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Solving Physics Problems

The document provides a 10-step guide to solving physics problems: 1) read the problem carefully, 2) visualize and diagram the situation, 3) identify the unknown, 4) write known quantities with units, 5) look for relationships between variables, 6) manipulate equations to solve for the unknown, 7) plug in numbers, 8) perform unit analysis, 9) solve, and 10) check the reasonableness of the answer. An example problem is then worked through step-by-step to find the acceleration of a car starting from rest and reaching 20 km/h after 5 minutes.

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chris hemmain
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78 views

Solving Physics Problems

The document provides a 10-step guide to solving physics problems: 1) read the problem carefully, 2) visualize and diagram the situation, 3) identify the unknown, 4) write known quantities with units, 5) look for relationships between variables, 6) manipulate equations to solve for the unknown, 7) plug in numbers, 8) perform unit analysis, 9) solve, and 10) check the reasonableness of the answer. An example problem is then worked through step-by-step to find the acceleration of a car starting from rest and reaching 20 km/h after 5 minutes.

Uploaded by

chris hemmain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A Step-by-Step Guide to Solving Physics

Problems
 
1.  Read  the  problem  carefully  –  Read  the  problem  and  think  about  what  topic/  
topics  are  being  discussed.    
 
2.    Visualize  what  is  occurring  and  diagram  it  -­‐  All  dynamics  problems  (those  
with  forces)  must  have  a  free-­‐body  diagram  or  an  FBD.    For  the  non-­‐artist,  you  can  
represent  objects  by  a  box  or  a  dot.    Be  sure  to  include  a  frame  of  reference  (+/-­‐).    
Use  vectors  (arrows)  to  depict  motion  and  forces.    If  components  must  be  used  then  
be  sure  to  draw  them  in  a  second  diagram....  the  AP  exam  deducts  points  for  
showing  component  vectors  on  FBDs.  

3.    Identify  the  unknown  –  What  are  you  solving  for?    This  is  normally  found  at  the  
end  of  the  problem.    Sometimes  you  may  have  to  solve  for  one  unknown  before  you  
are  able  to  find  your  final  answer.    Be  sure  to  include  unknowns  in  your  variable  list  
followed  by  a  question  mark.  
   
4.  Write  the  given  quantities  with  units  –  Continue  you  list  of  known  variables  
from  the  information  given  in  the  problem.    Include  subscripts  if  necessary.    Eg.  If  
you  have  more  than  one  velocity,  object,  direction,  etc.    Be  sure  to  convert  any  units  
that  you  need  to  before  you  use  them.    Some  knowns  will  NOT  be  stated  in  the  
problem,  but  are  still  important  (gravity,  mass  of  earth,  speed  of  light,  etc).

5.  Look  for  relationships  –  This  is  you  planning  phase.    Begin  by  looking  at  the  
variables  you  have,  the  ones  you  need  and  the  relationships  (equations)  that  you  
know  for  the  topic  of  the  problem.    List  the  equation(s)  you  will  be  using.    If  .    
 
6.  Manipulate  and  combine  equations  to  solve  for  the  unknown  -­‐  solve  your  
equation  for  the  unknown  variable(s)  and  if  necessary  combine  them  into  one  
equation.    There  might  be  more  than  one  way  to  arrive  at  the  same  answer  given  the  
use  of  different  equations.  
 
7.  Plug  in  numbers–  Plug  in  your  values  and  units  from  your  knowns.  
 
8.  Perform  unit  analysis  –  Cancel  out  the  units  in  your  equation  and  combine  them  
when  necessary.    This  will  help  act  to  verify  that  your  equation  is  correct.    If  you  are  
solving  for  a  force  and  your  unit  analysis  give  you  N/s  you  know  you  have  done  
something  wrong.  
 
9.  Solve  –  Actually  calculate  the  value  of  the  unknown  with  the  proper  units.    PUT  A  
NICE  BOX,  CIRCLE  OR  UNDERLINE  YOUR  FINAL  ANSWER.  
 
10.  Check  for  “reasonableness”  –  evaluate  the  answer.    Did  you  solve  for  the  mass  
of  an  electron  and  it  turned  out  to  be  larger  than  the  mass  of  the  earth?    Is  your  
object  moving  in  the  wrong  direction?    This  will  clue  you  in  to  a  possible  error  that  
you  might  not  have  caught  otherwise.  
 
Ten  Step  Example  

What  is  the  acceleration  of  a  car  that  starts  to  move  from  rest  and  takes  5  minutes  to  
reach  a  speed  of  20  km/h?  

1)  The  problem  is  talking  about  kinematics  (motion).    Since  it  is  a  car  on  the  ground  
we  can  safely  assume  that  we  are  talking  about  motion  in  1  dimension.  

2)  

V=20  km/h  

3  &  4)  

• a  =  ?  
• V0  =  0  km/h  
• t  =  5  minutes  =  5  min  (1  hour/60  min)  =  0.083  h  
• Vf  =  20  km/h  

5)  V  =  V0  +  at  
6)  a  =  (V-­‐V0)/t  
7)  a  =  (20  km/h  –  0  km/h)/  (0.083  h)  
8  &  9)  a  =  241  km/h2  

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