# Tagged Questions

The description of the movement of bodies by their position, velocity, acceleration (and possibly higher time derivatives, such as, jerk) without concern for the underlying dynamics/forces/causes.

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### Why does kinetic energy increase quadratically, not linearly, with speed?

As Wikipedia says: [...] the kinetic energy of a non-rotating object of mass $m$ traveling at a speed $v$ is $mv^2/2$. Why does this not increase linearly with speed? Why does it take so much ...
1answer
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### Static friction force on a block in a tunnel

Linked to this Comparing Static Frictions Suppose there is a cuboidal vertical tunnel , and a cubical block in it such that all surface of the block are in contact with the four walls of the ...
4answers
117 views

### Integrating radial free fall in Newtonian gravity

I thought this would be a simple question, but I'm having trouble figuring it out. Not a homework assignment btw. I am a physics student and am just genuinely interested in physics problems involving ...
2answers
65 views

### Centripetal Force Acceleration

Suppose you want to perform a uniform circular motion . Then a body performing uniform circular motion horizontally needs an acceleration $= \frac{v^2}{r}$ at each point on the circular path with ...
1answer
103 views

### Utilizing maximum acceleration $a$ for displacement $d$ with initial velocity $v_0$ and final velocity $v_1$

Problem My goal is to move an object from point a to b (displacement $d$) as fast as possible utilizing the maximum available acceleration $a_{max}$, taking into account the initial velocity $v_0$ ...
2answers
793 views

### Rigid body dynamics joints

I can't seem to find any info on connected rigid bodies by a joint. Can someone explain the basics to me? I'm trying to do a little research to find out how feasible it would be to implement 3d ...
3answers
2k views

### Difference b/w Kinetics & Kinematics w/concrete example

(I know whether I understand this or not doesn't matter much to my work & study but am just curious.) I still can't differentiate in my head kinetics and kinematics (similar thread is found but ...
0answers
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### Velocity versus time graph [closed]

A stone is thrown at an angle of $45^0$ above the horizontal x-axis in the +x-direction. If air resistance is ignored, which of the velocity versus time graphs shown above best represents $v_x$ ...
3answers
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### Solve for Initial Velocity of a projectile given Angle, Gravity, and Initial and Final positions?

I've found equations http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L6a.cfm for solving everything (and rearranged to solve everything) to do with projectile motion EXCEPT this, even though it should ...
1answer
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### I reached a result concerning displacement with quantized time intervals. Am I on to something?

A few days ago, I realized a similarity between distance with constant acceleration, $d = v_i t + 1/2 a t^2$, and the sum of integers up to n, $(n^2 + n)/2$. This came up again today when I decided to ...
1answer
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### Projectile motion: Thrust in x direction = acceleration in x direction? [closed]

I understand that in projectile motion, when an object is solely under the influence of gravity, there is no acceleration in the $x$-direction (with the acceleration due to gravity in the $y$ ...
1answer
272 views

### Kinetic energy in the center of mass

In a collision of a particle of mass $m_1$ moving with speed $v_1$ with a stationary particle of mass $m_2$ not all the original kinetic energy can be converted into heat or internal energy. what ...
1answer
193 views

### Modelling the movement and jumps of a chalk while drawing a dashed line on a blackboard

You probably know that if you try to draw a line using a piece of chalk on a blackboard , under some conditions (for example, $\alpha<\frac{\pi}{2}$ in the picture below) you will have a dashed ...
3answers
63 views

### Relation between the time, velocity and acceleration

This is question from I.E. Iredov's General Physics: $1.22$ : The velocity of a particle moving in the positive direction of the $x-axis$ varies as $v = α \sqrt x$, where $α$ is a positive ...
0answers
35 views

### How to calculate average speed when time is greater than distance? [closed]

I understand that average speed is calculated as $\frac{distance}{time}$ however this question says the time is greater than speed. Here's the question: A bicycle travels 15 Km (kilometers) in 30 ...
3answers
121 views

### How can I solve for time without knowing the vertical velocity?

A guy posted this problem on a forum: There is a bird sitting on a pole of height h. you throw a rock at it and the moment the rock leaves your hand the bird starts flying horizontally away from ...
2answers
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### How can I add an acceleration vector to a velocity with a different direction?

I am in my last year of high school and am struggling with some homework. I'm sorry if this question is incredibly stupid, but I simply can't find the answer in my notes. If I have an object with a ...
2answers
129 views

### What does it mean if a body has kinetic energy?

What does it mean if a body has kinetic energy? Does it mean that the momentum vectors of each particle of that body has the same direction? What about angular momentum?
1answer
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### Reachable area of cannonball given fixed initial speed [closed]

The trajectory of a cannonball fired from the origin with initial speed $v_0$ at an angle $\theta$ is given by $$y = x\tan\theta - \frac{g}{2v_0^2 \cos^2\theta}x^2.$$ For fixed $v_0$, at what angle ...
0answers
43 views

### How to calculate the correct coordinates from a distorted video of a projectile?

I am working on a high school project that is related to projectile motion. I am exploring how exactly the position of the center of mass affects the trajectory of a long but thin, javelin-like ...
2answers
39 views

### Area under a displacement graph

If the area under an acceleration-time graph denotes velocity and the area under a velocity-time graph denotes displacement, what exactly does the area under a displacement-time graph denote?
2answers
302 views

### 2D - Kinematics - Linkage System using Vector Algebra

I have this question that I dont know how to solve correctly : My question is, how do I find $V_B$ ? I will find the angular velocities myself, but I want to know the method to get $V_B$ ? I know ...
2answers
276 views

### Center of gravity of vehicle and vehicle performance

I am interested to know how does CG of vehicle plays role in the Fuel economy and the vehicle performance. Does CG of vehicle has anything to do while accelerating of your vehicle. I am a student, ...
2answers
124 views

### Functions of Time

1) Is position a function of time only or also velocity? Likewise, is velocity a function of time only or also the position? 2) The following are functions of time: $s(t)$ = distance a particle ...
1answer
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### Elevator acceleration and velocity equation [closed]

I have a small question about the velocity and the acceleration of elevators. I am looking for equations which is for a constant velocity and acceleration ( for exemple some elevators didn't have a ...
0answers
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### Functions of time [duplicate]

Following are the functions of time: $s(t)$ = distance a particle travels from time $0$ to $t$ $v(t)$ = velocity of a particle at time $t$ $a(t)$ = acceleration of a particle at time $t$. If we want ...
0answers
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### Defining collision point in 3D [closed]

I have a problem with finding collision point of two objects with given speed vectors in 3d. Eg: ...
1answer
104 views

### Is it possible to determine particles' velocities from their crossings on a ring?

2 particles are constrained to move in a ring. Both particles begin moving at $t=0$ from $p=0$, each particle moving in the opposite direction of the other. It is known that they are moving at ...
1answer
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### Rotational velocity of face-on spiral galaxies using spectroscopy

I am doing my first steps in spectroscopy (IFS actually) and how we can learn more about galaxies by using it. I came up with a simple question which, unfortunately, I can not answer: How can we ...
1answer
248 views

### Is acceleration an average?

Background I'm new to physics and math. I stopped studying both of them in high-school, and I wish I hadn't. I'm pursuing study in both topics for personal interest. Today, I'm learning about ...
2answers
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### Given Angle, Initial Velocity, and Acceleration due to Gravity, plot parabolic trajectory for every “x”?

Given any Angle -> 0-90 Given any Initial Velocity -> 1-100 Given Acceleration due to Gravity -> 9.8 Plot every x,y coordinate (the parabolic trajectory) with cartesian coordinates and screen pixels ...
12answers
3k views

### List of good classical physics books

What are some good books for learning the concepts of Kinematics, Newton laws, 2D Motion of Object etc.?
5answers
273 views

### Does the mass point move?

There is a question regarding basic physical understanding. Assume you have a mass point (or just a ball if you like) that is constrained on a line. You know that at $t=0$ its position is $0$, i.e., ...
1answer
78 views

### Kinematics with non constant acceleration

A particle experiences an acceleration described by $$a=kx^{-2}$$ where x is the displacement from the origin and k is an arbitrary constant. To what value does the velocity v of the particle ...
5answers
172 views

### Why is momentum conserved (or rather what makes an object carry on moving infinitely)?

I know this is an incredibly simple question, but I am trying to find a very simple explanation to this other than the simple logic that energy is conserved when two items impact and bounce off each ...
0answers
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### Inelastic relativistic collision [closed]

I have to solve the following problem: A particle of rest mass, $m_1$, and velocity $v_1$ collides with a stationary particle of mass $m_2$. Find the rest mass $m$ and velocity $v$ of the resultant ...
2answers
110 views

### Calculating Average Velocity

I understand that the concept of an average of a data list means finding a certain value 'x', which ensures that the sum of the deviations of the numbers on the left of 'x' and on the right of 'x' ...
2answers
106 views

### Is a heavier skier faster? [duplicate]

Is it true that a heavier skier goes faster? If it is, why is that? My intuition would be that the speed gained by a skier should be independent from its mass, since both its acceleration and the ...
2answers
66 views

### Sign of acceleration

I'm developing an application using accelerometer sensor. I'm not good at physics so forgive me if the question is trivial. If I have 3 values of acceleration: $x$, $y$, $z$, I find acceleration ...
3answers
201 views

### Deriving equations of motion using integration

Please refer to my school textbook pg48 (of the book, and not the pdf counter) here: http://ncertbooks.prashanthellina.com/class_11.Physics.PhysicsPartI/ch-3.pdf My doubt is in this context: (right ...
2answers
1k views

### Help me get out of a speeding ticket

I was driving uphill from a complete stop for a distance of .4 miles estimated to take 1 minute in a navigation app. I was pulled over right after cresting the hill. The cop had me on radar going ...
0answers
59 views

### An unmarked police car passed by a speeding car [closed]

Hi I'm trying to solve the problem An unmarked police car traveling at a constant speed of 95 km/h is passed by a speeder traveling at 140 km/h. Precisely, 1.00 s after the speeder passes, the ...
1answer
45 views

### Projectile's angle in midflight

For a missile travelling from (0,0) at angle $\theta$ (to the horizontal) and initial velocity $u$, the y (vertical) position at time t is given by $s_{y} = u\sin (\theta) t - 0.5gt^{2}$ and the x ...
1answer
65 views

### Circular motion and centrifugal force

Assuming a race car drives around in a circle of radius r, center (0,0), linear velocity v, and ignoring centrifugal forces and friction I can calculate the position at any time, t. Angular velocity ...
2answers
139 views

### Projectile Motion with Drag

The overall goal is to write a Mathematica program that will compute the launch angle that will yield the greatest range with using [RandomInt] function, but I was having trouble with the physics. In ...
2answers
103 views

### Best shape to reduce the splash of a droplet?

Our coffee machine catches the last couple of droplets, after your cup is removed on a shape to reduce plash of the coffee droplets. These shapes are placed inside the spill reservoir. The shape ...
1answer
64 views

### Kinematics question [closed]

An electric train accelerates uniformly from rest to a speed of 20m/s which it maintains until the brakes are applied. It is then brought to rest by a uniform retardation equal in magnitude to twice ...
6answers
3k views

### Is two cars colliding at 50mph the same as one car colliding into a wall at 100 mph?

I was watching a youtube video the other day where an economist said that he challenged his physics professor on this question back when he was in school. His professor said each scenario is the same, ...
2answers
79 views

### Do you use the magnitude equation to get speed from an accelerometer?

A guy suggested to me that getting speed from an accelerometer required the use of this equation: $\text{speed} = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}$ This does not make any sense to me, all that you would get ...
2answers
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### Doubt in Kinematics

I know that this isn't the place for such basic questions, but I didn't find the answer to this anywhere else. It's pretty simple: some particle moves in straight line under constant acceleration from ...
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