Phriday!

Finally!

Honors Physics discussed the concepts behind projectiles launched at an angle before applying these ideas, along with vector operations and kinematics to solving problems with vertically-launched projectiles. When working these problems, make sure to accurately identify all information and account for any implicit information the problem does not mention. For certain problems (like #2, the golf ball problem), there might not seem to be enough information given or assumed. Think back to the little trick of redefining one variable in terms of another to derive a single-variable equation. We'll go over these on Monday and then spend a little time talking about relative motion.

Physics B discussed the idea of satellite motion, a special case of projectile motion. Physics F looked conceptually at projectiles launched at an angle, where some of the assumptions we made for horizontally-launched projectiles are not longer applicable. We'll hit satellite motion on Monday. The exam, currently scheduled for Wednesday, will definitely feature vector operations. An optional worksheet was provided today for vector combination and vector resolution and the solutions are presented below:

1. a. 76.5 N at 78.7° SW b. 85 m/s left c. 18 m at 33.7° NE
2. a. 140 m W; 660 m N b. 311 m E; 69 m S c. 26.8 km E; 22.5 km N
3. 5.6 m at 63.4° NE
4. 14.5 m/s upwards
5. 5.6 m/s across the ground
6. 243.5 m/s at 70.8° SW

Physical Science reviewed their motion and velocity homework before discussing the nature of scalars and vectors. Scalars have magnitude only, while vectors add direction to the magnitude measurement. Displacement and velocity are vectors; distance and speed are scalars. The addition of the direction component allows for vector combination - studying the effect of one object on the behavior of another. We then began to examine a new vector quantity - acceleration. We'll dig into acceleration in more detail on Monday.

Homework

Honors Physics: Practice 3E
Physics B: p. 41, 42 in packet #15-18, 26, 41
Physics F: p. 41, 42 in packet #8 - 18, 26, 41
Physical Science: None