Ph1 Query 1

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course phy231

ph1 query 1*********************************************

Question: `qExplain in your own words how the standard deviation of a set of numbers is

calculated.

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Your solution:

Standard deviation is calculated by taking a set of numbers, finding the mean, and then

subtracting each number from the mean. The absolute value is taken of each number. Then all

the ""deviations,"" or absolute values of the differences of the numbers and their means, are

squared and added together. The average is taken by dividing the sum of the squares by the

total number of values in the set -1. Then the square root is taken of the average and the

result is the standard deviation.

confidence rating #$&*:

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3

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Question: Briefly state what you think velocity is and how you think it is an example of a

rate.

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Your solution:

Velocity is the speed of an object and the direction it is traveling. It is a rate because it

shows a quantity (m, cm, mi, etc.) over a period of time.

This means it's a change divided by a change.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

A rate is a change in something divided by a change in something else.

This question concerns velocity, which is the rate of change of position: change in position

divided by change in clock time. **

NOTE ON NOTATION

Students often quote a formula like v = d / t. It's best to avoid this formula completely.

The average velocity on an interval is defined as change in position / change in clock time.

The symbol d doesn't look like a change in anything, nor does the symbol t.

And the symbol v doesn't distinguish between initial velocity, final velocity, average

velocity, change in velocity and instantaneous velocity, all of which are important concepts

that need to be associated with distinct symbols.

In this course we use `d to stand for the capital Greek symbol Delta, which universally

indicates the change in a quantity. If we use d for distance, then the 'change in distance'

would be denoted `dd. Very confusing to have two different d's, with two different meanings,

in the same expression.

We generally use s or x to stand for position, so `ds or `dx would stand for change in

position. Change in clock time would be `dt. Thus

v_Ave = `ds / `dt

(or alternatively, if we use x for position, v_Ave = `dx / `dt).

With this notation we can tell that we are dividing change in position by change in clock time.

For University Physics students (calculus-based note):

If x is the position then velocity is dx/dt, the derivative of position with respect to clock

time. This is the limiting value of the rate of change of position with respect to clock time.

You need to think in these terms.

v stands for instantaneous velocity. v_Ave stands for the average velocity on an interval.

If you used d for position then you would have the formula v = dd / dt. The dd in the numerator

doesn't make a lot of sense; one d indicates the infinitesimal change in the other d.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

OK

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Question: Given average speed and time interval how do you find distance moved?

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Your solution:

A speed is a rate of change in distance/change in time. We can use the rate to determine how

far something moves in a set period of time. all we have to do is multiply the time interval

by the rate, assuming the units are the same, and we get the distance traveled.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

** You multiply average speed * time interval to find distance moved.

For example, 50 miles / hour * 3 hours = 150 miles. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

OK

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Question: Given average speed and distance moved how do you find the corresponding time

interval?

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Your solution:

Speed is the change in distance over the change in time. We can divide the distance over speed

to find the time, assuming the units are the same.

confidence rating #$&*:

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3

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Given Solution:

** time interval = distance / average speed. For example if we travel 100 miles at 50 mph it

takes 2 hours--we divide the distance by the speed.

In symbols, if `ds = vAve * `dt then `dt = `ds/vAve.

Also note that (cm/s ) / s = cm/s^2, not sec, whereas cm / (cm/s) = cm * s / cm = s, as

appropriate in a calculation of `dt. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

OK

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Question: Given time interval and distance moved how do you get average speed?

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Your solution:

To get speed, just divide the change in distance by the change in time.

confidence rating #$&*:

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3

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Given Solution:

** Average speed = distance / change in clock time. This is the definition of average speed.

For example if we travel 300 miles in 5 hours we have been traveling at an average speed of 300

miles / 5 hours = 60 miles / hour. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

OK

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Question: A ball rolls from rest down a book, off that book and onto another book, where it

picks up speed before rolling off the end of that book. Consider the interval that begins when

the ball first encounters the second book, and ends when it rolls of the end of the book.

For this interval, place in order the quantities initial velocity (which we denote v_0), and

final velocity (which we denote v_f), average velocity (which we denote v_Ave).

During this interval, the ball's velocity changes. It is possible for the change in its

velocity to exceed the three quantities you just listed? Is it possible for all three of these

quantities to exceed the change in the ball's velocity? Explain.

Note that the change in the ball's velocity is denoted `dv.

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Your solution:

When considering velocity as an absolute value, that is never negative no matter which direction the ball travels, the final velocity will be greater than or equal to the change in veolcity.

Any one of the velocities can exceed the change in velocity. Say the change in velocity is very small, like 0.1m/s. If the initial velocity was 10m/s, and the final velocity was 10.1m/s, then the average velocity would be 10.05m/s. All three values are larger than the change in velocity.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Question: If the velocity at the beginning of an interval is 4 m/s and at the end of the

interval it is 10 m/s, then what is the average of these velocities, and what is the change in

velocity?

List the four quantities initial velocity, final velocity, average of initial and final

velocities, and change in velocity, in order from least to greatest.

Give an example of positive initial and final velocities for which the order of the four

quantities would be different.

For positive initial and final velocities, is it possible for the change in velocity to exceed

the other three quanities?

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Your solution:

initial velocity: 4 m/s

change in velocity: 6m/s

average velocity: 7m/s

final velocity: 10 m/s

confidence rating #$&*:

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3

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Question: If the position of an object changes by 5.2 meters, with an uncertainty of +-4%,

during a time interval of 1.3 seconds, with an uncertainty of +-2%, then

What is the uncertainty in the change in position in meters>

What is the uncertainty in the time interval in seconds?

What is the average velocity of the object, and what do you think ia the uncertainty in the

average velocity?

(this last question is required of University Physics students only, but other are welcome to

answer): What is the percent uncertainty in the average velocity of the object, and what is

the uncertainty as given in units of velocity?

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Your solution:

+-.2m

+-.03s

4m/s

5.4/1.27=4.25

5.0/1.33=3.76

4.25-3.76=0.49

0.49/2=0.25

0.25/4=0.05

=5%

=4 m/s +-5%

confidence rating #$&*:

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2.5

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique rating:

&#Good work. Let me know if you have questions. &#