Scribd
Upload
10 views5 pages

Sm1 Wk1 Tutorial Draft 2

The document outlines a tutorial for a physics course focusing on functions, velocity, and the ideal gas law. It includes group activities to explain concepts, represent motion graphically, and perform calculations using Desmos. Additionally, it provides instructions for a quiz involving handwritten submissions and graph uploads.

Uploaded by

inammaya543
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
10 views5 pages

Sm1 Wk1 Tutorial Draft 2

The document outlines a tutorial for a physics course focusing on functions, velocity, and the ideal gas law. It includes group activities to explain concepts, represent motion graphically, and perform calculations using Desmos. Additionally, it provides instructions for a quiz involving handwritten submissions and graph uploads.

Uploaded by

inammaya543
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Phy176 Semester 1 Week 1 Tutorial: Functions

Please work in groups of 2 or 3.

1) Explain the following as if your explanation is for a high school student:


a. Explain the meaning of 𝑣(𝑡) as it appears in the expression 𝑣(𝑡) = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡
b. Explain the meaning of the expression (𝑣)(𝑡) as it appears in the expression 𝑥 = (𝑣)(𝑡)
2) A ball is dropped from the top of a building. (If a ball is dropped, this means it starts from rest. If a
ball is thrown, this means it has some non-zero initial velocity). Represent the subsequent velocity
of the ball in four different ways: (Assume that upwards is the positive direction).
a. Using words (using physics concepts) describe what happens to the velocity of the ball.
(Describe what its starting velocity is, and what happens thereafter. Is it positive or
negative?)
b. Represent the velocity as a mathematical function. (Velocity as a function of time). Insert
numerical values where appropriate.
c. Represent the motion of the ball in a diagram (showing the building and the motion of the
ball)
d. Represent the velocity as a graph. Do this in www.desmos.com . See instructions below:

Graphing in DESMOS (www.desmos.com)

Go to www.desmos.com and click on “Graphing Calculator”. Our


recommendation is to create an account (“Sign Up”) as this allows
you to save your projects. Signing up is simple and easy if you have a
gmail account.

Type the function 𝑣(𝑡) = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡 in the first command box at the top left: (hint: type “v0”
(0 is a zero, not the letter O!) to get the constant 𝑣0 )

e. Click on “𝑣0 ” and “𝑎” to “add slider”. “Add slider” means “give them a
constant value”. Can you explain to a high school student why “𝑣0 ” and “𝑎”
have constant values in this context? (Remember, we have dropped a ball
from rest from the top of a building…on earth!)
f. Adjust the values of “𝑣0 ” and “𝑎” to the appropriate values for this context.
g. Your graph should look like the blue line on the right hand side. (Check with
a demmie if your graph looks different).
h. Making your graph pretty: click on the spanner icon in the top right hand corner. Enter
labels and units for your axes and adjust the domain (X-Axis) and range (Y-Axis) until you are
satisfied with how the graph looks. (There are no “correct” values for your domain and range
– just make the graph look pretty).
i. Type 𝑣(2.2) in the next command box:
It should give you a value of -21.56. Can you explain to a high school student what this value
of -21.56 means? What are the units of -21.56?
j. Let’s plot the point (2.2, −21.56) on our graph. Enter the point in the next command box:

Does the point appear on your blue graph? Click “Label” to add a label to your point.
k. Use desmos to calculate the velocity at 𝑡 = 0.8 𝑠? Plot this point on your graph with a label.
l. Use a calculator (and a pen and paper!) to calculate the time at which the velocity is
𝑣 = −30 𝑚𝑠 −1. Plot this point. Make sure it lies on your graph!
m. Plot the point 𝑡 = 2 𝑠, 𝑣 = −10 𝑠. Explain to a high school student why this point does not
lie on your graph.

Your graph should look something like this:

3) We can write the ideal gas law as: 𝑃𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇


a. Which of these values are constant and which are variables (i.e. which have the possibility of
varying)?
b. Let’s assume as gas is in a container in which the temperature and the number of moles
remain constant, but the volume can vary. Write pressure (the dependent variable) as a
function of volume (the independent variable).
c. If you were to plot P as a function of V, what type of graph would you expect? Now enter
this function into desmos and obtain the associated graph. Assume there are 1000 moles of
the gas, and the temperature is 𝑇 = 20°𝐶 (remember to convert to the SI (standard
international) units of temperature which is Kelvin!). 𝑅 = 8.314 𝐽 𝐾 −1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 . Include axis
labels and units and adjust the domain and range of your graph to make it look pretty.
d. Use desmos to calculate the pressure at a volume of 800 m3 and plot this point on your
graph.
e. Use your calculator to calculate the volume at a pressure of 750 Pa and plot this point on
your graph. (Make sure the point lies on the curve!)
(The solution to this question is given on sunlearn if you want to check your working).
4) Assume the gas is now in a container with a fixed volume but which can vary in temperature.
a. Write pressure (the dependent variable) as a function of temperature (the independent
variable).
b. What graph do you expect if you plot P as a function of T? Enter this function into demos
and obtain the associated graph. Assume there are 1000 moles of the gas, and the volume is
𝑉 = 5000 𝑚3 . Include axis labels and units and adjust the domain and range of your graph
to make it look pretty.
c. Use desmos to calculate the pressure at temperature of 0°𝐶 and plot this point on your
graph. (Remember to convert to Kelvin)
d. Use your calculator to calculate the temperature at a pressure of 200 Pa and plot this point
on your graph. (Make sure the point lies on the curve!)
𝑛𝑅
5) Consider the function: 𝑉(𝑇) = 𝑇
𝑃
a. Explain to a Grade 12 student what this function means; explain what is varying and what is
being held constant.
b. Given the graph below, calculate the pressure of the gas. (Assume there are 1000 moles of
the gas)

6) Two toy cars are in a race. The first car starts from rest at 𝑥0 = 0 𝑚 and accelerates at 𝑎 = 1 𝑚𝑠 −2 .
The second car starts from rest at a distance of 2 meters in front of the first car. The second car’s
acceleration is 𝑎 = 0.5 𝑚𝑠 −2 .
Plot both cars’ motion on the same set of axes in desmos, and use desmos to show that the first car
overtakes the second car at 𝑡 = 2.828 𝑠, and 𝑥 = 4 𝑚

Hints: as you are plotting two graphs on the same set of axes, you need differentiate between the
two functions. My suggestion is to use the notation as shown below, where 𝑥10 is the initial position
of the first car, 𝑣10 is the initial velocity of the first car, etc.
Your graph should look as shown below. If you click on the point where the graphs intersect, desmos
provides you with the coordinates of the intersect. You can then plot this point using brackets
(2.828 , 4) as you have done before.
Tutorial Quiz
In your tutorial quiz, you will have two questions:
1) The first question requires a handwritten submission. Please submit a piece of paper in the
pigeonholes at the front of the class. Remember to put your surname, name and student
number on the paper!
2) The second question requires you to upload an image of a graph you have drawn in Desmos.
Here are the instructions for how to export an image from Desmos, and how to upload it into
the sunlearn quiz:

Exporting a graph from Desmos:


Click on the export icon at the top right of your screen. Then click “Export Image”.

Then click “Download PNG”.

Save the file with a filename in a folder that you will remember!

Inserting a graph in the sunlearn quiz


Click on the “Insert/Edit Image” icon

Then click “Find or upload an image” . Then click “Choose File”

Find your file, select it, and click “Open” . Then click “Upload this file”

. Then click “Insert” . (You do not need to include an image

description). Then click “Ok” .

You might also like