Unit 2: Motion in a Straight Line
Our formal study of physics begins with kinematics, which is defined as the study of motion without considering its causes. The word "kinematics” comes from a Greek term meaning "motion.” In this unit, we will study motion without worrying about what forces cause or change it. Such considerations come in later units. In this unit, we will examine the simplest type of motion - namely, motion along a straight line, or one-dimensional motion.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 13 hours.
2.1: Vectors, Scalars, and Coordinate Systems
Please click on the link above and watch this lecture series, pausing to take notes, before moving on to the reading below.
Read sections 2.1 and 2.2 of "Chapter 2: Kinematics" (pages 35 to 39). Look over the corresponding conceptual questions on page 76 to test your understanding of the sections.
Try solving these practice problems.
Review this demonstration. It will be helpful throughout the course.
Review this demonstration. It will be helpful throughout the course.
Please click on the link above, and select the play button to start the animation. Make sure you understand the distinction between distance and displacement made in the resource linked above.
2.2: Velocity, Speed, and Acceleration
Please click on the link above and watch this lecture series, pausing to take notes, before moving on to the reading below.
Read sections 2.3 and 2.4 of "Chapter 2: Kinematics" (pages 39 to 51). Look over the corresponding conceptual questions on pages 77 and 78 to test your understanding of the sections.
Try solving these practice problems.
Click the play button to launch the animation. Make sure you understand both the slope (derivative) and areal (integral) meanings of position, velocity, and acceleration.
2.3: Motion with Constant Acceleration
Read sections 2.5 and 2.6 of "Chapter 2: Kinematics" (pages 51 to 61). Look over the corresponding conceptual questions on page 78 to test your understanding of the sections.
Try solving these practice problems.
2.4: Falling Objects
Please click on the link above and watch this lecture series, pausing to take notes, before moving on to the reading below.
Read section 2.7 of "Chapter 2: Kinematics" (pages 62 to 68). Look over the corresponding conceptual questions on page 78 to test your understanding of the sections.
Try solving these practice problems.
Work on solving problems 1, 2, and 3 from 106A and 3 from 107. The solutions re available, but make a serious attempt to solve the problems before looking at the solutions.
2.5: Graphical Analysis
Read section 2.8 of "Chapter 2: Kinematics" (pages 68 to 75). Look over the corresponding conceptual questions on pages 78-80 to test your understanding of the sections.
Try solving these practice problems.
Work on solving problems 1, 2, and 3 from SAC108. The solutions are available, but make a serious attempt to solve the problems before looking at the solutions.
Before running the animation, make an educated guess about which of the two balls will reach the wall first. If your prediction is wrong, figure out why. To view the animation, click on the link above and then select the play button. Hint: Think of a speed vs. time graph.