Physics 111 -- Mechanics

• Lecturer: Tom Humanic

• Contact info:
Office: Physics Research Building, Rm. 2144
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614 247 8950

• Office hours:
Tuesday 4:30 pm

My lecture slides may be found on my website at

http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~humanic/
 Course Overview -- Mechanics
Kinematics -- velocity and acceleration, free-falling bodies,
projectile motion….

Dynamics -- Newton’s laws of motion -- forces

(gravitational, friction, tension……), motion of objects
due to forces……

Work and energy -- potential and kinetic energy,

conservation of energy, power……

Impulse and momentum -- conservation of momentum,

collisions, center-of-mass of an object, ……

Rotational kinematics and dynamics -- angular velocity

and acceleration, torque, angular momentum…..
 Chapter 1

Introduction and
Mathematical Concepts
1.2 Units

Physics experiments involve the measurement

of a variety of quantities.

These measurements should be accurate and

reproducible.

The first step in ensuring accuracy and

reproducibility is defining the units in which
the measurements are made.
1.2 Units

SI units
meter (m): unit of length

kilogram (kg): unit of mass

second (s): unit of time

1.2 Units
1.2 Units

The units for length, mass, and time (as

well as a few others), are regarded as
base SI units.

These units are used in combination to

define additional units for other important
physical quantities such as force and
energy.
1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

THE CONVERSION OF UNITS

1 ft = 0.3048 m

1 mi = 1.609 km

1 hp = 746 W

1 liter = 10-3 m3
1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

Example 1 The World’s Highest Waterfall

The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela,

with a total drop of 979.0 m. Express this drop in feet.

Since 3.281 feet = 1 meter, it follows that

(3.281 feet)/(1 meter) = 1

& 3.281 feet #

Length = (979.0 meters)$ ! = 3212 feet
% 1 meter "
1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving
1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

Reasoning Strategy: Converting Between Units

1. In all calculations, write down the units explicitly.

2. Treat all units as algebraic quantities. When

identical units are divided, they are eliminated
algebraically.

3. Use the conversion factors located on the page

facing the inside cover. Be guided by the fact that
multiplying or dividing an equation by a factor of 1
does not alter the equation.
1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

Example 2 Interstate Speed Limit

Express the speed limit of 65 miles/hour in terms of meters/second.

Use 5280 feet = 1 mile and 3600 seconds = 1 hour and

3.281 feet = 1 meter.

& miles # & miles #& 5280 feet #& 1 hour # feet
Speed = $ 65 !(1)(1) = $ 65 !$ !$ != 95
% hour " % hour "% mile "% 3600 s " second

& feet # & feet #& 1 meter # meters

Speed = $ 95 !(1) = $ 95 !$ ! = 29
% second " % second "% 3.281 feet " second
1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

[L] = length [M] = mass [T] = time

Is the following equation dimensionally correct?

2
x = vt1
2

&L# 2
[L]= $ ![T] = [L][T]
%T "
1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

Is the following equation dimensionally correct?

x = vt

&L#
[L]= $ ![T]= [L]
%T "
1.5 Scalars and Vectors

A scalar quantity is one that can be described

by a single number:

temperature, speed, mass

A vector quantity deals inherently with both

magnitude and direction:

velocity, force, displacement

1.5 Scalars and Vectors

Arrows are used to represent vectors. The

direction of the arrow gives the direction of
the vector.

By convention, the length of a vector

arrow is proportional to the magnitude
of the vector.

8 lb
4 lb
1.5 Scalars and Vectors
 Chapter 2

Kinematics in One Dimension

Kinematics deals with the concepts that
are needed to describe motion.

Dynamics deals with the effect that forces

have on motion.

Together, kinematics and dynamics form

the branch of physics known as Mechanics.
2.1 Displacement

r r
x o = initial position x = final position
r r r
"x = x ! x o = displacement
2.1 Displacement

r r
x o = 2.0 m !x = 5.0 m

r
x = 7.0 m

r r r
"x = x ! x o = 7.0 m ! 2.0 m = 5.0 m
2.1 Displacement

r r
x = 2.0 m "x = !5.0 m

r
x o = 7.0 m

r r r
"x = x ! x o = 2.0 m ! 7.0 m = !5.0 m
2.1 Displacement

r r
x o = !2.0 m x = 5.0 m

r
!x = 7.0 m

r r r
"x = x ! x o = 5.0 m ! (! 2.0 )m = 7.0 m
2.2 Speed and Velocity

Average speed is the distance traveled divided by the time

required to cover the distance.

Distance
Average speed =
Elapsed time

SI units for speed: meters per second (m/s)

2.2 Speed and Velocity

Example 1 Distance Run by a Jogger

How far does a jogger run in 1.5 hours (5400 s) if his

average speed is 2.22 m/s?

Distance
Average speed =
Elapsed time

Distance = (Average speed )(Elapsed time )

= (2.22 m s )(5400 s ) = 12000 m
2.2 Speed and Velocity

Average velocity is the displacement divided by the elapsed

time.
Displacement
Average velocity =
Elapsed time

r r r
r x " x o !x
v= =
t " to !t
2.2 Speed and Velocity

Example 2 The World’s Fastest Jet-Engine Car

Andy Green in the car ThrustSSC set a world record of

341.1 m/s in 1997. To establish such a record, the driver
makes two runs through the course, one in each direction,
to nullify wind effects. From the data, determine the average
velocity for each run.
2.2 Speed and Velocity

r
r !x + 1609 m
v= = = +339.5 m s
!t 4.740 s

r
r "x ! 1609 m
v= = = !342.7 m s
"t 4.695 s
2.2 Speed and Velocity

The instantaneous velocity indicates how fast

the car moves and the direction of motion at each
instant of time.

r
r !x
v = lim
!t "0 !t
2.3 Acceleration

The notion of acceleration emerges when a change in

velocity is combined with the time during which the
change occurs.
2.3 Acceleration

DEFINITION OF AVERAGE ACCELERATION

r r r
r v " v o !v
a= =
t " to !t
2.3 Acceleration

Example 3 Acceleration and Increasing Velocity

Determine the average acceleration of the plane.

r r
vo = 0 m s v = 260 km h to = 0 s t = 29 s

r r
r v ! v o 260 km h ! 0 km h km h
a= = = +9.0
t ! to 29 s ! 0 s s
2.3 Acceleration
2.3 Acceleration
Example 3 Acceleration and Decreasing
Velocity

r r
r v ! v o 13 m s ! 28 m s
a= = = !5.0 m s 2
t ! to 12 s ! 9 s
2.3 Acceleration