Physics For Beginners

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Definitions
   • Speed
   • Velocity
   • Acceleration (with a picture)
2. Newton's Laws of Motion
   • 1st Law
   • 2nd Law
   • 3rd Law
3. Force and Acceleration (Is there a relationship?)
   • Mass
   • Additive Nature of Forces
   • Direction
   • Acceleration in Detail
     • Figuring Out the Direction of the Acceleration
     • Constant Acceleration
4. Units: What are they good for?
   • Basic Units
     • Length
     • Mass
     • Time
   • Derived Units
     • Speed
     • Acceleration
     • Force
   • Converting Units
5. Kinematics: In One Dimension and Under Constant Acceleration
   • Sign Convention
   • Velocity Formula
     • Solving for the velocity
     • Solving for the time
     • Solving for the acceleration
     • Solving for the initial velocity
   • Distance Formula
     • Choice of the Origin
     • Solving for time
       • Example 1: Initial velocity and acceleration in the same direction
       • Example 2: Initial velocity and acceleration in opposite directions
   • Using the Distance and Velocity Formulae in Combination: Bet You Can't Just Use One
     • Some Useful Examples
   • Making contact with Newton's First Law of Motion
6. Gravity
   • Gravity Near the Surface of the Earth
   • Gravity In Detail
     • Gravity's Dependence on Mass
     • Gravity's Dependence on Distance
     • General Gravity Formula Revealed
       • Dependence on Mass
       • Dependence on Distance
       • Summary of Important Points about the Gravity Formula
     • Some Interesting Observations about Gravity
   • Scientific Notation: A Necessary Evil and Another Detour
     • Sliding to the Right
     • Sliding to the Left
     • Summary
   • Return of Gravity in Detail: Armed with the Scientific Notation
     • A "Little" Something about Big G, the Mysterious Gravitational Constant
     • Some Examples
     • Big G, Meet Little g
7. Uniform Circular Motion: Round and Round I Go
   • General Observations
     • Summary
   • Direction of Velocity
     • Summary
   • How Much Force Do I Really Need?
     • Relationship between Force and Speed
     • Relationship between Force and Radius
     • Summary