University Physics 1

Lessons Review Before Final Exam

Course: Phys 1321

Instructor: Oomman K. Varghese

Department of Physics
University of Houston
Science & Research Bldg 1, Room 515E
Houston, Texas 77204
E-mail: okvarghese@uh.edu
 Some Important Points
Displacement, Velocity, acceleration and Force are vector
quantities and these can be expressed in unit vector form (using
vectors i, j and k
Speed has only magnitude (in other words, speed is the
magnitude of velocity)
Differentiating the position vector once with time gives velocity
and twice gives the acceleration
Velocity can be determined from the area under the curve in the
acceleration time graph and displacement can be determined
from the area under the curve in the velocity-time graph
If the signs of acceleration and velocity are the same, the speed
is increasing and if the signs are opposite, the speed is
decreasing
Equation of motion for constant acceleration should be applied
only when the acceleration is constant (e.g. y component of a
projectile motion)
 Some Important Points
For a body moving in the constant acceleration, the position time graph is
parabolic (or curved), velocity time graph shows an inclined line and acceleration
time graph shows a straight line
For a projectile motion, horizontal component of velocity is a constant and vertical
component is that of a free fall condition (motion under constant acceleration g in
the negative y-direction)
Dot product gives a scalar quantity while cross product gives a vector quantity (use
right hand thumb rule to determine the direction of the third vector)
Only unit vectors of same kind have values when we take dot product, while only
unit vectors of different kinds give values (a third vector) and direction when we
take cross product
If two vectors are equal, their x- components are equal, y-components are equal
and z- components are equal.
Velocity vector is always tangent to the path
For a body thrown vertically up, the velocity decreases as it moves up and
becomes zero and at maximum height and it increases it again while coming down
The magnitude of velocity at any point during the upward motion is equal to that
at the corresponding point while coming down
 Some Important Points
While resolving the x and y components of displacement, acceleration, velocity
and force, check the sign (positive or negative)

Problem: Snow is falling vertically at a constant speed of 8.0 m/s. At what angle from
the vertical do the snowflakes appear to be falling as viewed by the driver of a car
traveling on a straight, level road with a speed of 50 km/h?
We know that this is a case of relative motion. Let the car be moving in the +ve x-
direction and snow in the ve y direction.
Velocity of snow with respect to ground ( ) = velocity of snow with respect to car
( ) + velocity of car with respect to ground ( )
We need to find


( ) = ( ) - ( )
-
We can find theta as the magnitudes of other vectors are given (remember to convert
the units to m/s). Then the driver feels that the snow is coming towards him inclined
an angle theta degrees with respect to vertical.
 Some Important Points
Centripetal acceleration acts towards the center of the curve
Use vector addition to solve the cases for relative motion
The net force on a body is ma
Weight is a force (unit is N). It is not mass (kg), but mass x acceleration due to
gravity
The normal force is the force is the push from the surface on which a body sits
and it acts perpendicular to the surface
Tension on a cord is the force directed away from the body on which it is
attached
Free body diagram is a representation of a body as a point and the forces acting
on it with lines with arrow marks (a co-ordinate system also may be included)
 Important Points
Friction opposes the relative motion between a body and a surface and it
acts in a direction opposite to the direction in which the body moves or tends
to move.
Static friction acts on stationary objects and it varies between zero and
maximum value ( fs sn).
The maximum value of static friction depends on normal force only. A force
applied parallel to the surface does not change the normal force and hence,
friction. But if the force is applied at an angle, it will have a component along
the normal force and it will affect friction.
Kinetic friction acts when the body moves. It is given by fk = kn and it is
almost a constant.
Terminal speed is the speed at which the drag force balances the weight of the
body.
At low speed,

At high speed
 Important Points
Centripetal force F = mv2/R
In banked curve problems, the normal force is resolved in x and
y components and not weight. The horizontal component of the
normal force provides the centripetal acceleration

The situation here is similar to your homework problem 5.102. But here we have to
calculate the coefficient of static friction.

See the solution in the next slide.

Important Points
 Important Points
Draw the free body diagram to solve the problems related to
horizontal or vertical circular motion. Try to solve the following
problem.
 Important Points
Work = Fs cos if F is a constant
Work done = K2 K1 = mv22 mv12
Work done on a spring = kx22 kx12
Work done by a force is zero if the displacement is in a direction perpendicular
to the direction of the force.

Power
 Chapter 7
W = U1 U2 = -(U2 U1)
Mechanical energy is conserved only if the force is conservative
Remember what is a conservative force. Gravitational force and spring force
are conservative and friction in non-conservative.
Ug = mgy
Uspring = 1/2kx2
In a closed system the total energy is conserved.
Remember the shapes of potential energy, kinetic energy and mechanical
energy curves as a function of position and also, the energy diagram.
 Chapter 8

Depending upon the situation you can use either change in momentum or force
x time to find impulse.
Remember how to calculate impulse from force - time graph
In the absence of a net external force, the momentum a system is conserved.
Momentum conservation leads to recoil in guns. It is also responsible for the
forward motion of the rockets.
In the case of elastic collisions, the kinetic energy is conserved. Momentum is
conserved in both elastic, inelastic or completely inelastic collisions if the net
external force is zero.
 Chapter 8

For finding the position coordinates of center of mass of a system, you need
to arrange a coordinate system with origin at an appropriate location so as to
solve the problem easily.
Momentum of the center of changes only when there is a net external force

If a canon shell travelling in a parabolic trajectory explodes in flight, the fragments

follow new parabolic paths, but center of mass continues in the original parabolic
trajectory.
 Chapter 9
Remember how to determine the magnitude and directions of angular
velocity, angular acceleration, tangential acceleration and radial acceleration.

Equations of rational motion can be obtained directly from equations of linear

motion.
Kinetic energy of rotational motion = I 2
 Chapter 9

The system consists of block A of mass 4 kg, block B of mass 2 kg and the pulley P. Pulley is
the only rotating part. The mass of the pulley is not negligible and hence we have to consider the
energy of the pulley as well. The total energy is conserved.
That means
KiA + KiB + KiP + UiA + UiB + UiP + Wother = KfA + KfB + Kfp + UfA + UfB + UfP

We have, KiA = 0, KiB = 0, KiP = 0, UiA= mAgh UiB = 0, UiP = UfP , Wother = 0

KfA = mA v2 Kfb = mB v2 , Kfp = I 2 = I (v/r)2 , UfA = 0, UfB = mB g h

Thus, we get,
mAgh = mA v2 + mB v2 + I (v/r)2 + mB g h
Remember that tangential velocity at the edge rim of the pulley and the velocities of the mass A
and B are the same (= v) at any instant. Now, you can find v by substituting the values in the
above equation.
 Chapter 10
Torque

= r F sin where is the angle between r and F.

You can also find torque using lever arm method by extending the force vector and
dropping a perpendicular from the axis to the force vector to get l (here l is the lever arm
and = 90) OR by finding tangential component of the force (Ftan ) and multiplying it
by r (here also = 90).
I suggest using r F sin method if is known or lever arm method. If r and F are given
in terms of unit vector form, find the cross product to get the torque.
Kinetic energy for rotational translational motion is given by

That means, total kinetic energy is the kinetic energy of the translational motion of the
center of mass + the rotational kinetic energy of the body about an axis passing through
the center of mass.

Rolling without slipping means fully rotational translational motion.

 Chapter 10
In the case of a yo-yo rolling down the string, the mechanical energy is conserved and
the potential energy is converted into translational kinetic energy of the center of mass +
rotational kinetic energy of the yo yo about an axis through the center of mass (which as
at the center of the disk).
Friction provides the torque for rolling without slipping
Work - energy theorem for rotational motion:

Angular momentum

Here l is the lever arm

Angular momentum is conserved when there is no external torque.
That means I1 1 = I2 2
Study the problem given in slide 47 in chapter 10 lecture note.
You should know how to find the directions of all rotational parameters such as angular
velocity, angular acceleration, angular momentum, torque, tangential acceleration,
centripetal acceleration etc.
 Chapter 11
Condition for equilibrium

When you have an equilibrium problem, follow the steps below to solve it.
i) Find the pivot point (or axis)
ii) Find all forces acting on the body (not the forces the body exert on something else)
iii) Find the forces that can create torques about the pivot point
iv) Apply Newton law for equilibrium situation in the x-direction ( = 0).
v) Similarly, set the condition = 0.
vi) And finally, set the condition = 0.
vii) You have three equations that can be solved to find the unknowns. Remember that
directions of forces and torque are important.
Study the problem of the meter scale in slide 10 in chapter 11 lecture note.
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
 Chapter 12
If a body is immersed in a
fluid, the pressure at the top
(P1= force x area) is less than
the pressure at the bottom (P2 ).
This pressure difference P2 P1
gives the buoyant force. So
buoyant force = net upward
force = P2 A2 P1 A1
Gauge pressure = P P0 where
P0 is the atmopheric pressure

Principle behind hydraulic lift

 Chapter 12

Remember that if a boy is immersed in a liquid, the buoyant force = mliquid displaced g
= Vliquid displaced liquid g = Vbody liquid g
Vbody = mbody / body

Equation of continuity
 Chapter 13

Orbital velocity =
= 2

Remember that gravitational potential energy is always negative. It is zero

(maximum) at infinity.
If a body is acted upon by gravitational force alone, the mechanical energy is
conserved. Use this knowledge to find the formula for escape velocity
Also, if body is at a height h above earths surface, r = R + h
 Chapter 14
For a simple harmonic motion (SHM) force is directly proportional to the
displacement from equilibrium position and is directed towards the equilibrium
position. The direction of displacement, velocity and acceleration are shown below

-x +x x=A
x=-A 0
+V
-V
-a
-a
+a
+a
 Chapter 14

For a simple harmonic motion (SHM) force is directly proportional to the

displacement from equilibrium position and is directed towards the equilibrium
position. The direction of displacement, velocity and acceleration are shown below

Remember that mechanical energy in SHM is k A2 regardless of the position of

the oscillator