Why is Science Important?
from Alom Shaha on Vimeo.

"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that
it is comprehensible."

- Einstein

 

 

 

 

AP Physics 1



Unit I - Mechanics - Study of the relationship between force and motion

 

I. Kinematics - Mathematical methods of describing and predicting motion

 

 

 

 

Motion Plots

A. K. A.  Motion Diagrams

 


(plots of motion information)

 

 

 

 

• Equations

 

 

 

 

II. How do we measure motion?


 


Speed

 

 

Acceleration

 

 


 

Velocity

(speed and direction)

 


 

 


III. Measuring motion?

 

Distance

(meter ≈ 1 yard) 

 

 

 

Time

(seconds)

 

 

 

Direction

 

 

A.  Speed - distance an object covers per unit time

 

1. Speed = distance / time

a) Units - m/s, km/hour, miles/hour

 

 

A student on a merry-go-round  moves in a circular path with a radius of 3.5 m once every 8.9 secs.

Student's average speed?       Average velocity?

 

 

 

Answer: Speed = d/t

 

 

= [2∏(3.5m)]/8.9 sec

 

 

 

= 2.5 m/s

 

Average velocity for a single trip around the merry-go-round?

 

0 m/s

 

 

 

Ex 2) Cars A and B are 400. m apart. Car A travels 35. m/s east on a collision course with car B, which travels 15. m/s west.  

How long will it take for the cars to collide?

 

 

Answer: Speed = d/t

 

When the cars collide, total d = 400. m

d = SpeedXtime

400.m = 35. m/s t + 15. m/s t

400 m = 50. m/s t

t = 8.0 s

 

 

 

Photos made by Eadweard Muybridge (1830- 1904)
Animation by User Waugsberg

Public Domain

 

Ex 3) A car travels 250 km
at an average speed of 95 km/h, stops for for lunch for 1.0 hour and then travels 250 km at a rate of 55 km/h.

Car's average speed in m/s?

 

 

 Speed = [total d]/[total time]

 

 

total d = 500 km

 

Total Time

Speed = d/t

 

Speedxtime = d

 

time = d/Speed

 

time 1 = 250 km/[95 km/h]

2.6 hour

time 2 - 1 hr

time 3 = 250 km/[55 km/h]

4.5 hour

Total t = 8.1 hours

 

Speed = [total d]/[total time]

 

Speed = 2(250 km)/8.1 hours

 

 

 

 

 

speed = 62 km/hr

 

[62 km/hr]x[1000m/km]x[1 hr/60 min]x[1 min/60 sec]

 

17 m/s

 

 

Ex 4) A cop riding 100 mph pursues a criminal travelling 85 mph. It takes the cop 15 minutes to catch up with the criminal. What distance, in miles, originally existed between the cop and the criminal when the pursuit originally began?

 

 

 

d = 15 mph x .25 hrs = 3.8 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

©Tony Mangiacapre., St. Mary's H.S., Manhasset, NY
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