1. Welcome to
AP Physics 1

2. Dave Walla 943-1800 x 8075 wallad@georgetownisd.org

3. 3-Ring Binder (with sections)
Tipers & Homework
Notes (in spiral binder)
Labs
Quizzes
AP-1 Test Reviews

4. Scientific notation A decimal number between 1 and 10.
Shift decimal until it’s behind (to the right of) the first NON-ZERO # to get the coefficient.
Powers of ten (i.e. 10 to an exponent; 10, 102 = 100, 103 = 1000, etc.)
The # of times you shifted the decimal = your exponent

5. Significant Figures Defines limiting precision of measurement
Zeros as place holders not significant
Real numbers & 0’s after last real number that succeeds decimal are significant
In calculation, limiting factor on answer is least significant number

6. Powers of ten

7. SI Units
Must use SI units in all calculations that use physics formulas
Mass -> Kilograms
Time -> seconds
Length -> meters
Frequency -> Hertz

8. Converting units
Conversions are used to change one unit to another (Ex: m to km)
Conversion factors always equal one (1) whether they’re right-side-up or upside-down.
Multiplying by a conversion factor converts (i.e. changes) a quantity from one unit to another.

9. Kinematics
The branch of mechanics that studies the motion of a body without regard for what caused the motion.

10. Particle Has position and mass. Has NO size or volume.
Located at one point in space.

11. Displacement Represented by x. x = x2 - x1 where x2 = final position
x1= initial position

12. Distance vs DisplacementB
100 m
distance
50 m
displacement

13. Average Velocity vave = ∆x ∆t Where: vave = average velocity
∆x = displacement (x2-x1)
∆t = change in time(t2-t1)

14. Velocity vs Speed Average speed is always positive.
Average velocity can be positive or negative depending direction.
Absolute value of velocity can be used for speed if the object is not changing direction.

15. Average Velocity B x Dx A Dt t
Vave = Dx/Dt, or the slope of the line connecting A and B.

16. Average Velocity A x B Dx Dt t
Vave = Dx/Dt; still determined by the slope of the line connecting A and B.

17. Instantaneous Velocityx B
Determined by the slope of the tangent to a curve at a single point.

18. Acceleration A change in velocity is called acceleration.
Acceleration can be
speeding up
slowing down
turning

19. Uniformly Accelerated Motion
In Physics B, we will generally assume that acceleration is constant.
With this assumption we are free to use this equation:
a = ∆v ∆t

20. Units of Acceleration
The SI unit for acceleration is m/s2.

21. Sign of Acceleration Acceleration can be positive or negative.
The sign indicates direction. .

22. General Rule
If the sign of the velocity and the sign of the acceleration is the same, the object speeds up.
If the sign of the velocity and the sign of the acceleration are different, the object slows down.

23. Accelerating objects…
Note: each of these curves has many different slopes (many different velocities)! x t

24. Pick the constant velocity graph(s)…x v A C t t x v B D t t

25. Another accelerating object.x
Another tangent. Another instantaneous velocity! t
The tangent touches the curve at one point. Its slope gives the instantaneous velocity at that point.

26. Summary: Constant position graphsx t
Position vs
time v t
Velocity vs
time a t
Acceleration vs
time

27. Summary: Constant velocity graphsx t
Position vs
time v t
Velocity vs
time a t
Acceleration vs
time

28. Summary: Constant acceleration graphsx t
Position vs
time v t
Velocity vs
time a t
Acceleration vs
time

29. Summary
v = vo + at
x = xo + vot + 1/2 at2
v2 = vo2 + 2a(∆x)

30. Free Fall Occurs when an object falls unimpeded.
Gravity accelerates the object toward the earth.
Nothing affects object’s motion except gravity
No motion exists in X or Y axis

31. Acceleration due to gravity
g = -9.8 m/s2 downward.
a = -g if up is positive.
acceleration is down at -9.8 m/s2 when an object is in motion regardless of the direction of the object’s motion.

32. Summary
v = vo - gt
x = xo + vot - 1/2 gt2
v2 = vo2 – 2g(∆x)

33. Symmetry
When something is thrown upward and returns to the thrower, this is very symmetric.
The object spends half its time traveling up; half traveling down.
Velocity when it returns to the ground is the opposite of the velocity it was thrown upward with.
Acceleration is –9.8 m/s2 everywhere!

34. Determination of Your Reaction Time!
Get in lab groups.
Drop meter stick between forefinger and thumb of another person.
See where the person grabs the stick.
Calculate reaction time!