| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\Delta x_A = v_{iA} t\] | Runner A moves at constant speed, so displacement \( \Delta x_A \) equals speed \( v_{iA} \) times time \( t \) measured from the instant A starts. |
| 2 | \[\Delta x_B = v_{iB} (t-3)\] | Runner B starts \(3\text{ s}\) later, therefore his running time is \( t-3 \) whenever \( t \ge 3\text{ s} \). |
| 3 | \[v_{iA} t = v_{iB}(t-3)\] | Catch-up occurs when both runners have the same displacement, i.e. \( \Delta x_A = \Delta x_B \). |
| 4 | \[t = \frac{3 v_{iB}}{v_{iB}-v_{iA}}\] | Algebraically solving the equality for time \( t \). |
| 5 | \[t = \frac{3\times9.0}{9.0-6.0}=9.0\text{ s}\] | Substitute \( v_{iA}=6.0\text{ m/s} \) and \( v_{iB}=9.0\text{ m/s} \). The resulting answer is the time at which the runners meet. |
| 6 | \[\Delta x = v_{iA} t = 6.0\times9.0 = 54\text{ m}\] | Using either equation from step 1 or 2, calculate displacement (meet up position) at the meeting time of \(9\) seconds. |
| 7 | \[\boxed{\text{Yes}}\] | Because \( 54\text{ m} < 100\text{ m} \), Runner B catches Runner A before the finish line. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\boxed{t = 9.0\text{ s}}\] | The catch-up time relative to Runner A’s start. |
| 2 | \[\boxed{\Delta x = 54\text{ m}}\] | Distance from the start line where they meet. |
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[t_A = \frac{100}{v_{iA}} = \frac{100}{6.0} = 16.7\text{ s}\] | Time for Runner A to cover \(100\text{ m}\). |
| 2 | \[t_B = 3.0 + \frac{100}{v_{iB}} = 3.0 + \frac{100}{9.0} = 14.1\text{ s}\] | Runner B starts \(3\text{ s}\) late but runs faster; add start delay to running time. |
| 3 | \[\Delta t = t_A – t_B = 16.7 – 14.1 = 2.6\text{ s}\] | Difference in finishing times. |
| 4 | \[\boxed{\text{Runner B wins by }2.6\text{ s}}\] | Runner B’s smaller total time shows he finishes first. |
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A person whose weight is \(4.92 \times 10^2 \, \text{N}\) is being pulled up vertically by a rope from the bottom of a cave that is \(35.2 \, \text{m}\) deep. The maximum tension that the rope can withstand without breaking is \(592 \, \text{N}\). What is the shortest time, starting from rest, in which the person can be brought out of the cave?
You drop a rock off a bridge. When the rock has fallen \( 4 \) \( \text{m} \), you drop a second rock. As the two rocks continue to fall, what happens to their velocities?
A red car, initially at rest, travels east with an acceleration of \( 3.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). At the same time as the red car starts to move, a blue car is traveling west at \( 15 \, \text{m/s} \) and accelerating at \( 1.2 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). If they are \( 600 \, \text{m} \) apart the moment the red car starts to move and they are traveling towards each other, where and when will they meet?
A large beach ball is dropped from the ceiling of a school gymnasium to the floor about 10 meters below. Which of the following graphs would best represent its velocity as a function of time? (do not neglect air resistance)

Why is the stopping distance of a truck much shorter than for a train going the same speed? Hint: try deriving a formula or stopping distance.
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 is driving to the right at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \). A motorcycle starts \( 30 \) \( \text{m} \) behind the car and is moving at \( 30 \) \( \text{m/s} \) in the same direction.
Which of the following statements about the acceleration due to gravity is TRUE?
An object can move upward while having a downward acceleration.
\(\text{Yes}\)
\(t = 9\,\text{s},\; \Delta x = 54\,\text{m}\)
\(\text{Runner B, }2.56\,\text{s}\)
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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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