Conceptual Physics Study Guide
Conceptual Physics Study Guide
Conceptual Physics Study Guide
- X = Xf - Xi
Speed and Velocity - Average Speed is the total distance over time o Measured in meters per second ( m/s) - Average Velocity is the displacement over total time o Measured in meters per second (m/s)
Acceleration - Average acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time o Measured in m/s2
Instantaneous Acceleration is the velocity per time o The acceleration at a certain instant of time o Measured in m/s2 - Does not depend on mass Variations of equations:
X f = x i + vi t +
at2
* Note: When linear equations are vertical, accelerations will always be 9.81 m/s2 DOWN
- When an object is thrown vertically upward then its speed on returning to its original starting point is the same as its initial speed. Vectors - Any quantity that refers to both a magnitude (number) and a direction - Displacement and Velocity are examples of vectors - In projectile launch problems:
Forces
A force is any kind of push or pull on an object o Forces are responsible for accelerations o Unit: Newton N o 1 N = (1 kg)(1 m/s2) - Forces are VECTORS o Need both direction and magnitude - The vector sum of all the forces acting on an object is called the net force o F Newtons Three Laws of Motion 1st Law of Motion - Every object continues in its state of rest, or of constant velocity in a straight line as long as no net force acts in it o A car runs a curve at a constant speed of 25 m/h. Is it accelerating? Yes, the direction of velocity is changing o Law of Inertia Another word for mass Inertia is a measure of how difficult it is to change the state of an object Doesnt matter how fast the object is going or if it is at rest. All depends on is the mass. Higher Mass = Higher Inertia 2nd Law of Motion - The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it, and is inversely proportional to the objects mass. The direction of the acceleration is in the direction of the net force. o Law of acceleration F = ma Acceleration is in the direction of the net force 3rd Law of Motion - Whenever an object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal force in the opposite direction on the first. o If a hand hits a desk he magnitude is equal but the direction is opposite on the hand. o Law of Action/ Reaction Pairs Must be between two different objects Holding a calculator is not a third law force pair because there also is gravity Four Special Forces - Weight (Fg) o The gravitational force between an object and the earth, always point straight downward. o Fg = mg
Normal Force o The force due to the contact with a surface always points perpendicular to the surface o Does not always equal weight Tension o Force exerted on an object by a rope, string, chain etc Friction o Friction is a force due to the scraping of one surface against another o The force of friction always acts in opposite direction of the intended motion o Friction only depends on normal force
Ff = k Fn
Properties of friction o Static vs. Kinetic friction o Friction is a lazy force if the body does not move.
Ff = Fapp s
o Static Friction has a max volume: This is the value you must overcome to get an object to move. o As the body begins to slide, the frictional force decreases, kinetic friction: You can think of k as a percentage of normal force trying to overcome
k
o The coefficient of static friction > the coefficient of kinetic friction Work & Power - Work (W) is physics way of describing what happens when a force acts in an object, and the object undergoes a displacement. o Work is measured in Joules (J) where J = kg * m2/ s2 = Nm o Work is not a vector - Power (P) is the rate at which work is done o Power is measured in Watts (W) where W = J/s
P = W/t = Fv
Power is not a vector Work does not depend on time. Power does. Work done by a constant force is defined as a product of the magnitude of the displacement and the component of the force parallel to that displacement.
o Work = F cos x Fcos is the component of force parallel to the displacement. o Only component that does work is the parallel component.
Energy
KE = mvf2 mvi2
- Potential Energy o Potential energy is the energy associated with forces that depend on the position
of the configuration of objects relative to their surroundings. o Gravitational PE The energy of a mass m at a height h above a reference point (doesnt have to be ground level)
Peg = mgh
Work done by variable forces o Hookes Law: Fs = kx o All springs obey a force relationship called Hookes Law The force exerted by the spring is linearly related to the amount that the spring was stretched or compressed from its original position, x. The constant k is called the spring force constant Units: N/m The amount of work done to a spring to stretch or compress it a distance x from its equilibrium position
Ws = kx2
The spring is a restoring force The force is always acting in a direction to restore the spring to the position of equilibrium The direction of the spring force is always opposite the direction of the displacement Conservation of Mechanical Energy o We define total mechanical energy, ME, as the sum of all kinetic and all potential energies: ME = KE + PE o In a system without friction, the total mechanical energy is conserved. The total ME is the same everywhere ME = KE + PE is constant Work- Energy Theorem o The total work done on an object is proportional to its change in kinetic energy
Wtot = KE KE = Kef - KEi Work done on an object by a force Work can be positive (gain KE) or negative (lose KE)
Power o Power (p) is the rate at which work is done Power is measured in Watts (W) where 1 W = 1 J/s
Note: This is the total work done This is the work done by the net force This is also the sum of the works done by the individual forces Note: If constant speed there is no net work on the object The net work done on an object is proportionally equal to the change in kinetic energy.
Momentum - The linear momentum of an object is the product of the objects mass and velocity
o P = mv
o Units for momentum kg*m/s o Momentum is a vector Requires both magnitude and direction o The rate of change of the momentum of an object is proportional to the net force acting on the object Just a restatement of Newtons 2nd Law
F = p / t p = pf - pi F * t = p average force
Impulse & Momentum o When objects collide, they exert large forces on each other over a short time period. o The product of the average force and the time interval is called the impulse:
I = Ft o Impulse Momentum Theorem The impulse exerted on an object is equal to the objects change in
momentum
rest. Conservation of Linear Momentum o If no net force acts on an object, or on a system of objects, the total linear momentum cannot change o Law of conservation of linear momentum pi = p f o A collision is an isolated event in which two or more objects exert strong forces on each other for a relatively short time
I = p = mvf mvi
o Inelastic collisions Lock together stick together Conservation of linear momentum only Loss of energy through sound, heat, etc Bodies stick together- completely inelastic pi = pf m1v1i + m2v2i = (m1 + m2) vf Energy is not conserved Momentum is conserved
Conservation of linear momentum and KE KE of the system is conserved KE of the individual bodies can change