Mr. Rogers AP Physics C Study Guide  --   Kinematics

Unit Plan Practice Test Study Guide
 

Podcast (MP3 file): Physics With Mr. R - The Foundations of Classical Physics

Click on the above link to hear Mr. Rogers discuss the foundations of classical physics, including many of the subjects relevant to this chapter (approximate play time = 17 minutes). For a transcript of the above, click here (pdf file).


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Mathematical models

Basic Mathematical Definitions Equations for Constant Acceleration (Note: The 2 equations listed below only work for constant acceleration)
   s = d/t   x = 1/2at2 + vot + xo
  a = dv/dt   v = at + vo
  v = dx/dt
Calculus - derivative of a polynomial Calculus - integration of a polynomial
  d   (uxn)  =  nux(n-1)
  dx  
  ∫u xn dx = u/(n+1) x (n+1) + C  for n!=1

Key Principles

Assume planet Earth and no air resistance for the following:

  1. Derivative: the slope at a point.
  2. Integral: the area under the curve between two values.
  3. The negative sign on a vector indicates direction. It does not indicate that an object is slowing down.
  4. How to determine if an object is slowing down or speeding up: 
  • Speeding up: the acceleration vectors go in the same direction
  • Slowing down: the acceleration vectors go in opposite directions.
  1. Acceleration due to Gravity: On the surface of a planet, objects all fall at the same acceleration if air resistance is negligible, regardless of their mass.
  • Drop an object, throw it up, throw it down and it still accelerates at the same rate, 9.8 m/s/s downward.
  • Throw an object upward and it will reach zero velocity at the top of its path but the acceleration is still 9.8 m/s/s downward.
  1. Models: Physics is about model building. Models always have errors due to simplifying assumptions.

Vocabulary

acceleration (vector) frame of reference speed (scalar)
derivative integration scalar
displacement (vector) kinematics velocity (vector)
distance (scalar)
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