Harvard Physics Circle

Lecture 1: Kinematics

Sabina Dragoi

§1 Kinematics
2 main types of problems in kinematics: those with nice geometrical solutions or those
that require some or a lot of computations by using the basic definitions:

dx dv d2 x
v= a= = 2
dt dt dt

§1.1 Some easy problems

[F=ma, 2016]

1
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

2
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

3
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

§1.2 Conservation of some made-up unit

[problem from the first pdf link in References]

§1.3 Further geometrical problems

[problem from the first pdf link in References]

4
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

§1.4 Safety parabola

[IPhO 2012, Problem 1A]

5
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

6
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

§2 Homework/Additional problems

7
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

8
Sabina Dragoi () Harvard Physics Circle

§3 References
1. https://www.ioc.ee/ kalda/ipho/kin_ENG.pdf

2. https://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2018/exams.cfm

3. https://www.ipho2012.ee/problems/