User Tools

Site Tools


urp:physgen

This is an old revision of the document!


General Physics

Newton's 3 laws

1) objects in motion stay in motion, a body at rest stays at rest, until a force is applied ("law of inertia")
2) change in momentum of a body is equal in magnitude and direction to the force applied to it (force = mass * acceleration)
3) when two bodies interact, they apply forces that are equal to each other, and opposite in direction ("law of action and reaction")

Basic definitions:

  • Force is in newtons or pounds (f=ma)
  • Newton: 1N = 1kg * m / s² (the force needed to accelerate 1kg at 1 m/s^2)
  • Momentum is p
  • energy = work (joules) = force * distance

Common equations:

F = ma
p = mv
Fnet = Δp / Δt (since Δv/Δtime = acceleration)
J = F*d = 1 newton for 1 meter = kg * m²/s²
F = J/d

kinetic energy = 1/2 * mv²

Change in potential energy is given by U=mgh

  • potential energy:
    • U = 1/2 kx^2 (spring), or
    • P = mgh (at mass at some height, even on an inclined plane)
  • kinetic energy: K = 1/2 mv^2

dimensional homogeneity - units must be correct, parts added together, left side matches right side, etc.

Displacement, time, velocity, acceleration

Displacement is change in position.

s(t) = s0 + t*(v0+vt)/2
  s=displacement from origin at time t
vt = v0 + a*t
if v0 = 0 then
  s(t) = s0 + t²*(a)/2
so in free-fall, from position 0, you have:
  s(t) = g * t²/2

Collisions

  • elastic: Two objects bounce off each other. Kinetic energy, momentum conserved, no other energy created
  • inelastic Two objects stick to each other. Momentum conserved, kinetic energy is not conserved (some energy converted to heat, sound, etc.)

conservation of momentum: p1i + p2i = p1f + p2f

for m1 having velocity u1 to the right, m2 initially at rest, ends with velocity v2.
  x dimension: m1u1 = m1u2cosθ1 + m2v2cosθ2
  y dimension:   0  = m1u2sinθ1 - m2v2sinθ2

Glancing blow: If and only if both masses are equal (like billiards), then the angle between the resulting vectors is always 90 degrees.

Inclined plane

normal force = force perpendicular to the plane
normal force on a block resting on a slope:
f = m*g*cos(degrees from horizontal)
parallel force = force parallel to the inclined plane
 it is unbalanced (objects will move down the plane), sometimes called net force
f = m*g*sin(θ)
static friction - 
  μS (mu static) = fS/N 
      (fS = force where static friction is overcome
        N = normal force) must be overcome before the mass moves
  μS = fs/N = m*g*sin(θ) / m*g*cos(θ) = sin(θ)/cos(θ) = tan(θ)
kinetic friction - normal moving friction
 only one type of friction applies at a time

Spring and Lever

Hooke's law: F=-kx, k=spring constant, x = displacement

Fulcrum: t = r * f (torque = radius * force) just add the torques for multiple objects on one side of a fulcrum

Projectile fired at an angle

Vx = Vo*cos(θ)
Vy = Vo*sin(θ) - gt
x = Vx*t
y = Vy*t - (1/2)*g*t^2

projectile follows the shape of a parabola

y = Ax^2 + Bx
y = -gx^2/(2(VoCos(θ))^2) + xtan(θ)
time of flight:
t = 2Vosin(θ)/g
max height:
H = (Vosin(θ))^2/2g
distance:
x = sin(2*θ)*Vo^2 / g
Vo = initial velocity
Can use 2sin(θ)cos(θ) = sin(2θ)
 if filling in t with time of flight in the x = Vx*t formula

Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2ad ?

Buoyant force

pressure P = F/A (force/area) hydrostatic gauge pressure: P = pgh, p = density of fluid, g=gravity, h=height (depth) buoyant force Fb = Fup - Fdown

Fb = pgVf,  where Vf = volume of displaced fluid, and density * volume = mass, so
Fb = mf*g,  where mf = mass of displaced fluid

⇒ buoyant force depends on mass of displaced fluid, not the mass of the object

Gravity

gravitational constant between two bodies F = G * m1 * m2 / r^2

and g = G * m1 / r^2
gE (gravity Earth)  = 9.8 m/s^2

Kinematics

no use of forces in the equations

typical equations:
   d = vo*t + 1/2*a*t^2
   d = (vo + vf)/2 * t
vf^2 = vo^2 + 2ad
  vf = v0 + at

coefficient of restitution = ratio of energy conserved after collision

  e = (vel. after collision) / (vel. before collision)
   (for collision with immovable object)
  e = (Vfa * Vfb) / (Via * Vib)
   (for collision between objects a and b. f = final, i = initial velocity)
  e = 1 for perfectly elastic, 0 for perfectly inelastic

Miscellaneous

IV = independent variable - the variable you control, typically x axis

DV = dependent variable - the variable measured (changes because of the experiment) y axis

Back to the physics page or the start page.

urp/physgen.1634516798.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021-10-18 by nerf_herder