Honors Physics Semester 1 Review

Unit 1: Description of Motion

• Essential Questions:

  • Three dimensions in physics: Length (m), Mass (kg), Time (s).
  • Significant figures: Zeros are significant when between non-zero digits or after a decimal.
  • Rounding in calculations: Based on the fewest significant figures or decimal places in the equation.
  • Scalars vs Vectors: Scalars have only magnitude; vectors have magnitude and direction.

• Key Vocabulary:

  • Measurement, Unit of Measurement, Dimensional Analysis, Scientific Notation, Significant Figures, SI Units.
  • Scalar: Magnitude only.
  • Vector: Includes direction.
  • Resultant: Total effect described by combining vectors.
  • Distance, Displacement, Time, Speed, Velocity, Acceleration, Uniform Circular Motion, Tangential Speed, Centripetal Acceleration.

• Vector Calculations:

  • Velocity of object A relative to B: ( V{AB} = VA - V_B )
  • Resultant vector (displacement): ( R = \sqrt{{(x1)^2 + (y1)^2}} )

• Graphing Motion:

  • Find velocity from position vs. time graph by determining slope.
  • Find acceleration from velocity vs. time graph by determining slope.
  • Area under velocity vs. time graph represents displacement.

• Kinematics:

  • Kinematics equations relate displacement, acceleration, and time for uniformly accelerated motion.
  • Example of an object accelerating: ( vf = vi + at ) and ( d = v_it + \frac{1}{2} a t^2 ) for distance.

• Practice Problems:

  • A boat travels 8 m/s north against a 3 m/s current, resulting in a velocity of 5 m/s north.
  • A bird navigates 1.8 m west and 7.0 m north; calculate resultant displacement and direction.