Forces and Motion

Steve Case University of Mississippi NSF North Mississippi GK-8 September 2005

What words can you think of to describe the motion of an object?

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VELOCITY
The word scientists use to describe how fast an object is moving

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Velocity is measured as:

a change in distance per change in time change in distance change in time
What are some things you can think of that are measured like this?
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What are some examples of objects that move at high velocities?

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What are some examples of objects that move at low velocities?

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What units would you use to measure the velocity of an object moving in this classroom? meters per second

m
s
Meters per second tells us how many meters something can move in one second.
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What else can we know about an objects motion besides velocity?

What if the object speeds up?

What if the object slows down?

What if the objects velocity changes?
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Scientists have a special way to measure a change in velocity:

Acceleration
Acceleration is a change in velocity.
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The Way Acceleration Works:

If youre speeding up, you have positive acceleration. If youre slowing down, you have negative acceleration. If youre changing speed quickly, you have high acceleration. If youre changing speed slowly, you have low acceleration.
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Example:
Youre driving along in your car and suddenly have to slam on your brakes for a red light. Negative or positive acceleration? High or low acceleration?
High negative acceleration because youre slowing down quickly.
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Example:
Youre an astronaut waiting in your shuttle for takeoff. Suddenly the rockets fire and youre on your way to Mars. High or low positive or negative acceleration?

High positive acceleration because youre speeding up quickly.

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Example:
Youre driving down the highway when your car runs out of gas and you slowly roll to a stop on the side of the road.

Low negative acceleration because youre slowing down slowly.

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Example:
Youre walking to class when you realize youre running just a little bit late. You start walking a bit fast, but you still hope to make it on time. Finally the bell rings so you break into a jog and then a run, trying to get to class before the teacher notices youre late. Low positive acceleration because youre speeding up slowly.
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Challenge Question:
You throw a baseball straight up in the air. It rises to a certain height and then falls back to earth, where you catch it again in your glove.
First, high positive acceleration because it speeds up quickly as it leaves your hand. Then, as it rises, low negative acceleration, because it begins to slow down slowly because of gravity. As it begins to fall again, low positive acceleration, because it speeds up slowly. Finally, when you catch it, high negative acceleration because it slows down very quickly in your hand.
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How Do I Graph the Motion of a Particle?

Distance vs. Time
14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 Time (seconds)

Distance (meters)

Car 1 Car 2 Car 3

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Quick Review
Velocity: speed of motion Acceleration: change in velocity

What causes an objects velocity to change?

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 If youre riding your bike and want to speed up, what do you do? If youre driving a car and want to slow down, what do you do? If youre playing soccer and want to move the ball, what do you do?
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Pushing pedals, pressing brakes, and kicking soccer balls are all examples of forces.
A force is anything that changes the velocity of an object. But whats a change in velocity? A change in velocity is acceleration, so . . . A force is anything that gives an object acceleration.
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Nothing will change speed unless acted upon by a force. If its sitting still, it will keep sitting still. If its moving fast, it will keep moving fast. Only a force can change the velocity of an object.
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Then why do things slow down?

Flying baseballs slow down and eventually stop because of the force of gravity. Cars and bikes eventually slow down and stop because of the force of friction. Spacecraft in outer space with no friction and no gravity will keep going at the same speed forever without a force to slow them down or speed them up.
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Final Review
What is an objects speed of motion? What is a change of an objects velocity? What is the only thing that can change an objects velocity and give it acceleration?
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