Physics Review Part I: Algebra, Distance & Displacement, Scalar & Vector, Speed, and Velocity

Algebra Review

100

What is the opposite mathematical function of the following:

Addition

Multiplication

Exponent

Subtraction

Division

Square Root

200

Rearrange the equation to solve for m.

F = m x a

m = F/a

300

Rearrange to solve for h:

E_p = m x g x h

h = E_p / m x g

400

Rearrange to solve for m₁:

F = G x m₁ x m₂ / r²

m₁ = F x r² / G x m₂

500

What are the two mathematical equations that solve for acceleration?

a = F/m

a = (v_f-v_i)/t

Distance & Displacement

100

What is displacement?

Straight-line distance from initial point to final point.

200

Is distance a vector or scalar quantity?

Scalar

300

How do you find displacement if the distance is an "L" shape?

Pythagorean Theorem (a² + b² = c²)

400

A car drives 14 miles south, 3 miles east, and then 14 miles north. What is the cars distance? Displacement?

Distance = 31 miles

Displacement = 3 miles east

500

A car drives 320 miles east and then 227 miles north. What is the car's distance? Displacement?

Distance = 547 miles

Displacement = 392.34 miles NE

Scalar & Vector

100

What is the difference between vector and scalar?

Scalar has magnitude and vector has magnitude and direction.

200

Is the following a scalar or vector quantity and why?

4 m

Scalar because there is no direction.

300

List four types of vector quantities.

Velocity, Displacement, Acceleration, and Momentum

400

Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

Acceleration

Force

Displacement

Distance

Distance

500

Define whether the following are vector or scalar:

Momentum

Acceleration

Distance

Force

Impulse

Momentum: Vector

Acceleration: Vector

Distance: Scalar

Force: Vector

Impulse: Vector

Speed

100

Define speed and give its unit.

How fast something is moving; m/s.

200

Is speed a vector or scalar quantity?

Scalar

300

What is the mathematical formula for speed? What are the units?

S = d/t

m/s

400

What is the speed a car if it travels 300 m in 67 seconds?

4.48 m/s

500

What is the distance a person ran in 48 seconds if their speed was 3.2 m/s?

153.6 m

Velocity

100

Define velocity.

Speed in a given direction.

200

Is velocity a scalar or vector quantity?

Vector

300

What is the mathematical formula for speed? What are the units?

S = d/t

m/s

400

What is the velocity of a car that drove 700 m east in 54 seconds?

12.96 m/s east

500

What type of graph depicts an object's velocity?

Distance vs. Time graph