Unit 2: Dynamics

Dynamics is the study of the causes of motion and changes in motion, involving the application of Newton's laws of motion.

Newton's laws of motion are the backbone of classical mechanics, explaining how forces affect the motion of an object and how the motion of an object affects the forces acting upon it.

The first law of motion, also known as the Law of Inertia, states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move in a straight line at a constant speed, unless acted upon by an external force.

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.

Gravitational mass is the measure of the strength of the gravitational force experienced by an object, while inertial mass is the measure of an object's resistance to a change in its state of motion.

Gravitational mass is measured by comparing the weight of an object to a known standard mass under the influence of gravity.

Inertial mass is measured by applying a known force to an object and measuring its resulting acceleration.

The second law of motion, also known as the Law of Acceleration, states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net external force acting on the object, and inversely proportional to its mass.

The third law of motion, also known as the Law of Action-Reaction, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Newton's laws are only valid in inertial reference frames, do not apply to objects that are moving at speeds close to the speed of light, and do not take into account the effects of quantum mechanics.

Projectile motion is the motion of an object that is launched into the air and then moves under the influence of gravity.

Circular motion is the motion of an object that moves in a circular path.

Friction is the force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact.

Tension is the force that is transmitted through a string, rope, cable or wire when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends.

Gravity is the force of attraction between two bodies with mass.

Normal force is the upward force exerted by a surface on a body to balance the downward force of gravity.

Compression is the force exerted by a rope or string when it is pushed together.

Applied force is a force applied to a body, causing the body to exert a force in the opposite direction.

Understanding forces is crucial in many fields, including physics, engineering, and everyday life, as it helps us predict how objects will move and interact with each other, and design safe and efficient systems and structures.

Some important forces to know for the AP Physics 1 exam include gravity, normal force, tension, compression, friction, and applied