Physics 107 – Final Exam Review: Comprehensive Study Notes

Displacement, Speed, and Acceleration

Definitions and Key Concepts

• Displacement: The straight-line distance and direction from an object's initial to final position.

• Speed: The rate at which an object covers distance; instantaneous speed is the speed at a specific moment, while average speed is total distance divided by total time.

• Velocity: Speed with a specified direction.

• Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity with time.

• Mass: The amount of matter in an object; a measure of inertia.

• Inertia: The tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.

Vectors vs. Scalars

• Vector: A quantity with both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force).

• Scalar: A quantity with only magnitude (e.g., mass, speed).

Motion Diagrams

• Used to represent speeding up, slowing down, and constant speed.

• Arrows indicate velocity; changing arrow length shows acceleration.

Circular Motion

• Motion along a circular path; involves centripetal acceleration directed toward the center.

Newton's Laws of Motion

First Law (Law of Inertia)

• An object remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by a net external force.

Second Law

• The acceleration of an object is proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to its mass.

• Equation: $F_{net} = ma$

Third Law

• For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Law of Gravity

• Every mass attracts every other mass with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

• Equation: $F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}$

Forces and Equilibrium

• Net Force: The vector sum of all forces acting on an object.

• Equilibrium: When the net force is zero; object is at rest or moves with constant velocity.

Work and Energy

• Work: The product of force and displacement in the direction of the force.

• Equation: $W = Fd \cos\theta$

• Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion, $KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$

• Potential Energy: Stored energy due to position, $PE = mgh$

• Conservation of Energy: Total energy remains constant in an isolated system.

Momentum

• Momentum: Product of mass and velocity, $p = mv$

• Impulse: Change in momentum, $J = F\Delta t$

• Conservation of Momentum: In a closed system, total momentum before and after an event is constant.

Rotational Motion

• Involves objects rotating about an axis; characterized by angular velocity and angular acceleration.

• Moment of Inertia: Rotational equivalent of mass.

• Angular Momentum: $L = I\omega$

Gravity and Satellites

• Satellites orbit due to the balance between gravitational force and inertia.

• Gravitational force provides the centripetal force for circular orbits.

Fluids, Pressure, and Buoyancy

• Density: $\rho = \frac{m}{V}$

• Pressure: $P = \frac{F}{A}$

• Buoyant Force: Upward force on an object in a fluid, equal to the weight of displaced fluid (Archimedes' Principle).

• Floating vs. Sinking: Depends on the relative densities of object and fluid.

Waves and Sound

• Wave: A disturbance that transfers energy through a medium or space.

• Frequency: Number of cycles per second (Hz).

• Speed of Sound: Depends on medium; $v = f\lambda$

• Doppler Effect: Change in frequency due to relative motion of source and observer.

Energy Transformations

• Energy can change forms: chemical, thermal, light, electrical, kinetic, etc.

Matter and Atomic Concepts

• Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

• Properties include charge, location, and mass of subatomic particles.

Summary Table: Key Physical Quantities

Quantity	Symbol	Unit	Equation
Displacement	$\Delta x$	m	—
Velocity	$v$	m/s	$v = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$
Acceleration	$a$	m/s2	$a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$
Force	$F$	N	$F = ma$
Work	$W$	J	$W = Fd \cos\theta$
Kinetic Energy	$KE$	J	$KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$
Potential Energy	$PE$	J	$PE = mgh$
Momentum	$p$	kg·m/s	$p = mv$
Pressure	$P$	Pa	$P = \frac{F}{A}$
Density	$\rho$	kg/m3	$\rho = \frac{m}{V}$

Additional info: This guide expands on checklist points with academic context, definitions, and equations for comprehensive exam preparation.