Mechanics Flashcards
Define ‘kinematics’
the study of motion/movement without considering forces
What are the 2 types of movement
- Linear/Translational
- Rectilinear
- Curvilinear
- Rotational
SI base units relative to motion
Metre (m) - standard unit of length
Kilogram (kg) - standard unit of mass
Second (s) - standard unit of time
Give an example of a supplementary base unit
Radian (rad) - standard unit of angle
What are ‘derived units’ and give an example
formed by combining base units
e.g. the Newton (N) kg m s-2
What is the COMMON unit of angle
the degree (1/360th of a full revolution)
what is one radian equal to approximately in degrees
57.296 degrees
definition of a radian
one radian encloses an arc which is equal in length to the circle radius
how many radians are equal to a full revolution (360 degrees)
2π radians
definition of a scalar and give examples
has a magnitude only.
e.g. distance, speed, angle, mass, temperature
definition of a vector and give examples
has both a magnitude and a direction.
e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, momentum
difference between angular distance and angular displacement
angular distance = the total angle turned through (scalar)
angular displacement = the angle turned through and the direction of rotation about an axis (vector)
what are rectangular coordinates
three axes at right-angles to each other (x, y and z axes)
rectangular coordinates are an example of orthogonal axes. what does this mean?
the axes are all at right angles to each other, so they are independent. a change in position of one axis doesn’t result in a change in position in another axis.
definition of a ‘plane’
a flat surface that have zero-thickness and are 2-D.
what are polar coordinates
gives an ANGLE of a line and its LENGTH
if an object has 6 degrees of freedom, what does this mean
the object is free to move in all directions.
i.e. 3 independent translations, 3 independent rotations
define ‘speed’
distance travelled / time taken
define ‘velocity’
speed AND direction of travel.
displacement / time (unit: m s-1)
the gradient of a displacement/time graph gives you…
the velocity
define ‘acceleration’
the rate of change of velocity.
change in velocity/time taken (unit: m s-2)
the gradient of a velocity/time graph gives you…
the acceleration
the area under a velocity/time graph gives you…
the total displacement
give the equations of linear motion
v = u + at
v(squared) = u(squared) + 2as
s = 1/2(u + v) t
s = ut + 1/2at(squared)
define ‘angular velocity’ (ω)
the angular displacement of a rotating object travelled per second.
angular displacement / time taken (unit: rad s-1)
the gradient of an angular displacement/ time graph gives you…
the velocity
define ‘angular acceleration’ (α)
the rate of change of angular velocity
change in angular velocity / time (unit: rad s-2)
the gradient of an angular velocity/time graph gives you…
the angular acceleration
define ‘static forces’
forces that are acting on a body that is at rest or moving at constant velocity ie. not accelerating
define ‘mass’
the quantity of matter that a body is composed of
define ‘weight’ and give the equation
the force of gravity acting on a body
W = mg (N)
m = mass of a body, g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s(squared))
define ‘density’ and give the equation
mass per unit volume
density (ρ) = m/v (kg m-3)
Density of a body is constant - T/F? Explain
True
If the mass of a body changes, the volume will change proportionately, and vice versa.
define ‘gravity’
The acceleration due to the gravitational attraction between two bodies. As the mass of the bodies increase, so does the force of attraction.
define ‘centre of mass’
a point where all the mass of a body can be assumed to act
define ‘centre of gravity’
a point where the weight of the body can be assumed to act.
do bodies always have a centre of mass?
yes, when they have enough mass to not be negligible
do bodies always have a centre of gravity?
only in a gravitational field!
define ‘friction’ and how does it act?
The force arising between two surfaces when they rub against each other. Friction tends to oppose motion and acts at a tangent to the surfaces.
2 forces the maximum magnitude of friction force is dependent on
- the roughness of the surfaces
2. the size of the force pushing them together
define ‘co-efficient of friction’ and give equation
the measure of the maxium friction force between two surfaces
ie. a ratio of the friction force to the force acting normally (perpendicular) to press the two surfaces together
Normally between 0-1.
co-efficient of friction (μ) = F/N
where F = the friction force, N = the force acting normally to the surfaces
3 different types of friction
- static (most friction)
- sliding
- rolling (least friction)
is the co-efficient of friction the same for all types of friction?
No - each case has its own coefficient!
explain ‘static friction’
Present when motion is about to occur betwen two surfaces. The friction force present will be just enough to stop the applied force that is trying to move the two forces over one another.
Once maximum force is exceeded, motion will begin.
explain ‘sliding friction’
Only exists when sliding occurs between 2 surfaces
explain ‘rolling friction’
Arises between an object and the surface over which it is rolling. It arises because of the deformation of the two surfaces caused by the force acting normally to the two surfaces.
what effect does lubrication have on rolling friction?
it doesnt lower it, but it can reduce wear
define ‘pressure’ and give the equation
the force exerted per unit area
P = F/A (unit: Pascals/Pa) (N m-2)
define ‘static equilibrium’
a body which has no resultant forces acting on it is in static equilibrium. The body is either at rest, or moving at constant velocity ie. it is not accelerating.
what is the first condition of static equilibrium?
the sum of all external forces acting on a body is zero
what is Newton’s III Law
to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
what forces are shown in a free body diagram
those acting: due to gravity, friction forces, and reaction forces
what is Newton’s I Law
The Law of Inertia - a body will remain at rest or at constant velocity, unless acted upon by a resultant force
define ‘Inertia’
a body’s reluctance to accelerate. represented by its mass
what is Newton’s II Law and give the equation
The Law of Acceleration - the acceleration of a body is proportional to the applied force and inversely proportional to its mass
F = ma (unit: N)
F = force, m = mass, a = acceleration
define ‘dynamic equilibrium’
a body which has resultant forces acting on it is in dynamic equilibrium. The body is accelerating or decelerating.
what are the conditions of dynamic equilibrium?
- the sum off all the external forces = the resultant force
2. from Newton’s II Law, the resultant force is equal to mass x acceleration
Equation for component of weight acting down a slope
W = mg x Sinθ (unit: N)
define ‘momentum’ and give equation
An expression of a body’s persistence to continue in its present state of motion. Incorporates a body’s resistance to change it motion (it’s inertia properties) and its velocity.
p = mv (unit: kg m s-1)
Change in linear momentum is proportional to applied force. what is the equation for this
F = (mv - mu) / t
principle of conservation of momentum
A body will continue to move with constant momentum unless an external force acts to change that momentum
total momentum before collision = total momentum after collision
equation for calculating momentum in an elastic collision
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2
equation for calculating momentum in an inelastic collision
m1u1 + m2u2 = (m1 + m2) x v2
what is the ‘moment of a force’
the tendency of a force to produce a rotation about an axis (aka torque)
how to calculate the moment of a force
the product of the force and length of the line that is perpendicular to the force’s line of action
M = F x d (unit: N m)
M = moment, F = force, d = length of line passing through fulcrum that is perpendicular to force
2nd condition of static equilibrium
the sum of all the external moments acting on a body must equal zero - rotational static equilbrium.
(if they are not, the body will angularly accelerate - rotational static equilibrium)
what is a lever system
a simple machine that consists of a rigid bar that pivots around a fulcrum (hinge). the lever system is acted on by an effort force and a resistance force.
how are lever systems present in the human body?
muscles act (the effort force) to move or prevent movement of a limb (the limb is the bar) by overcoming external forces (the resistsance force) such as gravity
what is the mechanical advantage (MA) of a lever system
ratio of the force-fulcrum distance / resistance-fulcrum distance
ie force arm/resistance arm
what does a high mechanical advantage tell us
the effort force is lower than the resistance force ie. doesn’t take much effort to overcome the resistance, so this is mechanically advantageous
what does a force disadvantage mean and where are force disadvantages commonly found
the effort forces are much greater than the forces resisting them.
Found in MSK lever systems, where the forces produced by the muscles are much greater than the forces resisting them. Normally because the muscles insertion points tend to be closer to the fulcrum (force-fulcrum distance shorter).
why do muscles act at a force disadvantage
the closer the muscle is inserted to a joint then the smaller the change in muscle length required to produce a correspondingly large limb movement
classes of lever system and state whether they work at mechanical advantage or disadvantage
1st class:
- fulcrum located between effort and resistance
- either MA or MD
2nd class:
- resistance located between effort and fulcrum.
- MA
3rd class:
- effort located between resistance and fulcrum
- MD
define ‘tangential linear velocity’ and give equation
the velocity measured at any point tangent to a turning wheel
v = r ω,
v = tangential linear velocity, r = circle radius, ω = angular velocity
define ‘tangential linear acceleration’ and give equation
the linear acceleration directed at a tangent to the circle formed by the motion
a = r α
a = tangential angular acceleration, r = circle radius, α = angular acceleration
when a body is rotating with constant angular velocity, what will the the tangential linear acceleration be equal to?
zero!
define ‘radial acceleration’ and equation
Radial acceleration acts to maintain a body on its circular path. It is directed from the body to its centre of rotation
Radial acceleration = r ω(squared)
r = circle radius, ω = angular velocity