Physics and Technology

To Do

• Watch the video and answer the questions.
• What forces can you identify in this video?
• What role do they play in the motion of the robots?
• Do you see Newton’s laws in action? Illustrate by example.

Textbook Material to Read

Read:

• Chapter 4 Dynamics

4.5 Normal, Tension, and Other Examples of Forces

4.6 Problem-Solving Strategies

4.7 Further Applications of Newton’s Laws of Motion

• Chapter 5 Further Applications of Newton’s Laws: Friction, Drag, and Elasticity

5.1 Friction

5.3 Elasticity

Problem-Solving Strategy: Dynamics

1. Draw a picture of the problem.
2. Draw free-body diagram for each object of interest, showing all forces that act on that object:

Only include forces that act on the object you’re drawing the diagram for.

o What are the forces?

o Which way do the point?

o Where do they act?

o Are their magnitudes known?

3. Make sure you have not forgotten any forces.

4. Make sure that you have not included any bogus forces.

5. Determine what you know about the acceleration of each object.

6. Choose a coordinate system in which to analyze each object.

7. Write 2nd law of Newton for each object.

8. Write additional equations.

9. Solve the equations and calculate numerical answers complete with units.

Textbook Exercises

Solve the following problems.

Chapter 4

• Problems & Exercises: 1 – 4, 9, 10, 18, 23 – 25.

Chapter 5

• Conceptual Questions: 1 – 4, 9, 10, 12.

• Problems & Exercises: 1 – 4, 29, 30.

Solving Problems in Physics

Note: Image by Chudaeva, E. (2022).

Formulas.

Modify this list as you wish to support your learning.

Phy1014-formulas-week1-4

This is what you need to know to solve problems successfully

• Definitions of scalar and vector quantities
• SI units of measurements
• Converting a number to scientific notation
• Converting units and metric system
• Counting significant figures
• Determining number of significant figures in calculations
• Newton’s Laws

Questions to discuss with peers

• Can friction be reduced to zero?
• How can we reduce friction?
• Come up with two examples that friction forces are useful. Explain.
• Come up with two examples that friction forces are harmful. Explain.