Midterm I Flashcards
Define Classical Mechanics
The study of slow motion of macroscopic objects.
What is involved in Classical Mechanics?
Kinematics-Dynamics-Conserved Properties
What is the significance of Kinematics?
It describes HOW things move.
What is the significance of Dynamics?
It explains why things move.
What is included in Conserved Properties?
Momentum, Energy
What are the base units for common quantities (SI)?
Kg for Mass; Meters for Length; Seconds for Time
What are the units for a Watt?
1 kg.m^2/s^3
To convert from one system to another, we use a _____.
Conversion Factor
What are the rules for significant figures when it comes to addition/subtraction and multiplication/division respectively?
With addition and subtraction, you round it to the least precise measurement. With multiplication and division, you round it to the # w the least amount of significant figures.
Define Motion
Change in object’s position with time.
What do equal, increasing, and decreasing distances between each time in motion diagrams tell us about the object?
Equal Distance: constant speed.
Increasing Distance: speeding up.
Decreasing Distance: speeding down.
How do we represent objects in motion diagrams?
As a single dot (all mass concentrated at 1 point).
How is the origin of a coordinate system determined
It is up to the individual.
What is another way to describe the magnitude of a vector?
The length of a vector.
Define Dispacement
The change in position between 2 time intervals.
Is displacement a scalar or a vector?
Vector (has a magnitude and a direction)
What is the way to calculate displacement?
Later Position- Initial Position
What do scalars have?
Only a numerical value.
What do vectors have?
A quantity and a direction
Define Velocity
The ratio of the displacement vector divided by the time interval of displacement.
Where does the velocity vector point?
In the SAME direction as the displacement vector.
Define Acceleration
Change in velocity. It is calculated by calculating the change in velocity over the time interval.
How do we figure out a change in velocity when given 2 vectors?
You do V2-V1 ; (V1 being of the same magnitude but in the opposite direction)
What can be said about the acceleration due to gravity?
Always down and has the same magnitude.
What are the two components of a vector (geometrically)?
The head and the tail (head being the arrow).
How do you do vector addition?
Place the head of one vector at the tail of another; THEN, connect LOOSE TAIL to loose head.
How do you do vector subtraction?
Subtracting is the same thing as adding a negative. (Same rules apply for addition, direction is opposite for negative vector).
How can you determine whether a vector is positive or negative?
It is positive if it points in the positive direction (towards LARGER POSITIVE NUMBERS)
What does a position graph tell us?
Determines the time and position of each point in the diagram as a function of position vs. time (time on x axis and position on y-axis).
How does a constant velocity look like in a position vs time graph?
It results in a straight line. (Slope= (xf-xi)/(tf-ti))