Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Reviewing For Semester 1 Final

Here is a link to the solution key for the problem set I distributed in class.
answer key

You can also use UT quest to make a customized review set of questions, focusing on all of the homework questions that you missed the first time around.  Follow these steps  (copied from their help menu)


  • Customized Review 
  • To help you review for an upcoming test, use the Custom Review option to create customized reviews that focus on your weakest areas. Choose Grade Summary from the left menu, then the Grades by Subject Area link to see the Custom Review option.  

Unit One Goals. 1. Know and apply the definition for average velocity.
2. Know and apply the definition for average acceleration.
3. Differentiate instantaneous and average velocity.
4. Interpret graphs of position, velocity and acceleration, including through the use of slopes and the area under the graph.
5. Draw position, velocity and acceleration graphs for described motion.
6. Know the acceleration due to gravity.
7. Solve problems by using 5 basic mechanics equations.
8. Properly use sign conventions for positive and negative acceleration and velocity.
9. Describe sources of error as either random or systematic and suggest basic ways of reducing error such as controlling variables, doing multiple trials, collecting data over a wide range and using big sample sizes.

Unit 2 Goals:
1. Know that perpendicular vectors are independent
2. Add vectors graphically with parallelogram and head to tail methods.
3. Use trig and Pythagorean theorem to find resultant.
4. Break vectors into perpendicular components graphically and with trig.
5. Solve motion problems in 2D.

Unit 3 Goals
1.      Draw Force Vectors.
2.      Calculate Weight.
3.      Solve Problems with Net Force.
4.      Know that when an object is at rest or moving with constant velocity that Fnet = 0 and all of the forces are balanced.
5.      Understand what terminal velocity is and how it is reached.
6.      Be able to explain why all objects in freefall have an acceleration of 9.8 m/s2
7.      Understand that forces are interactions between two things and that each object exerts an equal and opposite force on the other.
8.      Know Newton’s Three Laws of Motion by name.
In general, understand Newton’s 3 laws and apply them to explain motion.

Unit 4 Goals
• Be able to add forces in two dimensions.
• Understand and apply conditions for equilibrium.
• Calculate the frictional force when given the coefficient of friction and vice versa.
• Determine the normal force, and the parallel and perpendicular components of gravity for inclined plane problems and solve for acceleration.
• State and apply equations for centripetal acceleration and force.
• Distinguish between the centripetal force and the fictitious centrifugal force.
• Analyze examples of circular motion in terms of Newton's three laws of motion.

Unit 5 Goals
1.Define and determine work, and energy.
2.List a variety of types of energy and classify them as potential or kinetic.
3.Solve problems using equations for gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.
4.State and apply the law of conservation of energy.
5.Account for energy in its various forms through a series of transformations, including energy “lost” to heat.
6.Define impulse and momentum and describe how they’re related.
7.State the law of conservation of momentum and use it to solve problems in one and two dimensions.


8.Classify collisions as completely elastic, completely inelastic or somewhere in between.

Monday, January 12, 2015

National Engineering Week

Grant can nominate 10 sophomores and juniors for these exciting field trips.  Let me know if you're interested.

http://www.oregonengineersweek.org/