| 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 \(20 \, \text{g}\) piece of clay moving at a speed of \(50 \, \text{m/s}\) strikes a \(500 \, \text{g}\) pendulum bob at rest. The length of a string is \(0.8 \, \text{m}\). After the collision, the clay-bob system starts to oscillate as a simple pendulum.
A vehicle is moving at a speed of 12.3 m/s on a decline when the brakes of all four wheels are fully applied, causing them to lock. The slope of the decline forms an angle of 18.0 degrees with the horizontal plane. Given that the coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and the road surface is 0.650.

From the figure above, determine which characteristic fits this collision best.
A pendulum has a period of \(2.0 \, \text{s}\) on Earth. What is its length?
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 \( D \)?
An object at rest suddenly explodes into two fragments (\(m_1\) and \(m_2\)) by an explosion. Fragment \(m_1\) acquires \(3\) times the kinetic energy of the other. What is the ratio of \(m_1\) to \(m_2\)?

A small block moving with a constant speed \(v\) collides inelastically with a block \(M\) attached to one end of a spring \(k\). The other end of the spring is connected to a stationary wall. Ignore friction between the blocks and the surface.
A person holds a book at rest a few feet above a table. The person then lowers the book at a slow constant speed and places it on the table. Which of the following accurately describes the change in the total mechanical energy of the Earth–book system?
How does the time t1 of a block m reaching the bottom of slide 1 compare with t2, the time taken block of mass 2m to reach the end of slide 2 that’s curved? The blocks are released from the same height.
\(\text{Negative}\)
\(160\,\text{J}\)
\(1.28\times10^{3}\,\text{N/m}\)
\(32\,\text{m/s^{2}}\)
\(1.27\,\text{Hz}\)
\(K(x)=160-640x^{2}\)
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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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