Kinematics

Reflection:

     Part A -

     I learned that Kinematics has been divided into two types, One Dimension and Two Dimensions. Kinematics. I have also learned to solve Kinematics problems using the five kinematics equations. Kinematics is the study of motion, without the components of mass and forces (dynamics).

    One Dimension Kinematics is pretty simple and uses the basic concepts of motion which are velocity, distance, acceleration, and time, but Two Dimension Kinematics is much more complicated. It goes into Projectile Motion, Relative Motion, Circular Motion, and even requires trigonometry (sin, cos, tan). These go deeper into kinematics and bring up even more equations to use to solve the problems.

     Two Dimension Kinematics requires analyzing the problem a lot and figuring out what to do with next. Sometime it is quite easy and only need one step such a putting your given information into an equation, but other times there are multiple steps to get there.  I find it helpful to know all the equations or have a equation sheet so that I can find the equations that will give me the answer. Another strategy to solve problems dealing with Kinematics is writing out your given information and draw a picture to understand what is happening in the problem if necessary.

For example:

An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s² for 32.8 s until is finally lifts off the ground. Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.

Given: a = +3.2 m/s2 t = 32.8 s vi = 0 m/s

Find: d = ??

                                                     d = v_it + 0.5at²       <= Kinematics equation!

d = (0 m/s)(32.8 s)+ 0.5(3.20 m/s²)(32.8 s)²

d = 1720 m

     Part B -

     Kinematics is present everywhere in our lives. Running requires velocity, jumping has acceleration due to gravity, driving in a circle uses circular motion, and throwing a rock around uses projectile motion. Everything that we do that requires motion relates to kinematics.

     In my Pre-calculus class I noticed several problems that relate to Physics, especially kinematics. When we were learning trigonometry, I found that many two dimensions kinematics problems had trigonometry in it, such as sine, cosine, and tangent.

     Another example of Kinematics in real life is driving. For example, everyday people have to maintain a constant speed, or close to it, to remain at the required speed limit and when the speed limit changes we accommodate by accelerating or decelerating.

     Also, NASA has to use kinematics a lot and have to be extremely careful with their calculations or everything could go wrong. They have to accelerate a lot at lift-off to get through the atmosphere, and they have to do much more.