Oftentimes in physics, distinctions must be made between phenomena that have a measurable magnitude vs. those that possess both a magnitude and direction. Things that are quantified by magnitude only are referred to as scalar quantities. A scalar quantity describes a measured quantity of something that is unaccompanied by an assigned direction of choice: Ex:Continue reading “KINEMATICS: Scalar Quantities, Vector Quantities, and Vector Addition”
Category Archives: Force and Acceleration
AP PHYSICS: Final Speed of a Block / Incline System
Q1 : A mass ( m1 ) of 1.20 kg is situated at the bottom of an incline that is 30o to the horizontal. At the top of the incline, there’s a 0.500 kg disk that is kept fixed by a frictionless axle. A cord is placed over the disk and used to lift aContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Final Speed of a Block / Incline System”
AP PHYSICS: Pulleys, Torque, Tension, and the Moment of Inertia
Two spherical bearings of mass ( m1 ) and ( m2 ) are attached by belt to a pulley that is situated between them. An electric motor is also attached to the pulley, and it is positioned between these masses. When the motor is turned on, the pulley provides 15.0 N of tension on theContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Pulleys, Torque, Tension, and the Moment of Inertia”
AP PHYSICS: Force and Deceleration
Q: A vehicle weighing ( Fw ) 17.08 kN moves at a constant velocity ( v ) of 35.8 m/s. At some point, the driver decides to let the vehicle coast in neutral, during which air drag causes it to decelerate to 22.4 m/s in 24 s. ( a ) What is the magnitude ofContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Force and Deceleration”
SOLIDS: Elasticity
When a force is applied to an object, it responds in a manner that is dependent upon its molecular composition. Some objects are easily ( and permanently ) deformed by forces applied to them. In other cases, an object will recoil and return to its original form after being temporarily deformed by a force. ObjectsContinue reading “SOLIDS: Elasticity”
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Electron Volts vs. Kilowatt Hours ( Part 1 )
Although related, voltage ( V ) and power ( P ) are fundamentally different entities. The voltage within an electrical system is a measure of how many joules ( J ) of energy each coulomb ( C ) of charge ( q ) carries with it. Power is a measure of the rate at whichContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Electron Volts vs. Kilowatt Hours ( Part 1 )”
AP PHYSICS: Graph-Slope Interpretation
Consider the following graph: If we allow the ( y1 ) and ( x1 ) coordinates of the slope formula to be zero, a predictable slope begins to emerge as we move to the right. A steeper slope would necessitate a greater change in y-values relative to corresponding changes in x-values. Likewise, a less steepContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Graph-Slope Interpretation”
FORCE AND ACCELERATION: Net Force Exerted on a Ring
Q: How may we determine the net force ( F ) exerted on the ring below? A: We must first reduce the F1 and F2 vectors into their x/y-components: The F1y and F2y components of F1 and F2 oppose the motion of F3. The net force in the y-direction is as follows: Fnety = F2yContinue reading “FORCE AND ACCELERATION: Net Force Exerted on a Ring”
FORCE AND ACCELERATION: 3-4-5 Right-Triangle Mathematics
Q: Two men attempt to pull a box in the diagram below: What is the resultant force in Newtons ( N ) exerted on the box? A: This is a classic question involving a 3-4-5 right triangle. Trigonometry and the Pythagorean Theorem enable us to solve the problem using the numbers 3, 4, and 5.Continue reading “FORCE AND ACCELERATION: 3-4-5 Right-Triangle Mathematics”
ROTATIONAL MOTION: At What Rate will the Yo-Yo Accelerate?
Several forces must be taken into account to study the motion of a yo-yo. If we assume a hand to be stationary when a yo-yo begins its descent, a tension force acts upward upon the yo-yo’s string. Opposite to the tension force is the force exerted upon the system by the gravitational force of attractionContinue reading “ROTATIONAL MOTION: At What Rate will the Yo-Yo Accelerate?”
RENAISSANCE PHYSICS 