Prefixes

a=1018 , f=1015 , p=1012 , n=109 , = 106 , m=103 , c=102 , k=103 , M=106 , G=109 , T=1012 , P=1015
Physical Constants
g = 9.80 m/s2 (gravitational acceleration)
ME = 5.98 1024 kg (mass of Earth)
me = 9.11 1031 kg (electron mass)
c = 299792458 m/s (speed of light)

G = 6.67 1011 Nm2 /kg2 (Gravitational constant)

RE = 6380 km (mean radius of Earth)
mp = 1.67 1027 kg (proton mass)

Units and Conversions

1
1
1
1

inch = 1 in = 2.54 cm (exactly)

mile = 5280 ft
m/s = 3.6 km/hour
acre = 43560 ft2 = (1 mile)2 /640

1
1
1
1

foot = 1 ft = 12 in = 30.48 cm (exactly)

mile = 1609.344 m = 1.609344 km
ft/s = 0.6818 mile/hour
hectare = 104 m2

Chapter 1 Equations
Percent error:
If a measurement = value error,

the percent error =

error
value

100 %.

Chapter 2 Equations
Motion:
v = x
t ,
a
= v
t ,

x = x x0 , slope of x(t) curve = v(t).

v = v v0 , slope of v(t) curve = a(t).

For constant acceleration in one-dimension:

v = 12 (v0 + v), v = v0 + at, x = x0 + v0 t + 12 at2 ,

v 2 = v02 + 2a(x x0 ).

For free fall on Earth, using an upward y-axis, with g = 9.80 m/s2 downward:
2
vy = 12 (vy0 + vy ), vy = vy0 gt, y = y0 + vy0 t 12 gt2 , vy2 = vy0
2gy.
Chapter 3 Equations
Vectors
! or V, described by magnitude=V , direction= or by components (Vx , Vy ).
Written V
Vx =!
V cos , Vy = V sin ,
V
! to x-axis.
V = Vx2 + Vy2 , tan = y .
is the angle from V
Vx

Addition: A + B, head to tail.

Projectiles
ax = 0,
ay = g,
R=

v02
g

Subtraction: A B is A + (B),

vx = vx0 ,
x = x0 + vx0 t.
vy = vy0 gt, y = y0 + vy0 t 12 gt2 .

sin 20 ,

B is B reversed.

For a horizontal x-axis.

For an upward y-axis.

(For level ground only.)

Relative Motion
!BS = V
!BW + V
!WS ,
V

B=Boat, S=Shore, W=Water.

BS means boat relative to shore, etc.
Must be applied as a vector equation!

Trig summary
sin = (opp)
(hyp) ,
sin = sin(180 ),

(adj)
cos = (hyp)
,
cos = cos(),

tan = (opp)
(opp)2 + (adj)2 = (hyp)2 .
(adj) ,
tan = tan(180 + ), sin2 + cos2 = 1.
5