Major Physics Ideas in the Machine
Velocity (v) - The rate at which something travels. This is calculated by dividing distance by time. The unit is meters per second (m/s).
Example - One rolled down a ramp at a velocity of 0.12 m/s.
Acceleration (a) - The rate at which something changes velocity. This is calculated by dividing velocity by time. The unit is meters per second squared (m/s^2).
Example - When the ball rolled down the inclined ramp it gave the ball more acceleration.
Acceleration due to Gravity (g) - The rate at which something changes velocity due to gravity. This value is always 9.8 m/s^2.
Example - Every object in the machine that would free fall would accelerate at 9.8 m/s^2.
Force (F) - The push or pull on an object. This is calculated by multiplying mass by acceleration. The unit is newtons (N).
Example - The ball dropped onto the lever which applied force.
Potential Energy (PE) - The amount of energy in an object at rest. This is calculated by multiplying mass, height, and acceleration. The unit is joules (J).
Example - The ball at the top of the lever had 0.083 J of potential energy.
Kinetic Energy (KE) - The amount of energy in an object in motion. This is calculated by multiplying half of the mass to the velocity squared (1/2mv^2). The unit is joules (J).
Example - When the ball rolled to the end of the ramp it had 0.12 J of kinetic energy.
Energy Transfer - The transition from one type of energy to another.
Example - The ball starts at the top of the inclined ramp which is potential energy then it rolls down the ramp which is kinetic energy.
Mechanical Advantage - There are two types of mechanical advantage: ideal and real. Ideal is how much further you push using a tool, and real is how much easier (less Force) a tool makes something. This has no unit since it's a ratio.
Example - The pulley had a mechanical advantage of 1.
Simple Machine - A basic device that makes an objective easier. There are 6 types: lever, wedge, screw, wheel and axle, pulley, and inclined plane.
Example - The ball rolled down our inclined ramp.