| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[a_y = a \sin \theta\] | The vertical component \(a_y\) equals the downhill acceleration \(a\) multiplied by \(\sin \theta\). |
| \[a_y = (3.80\,\text{m/s}^2)\sin 30^\circ\] | Insert \(a = 3.80\,\text{m/s}^2\) and \(\theta = 30^\circ\). |
| \[a_y = 1.90\,\text{m/s}^2\] | Since \(\sin 30^\circ = 0.5\), multiplying yields \(1.90\,\text{m/s}^2\). |
| \[\boxed{a_y = 1.90\,\text{m/s}^2 \text{ downward}}\] | Vertical component magnitude and direction. |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[s = \frac{\Delta y}{\sin \theta}\] | The path length \(s\) relates to vertical drop \(\Delta y\) via \(\sin \theta\). |
| \[s = \frac{250\,\text{m}}{\sin 30^\circ}\] | Substitute \(\Delta y = 250\,\text{m}\) and \(\theta = 30^\circ\). |
| \[s = 500\,\text{m}\] | Compute \(s\) using \(\sin 30^\circ = 0.5\). |
| \[s = \frac{1}{2} a t^2\] | With zero initial speed, displacement along slope is \(s = \frac{1}{2} a t^2\). |
| \[t = \sqrt{\frac{2s}{a}}\] | Solve for \(t\). |
| \[t = \sqrt{\frac{2(500\,\text{m})}{3.80\,\text{m/s}^2}}\] | Substitute \(s = 500\,\text{m}\) and \(a = 3.80\,\text{m/s}^2\). |
| \[\boxed{t = 16.2\,\text{s}}\] | Time to reach the bottom. |
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A ball is shot from the top of a building with an initial velocity of \( 18 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at an angle \( \theta = 42^\circ \) above the horizontal.
An arrow is shot horizontally from a distance of \( 20 \, \text{m} \) away. It lands \( 0.05 \, \text{m} \) below the center of the target. If air resistance is negligible, what was the initial speed of the arrow?
A projectile is launched at an angle of \( 30^{\circ} \) and hits a vertical wall \( 40 \) \( \text{m} \) away. After bouncing back horizontally, it lands \( 15 \) \( \text{m} \) behind the launch point. How high up on the wall did the projectile strike?
A gun can fire a bullet to height \( h \) when fired straight up. If the same gun is pointed at an angle of \( 45^\circ \) from the vertical, what is the new maximum height of the projectile?
Barry Bonds hits a \(125 \,\text{m}\) home run. Assuming that the ball left the bat at an angle of \(45^\circ\) from the horizontal, calculate how long the ball was in the air.
Gregory was walking through the halls of the school when he realized that he was walking in perpendicular directions and he could easily calculate his displacement using the incredibly useful techniques he learned in physics. He recognized that he walked \(12.5\ \text{m}\) left and then \(18.9\ \text{m}\) down. How far must he walk to the right so that his resultant displacement is \(20.1\ \text{m}\)?
A student walks \( 3 \) \( \text{m} \) east, then \( 4 \) \( \text{m} \) west in \( 7 \) \( \text{s} \). What is their displacement and average velocity?
A ball is tossed straight up while the thrower is standing in a moving train car that is moving at a constant velocity. Neglecting air resistance, what is the path of the ball relative to the ground outside the train?
A rock is thrown at an angle of \( 42^\circ \) above the horizontal at a speed of \( 14 \, \text{m/s} \). Determine how long it takes the rock to hit the ground.
The highest barrier that a projectile can clear is 16.2 m, when the projectile is launched at an angle of 22.0° above the horizontal. What is the projectile’s launch speed?
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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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