pendulums are set in motion, oscillating through small amplitudes. Each has the same mass. Rank the period of the pendulums from shortest to longest.
A \( 1.0 \, \text{kg} \) lump of clay is sliding to the right on a frictionless surface with a speed of \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \). It collides head-on and sticks to a \( 0.5 \, \text{kg} \) metal sphere that is sliding to the left with a speed of \( 4 \, \text{m/s} \). What is the kinetic energy of the combined objects after the collision?
A box having a mass of \( 1.5 \) \( \text{kg} \) is accelerated across a table at \( 1.5 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). The coefficient of kinetic friction on the box is \( 0.3 \).
A mass is attached to the end of a spring and set into simple harmonic motion with an amplitude \( A \) on a horizontal frictionless surface. Determine the following in terms of only the variable \( A \).
A \(10 \, \text{meter}\) long pendulum on the earth, is set into motion by releasing it from a maximum angle of less than \(10^\circ\) relative to the vertical. At what time \(t\) will the pendulum have fallen to a perfectly vertical orientation?

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 \( 0.20 \) \( \text{kg} \) object moves along a straight line. The net force acting on the object varies with the object’s displacement as shown in the graph above. The object starts from rest at displacement \( x = 0 \) and time \( t = 0 \) and is displaced a distance of \( 20 \) \( \text{m} \). Determine each of the following.
A rocket of mass \( m \) is launched with kinetic energy \( K_0 \), from the surface of the Earth. How much less kinetic energy does the rocket have at an altitude of two Earth radii? Give your answer in terms of the gravitational constant \( G \), the mass of the Earth \( m_E \), the radius of the Earth \( R_E \), and the mass of the rocket?
\(\text{Negative}\)
\(160\,\text{J}\)
\(1.28\times10^{3}\,\text{N/m}\)
\(32\,\text{m/s^{2}}\)
\(1.27\,\text{Hz}\)
\(K(x)=160-640x^{2}\)
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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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