Position Vectors, Velocity, Acceleration, and Newton's Laws

This page provides a comprehensive overview of fundamental physics concepts related to motion and forces. The content explores vector quantities and Newton's laws while introducing various types of forces.

Definition: Position vectors (ū) describe the location of an object in space using coordinates, while velocity (v) represents the rate of change of position, and acceleration (a) describes the rate of change of velocity.

Vocabulary:

• Rectilinear motion: Movement along a straight line
• Circular motion: Movement along a circular path
• Uniform motion: Motion with constant velocity
• Non-uniform motion: Motion with varying velocity

Example: In uniform motion, velocity remains constant (v(t) = constant), while in non-uniform motion, velocity changes over time, resulting in acceleration.

Highlight: Newton's laws form the foundation of classical mechanics:

• First Law: Objects maintain their state of motion unless acted upon by external forces (ΣFext = 0)
• Second Law: Force equals mass times acceleration (ΣFext = ma)

Definition: Common types of forces include:

• Weight (P = mg)
• Normal/Support Reaction (R)
• Friction (F)
• Gravitational Force (FG)
• Tension (T)

Highlight: Vector quantities in motion are typically expressed through their components:

• Position: x(t), y(t)
• Velocity: vx(t) = dx/dt, vy(t) = dy/dt
• Acceleration: ax(t) = dvx/dt, ay(t) = dvy/dt