| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[t_{\text{total}} = t_{\text{fall}} + t_{\text{sound}}\] | The observed delay \(t_{\text{total}} = 3.4\,\text{s}\) is the sum of the rock’s fall time and the sound’s travel time. |
| 2 | \[t_{\text{fall}} = \sqrt{\frac{2\Delta x}{g}}\] | For free-fall with \(v_i = 0\) and constant gravity, kinematics gives \(\Delta x = \tfrac{1}{2} g t_{\text{fall}}^{2}\). |
| 3 | \[t_{\text{sound}} = \frac{\Delta x}{v_{\text{sound}}}\] | Sound travels the same distance back up at speed \(v_{\text{sound}} = 340\,\text{m/s}\). |
| 4 | \[\sqrt{\frac{2\Delta x}{g}} + \frac{\Delta x}{v_{\text{sound}}} = t_{\text{total}}\] | Substitute Steps 2 and 3 into Step 1. |
| 5 | \[\sqrt{\frac{2\Delta x}{9.8}} + \frac{\Delta x}{340} = 3.4\] | Insert \(g = 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\) and the given numerical values. |
| 6 | \[y = \sqrt{\Delta x}\] | Let \(y\) simplify the square-root term, turning the equation into a quadratic in \(y\). |
| 7 | \[y^{2} + 340 \sqrt{\tfrac{2}{9.8}}\,y – 340(3.4) = 0\] | Multiply Step 5 by \(340\) and substitute \(y\). |
| 8 | \[y^{2} + 153.6\,y – 1156 = 0\] | Evaluate \(340\sqrt{\tfrac{2}{9.8}} \approx 153.6\). |
| 9 | \[y = \frac{-153.6 + \sqrt{(153.6)^{2} + 4(1156)}}{2}\] | Apply the quadratic formula and keep the positive root (time must be positive). |
| 10 | \[y \approx 7.19\] | Numerical evaluation of Step 9. |
| 11 | \[\Delta x = y^{2} \approx 51.7 \,\text{m}\] | Convert back to height with \(\Delta x = y^{2}\). |
| 12 | \[\boxed{\Delta x \approx 51.7\,\text{m}}\] | Final height of the sea cliff, expressed and boxed. |
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You throw a rock straight up with an initial velocity of \( 5.0 \, \text{m/s} \).
Two objects are dropped from rest from the same height. Object \( A \) falls through a distance \( d_A \) during a time \( t \), and object \( B \) falls through a distance \( d_B \) during a time \( 2t \). If air resistance is negligible, what is the relationship between \( d_A \) and \( d_B \)?
The graph above represents the motion of an object traveling in a straight line as a function of time. What is the average speed of the object during the first four seconds?
The displacement \( x \) of an object moving in one dimension is shown above as a function of time \( t \). The acceleration of this object must be
An object is projected vertically upward from ground level. It rises to a maximum height \( H \). If air resistance is negligible, which of the following must be true for the object when it is at a height \( H/2 \) ?
A rock is dropped from the top of a tall tower. Half a second later another rock, twice as massive as the first, is dropped. Ignoring air resistance what is the correct choice?
Ball A is dropped from the top of a cliff. At the same time, Ball B is thrown straight upward from the ground at \( 30 \) \( \text{m/s} \). The two balls pass each other after \( 2.0 \) \( \text{s} \).
A car moving at 30 m/s makes a head-on collision with a stone wall. From what height would the car have to fall in order to make an equally hard collision with the ground?
Which pair of graphs represents the same 1-dimensional motion?
A body moving in the positive \( x \) direction passes the origin at time \( t = 0 \). Between \( t = 0 \) and \( t = 1 \, \text{second} \), the body has a constant speed of \( 24 \, \text{m/s} \). At \( t = 1 \, \text{second} \), the body is given a constant acceleration of \( 6 \, \text{m/s}^2 \) in the negative \( x \) direction. The position \( x \) of the body at \( t = 11 \, \text{seconds} \) is
\(51.7\,\text{m}\)
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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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