| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\Delta x = v_i\cos\theta\;t\] | The horizontal displacement \(\Delta x = 35\,\text{m}\) is covered at constant horizontal speed since air resistance is neglected. |
| 2 | \[v_i\cos\theta = \frac{35}{3}\] | Rearrange Step 1 for \(v_i\cos\theta\) using \(t = 3\,\text{s}\). |
| 3 | \[y = v_i\sin\theta\;t – \tfrac12 g t^{2}\] | Vertical displacement equation with downward taken as negative; initial height is \(15\,\text{m}\) above ground, so \(y = -15\,\text{m}\). |
| 4 | \[-15 = 3v_i\sin\theta – \tfrac12(9.8)(3)^2\] | Substitute \(y=-15\,\text{m},\;t = 3\,\text{s},\;g = 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\) into Step 3. |
| 5 | \[v_i\sin\theta = \frac{29.1}{3}\] | Solve Step 4 for \(v_i\sin\theta\); the right-hand side equals \(9.7\,\text{m/s}\). |
| 6 | \[\tan\theta = \frac{v_i\sin\theta}{v_i\cos\theta} = \frac{9.7}{11.67}\] | Divide the expressions from Steps 5 and 2; \(v_i\) cancels out. |
| 7 | \[\theta = \arctan(0.832) \approx 39.8^{\circ}\] | Take the inverse tangent to find the launch angle. |
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A ball is tossed straight up while the thrower is standing in a moving train car that is moving at a constant velocity. Neglecting air resistance, what is the path of the ball relative to the ground outside the train?
A soccer ball with an initial height of \(1.5 \, \text{m}\) above the ground is launched at an angle of \(30^\circ\) above the horizontal. The soccer ball travels a horizontal distance of \(45 \, \text{m}\) to a \(9.0 \, \text{m}\) high castle wall, and passes over \(3.20 \, \text{m}\) above the highest point of the wall. Assume air resistance is negligible.
A person shoots a basketball with a speed of \( 12 \, \text{m/s} \) at an angle of \( 35^\circ \) above the horizontal. If the person is \( 2.4 \, \text{m} \) tall and the hoop is \( 3.05 \, \text{m} \) above the ground, how far back must the person stand in order to make the shot?
Which launch angle gives the greatest horizontal range, assuming level ground and no air resistance?
A batter hits a fly ball which leaves the bat \( 0.90 \) \( \text{m} \) above the ground at an angle of \( 61^\circ \) with an initial speed of \( 28 \) \( \text{m/s} \) heading toward centerfield. Ignore air resistance.
Two balls are launched at the same time from opposite sides of a \( 100 \) \( \text{m} \) wide and \(1000 ~\text{m}\) canyon. Ball A is launched at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at \( 45^{\circ} \) from the left side. Ball B is launched at \( 20 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at \( 45^{\circ} \) from the right side.
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.
In archery, should the arrow be aimed directly at the target? How should your angle of aim depend on the distance to the target? Explain without using equations.
A major-league pitcher can throw a baseball in excess of \( 41.0 \, \text{m/s} \). If a ball is thrown horizontally at this speed, how much will it drop by the time it reaches a catcher who is \( 17.0 \, \text{m} \) away from the point of release?
A projectile is launched at \( 25 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at an angle of \( 37^{\circ} \). It lands on a platform that is \( 5.0 \) \( \text{m} \) above the launch height.
\(39.8^{\circ}\)
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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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