Units 3-4 Flashcards
(150 cards)
True or False: Everything on earth is being influenced by the earth’s gravitational pull.
True
What is the symbol ‘g’ used for?
Represents the RATE of acceleration CAUSED BY GRAVITY
True or False: The standard ‘g’ is equal to something specific
TRUE
What does g equal?
22 m/h
32 ft/sec
9.8 m/sec
Why does g equal 9.8 m/sec?
It is based on the mass of the earth and the distance to earth’s center. Since most things on earth are so small compared to earth and almost equally far away (given that everything is happening on the surface of the earth) 9.8 m/sec is generally a measurement that meets most standards.
It’s mostly a standardized estimation so that you don’t have to do the math for every single object (they would all be roughly the same anyway due to the mass and distance I’ve already outlind).
How are speed and acceleration influenced if an object is falling with no friction?
Speed increases.
Acceleration is constant
True or False: Because of Newton’s 2nd law, for objects accelerating under just the influence of gravity, the acceleration, a is the gravitational acceleration, g.
TRUE
True or False: When an object falls, because the acceleration remains constant, the force the object is experiencing also remains constant.
True
F = ma
a = g
True or False: The acceleration and force of gravity are constant for any given object as it falls
True
WHY is the acceleration and force of gravity constant for any object as it falls?
Because of Newton’s 2nd law of motion.
F = ma
Gravity’s rate of accelerating an object will always (basically) be 9.8 m/sec, which is the acceleration in the equation above.
So no matter what is falling, the ‘a’ will be set to 9.8 m/sec. Given that acceleration and force are always proportional, that means that F will also be constant.
True or False: When a ball is thrown up in the air and slows down to reach the top, the rate of acceleration remains the same the whole way.
True
WHY does the rate of acceleration remain the same when a ball is thrown up in the air?
Because when you are measuring the rate of acceleration caused by the force of gravity, you will always* use 9.8 m/sec. So even though the ball is slowing DOWN, the acceleration is the same.
The pull of gravity does not depend on whether the ball is going up or down. It will always be the same.
True or False: The acceleration caused by gravity is constant, regardless of the direction of motion.
TRUE
True or False: The rate a ball slows down while traveling upward is the same rate it speeds up when coming down.
TRUE
If one ball is dropped from the same height at the same instant that another ball is thrown horizontally, which will hit the ground first?
BOTH WILL HIT AT THE SAME TIME!
Because regardless of the horizontal motion (speed of the ball), the downward acceleration is THE SAME. Gravity pulls vertically on both balls equally.
What does acceleration measure?
The way velocity CHANGES.
Why does gravity negate changes in acceleration and therefore changes in velocity?
Because the rate is ALWAYS the same (negligible differences on the surface of earth for most objects).
What is weight?
A measure of the FORCE of gravity pulling on an object.
Does weight affect how an object accelerates due to gravity?
Nope
What is the equation of weight?
Weight = mass x gravity
True or False: All objects fall at the same rate of acceleration regardless of weight (if air resistance is ignored).
True
What does air friction do to lighter objects?
It causes them to fall to earth more slowly.
True or False: Any two objects, lead weights or popcorn, when dropped in a vacuum simultaneously from the same height, will hit the ground at the same time, traveling at the same speed.
True
What type of force is holding the moon in a constant revolution at a constant speed?
Centripetal force as a result of gravity