Of all the topics that cause confusion among students new to physics, kinematics is no exception to the rule. Briefly speaking, kinematics can be described as the “ architecture of motion. “ Various types of forces ( F ) and energy ( E ) can give rise to motion observed within a system, whether thatContinue reading “KINEMATICS: Matching Equations to Appropriate Circumstances ( Part 1 )”
Tag Archives: direction
ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: The Joule
The International System of Units ( SI ) uses seven base units to describe seven fundamental quantities that can be measured by scientists: Symbol Name Base quantity second ( s ) time meter ( m ) length kilogram ( kg ) mass ampere ( A ) electric current kelvin (Continue reading “ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: The Joule”
AP PHYSICS: Graph-Slope Interpretation
Interpreting a graph of an object’s acceleration can be tricky, especially when the graph is linear: An object moving with a constant velocity moves through equal distance segments as time transpires. To the contrary, an object that is undergoing a constant acceleration has a velocity that changes as time transpires. As a consequence, plots ofContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Graph-Slope Interpretation”
AP PHYSICS: Speed and Velocity
Q: Officer Chuck, a former track star at Clemson University, is in pursuit of a suspect that is 500 meters ahead of him. The suspect runs with a speed of 5 meters per second. Conversely, Chuck is running at a speed of 30 meters per second. Assuming that both participants in this sprint run inContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Speed and Velocity”
AP PHYSICS: Average Velocity
Q: A boomerang travels 500 meters in a southward direction over the course of 90 seconds. The boomerang then makes an abrupt turn eastward and travels 300 meters in 60 seconds. What is the average velocity of the boomerang? A: In a previous problem, the average speed of an object was determined. Speed is aContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Average Velocity”
AP PHYSICS: Vector Addition
Q: An ant travels long distances each day in search of food. On one such occasion, the ant travels 3.0 meters at an angle of 300 north of east. Afterward, the ant travels 2.0 meters to the north. Finally, the ant finds food after traveling 2.0 meters at an angle of 600 south of west.Continue reading “AP PHYSICS: Vector Addition”
AP PHYSICS: Vector Components
Q: A projectile flies with a velocity of 750 km per hour at a 300 angle south of east: What is the magnitude of the eastward component of motion? A: The projectile is moving both eastward and south simultaneously. The eastward component of motion is determined by using an appropriate trigonometric function that relates theContinue reading “AP PHYSICS: Vector Components”