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”

KINEMATICS: Matching Equations to Appropriate Circumstances ( Part 1 )

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 )”

ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Conservation of Linear and Angular Momentum ( Part 1 )

Q: A ( 1kg ) ball of clay moving with a velocity ( vbi ) collides and sticks to the end of a ( 120cm ) rod of uniform mass ( 2kg ). Assuming that the ball and rod are at rest upon a frictionless surface:  ( a ) Where is the new center ofContinue reading “ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Conservation of Linear and Angular Momentum ( Part 1 )”

ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Elastic Collision Determination ( Part 2 )

Q: An elastic collision occurs between two objects of mass ( m1 ) and ( m2 ). Prior to the collision, mass ( m2 ) is stationary and approached by ( m1 ) with a velocity ( v1 ). If only the values of ( m1 ), ( m2 ), and ( v1 ) areContinue reading “ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Elastic Collision Determination ( Part 2 )”

ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Elastic Collisions and the Center of Mass Velocity ( Part 3 )

Q: Consider a system in which a mass ( m1 = 6kg ) moves in the +x-direction at ( 2 m/s ) as a mass ( m2 = 2kg ) moves in the -x-direction at ( – 4 m/s ): How may we use the center of mass ( c.o.m. ) of this system toContinue reading “ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Elastic Collisions and the Center of Mass Velocity ( Part 3 )”

ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Artificial Gravity in a Spinning Spacecraft.

Q: A team of engineers is building a spaceship to go to Jupiter. Their design includes a gravity ring, a spinning section where (in the ring’s reference frame) astronauts are pushed outwards by the centrifugal force.   In their current design, the ring has to spin once every ten seconds in order to provide the sameContinue reading “ENERGY AND MOMENTUM: Artificial Gravity in a Spinning Spacecraft.”