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| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[m_1 v = m_1 v_1 + m_2 v_2\] | Conservation of linear momentum; total momentum before (\(m_1 v\)) equals total after. |
| \[\tfrac12 m_1 v^2 = \tfrac12 m_1 v_1^2 + \tfrac12 m_2 v_2^2\] | Conservation of kinetic energy for an elastic collision. |
| \[v_2 = \frac{m_1 (v – v_1)}{m_2}\] | Solve the momentum equation for \(v_2\). |
| \[m_1 v^2 = m_1 v_1^2 + \frac{m_1^2 (v – v_1)^2}{m_2}\] | Substitute the expression for \(v_2\) into the energy equation. |
| \[v_1 = \frac{m_1 – m_2}{m_1 + m_2} v\] | Expand, collect terms, and solve algebraically for \(v_1\). |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[m_1 v = m_1 \left( \frac{m_1 – m_2}{m_1 + m_2} v \right) + m_2 v_2\] | Insert the previously obtained \(v_1\) into the momentum equation to isolate \(v_2\). |
| \[v_2 = \frac{2 m_1}{m_1 + m_2} v\] | Algebraic rearrangement gives the final speed of \(m_2\). |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[v_2 = \frac{2 m_1}{m_1 + m_2} v > 0\] | Since all masses and \(v\) are positive, \(v_2\) is always positive—motion is in the original direction. |
| \[v_1 = \frac{m_1 – m_2}{m_1 + m_2} v\] | The sign of \(v_1\) depends on the numerator \(m_1 – m_2\). |
| \[\text{If } m_1 > m_2,\; v_1 > 0\quad \text{(same direction)}\] | Both bodies move in the positive (initial) direction when \(m_1\) exceeds \(m_2\). |
| \[\text{If } m_1 < m_2,\; v_1 < 0\quad \text{(opposite direction)}\] | Mass \(m_1\) rebounds, so the two masses travel in opposite directions. |
| \[\text{If } m_1 = m_2,\; v_1 = 0,\; v_2 = v\] | Special case: the incident mass stops and the target mass departs with speed \(v\). |
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A spring with a spring constant of \( 600. \) \( \text{N/m} \) is used for a scale to weigh fish. What is the mass of a fish that would stretch the spring by \( 7.5 \) \( \text{cm} \) from its normal length?
Why is more fuel required for a spacecraft to travel from the Earth to the Moon than to return from the Moon to the Earth?
While traveling in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, Mars gains speed during the part of the orbit where it is getting closer to the Sun. Which of the following can be used to explain this gain in speed?
A typical \( 68 \)\(-\text{kg} \) person can maintain a steady energy expenditure of \( 480 \) \( \text{W} \) on a bicycle. Approximately how many Calories are “burned” when the person rides a bicycle for \( 15 \) minutes? A typical energy efficiency for the human body is \( 25\% \), which takes into account the release of thermal energy.
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?
A truck going \(15 \, \text{km/h}\) has a head-on collision with a small car going \(30 \, \text{km/h}\). Which statement best describes the situation?

A roller coaster ride at an amusement park lifts a car of mass \( 700 \, \text{kg} \) to point \( A \) at a height of \( 90 \, \text{m} \) above the lowest point on the track, as shown above. The car starts from rest at \( A \), rolls with negligible friction down the incline and follows the track around a loop of radius \( 20 \, \text{m} \). Point \( B \), the highest point on the loop, is at a height of \( 50 \, \text{m} \) above the lowest point on the track.
One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \(h\) above the floor. A block of mass \(M\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \(x\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \(D\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \(M, x, D, h,\) and any constants.
A car accelerates uniformly from rest to [katex] 29.4 [/katex] m/s in [katex] 6.93 [/katex] s along a level stretch of road. Ignoring friction, determine the average power in both watts and horsepower ([katex] 1 \text{ horsepower} = 745.7 \text{ Watts} [/katex]) required to accelerate the car if:
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 \( D \)?
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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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