Preview - Ap Physics 1 Mechanics

Challenge Problems

Now things get trickier. Each time you click "setup target," the green target will be in a new place. That means you can't use trial and error to figure out the engine schedule that will get you there. Instead you need to figure out a way to calculate it. You can use the "ruler" button to measure how far the ship is from the target. In this version, you can also adjust how strongly the engines fire, not just how long they fire for. 

Questions

Please answer the questions below.

Start with the "target-mode" option set to "random target 1D." In this mode, the target will always be at the same y-coordinate as the space ship, but will be a random distance away in the x-direction each time you click "setup target". Your job is to figure out a way to calculate what the engine schedule should be to reach the target. There are multiple ways to do this.

In the box below, describe your method each time you try, even if it doesn't work yet. It will probably take you at least a few tries to perfect your method so that you can consistently land on the target. So, each time you try, describe your method and what happened. Then describe how you are changing your method. Repeat this until you have a method that consistently works. 

After the engine stops firing, what happens to the velocity? To the momentum?

Take the initial velocity as zero and the mass as 8 kg. If the left rocket applied 10N of force for 8 seconds, what would the final velocity be? What would the momentum be? How far would it travel in those 8 seconds?

Sketch an exact graph of the velocity vs. time for the scenario in question 3.

Note: Draw your sketch in the sketchpad below

What does the area under the graph equal?

If the mass in question 3, was 4 kg, what would the final velocity be after the 8 seconds? What is the momentum after the 8 seconds?

Sketch an exact graph of the force vs. time for the scenario in question 3. 

Note: Draw your sketch in the sketchpad below

What does the area under the  graph equal?

Now set the "target-mode" to "random target 2D." In this mode, the target will be at a random distance from the rocket in both directions each time you click "setup target". Once again, your job is to figure out a way to calculate what the engine schedule should be to reach the target. 

Again, in the box below, describe your method each time you try, even if it doesn't work yet. It will probably take you at least a few tries to perfect your method so that you can consistently land on the target. So, each time you try, describe your method and what happened. Then describe how you are changing your method. Repeat this until you have a method that consistently works. 

If you've gotten to this point, it's time to celebrate by drawing something cool with the rocket! Play around with setting the engine schedule to get the rocket to draw a shape or a design. When you have something you like, take a screen shot of your blocks and upload them here. 

Upload files that are less than 5MB in size.
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Notes

These notes will appear on every page in this lesson so feel free to put anything here you'd like to keep track of.