Physics Quarter 1 Summary

I can't believe we're already done with the first quarter! Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it? Well, you know, it's either that, or time just flies by when you're taking Physics over summer and learn a week's worth of information a day... but I'm pretty sure it's just 'cause we're having so much fun.  *cough* Anyway, we learned a lot in the three units we went over.

Unit 1
One of the first things we learned about was that the variables on a graph had specific relationships with each other and that they had special equations to linearize them. We also went over how to use scientific notation, which is basically where you take a long number like 123,000 and write it as a decimal being multiplied by the appropriate power of 10, which would be 1.23 x 10^5. This came in handy when solving equations, since it allows you to write long numbers in a shortened and simpler way. We also went over stoichiometry, which is when you convert a unit into a different unit (ex. grams to kilograms). Lastly, we relearned the differences between accuracy and precision.

 

Accuracy is when you are close the a certain value. The picture on the left demonstrates accuracy, because the darts are all close to the bullseye, which is what you normally want to hit when playing darts. Precision is when you are consistently hitting the same value, which is demonstrated in the picture on the right. As you can see, while the darts aren't hitting the bullseye, they are all landing in the same area on the dartboard, which is precision.

Unit 2
In Unit 2, we learned all about how to make graphs and the rules of graphing, which are:
1. The slope of a position vs. time graph is the velocity.
2. The slope of a velocity vs. time graph is the acceleration.
3. The area under the curve of a velocity vs. time graph is the distance travelled.
We also learned about the scalar quantities and vector quantities. A scalar quantity is a measurement that has magnitude, while a vector quantity is not only a measurement that has magnitude, but direction as well. Two vector quantities that we learned about also are velocity and displacement. Velocity, is speed with direction, and is based on displacement and a unit of time. Displacement, is your change in position. Below is a picture of a problem involving displacement that we did in class, which is a lot better description than I would've been able to make.

Unit 3

We learned a lot about kinematics equations and the steps you have to follow while doing them. The equations are d=1/2at^2+Vot (DAT), V=Vo+at (VAT), and V^2=Vo^2+2ad (VAD). These equations are useful when trying to find one of the variables that a question asks for. For instance, if you are given the distance, acceleration, and initial velocity, and you are trying to find the amount of time, you would use the DAT equation. The steps that you have to follow when solving with these equations are:

1. Write down the question

2. Write down the givens

3. Sketch a picture of the problem

4. Choose an appropriate equation

5. Plug and Chug (plug in the answers and solve)

6. Box the answer

7. Check to make sure your answer makes sense