course Phy 121 zWxs~ҧȵi͵Jassignment #001
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19:25:11 09-13-2008 19:25:11 What do we mean by velocity?
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19:25:12 09-13-2008 19:25:12 What do we mean by velocity?
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.................................................]Ϊˮ~ͪkĥ}߭|
assignment #001 wgжԿ߄ӂMPߝ Physics I Class Notes 09-13-2008
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19:40:39 09-13-2008 19:40:39 What do we mean by velocity?
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19:40:52 09-13-2008 19:40:52 ** STUDENT RESPONSE:Velocity is the speed and direction an object is moving. INSTRUCTOR COMMENT: Good. More succinctly and precisely velocity is the rate at which position is changing. obtained by dividing change in position by change in clock time **
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19:42:02 09-13-2008 19:42:02 How can we determine the velocity of a ball rolling down an incline?
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19:47:41 09-13-2008 19:47:41 ** We divide displacement by the time interval to get average velocity. If the ball happens to be starting from rest and acceleration is uniform we can also conclude that the final velocity attained on the incline is double the average velocity. **
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19:49:58 09-13-2008 19:49:58 We anticipate from our experience that a ball traveling down a greater incline, starting from rest, will experience a greater change in velocity. How can we determine whether the velocity actually changes, and whether the velocity increases in the manner that we expect?
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19:52:21 09-13-2008 19:52:21 ** We divide displacement by the time interval to get average velocity. We time the ball down one incline, then down the other and determine average velocity for each. We then infer that since both balls started from rest, the greater average velocity implies a greater change in velocity. **
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19:53:26 09-13-2008 19:53:26 How could we determine the velocity of the ball at a specific point? The specific points are measured for distance and the ball is timed when it reaches these specific points. The distance is then divided by the time.
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19:53:30 09-13-2008 19:53:30 ** Short answer: The question concerned one specific point. We can't really measure this precisely. The best we can do is use two points close together near the point we are interested in, but not so close we can't measure the time accurately enough to trust our result. More detailed answer: The question really asks how we determine the velocity at a given point, for an object in the real world. Assuming that the velocity is always changing, how can we ever know the velocity at an instant? This involves a limiting process, thinking of shorter and shorter time intervals and shorter and shorter position changes. If we know the velocity function, or if we can accurately infer the velocity function from our data, then the velocity of a ball at a specific point is obtained by finding the slope of the tangent line of the position vs. clock time graph at that point, which calculus-literate students will recognize as the derivative of the velocity function. **
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19:53:34 09-13-2008 19:53:34 How do we determine the rate at which the velocity changes? How can we understand the concept of the rate at which velocity changes?
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19:53:37 09-13-2008 19:53:37 ** We find the change in velocity then divide by the change in the clock time. Any rate consists of the change in one quantity divided by the change in another. **
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19:53:40 09-13-2008 19:53:40 It is essential to understand what a trapezoid on a v vs. t graph represents. Give the meaning of the rise and run between two points, and the meaning of the area of a trapezoid defined by a v vs. t graph.
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19:53:44 09-13-2008 19:53:44 ** Since the rise represents the change in velocity and the run represents the change in clock time, slope represents `dv / `dt = vAve, the average velocity over the corresponding time interval. Since the average altitude represents the average velocity and the width of the trapezoid represents the time interval the area of the trapezoid represents vAve * `dt, which is the displacement `ds. **
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19:53:46 09-13-2008 19:53:46 What does the graph of position vs. clock time look like for constant-acceleration motion?
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19:53:49 09-13-2008 19:53:49 ** For constant positive acceleration velocity is increasing. The greater the velocity the steeper the position vs. clock time graph. So increasing velocity would be associated with a position vs. clock time graph which is increasing at an increasing rate. The reason velocity is the slope of the position vs. clock time graph is that the rise between two points of the position vs. clock time graph is change in position, `ds, and run is change in clock time, `dt. Slope therefore represents `ds / `dt, which is velocity. Other shapes are possible, depending on whether initial velocity and acceleration are positive, negative or zero. For example if acceleration was negative and initial velocity positive we could have a graph that's increasing at a decreasing rate. Negative initial velocity and positive acceleration could give us a graph that's decreasing at a decreasing rate. **
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19:53:51 09-13-2008 19:53:51 How can we obtain a graph of velocity vs. clock time from a position vs. clock time graph?
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19:53:54 09-13-2008 19:53:54 ** We can find the slope of the position vs. clock time graph at a series of clock times, which will give us the velocities at those clock times. We can put this information into a velocity vs. clock time table then plot the velocities vs. clock time as a 'guidepost points', and fill in the connecting curve in such a way as to be consistent with the trend of the slopes of the position vs. clock time graph. COMMON MISCONCEPTION: To get velocity vs. clock time find average velocity, which is position (m) divided by time (s). Plot these points of vAvg on the velocity vs. time graph. INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: Ave velocity is change in position divided by change in clock time. It is not position divided by time. Position can be measured from any reference point, which would affect a position/time result, but which would not affect change in position/time. Graphically velocity is the slope of the position vs. clock time graph. If it was just position divided by time, it would be the slope of a line from the origin to the graph point. **
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19:53:58 09-13-2008 19:53:58 How can we obtain a graph of position vs. clock time from a velocity vs. clock time graph
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19:54:03 09-13-2008 19:54:03 ** We can divide the graph of v vs. t into small strips, each forming an approximate trapezoid. The area of each strip will represent ave vel * time interval and will therefore represent the change in position during that time interval. Starting from the initial clock time and position on the position vs. clock time graph, we add each subsequent time increment to the clock time and the corresponding position change to the position to get our new position. When the graph is constructed the slopes of the position vs. clock time graph will indicate the corresponding velocities on the v vs. t graph. **
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19:54:06 09-13-2008 19:54:06 How can we obtain a graph of acceleration vs. clock time from a velocity vs. clock time graph?
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19:54:10 09-13-2008 19:54:10 ** Accel is the rate of change of velocity, represented by the slope of the v vs. t graph. So we would plot the slope of the v vs. t graph vs. t, in much the same way as we plotted slopes of the position vs. clock time graph to get the v vs. t graph. }University Physics Students note: Acceleration is the derivative of the velocity. COMMON MISCONCEPTION: Take speed/ time to find the acceleration per second. The form an acceleration v. time graph and draw a straight line out from the number calculated for acceleration above. INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: Ave acceleration is change in velocity divided by change in clock time. (note that this is different from velocity divided by time--we must use changes in velocity and clock time). (Advanced note: Velocity is always measured with respect to some reference frame, and the velocity of the reference frame itself affects a velocity/time result, but which would not affect change in velocity/time). Graphically acceleration is the slope of the velocity vs. clock time graph. If it was velocity divided by time, it would be the slope of a line from the origin to the graph point. **
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19:54:18 09-13-2008 19:54:18 How can we obtain a graph of velocity vs. clock time from an acceleration vs. clock time graph
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19:54:45 09-13-2008 19:54:45 ** STUDENT RESPONSE: Take your acceleration and multiply by time to find the change in velocity. Start with initial velocity and graph your velocity by increasing initial velocity by the slope, or change in velocity. INSTRUCTOR COMMENT: Good. More precisely we can approximate change in velocity during a given time interval by finding the approximate area under the acceleration vs. clock time graph for the interval. We can then add each change in velocity to the existing velocity, constructing the velocity vs. clock time graph interval by interval. A velocity vs. clock time graph has slopes which are equal at every point to the vertical coordinate of the acceleration vs. clock time graph. University Physics students note: These two statements are equivalent, and the reason they are is at the heart of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. **
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assignment #002 002. `Query 2 Physics I 09-13-2008
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20:03:43 ** Questions about velocity, average velocity, acceleration, etc. are very confusing because so many of the concepts have similar definitions. People have trouble distinguishing things like average velocity, which for uniform acceleration can be obtained in a process that adds two velocities, from average acceleration, which involves subtracting two velocities; one of these processes involves dividing by 2 and the other dividing by the time interval `dt.
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RESPONSE --> ok
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20:03:50 It is essential to keep the definitions and the meanings of the terms very clear and to work everything from definitions. It is equally important to have a good common-sense understanding of every definition so you can develop the intuition to make sense of everything you do.
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RESPONSE --> ok
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20:03:57 That inevitably takes people a little time. But in the process you develop the habits you will need to succeed in the course. **
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RESPONSE --> ok
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20:09:41 How is acceleration an example of a rate of change?
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RESPONSE --> Acceleration is an example of rate of change because this factor shows change through the representation of velocity. confidence assessment: 1
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20:10:00 ** Velocity is the rate of change of position. Acceleration is rate of change of velocity--change in velocity divided by the time period. To find the acceleration from a v vs. t graph you take the rise, which represents the change in the average velocity, and divide by the run, which represents the change in time. The average rate of change of velocity with respect to clock time is the same as the acceleration **
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RESPONSE --> ok self critique assessment: 1
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20:14:35 If you know average acceleration and time interval what can you find?
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RESPONSE --> When we have average acceleration and time interval, we can find the change of velocity. confidence assessment: 1
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20:15:20 Can you find velocity from average acceleration and time interval?
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RESPONSE --> ok confidence assessment: 1
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20:15:51 ** Ave accel = change in vel / change in clock time. If acceleration is constant, then this relationship becomes acceleration = change in velocity/change in clock time. Change in clock time is the time interval, so if we know time interval and acceleration we can find change in velocity = acceleration * change in clock time = acceleration * change in clock time. We cannot find velocity, only change in velocity. We would need additional information (e.g., initial velocity, average velocity or final velocity) to find an actual velocity. For example if we know that the velocity of a car is changing at 2 (mi/hr) / sec then we know that in 5 seconds the speed will change by 2 (mi/hr)/s * 5 s = 10 mi/hr. But we don't know how fast the car is going in the first place, so we have no information about its actual velocity. If this car had originally been going 20 mi/hr, it would have ended up at 30 miles/hr. If it had originally been going 70 mi/hr, it would have ended up at 80 miles/hr. Similarly if an object is accelerating at 30 m/s^2 (i.e., 30 (m/s) / s) for eight seconds, its velocity will change by 30 meters/second^2 * 8 seconds = 240 m/s. Again we don't know what the actual velocity will be because we don't know what velocity the object was originally moving. ANOTHER SOLUTION: The answer is 'No'. You can divide `ds (change in position) by `dt (change in clock time) to get vAve = `ds / `dt. Or you can divide `dv (change in vel) by `dt to get aAve. So from aAve and `dt you can get `dv, the change in v. But you can't get v itself. EXAMPLE: You can find the change in a quantity from a rate and a time interval, but you can't find the actual value of the quantity. For example, accelerating for 2 sec at 3 mph / sec, your velocity changes by 6 mph, but that's all you know. You don't know how fast you were going in the first place. Could be from 5 mph to 12 mph, or 200 mph to 206 mph (hopefully not down the Interstate). COMMON ERROR: Yes. Final velocity is average velocity multiplied by 2. INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: We aren't given ave velocity and time interval, we're give ave accel and time interval, so this answer is not valid. Note also that final velocity is average velocity multiplied by 2 ONLY when init vel is zero. Be sure you always state it this way. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: You can't find velocity from ave accel and time interval--you can only find change in velocity from this information. For example a velocity change of 10 mph would result from ave accel 2 m/s^2 for 2 seconds; this change could be between 10 and 20 mph or between 180 and 190 mph, and if all we know is ave accel and time interval we couldn't tell the difference. ONE MORE RESPONSE: You can find the change in velocity. The actual velocity cannot be found from ave accel and time interval. For example you would get the same result for acceleration if a car went from 10 mph to 20 mph in 5 sec as you would if it went from 200 mph to 220 mph in 10 sec. **
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RESPONSE --> ok self critique assessment: 1
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20:16:31 Can you find change in velocity from average acceleration and time interval?
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RESPONSE --> yes confidence assessment: 2
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20:16:54 **Good student response: Yes, the answer that I provided previously is wrong, I didn't consider the 'change in velocity' I only considered the velocity as being the same as the change in velocity and that was not correct. Change in velocity is average accel * `dt. CALCULUS-RELATED ANSWER WITH INSTRUCTOR NOTE(relevant mostly to University Physics students) Yes, you take the integral with respect to time INSTRUCTOR NOTE: That's essentially what you're doing if you multiply average acceleration by time interval. In calculus terms the reason you can't get actual velocity from acceleration information alone is that when you integrate acceleration you get an arbitrary integration constant. You don't have any information in those questions to evaluate c. **
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RESPONSE --> ok self critique assessment: 1
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20:21:11 Can you find average velocity from average acceleration and time interval?
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RESPONSE --> yes confidence assessment: 2
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20:21:34 09-13-2008 20:21:34 ** CORRECT STATEMENT BUT NOT AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION: The average acceleration would be multiplied by the time interval to find the change in the velocity INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: Your statement is correct, but as you say you can find change in vel, which is not the same thing as ave vel. You cannot find ave vel. from just accel and time interval. There is for example nothing in accel and time interval that tells you how fast the object was going initially. The same acceleration and time interval could apply as well to an object starting from rest as to an object starting at 100 m/s; the average velocity would not be the same in both cases. So accel and time interval cannot determine average velocity. CALCULUS-RELATED ERRONEOUS ANSWER AND INSTRUCTOR CLAIRIFICATION(relevant mostly to University Physics students: Yes, you take the integral and the limits of integration at the time intervals CLARIFICATION BY INSTRUCTOR: A definite integral of acceleration with respect to t gives you only the change in v, not v itself. You need an initial condition to evaluate the integration constant in the indefinite integral. To find the average velocity you would have to integrate velocity (definite integral over the time interval) and divide by the time interval. **
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20:21:49 09-13-2008 20:21:49 You can find only change in velocity from average acceleration and time interval. To find actual velocity you have to know at what velocity you started. Why can't you find average velocity from acceleration and time interval?
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20:22:22 09-13-2008 20:22:22 ** Average velocity is change in position/change in clock time. Average velocity has no direct relationship with acceleration. CALCULUS-RELATED ANSWER you dont know the inital velocity or the final velocity INSTRUCTOR COMMENT: . . . i.e., you can't evaluate the integration constant. **
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20:22:27 09-13-2008 20:22:27 General College Physics only: Problem #10 Summarize your solution Problem 1.10 (approx. uncertainty in area of circle given radius 2.8 * 10^4 cm).
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20:22:35 09-13-2008 20:22:35 ** Radius 2.8 * 10^4 cm means that the radius is between 2.75 * 10^4 cm and 2.85 * 10^4 cm. This means that the area is between pi * (2.75 * 10^4 cm)^2 = 2.376 * 10^9 cm^2 and pi * (2.85 * 10^4 cm)^2 = 2.552 * 10^9 cm^2. The difference is .176 * 10^9 cm^2 = 1.76 * 10^8 cm^2, which is the uncertainty in the area. Note that the .1 * 10^4 cm uncertainty in radius is about 4% of the radius, which the .176 * 10^9 cm uncertainty in area is about 8% of the area. This is because the area is proportional to the squared radius. A small percent uncertainty in the radius gives very nearly double the percent uncertainty in the squared radius. **
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20:24:33 Query Add comments on any surprises or insights you experienced as a result of this assignment.
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RESPONSE --> I understand the relations with velocity and time intervals but I think that the questions of acceleration mixed me up a bit. confidence assessment: 2
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20:31:21 ** COMMON STUDENT COMMENT AND INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: I am really confused about velocity, acceleration changes in velocity and acceleration, etc. I guess I am the type that works with a formula and plugs in a number. I have went back to the class notes and the problem sets to summarize formulas. Any suggestions? RESPONSE: I note that you are expressing most of your answers in the form of formulas. Ability to use formulas and plug in numbers is useful, but it doesn't involve understanding the concepts, and without an understanding of the concepts we tend to plug our numbers into equations that don't apply. So we deal first with concepts. However formulas do come along fairly soon. The concepts of velocity, acceleration, etc. are very fundamental, but they are tricky and they take awhile to master. You are doing OK at this point. You'll see plenty more over the next few assignments. If you look at the Linked Outline (on the main Physics 1 page--the one where you click on the Assts button--click on the Overviews button, then on the Linked Outline. You will see a table with a bunch of formulas and links to explanations. You might find this page very useful. Also the Introductory Problem Sets give you formulas in the Generalized Solutions. **
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RESPONSE --> I'm more used to plugging in numbers to formulas so the whole fundmental concepts were harder for me to grasp in words. Most of the time when I see a formula I can relate to it more rather than when the concepts are expanded in the form of the exercises. self critique assessment: 2
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20:51:48 09-13-2008 20:51:48 Principles of Physics Students and General College Physics Students: Problem 14. What is your own height in meters and what is your own mass in kg, and how did you determine these?
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20:51:59 09-13-2008 20:51:59 Presumably you know your height in feet and inches, and your weight in pounds. Presumably also, you can convert your height in feet and inches to inches. To get your height in meters, you would first convert your height in inches to cm, using the fact that 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Dividing both sides of 1 in = 2.54 cm by either 1 in or 2.54 cm tells us that 1 = 1 in / 2.54 cm or that 1 = 2.54 cm / 1 in, so any quantity can be multiplied by 1 in / (2.54 cm) or by 2.54 cm / (1 in) without changing its value. Thus if you multiply your height in inches by 2.54 cm / (1 in), you will get your height in cm. For example if your height is 69 in, your height in cm will be 69 in * 2.54 cm / (1 in) = 175 in * cm / in. in * cm / in = (in / in) * cm = 1 * cm = cm, so our calculation comes out 175 cm.
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