| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[I = \frac{1}{2} M R^2\] | Moment of inertia for a uniform solid cylinder of mass \(M\) and radius \(R\). |
| \[\tau = T R\] | The tension \(T\) in the cord exerted at radius \(R\) produces torque \(\tau\). |
| \[\tau = I \alpha\] | Rotational form of Newton’s second law, relating torque to angular acceleration \(\alpha\). |
| \[\alpha = \frac{a}{R}\] | No slipping: linear acceleration \(a\) of the cord equals tangential acceleration \(R\alpha\). |
| \[T = \frac{I \alpha}{R}\] | Substitute \(\tau = T R\) into \(\tau = I\alpha\) and solve for tension. |
| \[T = \frac{1}{2} M a\] | Insert \(I = \tfrac{1}{2} M R^2\) and \(\alpha = a/R\); the \(R\) terms cancel. |
| \[m g – T = m a\] | Newton’s second law for the descending block; downward direction is positive. |
| \[m g – \tfrac{1}{2} M a = m a\] | Replace \(T\) with \(\tfrac{1}{2} M a\). |
| \[a = \frac{m g}{m + \tfrac{1}{2} M}\] | Solve the previous expression algebraically for \(a\). |
| \[a = \frac{(10)(9.8)}{10 + 50} = 1.633\, \text{m/s}^2\] | Insert \(m = 10\,\text{kg}\), \(M = 100\,\text{kg}\), and \(g = 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\). |
| \[\boxed{a \approx 1.63\, \text{m/s}^2}\] | Final acceleration of the block. |
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The rotating systems, shown in the figure above, differ only in that the two identical movable masses are positioned a distance r from the axis of rotation (left), or a distance r/2 from the axis of rotation (right). What happens if you release the hanging blocks simultaneously from rest?
What is the rotational inertia \( I \) of a disk with a radius \( R = 4 \) \( \text{m} \) and a mass \( 2 \) \( \text{kg} \)? The same disk is rotated around an axis that is \( 0.5 \) \( \text{m} \) from the center of the disk. What is the new rotational inertia \( I \) of the disk? What would the rotational inertia be if the disk axis was \( 3.75 \) \( \text{m} \) from the center?
A discus is held at the end of an arm that starts at rest. The average angular acceleration of \(54 \, \text{rad/s}^2 \) lasts for 0.25 s. The path is circular and has radius 1.1 m.
Note: A discuss is a heavy, flattened circular object for throwing.

In lacrosse, a typical throw is made by rotating the stick through an angle of roughly \(90^\circ\), then releasing the ball when the stick is vertical, as shown above. If the \(1 \, \text{meter}\) long stick is at rest when horizontal and the ball leaves the stick with a velocity of \(10 \, \text{m/s}\), what angular acceleration must the stick experience?

An object weighing 120 N is set on a rigid beam of negligible mass at a distance of 3 m from a pivot, as shown above. A vertical force is to be applied to the other end of the beam a distance of 4 m from the pivot to keep the beam at rest and horizontal. What is the magnitude F of the force required?
An object moves at a constant speed of \( 9.0 \frac{m}{s} \) in a circular path of radius of 1.5 m. What is the angular acceleration of the object?

A meter stick with a uniformly distributed mass of \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\) is supported by a pivot placed at the \(0.25 \, \text{m}\) mark from the left. At the left end, a small object of mass \(1.0 \, \text{kg}\) is placed at the zero mark, and a second small object of mass \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\) is placed at the \(0.5 \, \text{m}\) mark. The meter stick is supported so that it remains horizontal, and then it is released from rest. Find the change in the angular momentum of the meter stick, one second after it is released.
Consider a uniform hoop of radius \( R \) and mass \( M \) rolling without slipping. Which is larger, its translational kinetic energy or its rotational kinetic energy? Hint: The moment of inertia of a uniform hoop is \(I = M R^2\)
A high-speed drill rotating counterclockwise at \( 2400 \) \( \text{rpm} \) comes to a halt in \( 2.5 \) \( \text{s} \).
A motorcycle has tires with a diameter of \( 44.0 \) \( \text{cm} \). Cruising down the highway, they are rotating at \( 1150 \) \( \text{rpm} \) (revolutions per minute).
\(1.63\, \text{m/s}^2\)
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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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