Query 1

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course Phy 201

7/16 midnight

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

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Your solution:

You take the mean of the set of numbers. This is done by totaling up all the numbers and then dividing by how many numbers there were in the set. Then you find how much each sample entry deviates from the mean. You do this by taking the absolute value of the mean minus the sample entry. After you get all of the deviations of the numbers from their mean you square all of them. Then you take the average of the squared deviations. The average is done in the same way as a mean but you divide by how many number were in the set minus 1. Then you do the square root of the average of the squared deviations. This gives you the standard deviation.

confidence rating #$&*: 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 how fast, or the speed, of an object moving in a specific direction. Velocity is an example of a rate because a rate is a measure of one quantity with respect to another quantity and velocity is the measure of distance traveled with respect to time it took for the object to travel that distance.

confidence rating #$&*: 2

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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):

My definitions of velocity and rate were not word for word correct, but I believe that I got the concepts right.

I understand that rate is a change in one thing divided by a change in another thing.

I also understand that velocity is the rate of change of position, which is the change in the position of the object divided by the change in the clock time.

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

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Your solution:

If you are given the average speed then you know how far the object moves on average in a given amount of time. So you can set average speed equal to distance moved divide by the time interval and solve for distance. This ends up meaning that you multiply the average speed and the time interval. The units of time cancel out and you are left with the distance moved.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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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:

You would divide the distance moved by the average speed.

This is because Average speed = distance moved / time given. Thus you would end up dividing distance moved by average speed.

confidence rating #$&*: 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:

You use the same formula we used in the previous two problem and no rearrangement is needed.

Average speed = distance moved / time interval

confidence rating #$&*: 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:

The order of the velocities in ascending order are initial velocity then average velocity then final velocity.

I think it is possible for the change in the ball’s velocity to exceed its average, final, and initial velocities. If the ball speeds up really fast on the second book then its change in velocity could be much bigger than the other velocities. I also think it is possible for the three velocities to exceed the ball’s change in velocity. The ball could be moving at a pretty steady and fast rate which would mean it has a initial velocity. Then the ball could increase in speed up only by a small amount. So the ball would still have a high velocity and would have high average and and final velocities with a very small actual change in velocity.

confidence rating #$&*: 2

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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:

Average of two velocities = 10 m/s + 4 m/s /2 = 14 m/s / 2 = 7 m/s

Change in velocity = 10 m/s - 4 m/s = 6m/s

4m/s then 6m/s then 7m/s then 10m/s

If initial velocity was 8 m/s then the order would be different. And if the final velocity was 5m/s then the order would also be different from the previous order.

It is not possible for the change in velocity to exceed the other three quantities if the initial and final velocities are positive. The change in velocity is always the absolute value of the difference, so even if the ball was decreasing in speed and the initial velocity was higher than the final velocity the change is velocity will still be lower than another value.

confidence rating #$&*: 2

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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:

x / 5.2 = .04

The uncertainty in the change of position is 0.208 meters.

@& This is fine. You could just take 4% of 5.2. You should probably review basic percent calculations, and do some simple examples until you are very comfortable with the idea. When you are sufficiently comfortable, the idea that you take 4% of 5.2 will be second-nature, completely obvious to you.*@

x / 1.3 = 0.02

The uncertainty in the time interval is 0.026 seconds.

The average velocity = change in position / change in time

5.2 +/- 0.208 m / 1.3 +/- 0.02 sec = 4 +/- 0.228 m/s

confidence rating #$&*: 1

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Still having trouble calculating uncertainties and doing math with uncertainties involved.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique rating:

@& You should first look at the following calculations and without doing them determine which will give the greatest, and which the least result.

(5.2 + .208) m / (1.3 s + .02 s)

(5.2 + .208) m / (1.3 s - .02 s)

(5.2 - .208) m / (1.3 s - .02 s)

(5.2 - .208) m / (1.3 s - .02 s)

Then do each calculation and see by what percent it differs from just 5.2 m / (1.3 s).

Determine which of the the first four results most greatly exceeds this result, and which of the first four results is most greatly exceeded by this result.

If you send me just a copy of this question with your original solution and my notes, and insert your thoughts and solutions (marking each insertion by &&&& so I can easily locate it), it should help and I'll be glad to respond further.*@

&#Your work looks good. See my notes. Let me know if you have any questions. &#