| Step | Derivation / Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[v_{ix}=v_i\cos 30^{\circ},\;v_{iy}=v_i\sin 30^{\circ}\] | Resolve the initial speed \(v_i\) into horizontal and vertical components using the given launch angle \(30^{\circ}\). |
| 2 | \[t_1=\frac{40}{v_{ix}}\] | Time \(t_1\) to reach the wall is horizontal distance \(\Delta x_1=40\,\text{m}\) divided by horizontal speed \(v_{ix}\). |
| 3 | \[v_{wy}=v_{iy}-gt_1\] | Vertical speed at impact \(v_{wy}\) equals initial vertical speed minus gravitational drop over time \(t_1\). |
| 4 | \[y_w=v_{iy}t_1-\tfrac12gt_1^{2}\] | Vertical displacement gives the height \(y_w\) at which the projectile meets the wall. |
| 5 | \[t_2=\frac{55}{v_{ix}}\] | After the bounce the ball travels back \(40+15=55\,\text{m}\); horizontal speed magnitude is still \(v_{ix}\). |
| 6 | \[0=y_w+v_{wy}t_2-\tfrac12gt_2^{2}\] | Starting from height \(y_w\) with vertical speed \(v_{wy}\), it falls to ground (height 0) in time \(t_2\). |
| 7 | \[v_{ix}=\tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}v_i,\;v_{iy}=\tfrac12v_i\] | Insert the numeric cosine and sine of \(30^{\circ}\). |
| 8 | \[t_1=\frac{80}{\sqrt3\,v_i}\] | Substitute \(v_{ix}=\tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}v_i\) into the expression for \(t_1\). |
| 9 | \[y_w=\frac{40}{\sqrt3}-\frac{3200g}{3v_i^{2}}\] | Insert \(t_1\) from Step 8 into the height formula of Step 4 and simplify. |
| 10 | \[v_{wy}=\frac12v_i-\frac{80g}{\sqrt3\,v_i}\] | Substitute \(t_1\) into Step 3 for the vertical speed at the wall. |
| 11 | \[t_2=\frac{110}{\sqrt3\,v_i}\] | Use \(v_{ix}=\tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}v_i\) in the expression for \(t_2\). |
| 12 | \[0=\frac{95}{\sqrt3}-\frac{18050g}{3v_i^{2}}\] | Insert \(y_w,\;v_{wy},\;t_2\) into the vertical motion equation of Step 6 and combine like terms. |
| 13 | \[v_i^{2}=\frac{190g\sqrt3}{3}\] | Solve the algebraic equation of Step 12 for the square of the launch speed. |
| 14 | \[y_w=\frac{440}{19\sqrt3}\;\text{m}\] | Substitute \(v_i^{2}\) from Step 13 back into the height expression of Step 9. |
| 15 | \[\boxed{y_w\approx13.4\,\text{m}}\] | Numerical evaluation with \(g=9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\) gives the impact height on the wall. |
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A block of mass \(M_1\) travels horizontally with a constant speed \(v_0\) on a plateau of height \(H\) until it comes to a cliff. A toboggan of mass \(M_2\) is positioned on level ground below the cliff. The center of the toboggan is a distance \(D\) from the base of the cliff.
A ball of mass \( M \) is attached to a string of length \( L \). It moves in a vertical circle and at the bottom the ball just clears the ground. The tension at the bottom of the path is \( 3 \) times the weight of the ball. Give all answers in terms of \( M \), \( L \), and \( g \).
During projectile motion (neglecting air resistance), what is the vertical acceleration at the highest point, assuming the initial velocity is upwards in the positive direction?
A projectile is launched at angle \( \theta \) to the horizontal, with velocity \( v \), maximum vertical displacement \( s \), and angle \( \theta \) between \( 0^{\circ} \) and \( 45^{\circ} \). What will the maximum vertical displacement be if the projectile is now launched at an angle of \( 2 \theta \) from the horizontal with velocity \( v \)?
A rifle is used to shoot a target twice, using identical cartridges. The first time, the rifle is aimed parallel to the ground and directly at the center of the bull’s-eye. The bullet strikes the target at a distance of \( H_A \) below the center, however. The second time, the rifle is similarly aimed, but from twice the distance from the target. This time the bullet strikes the target at a distance of \( H_B \) below the center. Find the ratio \( H_B / H_A \).
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.

In a lab experiment, a ball is rolled down a ramp so that it leaves the edge of the table with a horizontal velocity \(v\). Assume there are no frictional forces. If the table has a height \(h\) above the ground, how far away from the edge of the table, a distance \(x\), does the ball land?
A ball is launched horizontally from a height. At the same time, another ball is dropped vertically from the same height. Which hits the ground first?

Projectiles 1 and 2 are launched from level ground at the same time and follow the trajectories shown in the figure. Which one of the projectiles, if either, returns to the ground first, and why?
Wile E. Coyote is (still) chasing after his arch-nemesis, the Roadrunner across a cliff that is \(125 \, \text{m}\) high. The Coyote is running in the horizontal direction towards the edge of a cliff when, at the last second, the Roadrunner steps out of the way and the witless coyote falls to the canyon floor.
\(13.4\,\text{m}\)
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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] | 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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