4. One-Dimensional Kinematics and Free Fall

• Course Home
• Syllabus
• Introduction to Mechanics

  • 1. Units and Dimensional Analysis
  • 2. Problem Solving and Estimation
• Mathematics: The Language of Science

  • 3. Cartesian Coordinates and Vectors
• Translational Kinematics

  • 4. One-Dimensional Kinematics and Free Fall
  • 5. One-Dimensional Kinematics: Non-Constant Acceleration
  • 6. Two-Dimensional Kinematics
• Force and Newton's Laws of Motion

  • 7. Concept of Force
  • 8. Applications of Newton's Second Law
• Circular Motion

  • 9. Circular Motion Kinematics
  • 10. Circular Motion Dynamics
• Conservation of Energy

  • 11. Work and Energy
  • 12. Work and the Dot Product
  • 13. Potential Energy
  • 14. Application of Energy Conservation
  • 15. Mechanical Energy and the Simple Harmonic Oscillator
• Momentum

  • 16. Momentum and Impulse
  • 17. Systems, Center of Mass, and Conservation of Momentum
  • 18. Collision Theory
  • 19. Continuous Mass Flow
• Two-Dimensional Rotational Motion

  • 20. Two-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics
  • 21. Two-Dimensional Rotational Dynamics
  • 22. Torque and the Simple Harmonic Oscillator
  • 23. Static Equilibrium
• Angular Momentum

  • 24. Angular Momentum
  • 25. Conservation of Angular Momentum
• Rotation and Translation

  • 26. Two-Dimensional Rotation and Translation Kinematics
  • 27. Two-Dimensional Rotation and Translation Dynamics
• Central Force Motion

  • 28. Central Force Motion and the Kepler Problem
• Download Course Materials

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Learning Objectives

• Explain the concepts of position, velocity and acceleration for different kinds of motion. and be able to differentiate and integrate mathematical functions describing them.
• Be able to represent motion of an object using words, graphs, equations and motion diagrams. Learn to comfortably move between the different representations.
• Be able to identify and apply appropriate equations that describe motion in a given situation.
• Be able to apply a consistent methodology to solve problems.
• Be able to evaluate the reasonableness of an answer to a problem using dimensional analysis and special cases.

Preparation

Course Notes

Notes: One-Dimensional Kinematics (PDF - 2.6MB)

Suggested Textbook Reading (Optional)

Chapter 2.1-2.5. Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky's University Physics: with Modern Physics. 12th ed. San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley, 2007. ISBN: 9780805321876.

Lecture Video

Video Excerpts

Learning Activities

Guided Activities

Read through the class slides carefully. They explain all of the concepts from the module.

Slides: One-Dimensional Kinematics and Free Fall (PDF - 2.0MB)

Self-Assessment

Do the Concept Questions first to make sure you understand the main concepts from this module. Then, when you are ready, try the Challenge Problems. If you are struggling with the Challenge Problems, watch the Homework Help Session videos, which will give you tips on how to tackle problems of this type.

Concept Questions

Concept Questions (PDF)

Solutions (PDF)

Challenge Problems

Challenge Problems (PDF)

Solutions (PDF - 4.0MB)

Problem Solving Help

In the following videos Prof. Walter Lewin explains how to approach the Challenge Problems.

Help Session 1

{'English - US': '/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/translational-kinematics/one-dimensional-kinematics-and-free-fall/help-session-1/Plgku-LkyxA.srt'}

Help Session 2

{'English - US': '/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/translational-kinematics/one-dimensional-kinematics-and-free-fall/help-session-2/Or6QtL6ylP0.srt'}

Help Session 3

{'English - US': '/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/translational-kinematics/one-dimensional-kinematics-and-free-fall/help-session-3/ob7J1CK_Mvw.srt'}

Related Resources

There are countless resources available online to help you learn physics. Try these:

• Get an online physics tutorial on free fall
• Read about free fall on Wikipedia
• Learn the vocabulary and mechanics of projectile motion from the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy
• Try out the free fall example from the Boston University Physics Department
• Read Lessons 3-6 on one-dimensional kinematics from the Physics Classroom

 

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