General Physics Study Guide - Semester 1 EXAM 2006-07

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General Physics Study Guide - Semester 1 EXAM 2006-07

General Physics Study Guide - Semester 1 EXAM 2010-11

Dominic/Barnard

EXAM counts 10% or 20% of your semester grade (whichever helps you more)

  • Format: multiple choice questions (75%) lab practical (25%)

What to do:

-In general, practice using a combination of representational tools to analyze physical situations. These tools are:

verbal descriptions, graphs, equations, force diagrams, kinesthetic experience

-Check to see that these tools agree with each other.

-Organize your notes and worksheets and use them to help you do the following:

1) Make a list of all quantities we studied and their symbols and units.

2) Make a list of all the equations we’ve developed. (Look at the data/graphs from labs that we used to get these equations.)

3) Describe the equations in a concise sentence.

a) Identify the meaning of each variable in these equations.

b) Identify the units of each variable in the equations.

c) Make up practice problems so that you can solve for one of the variables.

4) Graphical Methods and Lab skills

Be able to write the equation for a straight line graph, using correct units where appropriate.

Identify independent and dependent variables in an experiment.

Be able to make accurate measurements using tools such as a meterstick, protractor, force probe, stopwatch, spring scale

5) Motion Graphs

Identify or calculate the following quantities on position vs. time, velocity vs. time and acceleration vs. time graphs: total distance, displacement, instantaneous velocity, rest, constant positive or negative velocity, increasing positive or negative velocity, decreasing positive or negative velocity, acceleration.

Understand the physical meaning of the slope and area of these graphs.

6) Motion (Ch. 2)

Distinguish between position and displacement

Be able to calculate displacement using equations and/or graphs.

Be able to calculate average velocity, displacement or time, if given two of these three quantities.

Distinguish between average velocity and instantaneous velocity.

What does it mean when an object is accelerating? What does negative acceleration mean?

NAME______

How is acceleration calculated? How do you find acceleration using a velocity vs. time graph? How do you find acceleration if an object starts from rest and you know its displacement and the time it took to go that far?

What is free fall? Describe what happens to an object’s velocity and its acceleration at various locations in its path when it is thrown straight up into the air and comes back down again.

7) Newton’s Laws (Ch. 3, 5)

Define mass, weight, force, gravitational field strength constant

What is inertia? Is inertia a force?

What is the relationship between Fg, weight and mass?

Define equilibrium.

Be able to draw force diagrams for an object in a state of rest, constant velocity, or acceleration.

Be able to separate forces into parallel and perpendicular (or x and y) components.

Be able to draw a force diagram for an object on a ramp that is a) accelerating or b) in equilibrium.

Be able to calculate all forces on an object at rest (given some of the forces and/or angles)

What happens to an object’s velocity as long as a net force is acting on it?

Explain Newton’s 1st law of Inertia.

Be able to describe a physical event or situation in terms of Newton’s1st Law of Inertia.

8) Relativity (Ch. 15.1-15.6)

Describe an object’s velocity from different frames of reference

Understand that in all reference frames the speed of light is constant (c = 3 x 108 m/s)

Understand that time is relative depending on frame of reference

Describe how time changes for an object moving at a speed near 3 x 108 m/s compared to an object at rest.

Desscribe how space (length) changes for an object moving at a speed near 3 x 108 m/s compared to an object at rest.

Universal Gravitation (Ch. 10)

Describe how scientific models of the universe have evolved throughout history.

What does and does not cause gravitational attraction between two objects?

How does the force of gravity change if the distance between 2 objects gets bigger or smaller?

How does the force of gravity change if the masses of two objects get bigger or smaller?