Dynamics Help. My exam is on Monday

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a dynamics exam preparation, specifically focusing on measuring various physical quantities such as force, power, and kinetic energy using classroom materials. The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to approach the exam's requirements, drawing parallels to a previous kinematics exam.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss definitions of acceleration, questioning whether it is average or instantaneous. They explore the relationship between acceleration, velocity, and time through relevant formulas. There are inquiries about appropriate materials for measuring dynamics-related quantities in a classroom setting.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided suggestions for measuring force and other quantities, while others are still seeking clarification on the materials needed for the exam. The conversation reflects a mix of shared knowledge and ongoing questions without a definitive consensus.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions a lack of laboratory experience, which may impact their understanding of practical measurements in dynamics. There is also a reference to specific classroom-type materials that can be used for measurements.

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Dynamics Help. My exam is on Monday!

My Dynamic's Unit Exam is on Monday and I need help! Last week I had my Kinematic's Unit Exam and my written was something like:

How do you find the acceleration of a runner running the 100m sprint? Draw a sketch, list all the formulas you're going to use, do a sample calculation (make up some reasonable numbers), and a brief discussion of where some errors could occur.

My teacher said my Dynamic's written will be exactly the same thing, but I need help because how do I measure the force, power, kinetic energy, etc, using "classroom" type materials? We never did any labs.

Please help, I'll really appreciate it. :smile:
 
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How is acceleration defined? Do you think the runner will have constant acceleration or will it change? What formulas do you know that have anything to do with acceleration?
 
Is the acceleration you are going to find the average acceleration or Instantaneous acceleration? The runner could be changing velocity during his 100m sprint. This would suggest changing acceleration. Change in Velocity with respect to time is acceleration: a= dv/dt.

If you want to find his acceleration at any particular point in time(say his acceleration at 50m when t=5 seconds) then it would be instantaneous acceleration. If you simply want to find the total of all such accelerations over the entire 100m, then that would be the average acceleration.

Acceleration is also the second derivative of 'x' with respect to 't' : a=d^2x/dt^2

Try playing with the formulas x=x0+v0t+1/2at^2 and v=v0+at. Both these formulas show a relationship between 'a','v' and 't'.
 
Well, my Kinematics written was easy, it gives you 100m, so I just made up 10 seconds, put it into v=d/t, then a=v/t and I'm done!

The written also asks for what materials I have to use, so meter stick, stopwatch, etc, that stuff.

I'm just confused with my Dynamics written. What materials do I put down if I want to measure force, pressure, etc?
 
Where are you from?
 
No one in this forum knows how to measure force, power, etc using "classroom" type materials?

For example: to measure time, I would use a stopwatch!

Please help.
 
F=ma.

A weight scale is one instrument along with the stop watch.
 
jessica4002 said:
What materials do I put down if I want to measure force,
A scale. Think of the punching bag and the sledgehammer strike in an entertainment park. Each has a scale that shoots up when hit. http://www.savage-ent.com/fun_fair/strikers.htm

pressure,
A barometer, maybe?

etc?
From physics glossary: "Power is the rate of working. Work is done on an object whenever it moves because it is pushed or pulled. Work increases the energy of the object. An increase in energy may heat up the object, speed it up, lift it up, or all of the above." COnclusion: depending on the type of energy, you may need a thermometer (heat), a meter (speed or lift) and a watch (time).

I hope this is (still) useful.
 
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