Module 1: An Introduction to Motion Flashcards
motion diagrams
the composite image shows an object’s positions at several equally spaced instants of time
two step process for solving motion problems
- representation
- analyze with the language of mathematics
motion
the change of an object’s position/orientation with time
trajectory
the path along which an object moves
4 basic types of motion `
- straight line motion
- circular motion
- projectile motion
- rotational motion
a video camera takes images at a fixed rate. each separate image is called a…
frame
motion diagram
the composite image shows an object’s positions at several equally spaced instants of time
operational definitions
the concepts are defined in terms of a particular procedure or operation
constant speed motion diagram
images that are equally spaced
speeding up motion diagram
there is an increasing distance between the images
slowing down motion diagram
there is a decreasing distance between the distance
more complex motion diagrams show changes in…
speed and direction
oscillating system
something that moves back and forth around an equilibrium position (examples: vibrating guitar string, sound wave, jiggling atoms in a crystal)
modeling
stripping away the details to focus on essential features
model
a highly simplified picture of reality, but still captures the essence of what we want to study
descriptive models
what are the essential characteristics and properties of phenomenon? how do we describe it in the simplest possible terms?
explanatory models
why do things happen as they do?
predictive power; allow us to test whether a model gives an adequate explanation of our observations
t/f: the motion of the object as a whole is not influenced by the details of the object’s size and shape
true
for the purpose of analyzing motion, we often consider the object as if it were just a…
single point
particle
an object that can be represented as a mass at a single point in space
simplifying a motion diagram using the particle model