Unit E Topics to Study
Speed: Definition? What is the equation for calculating speed? What are the common units for science?
Be sure you can explain why a higher drop point results in a greater speed in terms of energy
transformations.
Acceleration: (and deceleration): Definition? What are the common units for science? What is the acceleration
due to gravity on earth?
Remember that acceleration has two parts, speed and direction
Be able to interpret distance(y) and time(x) graphs for speed, and acceleration relationships.
Make sure you know what it means when a graph:
Goes up, goes down, is a straight line, is a curved line, is steeper, is flatter, is horizontal
Think about position slope, negative slope, zero slope, and direction
Force: Definition? Thrust, drag, lift, gravity. An object in motion will stay in motion unless acted on by a force
What is the relationship between speed and force? Mass and force?
For mass and force, make sure can describe what will happen if you change one of the variables.
Same force and increase mass results causes what to happen to acceleration?
What can I do to increase the force? Etc.
Inertia: What is it? What effect does it have on motion?
Newton’s Laws of Motion: What is each one? Make sure you know which one is first, second, third.
Be able to determine which best describes a given situation.
Friction: definition? How does it work? What do we call friction with air?
What are balanced forces? Unbalanced forces?
How does motion change in both situations? Be able to calculate net forces from a diagram
Be able to correctly draw a force diagram for a given situation.
A change in motion (speed, direction or both) occurs with which type? Balanced or unbalanced?
Can you be moving with balanced forces (net 0 force)?
What variables in the car effect braking distance? What is the relationship between speed and braking distance?
What is reaction time? How does it affect stopping distance? What is the relationship between increased speed
and increased braking distance? Is it 1 to 1? If I triple the speed does it triple the stopping distance?
How do the safety features in your car help prevent injuries? Make sure you describe it in terms of inertia, force
and acceleration.
What is the relationship between center of mass and stability?