Calculating the Acceleration of an Object in Simple Harmonic Motion
In physics, you can calculate the acceleration of an object in simple harmonic motion as it moves in a circle; all you need to know is the object’s path radius and angular velocity. [more…]
Understanding Buoyancy Using Archimedes’s Principle
In physics, Archimedes’s principle says that any fluid exerts a buoyant force on an object wholly or partially submerged in it, and the magnitude of the buoyant force equals the weight of the fluid displaced [more…]
How Torque Causes Angular Acceleration
In physics, when you rotate an extended object, such as a rod, disk, or cube, which has its mass distributed through space, you have to take into account where the force is applied. Enter torque. [more…]
How Simple Harmonic Motion Works in Horizontal and Vertical Springs
In physics, when the net force acting on an object is elastic (such as on a vertical or horizontal spring), the object can undergo a simple oscillatory motion called [more…]
Using a Pulley to Demonstrate Newton’s Third Law
In physics, no force can be exerted without an equal and opposite force (even if some of that opposing force comes from making an object accelerate). A rope and pulley can act together to change the direction [more…]
Calculating the Force Needed to Move an Object Up a Slope
In physics, when frictional forces are acting on a sloped surface such as a ramp, the angle of the ramp tilts the normal force at an angle. When you work out the frictional forces, you need to take this [more…]
Measure Liquid Flow Using the Equation of Continuity
In physics, if a fluid is flowing at a certain speed at a certain point in a system of pipes, you can predict what its speed will be at another point by using the [more…]
How to Determine the Direction of Angular Velocity
In physics, when a wheel is spinning, it has not only an angular speed but also a direction. Here’s what the angular velocity vector tells you: [more…]
