Shared Flashcard Set

Details

PHYSICS
Chapters 2-4
55
Physics
Undergraduate 1
01/20/2018

Additional Physics Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What keeps asteroids moving in space?
Definition
Nothing keeps them moving. The Sun can deflect their path, but it isn't needed to keep them moving.
Term
What does a car whiplash have to do with Newton's first law?
Definition
Your head and body remains at rest, but when you move forward, only your back seat keeps you from moving, so the head will continue to move because of the force that is acted upon it
Term
What law applies to when you move forward/backward on a bus when accelerating and why?
Definition
Newton's first law because when the bus is at rest, you are at rest. So when the bus moves, you are being pulled with it and results in your body moving backwards.
Term
What can you say correctly about a pair of vectors that add together to equal 0?
Definition
The vectors are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction
Term
A bird sits on a clothes line. Will the tension be greater if the line sags a little or a lot?
Definition
A little because larger vectors are needed to support the weight of the bird.
Term
Can an object be in mechanical equilibrium if a single non-zero force acts upon it?
Definition
No because its motion will change
Term
If you pull horizontally on a crate with a force of 200N, it slides across the floor in dynamic equilibrium. How much friction is acting upon the crate?
Definition
200 N (equal to your pull of -200N)
Term
A parachutist is falling through the sky in dynamic equilibrium. How do the magnitude of the gravitational pull and air resistance compare?
Definition
They're equal, so the net force is zero.
Term
A ball rolling on the floor moves slightly slower over time. Does this violate Newton's first law? Why or why not?
Definition
No, because the force of air resistance is acting up on it. If there was no force acting upon the ball, it will continue to roll.
Term
Since the earth is moving, you move with it and won't hit the wall in your room. But when you jump, how come you don't hit the wall since the earth is still moving?
Definition
Because your body is in motion so it will stay in motion.
Term
Is a fine for speeding based on your instantaneous speed or your average speed? Explain
Definition
Instantaneous speed because that's the speed registered on the speedometer gun the police are using.
Term
Light travels in a straight line at a constant speed of 300,000 km/s. What is its acceleration?
Definition
Zero because a constant velocity means no acceleration.
Term

You are driving on a highway, then w/o changing speed, you turn on a curve.

(a) Does your velocity change? (b) Do you accelerate?

Explain

Definition

(a) Yes, because of the change in direction

(b) Yes, because the velocity changes

Term
For a free-falling object dropped at rest, what is the acceleration of the object after 5 seconds? After 10 seconds?
Definition
The acceleration is the same as g (gravity) at any point in the fall because it is a free fall.
Term
Suppose that a free-falling object is equipped with a speedometer. How much speed is increased with each second of the object falling?
Definition
10 m/s each second (because of gravity)
Term
If there was no air resistance, why would it be dangerous to go outside when it's raining?
Definition
If not for the slowing affect of air resistance, the raindrops will strike the ground with speed as high as bullets.
Term
When a ball is tossed into the air with air resistance, how does the return speed compare with its initial speed?
Definition
Air resistance decreases speed, so a ball will return with less speed than it did initially.
Term
How does a speedometer indicate whether or not and object is accelerating?
Definition
When the speed changes. No change = no acceleration
Term
If gold was sold by weight, would you buy it in Death Valley or Denver? If it was sold by mass, where would you buy it?
Definition
If by weight, buy it in Denver because the force of gravity is lesser there. If by mass, it would be the same price both places.
Term
If your empty hand hits a wall, it will hurt less. But if you're holding an object and hit a wall, it will hurt more. Why? Which of Newton's laws applies here?
Definition
Holding an object means there's more mass. More mass means there's more tendency to keep moving. Newton's first law.
Term

When blocking in football, a lineman wants to get lower than their opponent when pushing each other to lift them off the ground.

 

What effect does this have on the friction force between the opposing linemen's feet and the ground?

Definition
Lifting the opponent decreases the force with which the ground supports him = decreases the force of friction he can muster.
Term

(a) Is a skydiver who has reached terminal speed in free fall?

(b) Is a satellite circling above Earth's atmosphere in free fall?

Definition

(a) No, because there is air resistance. Free fall means free of all forces except gravity.

(b) Yes, even though the satellite isn't getting any closer to Earth, it is still falling.

Term
Two balls fall from the same height. One is filled with lead pellets. Which one will hit the ground first? Which one has a greater air resistance?
Definition
The ball with lead pellets will hit the ground first. The ball with the lead pellets also has the greatest air resistance because it is falling much faster than the normal ball.
Term
What is Inertia?
Definition
The property of things to resist change in motion
Term
What's Newton's first law of motion?
Definition
An object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by a force
Term
What is a Force?
Definition
A push or pull
Term
What is a Net Force?
Definition
The vector sum of forces acting upon an object
Term
What is a Vector?
Definition
An arrow that represents a vector quantity
Term
What is a Vector Quantity?
Definition
Having both magnitude and direction (Ex: force)
Term
What is a Scalar Quantity?
Definition
A quantity that has magnitude but no direction
Term
What is an example of Scalar Quantity?
Definition
Mass, volume, time, speed
Term
What is an example of Vector Quantity?
Definition
Force, velocity, acceleration
Term
What is a Resultant?
Definition
The net result of a combination of 2 or more vectors
Term
What is Mechanical Equilibrium?
Definition
When the net force on an object is zero
Term
What is the Equilibrium Rule?
Definition

On an object or system of objects in mechanical equilibrium, the sum of forces = zero (∑F = 0)

Term
What relationship between the Earth and the Sun did Copernicus formulate?
Definition
That the Earth revolves around the Sun, not the other way around
Term
What did Galileo discover in his Leaning Tower of Pisa experiment?
Definition
Objects with different weight still hit the ground at the same time
Term
How fast are you moving relative to the Sun?
Definition
30 km/s
Term
What is Speed?
Definition
How fast an object moves; the distance traveled per unit of time
Term
What is Average Speed?
Definition
The total distance traveled divided by time of travel
Term
What is a Velocity?
Definition
An object's speed and direction of motion
Term
What is Acceleration?
Definition
The rate at which velocity changes with time
Term
What is a Free Fall?
Definition
Motion under the influence of gravity only
Term
What is a Force?
Definition
A push or pull exerted on an object
Term
What is Force measured in?
Definition
Newtons
Term
What is Friction?
Definition

The force that normally opposes the motion of an object

Term
What is Mass?
Definition
The amount of matter in an object
Term
What is Weight?
Definition
Force due to gravity on an object
Term
What is Terminal Speed?
Definition

The point where the resistance of air matches the pull of gravity

Term
Is acceleration proportional to the net force, or does acceleration equal net force?
Definition
Proportional
Term
What is Static Friction?
Definition
When force is applied to an object but it doesn't move
Term
What is Kinetic Friction?
Definition
When force is applied to an object and it moves
Term
What affects the amount of air resistance (3)?
Definition
Speed, size, and shape
Term
What is Earth's gravitational pull?
Definition
9.8 m/s² or 10/ms²
Term
What is the moon's gravitational pull?
Definition
1.6 m/s² or 2 m/s²
Supporting users have an ad free experience!