Knight, Jones, Field College Physics: A Strategic Approach

4th Edition

Chapter 1 – Representing Motion

earmarked for lecture earmarked for recitation earmarked for self-study

All content in this presentation is taken from, or inspired by, the source indicated above unless noted otherwise via a reference.
 Chapter 1
topics w/ suggested readings
- significant figures, scientific notation, and units: section 1.5

- general intro to motion and the so-called “particle model”: section 1.1-1.2

- intro to 1-dimensional motion: sections 1.2-1.3

- distance, displacement
- (average) speed, (average) velocity

- intro to 2-dimensional motion: section 1.6

- distance, displacement
- (average) speed, (average) velocity
 problem solving
The following is a general problem-solving strategy that can be widely applied.
Keep this helpful strategy in mind and use it for guidance and assistance when solving problems.
“To understand mathematics means to be able to do mathematics. And what does it mean doing mathematics? In the first place it means to be able to solve mathematical problems."

How to Solve It
A New Aspect of Mathematical Method

György (George) Pólya

Hungarian-American mathematician
educator
author
the beginning
 motion
motion: the change of an object’s position or orientation with time
mechanics: the general science of motion
- kinematics: studying the mathematical description of motion, without reference to force(s) and/or torque(s)
- dynamics: studying the cause of changes in motion – force(s) and/or torque(s)
 motion diagram
frame: an individual image from a video recording of an object
motion diagram: a composite of frames with equal time spacing

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ4znShlK5A [08/17/2017]

 motion diagram
frame: an individual image from a video recording of an object

motion diagram: a composite of frames with equal time spacing

 motion diagram
Images that are equally spaced indicate an object moving with constant speed.
 motion diagram
An increasing distance between the images shows that the object is speeding up.
 motion diagram
A decreasing distance between the images shows that the object is slowing down.
 particle
particle: an object that can be represented as a mass at a single point in space

model
model: a simplification (version) of a phenomenon, itself too complex to study in full detail, that
allows for focusing on its major aspects while excluding those aspects that play only a minor role

particle model
particle model: a model in which an object is treated as if all of its mass were concentrated at
a single point
 models
model: a simplification (version) of a phenomenon, itself too complex to study in full detail, that
allows for focusing on its major aspects while excluding those aspects that play only a minor
role

“All models are wrong, but some are useful.”

George Box
British-American statistician
particle model
particle model
Multiple-Choice Question 1.21
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Multiple-Choice Question 1.20
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Answer(s)
B
 a. A, B, C
b. A, C, B
c. B, A, C
d. B, C, A
e. C, A, B
. SOURCE: Knight, Jones, Field. College Physics: A Strategic Approach, 3 rd Edition.
Conceptual Question 1.13
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Conceptual Question 1.14
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
intermission
 science
(natural) science: knowledge about, or study of, the natural world and its phenomena based on
facts learned through experiments and observation utilizing the scientific method
model: a simplification (version) of a phenomenon, itself too complex to study in full detail, that
allows for focusing on its major aspects while excluding those aspects that play only a minor role

In science, the goal is to study (and construct a model of) a system as accurately as possible;
science seeks to go beyond the mere qualitative and develop theories which are quantitative. To
achieve this goal, a system of units must be developed and adopted for use in experimentation.
In addition, with regards to the physics of motion specifically, a coordinate system must also be
defined and utilized.

qualitative: of or relating to the quality of something

quantitative: of or relating to the quantity, or amount, of something
 system of units
system of units: a set of units of measurement which can be used to specify anything which can
be measured
base quantity: one of a conventionally chosen subset of physical quantities, where no subset
quantity can be expressed in terms of the others
base unit: a unit defined for measurement of a base quantity
International System of Units (French: Système International d'Unités, “SI system”)
“metric system”

SOURCE: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/units.html [08/17/2017]

 coordinate systems
coordinate system: a system which uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely
determine the position of a point or other geometric element on a manifold such as
Euclidean space
coordinate systems
 motion
motion: the change of an object’s position or orientation with time
mechanics: the general science of motion
- kinematics: studying the mathematical description of motion, without reference to force(s) and/or torque(s)
- dynamics: studying the cause of changes in motion – force(s) and/or torque(s)

time (seconds, s): variable t used to represent a particular instant in time

time interval (seconds, s): tf – ti (written symbolically as Δt, where the Greek letter Δ means “change in”)
position (meters, m): location at a particular instant in time; variable x
displacement (meters, m): a change in position; xf – xi (symbolically Δx)
distance (meters, m): length of path traversed during a displacement
(average) velocity (meters per second, m/s): displacement per time interval; vx = Δx/Δt
(average) speed (meters per second, m/s): distance travelled per time interval
 scalars and vectors
scalar: a quantity described by a single number (usually possessing units)

vector: a quantity described by both a magnitude and a direction

using scalars and vectors for physics
distance (a scalar) and displacement (a vector)

distance (scalar; meters, m): length of path traversed during a displacement

(distance: always positive)

displacement (vector; meters, m): a change in position

(displacement: can be positive or negative, depending on the coordinate system in use)
using scalars and vectors for physics
distance (a scalar) and displacement (a vector)

(distance: always positive)

(average speed: always positive)

(displacement: can be positive or negative, depending on the coordinate system in use)

(velocity: can be positive or negative, depending on the coordinate system in use)
Multiple-Choice Question 1.19
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Conceptual Question 1.9
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Problem 1.4
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Problem 1.5
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

c.) What distance has Sue walked?

Answer(s)
a.) -2mi
b.) -2mi
c.) 2mi
Problem 1.8
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Problem 1.9
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

a. 800m east of the hive

b. 200m west of the hive
c. 1600m east of the hive
d. 600m west of the hive
e. none of these
.
 particle model
analysis of motion with the use of units and a coordinate system
Problem 1.12
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
What is the horse’s (average) speed during the time interval 50s to 100s?

a. -6m/s
b. 6m/s
c. -100m/s
d. 150m/s
e. none of these
.
What is the horse’s (average) velocity during the time interval 50s to 100s?

a. -2m/s
b. 2m/s
c. -100m/s
d. 150m/s
e. none of these
.
True or False: If you begin walking leftward from x=250m at 2m/s when t=50s, you’ll arrive at x=150m at the same instant the horse does (again).

a. True
b. False

.
True or False: Both the (average) speed and (average) velocity during the time interval 70s to 100s are positive.

a. True
b. False

.
True or False: Both the (average) speed and (average) velocity during the time interval 60s to 100s are zero.

a. True
b. False

.
What are the a.) (average) speed and b.) (average) velocity during the time interval 50s to 200s (to the nearest 0.1m/s)?

Answer(s)
a.) 5.0m/s
b.) 2.3m/s
What are the a.) (average) speed and b.) (average) velocity during the time interval 0s to 200s (to the nearest 0.1m/s)?

Answer(s)
a.) 5.5m/s
b.) 0.0m/s
intermission
 scalars and vectors
scalar: a quantity described by a single number (usually possessing units)

vector: a quantity described by both a magnitude and a direction

Vectors are traditionally represented visually as arrows, where the magnitude is the size (length)
of the arrow and the direction is indicated by the arrowhead.
mathematics of right triangles

Pythagorean theorem: A2 + O2 = H2
 motion
motion: the change of an object’s position or orientation with time
mechanics: the general science of motion
- kinematics: studying the mathematical description of motion, without reference to force(s) and/or torque(s)
- dynamics: studying the cause of changes in motion – force(s) and/or torque(s)

time (scalar; seconds, s): variable t used to represent a particular instant in time
time interval (scalar; seconds, s): tf – ti (written symbolically as Δt, where the Greek letter Δ means “change in”)
position (vector; meters, m): location at a particular instant in time; variable x and/or y used to represent position along an axis
displacement (vector; meters, m): a change in position; xf – xi (symbolically Δx) and/or yf – yi (symbolically Δy)
distance (scalar; meters, m): length of path traversed during a displacement
(average) velocity (vector; meters per second, m/s): displacement per time interval; vx = Δx/Δt and/or vy = Δy/Δt
(average) speed (scalar; meters per second, m/s): distance travelled per time interval
using scalars and vectors for physics
distance (a scalar) and displacement (a vector)

(distance: always positive)

(average speed: always positive)

(displacement: can be positive or negative, depending on the coordinate system in use)

(velocity: can be positive or negative, depending on the coordinate system in use)
Problem 1.26
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Problem 1.30
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Problem 1.33
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

(Answer to the nearest 1km.)

a. 12km
b. 20km
c. 32km
d. 52km
e. none of these

.
Problem 1.39
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Answer(s)
150cm
(rounded to two significant figures)
Problem 1.10
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Which of the following statements is false?

a. The guard’s displacement is zero.

b. The guard’s (average) velocity cannot be determined (without direction info).
c. The distance travelled by the guard is 110m
d. The guard’s direction of motion while walking is not constant.
e. The guard’s (average) speed is approximately 0.5m/s.

.
Problem 1.34
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Which of the following statements is false?

a. The car’s displacement is (3.2/π)km toward the north.

b. The car’s (average) velocity cannot be determined.
c. The distance travelled by the car is 1.6km (assuming it’s never in “R”).
d. The car’s displacement is (1.6)km.
e. The car’s (average) speed cannot be determined.

.
Problem 1.31
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Regarding the motion that John has undertaken, what are the a.) distance and b.) displacement?

Answer(s)
a.) (3π/2)50m
b.) 71m to the southwest
Problem 1.64
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Problem 1.56
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Solution(s)
Problem 1.75
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

(Answer to the nearest 0.01m/s.)

a. 0.50m/s
b. 1.06m/s
c. 1.50m/s
d. 0.75m/s
e. none of these

.
Problem 1.58
(This problem is part of the “Chapter 1 – problems” homework assignment!)

Answer(s)
4.8m/s
the end