| 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 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.
Astronaut Jennifer’s lifeline to her spaceship comes loose and she finds herself stranded, “floating” \( 100 \) \( \text{m} \) from the mothership. She suddenly throws her \( 2.00 \) \( \text{kg} \) wrench at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) in a direction away from the ship. If she and her spacesuit have a combined mass of \( 200 \) \( \text{kg} \), how long does it take her to coast back to her spaceship?
A proton (mp = 1.67 x10-27 kg) is being accelerated along a straight line at 3.6 ×1015 m/s2 in a machine. The proton has an initial speed of 2.4 x107 m/s and travels 3.5 cm.
An apple is released from rest \(500 \, \text{m}\) above the ground. Due to the combined forces of air resistance and gravity, it has a speed of \(40 \, \text{m/s}\) when it reaches the ground. What percentage of the initial mechanical energy of the apple–Earth system was dissipated due to air resistance? Take the potential energy of the apple–Earth system to be zero when the apple reaches the ground.
A net force of \( 8.0 \) \( \text{N} \) accelerates a \( 4.0 \) \( \text{kg} \) body from rest to a speed of \( 5.0 \) \( \text{m s}^{-1} \). Which of the following is equal to the work done by the force?
A 0.4 kg object is attached to a horizontal spring undergoes SHM with the total energy of 0.2 J. The potential energy as a function of position presented by the graph.
A 84.4 kg climber is scaling the vertical wall. His safety rope is made of a material that behaves like a spring that has a spring constant of 1.34 x 103 N/m. He accidentally slips and falls 0.627 m before the rope runs out of slack. How much is the rope stretched when it breaks his fall and momentarily brings him to rest?
A force \(F\) is exerted by a broom handle on the head of a broom, which has a mass \(m\). The handle is at an angle \(\theta\) to the horizontal. The work done by the force on the head of the broom as it moves a distance \(d\) across a horizontal floor is
A cart with a mass of \( 20 \) \( \text{kg} \) is pressed against a wall by a horizontal spring with spring constant \( k = 244 \) \( \text{N/m} \) placed between the cart and the wall. The spring is compressed by \( 0.1 \) \( \text{m} \). While the spring is compressed, an additional constant horizontal force of \( 20 \) \( \text{N} \) continues to push the cart toward the wall. What is the resulting acceleration of the cart?
A \( 1.0 \)\( \text{-kg} \) object is moving with a velocity of \( 6.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \) to the right. It collides and sticks to a \( 2.0 \)\( \text{-kg} \) object moving with a velocity of \( 3.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \) in the same direction. How much kinetic energy was lost in the collision?
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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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