What is Physics?
The study of objects and their interactions
Observational science why do things work
Physics in Everyday Life they way they do
Predictive science mathematical models are
developed to predict behaviour
The Physics of Motion Experimental science mathematical models
are tested to see if they reflect reality
Andrew Robinson If they do and are accepted as a generally
robust model, then they become a Theory
Position
Position
Where are we?
To describe position, we need a Reference
Describing Point, sometimes called the Origin
Acceleration Displacement
Motion
Velocity
(and Speed) Equator
Greenwich Meridian
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Ren Descartes
The Cartesian Coordinate System Position
Acceleration Describing
Displacement
Motion
Velocity
(and Speed)
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The Aristotelians
Observe
The Greek Scholar Aristotle considered what Reject or
made objects move Accept Form
Hypothesis
He stated that an object required a Force to The Great Greek Hypothesis
Aristotle did not test his theory of motion with Vincenzo Galilei
experiments. and the Scientific Method
Nevertheless, his ideas on force and motion
dominated Western science for thousands of Vincenzo Galilei (1520-1591)
was an accomplished Lutenist
years. and composer.
He produced the first
description of how the tension
in a lute string changed the
pitch of the note.
He did experiments, analysed
the results and produced a
mathematical formula to
describe the relationship
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Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion The First Law of Motion
In 1686, the English scientist An object continues at constant speed in a
Isaac Newton, took work on straight line (i.e. at constant velocity) unless
motion by Galileo and acted on by an external force.
Descartes, added his own
The natural state of Aristotle was
observations and wrong! Aristotle
formulated three laws of nature is either no
motion or motion in a assumed that
motion and a law of gravity straight line with objects were
which describe most constant speed stationary when
observable motion. no force was
exerted
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Video: NASA
Boy pushes
If you push on an object, the object pushes grandmother
back on you with an equal force which is in
the opposite direction
Gravity pulls
Forces Can Cancel Out
down on
grandmother, Force is a vector quantity (with magnitude and
pushing her direction).
towards the floor Vector quantities can be added together, so
that they cancel each other out, and the net
effect is zero
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Apple tree at
Gravity Woolsthorpe Manor,
Grantham, where
In the Principia Newton also Newton formulated the
formulated a Law Of Gravity Law of Gravitation
to describe the easily
observable fact that things
fall down towards the
surface of the Earth
With distance
squared to be exact
Earth Blue
Mars Red
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This is a
definition of
acceleration
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For a ball on a string, its the tension force in For the moon going
the taut string that pulls the ball around in a round the sun, its gravity
circle that provides the
centripetal force
Tension Force
Gravitational Force
Canadian Grand
Prix 2006,
Montreal
If the friction force is not sufficient to hold you Whether friction can generate sufficient force
in the circle, then you slide off the road to hold you on the road depends on
1. The speed you are going there is a
maximum safe speed
Slide off, if 2. The radius of the turn (tighter turns must
there is not go slower)
enough
centripetal 3. How good your tires are (tread and rubber
Ice force compound)
4. The nature of the road surface slippery
surfaces generate much less friction force
(ice, puddles of water)
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Friction
Weight
Centripetal
force
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Wind changes direction Force on The force of the sail on the wind is applied to
air the hull of the boat through the mast.
making it The hull has a force on it, which changes its
change
motion
direction
Propulsive
force, moves
the boat
Force of sail on forward
air. The sail through the
pushes on the water
air and this is
the force which Unwanted sideways force
can move the
boat
Flettner Rotors
Drag force Propulsive force
from keel
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It actually depends on
the grip of the
gondoliers shoes to the
deck!
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