4.2 Velocity Velocity is the rate of change of displacement: velocity tells us how an object’s position is changing in time. Or, in symbols (for motion along only the \(x\) axis): The symbol \(\Delta\) is a capital Greek letter delta, Continue Reading
When studying physics, you’ll often find that the words we use in physics have slightly different meanings than when we use the same word in every day life. This is because when we’re communicating about science we need to be Continue Reading
3.4 Unit conversions Sometimes it is necessary to convert between measurements in different units. Conversions within the metric system are straightforward—it designed intentionally for this to be the case. Conversions between metric units and customary units (which is what we Continue Reading
3.3 The SI system The metric system is used by every country in the world except for Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States of America. In the metric system, you have a base unit that tells you what kind of quantity Continue Reading
Everything we do in physics is about describing the physical world; every number and letter that you write represents some real, physical quantity. There are two main ramifications of this: There are restrictions to the calculations that we can do. Continue Reading
2.3 Vector arithmetic and algebra 2.3.1 Scalar multiplication You can multiply a scalar by a vector by simply using the distributive property: for some scalar \(c\). This is called scaling the vector—hence the name scalar. Example 2.4 You may use Continue Reading
2.1 What is a vector? A vector is a quantity with a magnitude (size) and direction. A quantity with only a magnitude is called a scalar. For example, speed is a scalar quantity—it tells you how quickly something is moving, Continue Reading
1.3 Pythagorean theorem In addition to the three trig functions, which relate two sides and an angle, we also have a relationship between the three sides. This is known as the Pythagorean theorem. For a right triangle with sides a Continue Reading
1.1 Trig Functions For any right triangle, there are specific mathematical relationships between the angles and the lengths of the sides. In the figure above, the sides “opposite” and “adjacent” are relative to the angle that is labeled as 𝜃 Continue Reading
Work and energy As explained on the previous page, work is the relationship that connects force and energy. When energy is dissipated from a system, which we referred to as “waste” in chapter 6, the energy dissipated is equivalent to Continue Reading