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AP Physics

Unit 1 - Vectors and Kinematics

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Mathematical
Intermediate

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Part (a) – Will it catch?

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[v_{\text{rel}} = v_{m} – v_{c} = 30 – 20 = 10\;\text{m/s}\] The relative speed is the motorcycle’s speed minus the car’s speed.
2 \[v_{\text{rel}} > 0\] A positive relative speed means the motorcycle is closing the gap.
3 \[\boxed{\text{Yes}}\] Because the motorcycle is faster, it will eventually catch the car.

Part (b) – Time & Place

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[t = \frac{\Delta x_{\text{initial}}}{v_{\text{rel}}} = \frac{30}{10} = 3\;\text{s}\] Time required equals initial separation divided by relative speed.
2 \[\Delta x = v_{c}\, t = 20 \times 3 = 60\;\text{m}\] Distance from the car’s start is its speed times the catch-up time.
3 \[\boxed{t = 3\;\text{s},\; \Delta x = 60\;\text{m}}\] Final answers for part (b).

Part (c) – With Car Acceleration

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 \[x_{c}(2) = 20 \times 2 = 40\;\text{m}\] Car’s position after the first \(2\) seconds.
2 \[x_{m}(2) = 30 \times 2 – 30 = 30\;\text{m}\] Motorcycle’s position after \(2\) seconds, relative to the car’s starting position.
3 \[\Delta x_{0} = x_{m} – x_{c} = -10\;\text{m}\] So the motorcycle is still \(10 ~\text{m}\) behind when acceleration starts (at the \(2\) second mark). So let’s make an equation, for each vehicle, to see if and where they will meet.
4 \[x_{c} = 40 + 20 t_{1} + \tfrac{1}{2}(1) t_{1}^{2}\] Car’s position for time \(t_{1}\) seconds after the \(2\) second mark. The equation shows that the car accelerates from the \(40\) meter mark.
5 \[x_{m} = 30 + 30 t_{1}\] Motorcycle’s position for time \(t_{1}\) seconds after the \(2\) second mark. The equation shows the motorcycle continues at constant speed from its \(30\) meter mark.
6 \[x_{m}=x_{c}\;\Rightarrow\;-10 + 10 t_{1} – 0.5 t_{1}^{2}=0\] We want to find when and if the vehicles meet. So set position equations, from step 4 and 5, equal to each other to find the catch-up (meet-up) time.
7 \[t_{1}^{2}-20 t_{1}+20 = 0\] Multiply both sides by \(-2\) to simplify and rearrange to a quadratic equation.
8 \[t_{1}=\frac{20 \pm \sqrt{400-80}}{2}=1.06\;\text{s}\;\text{(smaller root)}\] The larger root occurs after the car overtakes; only the smaller root is physical.
9 \[t = 2 + t_{1} = 2 + 1.06 = 3.06\;\text{s}\] Total time from the initial start.
10 \[\Delta x = 40 + 20(1.06) + 0.5(1.06)^{2} \approx 61.7\;\text{m}\] Distance from the car’s starting point where they meet.
11 \[\boxed{\text{Yes},\; t = 3.06\;\text{s},\; \Delta x = 61.7\;\text{m}}\] The motorcycle still catches the car despite the acceleration.

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\( \text{Yes} \)
\( t = 3\,\text{s},\; \Delta x = 60\,\text{m} \)
\( \text{Yes},\; t = 3.06\,\text{s},\; \Delta x = 61.7\,\text{m} \text{from the car’s start}\)

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque 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 MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[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
VariableSI 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]
VariableDerived 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. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. 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]

  3. 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]

  4. 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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