FORMULAS

Kinematics Vectors Uncertainty

g=9.81 m/ s2 A x = A cos θ A δA
%unc= × 100 %
A
v0 x+ vx Δ x A y =A sinθ A
v́ x = =
2 Δt
R x =A x + B x + …
v x =v 0 x +a x t Assorted
R y = A y +B y + …
1 1
x=x o + v 0 x t + a x t 2 Atriangle = bh
2 R=√ R +R2 2 2
x y

v 2x =v 20 x +2 ax ( x−x 0 ) 1
Ry Atrapezoid = b (h1 +h2 )

v 0 y +v y Δ y
θ=tan
−1
( )
Rx
2

v́ y = =
2 Δt

v y =v 0 y +a y t
Dynamics
1
y= y 0+ v 0 y t + a y t 2 Σ F x =ma x
2
Σ F y =ma y
v 2y =v 20 y +2 a y ( y − y 0)
 MIDTERM POLICIES

 Arrive promptly for the exam, and early if possible. The faster you begin the exam, the
better. If you are late, it will be up to your instructor's discretion whether you will be
allowed to take the test at that time. 
 Come in person if possible, regardless of if you are Group 1 or Group 2.
 If you miss the exam at your scheduled time, you must take the makeup test that same
day from 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm.
o If you have any internet troubles (your Wi-Fi goes down, your camera turns off),
you will have to take the makeup test. 
o Your account will be charged $25 for every makeup exam you take. This is why
you are encouraged to come in person if possible, regardless of group.
 Arrive prepared
o Be Zoomed in from second device
o Have camera set up so your instructor can see you and your workstation very
clearly (if you are not set up correctly when we the exam is to begin, you will
have to take the makeup exam)
o Have fully charged iPad
o Have calculator (not the calculator on your phone), scratch paper, and other test
taking materials ready (such as the formula sheet in Unit 0)
 Virtually present students must stay on Zoom with their cameras on until the end of the
class period, or until everyone has finished the exam.
 PHYSICS MIDTERM REVIEW
Please answer the following questions as completely as possible. Write in complete sentences.

1. What are S. I. units?

2. Write 0.0000630 in scientific notation.
3. Write 187000 in scientific notation.
4. Define uncertainty. What does it mean when shown alongside a measurement?
5. Define error. What does it mean when shown alongside a measurement?
6. Is uncertainty more closely related to the accuracy or the precision of a measurement?
Why?
7. Is error more closely related to the accuracy or the precision of a measurement? Why?
8. Draw a target that shows precision, but not accuracy.
9. Draw a target that shows accuracy, but not precision.
10. What is a physical quantity? How is a physical quantity defined?
11. What is the difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory?
12. What is a scientific model?
13. Define order of magnitude.
14. What is the method of adding percents? How is it used?
15. What are the rules of significant digits?
16. If a length of 32.4 cm is measured on a meterstick, what is the first digit that has
uncertainty? Why?
17. What are the two theories that form the basis of modern physics?
18. Why do we study classical physics if modern physics is so much more accurate? Name
two reasons.
19. What is a conversion factor? Why are they used?
20. What are the S. I. units of position, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, and
force?
21. What is the difference between a vector quantity and a scalar quantity?
22. Define position. Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that could be used to find
it (you can copy them from above or look in your book to find others).
23. Define displacement. Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that could be used
to find it.
24. Define speed. Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that could be used to find
it.
25. Define velocity. Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that could be used to find
it.
26. Define acceleration. Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that could be used to
find it.
27. Define force. Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that could be used to find it.
28. What is a reference frame?
29. How do you find average speed?
30. What is the difference between distance travelled, displacement, and the magnitude of
the displacement?
31. On a plot of position vs. time, what does the slope represent? The area?
32. On a plot of velocity vs. time, what does the slope represent? The area?
33. Do accelerating objects necessarily have a change in speed? Why or why not?
34. What conditions need to be met for an object to be in free-fall?
35. If a very massive object is dropped at the same time as a very lightweight object. If the
only force acting on the objects is the force of gravity, which object will hit the ground
first? Why?
36. Is deceleration simply acceleration acting in a direction that opposes the direction of the
motion? Explain.
37. If a ball thrown upward is rising, is it considered to be in free-fall? Explain.
38. If a person drives to the grocery store and returns home, what is their displacement? Is
their distance travelled a nonzero value?
39. An object thrown vertically at a height of H has some speed s as it moves upward. After
the ball has reached its peak, it returns to that same height H. What speed should the
ball have at this position?
40. A runner runs around a 400-m track in 40 s. What is their displacement? Distance
travelled? Speed? Average velocity?
41. If an object moves 25 km in 30 minutes, what is its average speed?
42. If the velocity of an object points in the same direction as its acceleration, how does the
object’s velocity change?
43. What is the y-direction velocity of an object experiencing projectile motion at the peak
of its trajectory? Its acceleration in the x-direction? The y-direction?
44. If an object has an acceleration of 0 m/s2, is its velocity changing?
45. If a person walks 2 km west, then 1 km east, what is their displacement? Distance
travelled? The magnitude of their displacement?
46. If an object has an initial velocity of -4 m/s and a final velocity of -6 m/s, describe the
object’s acceleration including its direction.
47. How do you add vectors graphically? Describe the process.
48. In projectile motion, are the x- and y-directions considered independently? How can you
use information about one direction to find things in the other direction?
49. Describe the following variables using words: x , y , Δ x , Δ y , v 0 x , v 0 y , v x , v y ,a x , a y
50. Describe the process of adding vectors together analytically (i.e. using formulas, not
pictures).
51. What is the value of the acceleration due to gravity? In what direction does it point?
52. In which direction does gravity have any influence, the x- or the y-?
53. If an object is thrown horizontally off a building with a velocity v 0, what are the initial x-
and y-velocities?
54. If an object is thrown vertically off a building with a velocity v 0, what are the initial x-
and y-velocities?
55. Does the order in which vectors are added change the result?
56. For an object experiencing projectile motion, what is the acceleration in the x-direction?
The y-?
57. For an object experiencing projectile motion, how does the horizontal component of the
velocity change (or not change) throughout its trajectory? The vertical?
58. If a vector has a negative x-component and a positive y-component, which quadrant of
the coordinate plane is it in?
59. Define free-fall.
60. What is a resultant vector?
61. Choose one for each. A one-dimensional vector has its direction defined by (a plus or
minus sign/an angle), while a two-dimensional vector has its direction defined by (a plus
or minus sign/an angle).
62. Define all three of Newton’s Laws of Motion.
63. Define inertia. What does it have to do with mass?
64. Will a more massive object have more inertia than a less massive object?
65. What is the difference between mass and weight?
66. Can an object experience a change in velocity (an acceleration) without a net external
force?
67. Define mass. What are its units? Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that
could be used to find it.
68. Define weight. What are its units? Is it a vector or a scalar? Include any formulas that
could be used to find it.
69. Can weight change? Why?
70. If an object has a net force on it of 40 N and it has an acceleration of 2 m/s 2, what is its
mass?
71. Which force is most directly responsible for a person’s ability to move?
72. If a ship deep in space turns off its engines, what will happen to its motion? Which one
of the three Newton’s Laws best explains this?

73. Two people push on a box in opposite directions. If the person on the left pushes with a
force of 12 N and the person on the right pushes with a force of 7 N. If the box
accelerates 2 m/s to the right, find the mass of the box.

74. A boat is moving with a velocity of 21 m/s to the south when it encounters a current of
2.5 m/s at an angle of 32 degrees north of west. Find the magnitude and direction of the
total velocity of the boat with respect to the shore.