| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[v_{x}^{2}=v_{i}^{2}+2(-g)\Delta x\] | Use the kinematic relation \(v_{x}^{2}=v_{i}^{2}+2a\Delta x\) with upward positive (so \(a=-g\)). \(v_{x}=14\,\text{m/s}\) at the window, \(\Delta x=18\,\text{m}\). |
| 2 | \[v_{i}^{2}=v_{x}^{2}+2g\Delta x\] | Algebraically solve for \(v_{i}^{2}\). |
| 3 | \[v_{i}^{2}=14^{2}+2(9.8)(18)=196+352.8=548.8\] | Substitute the numerical values. |
| 4 | \[\boxed{v_{i}=23.43\,\text{m/s}}\] | Take the square root to obtain the initial speed. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[0=v_{i}^{2}+2(-g)\Delta x_{\text{max}}\] | At the peak, the final velocity is zero, so set \(v_{x}=0\). |
| 2 | \[\Delta x_{\text{max}}=\frac{v_{i}^{2}}{2g}\] | Re-arrange for the upward displacement from the street. |
| 3 | \[\Delta x_{\text{max}}=\frac{548.8}{19.6}=28\,\text{m}\] | Insert \(v_{i}^{2}=548.8\) and \(g=9.8\,\text{m/s}^{2}\). |
| 4 | \[\boxed{28\,\text{m}}\] | The ball rises 28 m above the street. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[v_{x}=v_{i}-g t_{1}\] | Use \(v_{x}=v_{i}+at\) with \(a=-g\) to relate velocities and time. |
| 2 | \[t_{1}=\frac{v_{i}-v_{x}}{g}\] | Solve for \(t_{1}\), the interval from the throw to passing the window upward. |
| 3 | \[t_{1}=\frac{23.5-14}{9.8}=0.964\,\text{s}\] | Insert the numerical values. |
| 4 | \[\boxed{0.96\,\text{s}}\] | The ball was thrown roughly one second before being seen at the window. |
| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[T_{\text{total}}=\frac{2v_{i}}{g}\] | For motion that starts and ends at the same height, total flight time is twice the time to the peak, \(v_{i}/g\). |
| 2 | \[T_{\text{total}}=\frac{2(23.5)}{9.8}=4.79\,\text{s}\] | Insert \(v_{i}=23.5\,\text{m/s}\) and \(g=9.8\,\text{m/s}^{2}\). |
| 3 | \[t_{\text{after window}}=T_{\text{total}}-t_{1}=4.79-0.96=3.83\,\text{s}\] | Subtract the elapsed time before passing the window to find the interval after it. |
| 4 | \[\boxed{4.8\,\text{s}\;\text{(total from throw)}}\] | The ball returns to the street 4.8 s after being thrown, i.e., about 3.8 s after passing the window. |
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The figure shows a graph of the position \(x\) of two cars, \(C\) and \(D\), as a function of time \(t\). According to this graph, which statements about these cars must be true? (There could be more than one correct choice.)
A blue sphere and a red sphere with the same diameter are released from rest at the top of a ramp. The red sphere takes a longer time to reach the bottom of the ramp. The spheres are then rolled off a horizontal table at the same time with the same speed and fall freely to the floor. Which sphere reaches the floor first?
At time \( t = 0 \) an object is traveling to the right along the \( +x \) axis at a speed of \( 10.0 \) \( \text{m/s} \) with acceleration \( -2.0 \) \( \text{m/s}^2 \). Which statement is true?

The motion of a particle is described in the velocity vs. time graph shown above. Over the nine-second interval shown, we can say that the speed of the particle…
An object is thrown downward at \(23 ~\text{m/s}\) from the top of a \(200 ~\text{m}\) tall building.
Traveling at a speed of 15.9 m/s, the driver of an automobile suddenly locks the wheels by slamming on the brakes. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the tires and the road is 0.659. What is the speed of the automobile after 1.59 s have elapsed? Ignore the effects of air resistance.
An object is thrown straight upward at 64 m/s.
A \(10 \, \text{kg}\) box is pushed to the right by an unknown force at an angle of \(25^\circ\) below the horizontal while a friction force of \(50 \, \text{N}\) acts on the box as well. The box accelerates from rest and travels a distance of \(4 \, \text{m}\) where it is moving at \(3 \, \text{m/s}\).
\(23.43\,\text{m/s}\)
\(28\,\text{m}\)
\(0.96\,\text{s}\)
\(4.8\,\text{s}\)
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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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