Physics 1401

Formula Sheet Exam 2

One-dimensional kinematics

displacement: x x f xi

total distance traveled

total time
instantaneous speed v (magnitude of the instantaneous velocity)

average velocity: vav

instantaneous velocity: v lim vav = lim

average acceleration: aav

average speed

x x f xi
=
t
t f ti
t 0

t 0

v v f vi
=
t t f ti

x
t

v
t
One-dimensional motion with constant acceleration (4 facts):
(1) v = v0 + at

instantaneous acceleration: a lim aav = lim

t 0

t 0

1
(v 0 + v ) t
2
1
(3) x = x0 + v0t + at 2
2
(4) v 2 = v02 + 2a( x x0 )

(2) x = x 0 +

Free fall (positive direction for y taken to be upward)

x y and a g in the above 4 facts:
(1) v = v0 gt
1
(v 0 + v ) t
2
1
(3) y = y0 + v0t gt 2
2
2
2
(4) v = v0 2 g ( y y0 )

(2) y = y 0 +

Vectors
The resultant vector for several vectors is the vector sum. For example, if you have three displacements
d1 , d 2 , and d 3 , the resultant displacement R is given by:
R = d1 + d 2 + d 3 .

If a vector A is written in component form as A = Ax x + Ay y then:

Getting magnitude and direction of A from the components:

A=

Ax2 + Ay2 (magnitude of A )

= tan 1

Ay
Ax

(direction of A )

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Getting components from magnitude and direction:

Ax = A cos (x component of A )
Ay = A sin (y component of A )

understood to be the angle that

A makes with the positive x axis

Projectile Motion

x direction (motion with constant velocity):

ax = 0
v x = v x0

x = x 0 + v x0 t

y direction (free fall ... positive direction for y taken to be upward):

(1) v y = v y 0 gt

1
v y0 + v y t
2
1
(3) y = y0 + v y 0t gt 2
2
(4) v 2y = v 2y 0 2 g ( y y0 )

(2) y = y 0 +

Newtons Laws of Motion

Two kinds of forces: contact forces (objects in contact with one another) and field forces (objects
not in contact with one another). Gravity is the only field force we will deal with in this course.
F = ma (Newtons 2nd law)
implies two statements:

Fx = ma x and

Fy = ma y

Weight: W = mg
Normal forces: in general, whenever two surfaces are in contact, each surface exerts a force on
the other in a direction that is perpendicular to the two surfaces.

Friction forces

Two kinds: the force of static friction , f s and the force of kinetic friction, f k :

f s s N (force of static friction)

f k = k N (force of kinetic friction)

s = " the coefficien t of static friction" ; k = " the coefficien t of kinetic friction"

Strings and Springs

Strings
the tension in a string always pulls on the objects attached to the ends of the string
Springs

Hookes law: F = kx . k = the spring constant or the force constant.

Work required to stretch or compress a spring a distance x from its equilibrium length:
1
W = kx 2
2
1
Potential energy stored in a spring: U spring kx 2
2

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Translational Equilibrium

F =0

a =0.

The statement immediately above really implies two sets of statements:

Fx = 0 and
Fy = 0
a x = 0 and a y = 0 .

Circular Motion

Centripetal acceleration: a cp =

v2
r

Work and Kinetic Energy

Work: W Fd cos

Kinetic energy: K

1
mv 2
2
Work-energy theorem: Wnet = K
Work required to stretch or compress a spring a distance x from its equilibrium length:
1
W = kx 2
2

Potential Energy and Conservative Forces

Work done by a conservative force: Wc = U , for some potential energy U

Gravitational potential energy (near surface of Earth): U grav mgy

Potential energy stored in a spring: U spring

Total mechanical energy: E K + U

1 2
kx
2

Linear Momentum

Linear momentum: p mv
Newtons second law:
p
t 0 t
(instantaneous net force equals instantaneous rate of change of linear momentum). Implies the
following:
p
F =
av
t
(average net force equals average rate of change of linear momentum).
F = lim

Impulse: I

Impulse-momentum theorem: I = p

av

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Collisions

Two broad categories: head-on and glancing

For each category, three classes:
1. elastic: p and K conserved
2. inelastic: p conserved, K not
3. completely inelastic: p conserved, K not, objects stick together
Head-on collisions:
1. elastic:

m1 v1i + m 2 v 2i = m1 v1 f + m 2 v 2 f (p-conservation)

2.
3.

inelastic:

m1 v1i + m 2 v 2i = m1 v1 f + m 2 v 2 f (p-conservation)

completely inelastic:

m1 v1i + m 2 v 2i = (m1 + m 2 )v f (p-conservation)

Glancing collisions:
p xi = p xf

v1i + v1 f = v 2 i + v 2 f

p yi = p yf