Unit 0
Things you need to know before we start our physics standards.
Variables and Units:
Before we can start addressing physics and its wealth of knowledge we must first learn about how we label and identify values in physics. Watch this video and take notes on how to identify variables and units in physics. |
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Converting units, an intro to the metric system:
When using the metric system we sometimes have to convert from one unit to another unit. (if you don't remember how to identify a unit please watch the variables and units video above.) Luckily for us the metric system is easy to convert with, no 12 inches in a foot or 3 feet in a yard, we get to convert by using the number 10!
So when converting you will be moving the decimal place either to the left or the right. The number of times you move the decimal is dependent on how many steps you are converting. (there are 100 cm in 1 meter. so I would move the decimal over 2 spaces. 1. m -> 100. cm)
I plan on covering some of this in class on the first week.
When using the metric system we sometimes have to convert from one unit to another unit. (if you don't remember how to identify a unit please watch the variables and units video above.) Luckily for us the metric system is easy to convert with, no 12 inches in a foot or 3 feet in a yard, we get to convert by using the number 10!
So when converting you will be moving the decimal place either to the left or the right. The number of times you move the decimal is dependent on how many steps you are converting. (there are 100 cm in 1 meter. so I would move the decimal over 2 spaces. 1. m -> 100. cm)
I plan on covering some of this in class on the first week.
Dimensional analysis
Dimensional analysis is a fancy term for keeping track of your units to make sure you have the correct answer. You do this by correctly converting like units (such as meter to kilometer or seconds to hours) while canceling out like units when prompted by the math. Ex: if I gave you the equation 2x / x you would solve it and get 2. The x's cancel, this is the same with units. Just like variables units can be canceled out of an equation or even multiplied together. Ex: if I multiplied 2y * y i would get 2y^2 (2 y squared) this can also happen with units. Just remember, 2x + x = 3x NOT 2x^2 |
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