Conceptual physics
Write up cogent responses to the following questions using complete sentences that make sense. You may use online lectures from earlier in this course, outside sources of information, the textbook, and may consult me or classmates, but must write your answers in your own words. You will be graded on whether your responses are correct, how well they are written, and how completely the question is addressed in your response. This is from textbook Physics concepts & connections fifth edition by Art Hobson 1. If you drive through a turn at constant speed, what direction is your acceleration? Based on a free body diagram identify what force is most directly responsible for the car’s acceleration in the turn. What happens to the acceleration if a car is slowing down at the same time as it is going through a turn, answering as completely as possible. Would the car need more or less force to slow down in a turn versus coasting through? 2. Let’s say that a car company has managed to double the gas mileage on its cars in the last twenty years, but now aims to double it again. Based on the second law of thermodynamics, does this seem likely? Is there a way to appear to double the gas mileage of a car that would violate the calculated maximum predicted by the second law of thermodynamics without actually violating that law of physics? Describe how this might be done or possibly is already being done. 3. What energy transformations are involved in: (a) a photovoltaic solar panel trickle charging a battery, (b) a microwave oven reheating some coffee, (c) a climber climbing up a sheer rock face, (d) a battery powering a lightbulb, (e) a slingshot slinging a small rock at a wall. Make sure to answer in terms of specific energy types rather than broad categories of energy types and note that there could be more than two energy types involved in some cases. 4. Sound and light are both waves. Describe at least three distinct phenomena or characteristics that sound and light have in common and are connected with the fact that both are waves. Describe at least three examples of ways in which sound and light are different.
