| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[v_i\sin\theta = 25(0.602)=15.0\,\text{m/s}\] | Resolve the launch speed into the vertical component using \(\sin37^\circ\approx0.602\). |
| \[\Delta y = v_i\sin\theta\,t – \tfrac12 g t^2\] | Use the vertical displacement equation with \(\Delta y = +5.0\,\text{m}\) and \(g=9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\). |
| \[4.9t^2-15.0t+5.0=0\] | Substitute numerical values and rearrange to standard quadratic form. |
| \[t=\frac{15.0\pm11.3}{9.8}\] | Apply the quadratic formula: \(t=\tfrac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\). |
| \[t=0.38\,\text{s}\quad\text{or}\quad t=2.69\,\text{s}\] | The smaller root is when the projectile is still rising; the larger root is the total flight time. |
| \[\boxed{t=2.69\,\text{s}}\] | Total time aloft. |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[v_i\cos\theta = 25(0.799)=20.0\,\text{m/s}\] | Resolve the launch speed into the constant horizontal component using \(\cos37^\circ\approx0.799\). |
| \[\Delta x = v_i\cos\theta\;t\] | Horizontal displacement equals horizontal velocity times time; no horizontal acceleration. |
| \[\Delta x = 20.0\times2.69 = 5.38\times10^{1}\,\text{m}\] | Insert \(t=2.69\,\text{s}\) from part (a). |
| \[\boxed{\Delta x = 53.8\,\text{m}}\] | Horizontal range. |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[v_{y\,(\text{top})}=0\,\text{m/s}\] | At the highest point the vertical component of velocity is momentarily zero for any projectile motion neglecting air resistance. |
| \[\boxed{0\,\text{m/s}}\] | Result. |
| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[v_{y\,(\text{land})}=v_i\sin\theta – g t = 15.0 – 9.8(2.69) = -11.3\,\text{m/s}\] | Vertical velocity after \(t=2.69\,\text{s}\); negative sign indicates downward direction. |
| \[v_{x}=20.0\,\text{m/s}\] | Horizontal velocity is unchanged throughout flight. |
| \[v_x^2 = v_{y\,(\text{land})}^2 + (v_{x})^2 = (11.3)^2 + (20.0)^2 = 5.27\times10^{2}\] | Pythagorean addition of components for speed magnitude (labelled here as \(v_x\) per notation). |
| \[v_x = 22.9\,\text{m/s}\] | Square-root of previous result. |
| \[\boxed{v_x < v_i}\] | The landing speed \(22.9\,\text{m/s}\) is less than the launch speed \(25\,\text{m/s}\) because the projectile finishes 5 m higher, converting some kinetic energy into gravitational potential energy. |
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A gun can fire a bullet to height \( h \) when fired straight up. If the same gun is pointed at an angle of \( 45^\circ \) from the vertical, what is the new maximum height of the projectile?
A rock is thrown from the top of a \( 15 \) \( \text{m} \) building at an unknown angle and speed. It hits a target on the ground \( 35 \) \( \text{m} \) away horizontally \( 3 \) \( \text{s} \) after launch. What was the rock’s launch angle?

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?
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?
One ball is dropped vertically from a window. At the same instant, a second ball is thrown horizontally from the same window. Which ball has the greater speed at ground level?
A baseball is hit high and far across a field. Which of the following statements is true? At the highest point:
You kick a soccer ball with an initial velocity directed 53° above the horizontal. The ball lands on a roof 7.2 m high. The wall of the building is 25 m away, and it takes the ball 2.1 seconds to pass directly over the wall.
A 100-pound rock and a 1-pound metal arrow pointed downwards are dropped from height \( h \). Assuming there is no air resistance, which one hits the ground first and why?
A projectile is fired with an initial speed of \( 36.6 \) \( \text{m/s} \) at an angle of \( 42.2^\circ \) above the horizontal on a long flat firing range.
A ball is launched at an angle. At the peak of its trajectory, which of the following is true?
\(2.69\,\text{s}\)
\(53.8\,\text{m}\)
\(0\,\text{m/s}\)
\(v_x < v_i\)
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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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