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Staff Directory / Physics / Unit 4

Physics

Unit 4

In unit 4 of physics we will be studying forces. We will begin the unit by studying how different types of forces affect the motion of a hovercraft. Next we will draw force diagrams and determine from the drawing whether an object will stay at rest, continue moving with a constant velocity, or accelerate. Then we will study vectors and their relationships to forces and geometry. Law of sine, cosine, etc. will be reviewed and applied to suspended objects, objects on an incline, and objects in freefall. We will investigate these principles in both laboratory and mathematically. This will allow us to make predictions based on balance forces and Newton’s First Law of Motion.

Glencoe book:  Physics:  Principles and Problems
Suggested reading:  Chapter 4 pages 94-95,and 105-107 for descriptions of vector types. Chapter 5 pages 119-135 for help with of adding vectors in one and two dimensions.  This reading shows sample problems involving sine, cosine, and many geometric formulas for solving incline as well as other types of static equilibrium problems.

Unit 4 reading
Force PowerPoint
Vector PowerPoint
3rd Law PowerPoint

Worksheets

Unit 4 worksheet 1
Unit 4 worksheet 2
Sample problems on worksheet 3a 
Unit 4worksheet 3a
Sample problems on worksheet 3b
Unit 4 worksheet 3b
Unit 4 worksheet 3c
Unit 4 worksheet 4   
Unit 4 review worksheet    


Videos to help you with force diagrams
Video one:Steps and how to solve for Fn 
Video two:  Incline motion-force diagram for an object at rest

Labs
Air Puck Lab sheet
Vector Scavenger Hunt
Gravitational Force lab
Torque
Interaction lab data sheet

Resources
Wrap up for air puck lab
Wrap up for gravitational force lab
Force diagram "how to" cheat sheet

The Physics Classroom Online Tutorial

  1.  Newton's First Law of Motion
    1. Newton's First Law
    2. Inertia and Mass
    3. State of Motion
    4. Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
  2. Force and Its Representation
    1. The Meaning of Force
    2. Types of Forces
    3. Drawing Free-Body Diagrams
    4. Determining the Net Force
  3. Newton's Third Law of Motion
    1. Newton's Third Law
    2. Identifying Action and Reaction Force Pairs
Physics Interactives on the Physics Classroom Online Tutorial
Vector Addition
Drag a vector onto the canvas. Drag the arrowhead to change its direction. Repeat up to two more times and guess the direction of the resultant. Click/tap a button and the resultant is drawn. Don't we all wish that adding vectors was that easy. With the Vector Guessing Game Interactive, a learner can improve their understanding and skill at adding vectors using the head-to-tail method.
 
  • Shockwave Studio on the Physics Classroom Online Tutorial
  • Free Body Diagrams  (requires Adobe Shockwave Player to use)
  • Practice your skill at constructing free-body diagrams for a given physical situation. Twelve different descriptions of a physical situation are presented; your goal is to determine the type and relative magnitude of the forces acting upon the described object.