| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[p_{\text{initial}} = 0\] | Astronaut and wrench are initially at rest relative to the mothership, so the total momentum is \(0\). |
| 2 | \[m_w v_w + m_J v_J = 0\] | Apply conservation of linear momentum after the wrench is thrown. Here \(m_w\) and \(v_w\) are the wrench’s mass and velocity, while \(m_J\) and \(v_J\) are Jennifer’s mass and velocity. |
| 3 | \[v_J = -\frac{m_w v_w}{m_J}\] | Algebraically solve for Jennifer’s velocity \(v_J\). The negative sign indicates she moves toward the ship (opposite the wrench). |
| 4 | \[v_J = -\frac{(2.00\,\text{kg})(20\,\text{m/s})}{200\,\text{kg}}\] | Insert \(m_w = 2.00\,\text{kg}\), \(v_w = 20\,\text{m/s}\), and \(m_J = 200\,\text{kg}\). |
| 5 | \[v_J = -0.20\,\text{m/s}\] | Calculate Jennifer’s speed. The magnitude is \(0.20\,\text{m/s}\) toward the ship. |
| 6 | \[\Delta x = v t\] | Use uniform motion because no external forces act horizontally. Here \(\Delta x = 100\,\text{m}\) and \(v = 0.20\,\text{m/s}\). |
| 7 | \[t = \frac{\Delta x}{|v|} = \frac{100\,\text{m}}{0.20\,\text{m/s}}\] | Solve for the time \(t\), using the magnitude of Jennifer’s velocity. |
| 8 | \[t = 500\,\text{s}\] | Compute the time required for Jennifer to reach the ship. |
| 9 | \[\boxed{500\,\text{s}}\] | Final boxed answer. |
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Refer to the diagram above and solve all equations in terms of \(R\), \(M\), \(k\), and constants.
A child (\(m = 32 \, \text{kg}\)) in a boat (\(m = 71 \, \text{kg}\)) throws a \(7.1 \, \text{kg}\) package out horizontally with a speed of \(12.2 \, \text{m/s}\). Calculate the velocity of the boat immediately after, assuming it was initially at rest. Ignore water resistance.
The two blocks of masses \( M \) and \( 2M \) travel at the same speed \( v \) but in opposite directions. They collide and stick together. How much mechanical energy is lost to other forms of energy during the collision?
A bullet of mass \(0.0500 \, \text{kg}\) traveling at \(50.0 \, \text{m/s}\) is fired horizontally into a wooden block suspended from a long rope. The mass of the wooden block is \(0.300 \, \text{kg}\) and it is initially at rest. The collision is completely inelastic and after impact the bullet + wooden block move together until the center of mass of the system rises a vertical distance \(h\) above its initial position.
If you want to double the momentum of a gas molecule, by what factor must you increase its kinetic energy?

A platform is initially rotating on smooth ice with negligible friction, as shown above. A stationary disk is dropped directly onto the center of the platform. A short time later, the disk and platform rotate together at the same angular velocity, as shown at right in the figure. How does the angular momentum of only the platform change, if at all, after the disk drops? And what is the best justification.
A pool cue ball, mass \(0.7 \, \text{kg}\), is traveling at \(2 \, \text{m/s}\) when it collides head-on with another ball, mass \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\), traveling in the opposite direction with a speed of \(1.2 \, \text{m/s}\). After the collision, the cue ball travels in the opposite direction at \(0.3 \, \text{m/s}\). What is the velocity of the other ball?
Two boxes are tied together by a string and are sitting at rest on a frictionless surface. Between the two boxes is a massless compressed spring. The string trying the two boxes is then cut and the spring expands, pushing the boxes apart. The box on the left has four times the mass of the box on the right.
Two students hold a large bed sheet vertically between them. A third student, who happens to be the star pitcher on the school baseball team, throws a raw egg at the center of the sheet. Explain why the egg does not break when it hits the sheet, regardless of its initial speed.
A boy of mass \( m \) and a girl of mass \( 2m \) are initially at rest at the center of a frozen pond. They push each other so that she slides to the left at speed \( v \) across the frictionless ice surface and he slides to the right. What is the total work done by the children?
\(500\,\text{s}\)
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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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