Download Physics Laboratory #1: Simple Harmonic Motion

UNIT SUMMARY SHEET
UNIT04: One Dimensional Dynamics
Variables:
Symbol:
Fnet
m
a
FW
FN
Ffriction
static
sliding
Name:
net force
mass
acceleration
weight
normal force
frictional force
coefficient of static friction
coefficient of sliding friction
Units:
N=kg*m/sec2
kg
m/sec2
N
N
N
unitless
unitless
Equations:
Fnet  mobject a object
Fstatic. friction   static FN
Fsliding. friction   sliding FN
Wobject  mobject g
Concepts:
Force – A push or a pull on an object, units are Newtons (N= kg*m/sec2). The net force on an object
causes acceleration. Force is a vector quantity (like displacement, velocity, and acceleration).
Types of Forces – gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear force, weak force
Newton’s Laws of Motion:
 Newton’s first law – An object with no net force acting on it will remain at rest (if initially at rest)
or continue to move with constant velocity in a straight line (if initially moving).
 Newton’s second law – The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting
on it and inversely proportional to the object’s mass (Fnet=mobjectaobject).
 Newton’s third law – When an object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts a
force on the first object that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction (action-reaction forces).
Special Forces:
 Weight – The gravitational force exerted on an object due to it’s position near a large celestial
body, typically earth.
 Tension – A rope exerts a pull at each end that is equal to the tension force in the rope.
 Normal Force – The force pushing two surfaces together (FN).
 Frictional Force – The force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. The force is
parallel to the surfaces. Static friction is the force that opposes the start of motion. Sliding friction
is the force between two surfaces in relative motion. The frictional force depends upon the normal
force and the nature of the surfaces in contact (see equations).
 Drag Force – The force opposing motion due to friction between a moving object and the
surrounding fluid or gas. As velocity increases, so does the drag force. Free-fall objects reach
“terminal velocity” when the drag force equals the gravitational force.
Problem Solving Strategy for Newton’s Law Problems: Always follow these steps:
1. Identify the object under study
2. Draw a neat picture of the object that includes all forces acting on object (Free Body Diagram)
3. Use Newton’s Laws to answer the question.
Mass –A measure of the amount of matter in an object. Mass is unaffected by an objects location.
Acceleration – The rate at which an object’s velocity changes with respect to time.
Equilibrium – Special name for the condition of an object at rest with all forces balanced.
UNIT SUMMARY SHEET