How to Solve Physics Problems with Forces (Mechanics).

Name: How to Solve Physics Problems with Forces (Mechanics).
Rating: 4.7 (35 reviews)

A 5-step technique that will guide you through the resolution of physics questions involving forces.

Highest Rated

Created byEdouard Reny

Last updated 11/2020

English

What you'll learn

A systematic technique to solve physics questions with forces.
Know how to proceed when uninspired by a physics question involving forces.
Draw an accurate free body diagram.
Manipulate and sum vectors graphically and analytically.
Derive the mathematical expression of a resultant force.
Know when and how to apply Newton's Laws.
Examine equations in order to identify a solution to a problem.

Course content

4 sections • 19 lectures • 2h 21m total length

The 5-step technique in a nutshell (Episode 1)4:35
Master the five-step technique for solving forces problems by constructing free body diagrams, setting axes, calculating the net force with vector additions, applying Newton's laws, and solving for the unknown.
Solved example in 1 dimension (Episode 2)5:12
Solved example in 2 dimensions (Episode 3)10:11
Use a five-step, two-dimensional approach: draw a free body diagram, set axes, resolve forces, apply Newton’s laws, and solve with SUVAT to show the car reaches the hilltop.

Step 1: Draw a Free Body Diagram (Episode 4)18:48
Master drawing free body diagrams by listing forces such as gravity, air resistance, normal force, and tension, and analyze motion from free fall to pulleys and inclined planes.
Step 2: Define the Axes (Episode 5)4:51
Define perpendicular axes aligned with motion and choose a positive direction along the initial motion to simplify free body diagrams, treat forces as vectors, and compute net force components.
Manipulating Vectors (Episode 6)17:33
Learn to find the net force by adding vectors graphically and analytically, using components Fx and Fy, and compute the resultant's magnitude and direction in two dimensions.
Step 3: Express the Net Force (Episode 7)4:06
Express the net force as a vector sum by building a free body diagram of a sled pulled by a horse and resolve forces into x and y components.
Step 4: Apply Newton's Laws (Episode 8)6:21
Apply Newton's first and second laws by linking net force, mass, and acceleration, with mass as the inertial mass that resists motion.
Step 5: Solve the Problem (Episode 9)4:50

Exercise 1: Tensions & Ropes (Episode 10)5:10
Exercise 2: Connected Blocks (Episode 11)4:28
Treat the three blocks as a single 6M system to find the acceleration a = F/(6M). Then analyze the 3M block to find the rope tension T = F/2.
Exercise 3: A Block on a Slope (Episode 12)3:53
Understanding Friction (Episode 13)6:14
Exercise 4: Friction on an inclined plane (Episode 13B)4:19
Derive the coefficient of static friction on an inclined plane using a free body diagram. Show mu_s equals tan(theta) at the angle the box just begins to slip.
Exercise 5: The Elevator (Episode 14)3:21
Compute the normal force on the man by using a free body diagram and Newton's laws, then determine acceleration from tension and apply N = m(g + a).
Exercise 6: The Crate and The Pit (Episode 15)6:02
Analyze a 10 kg crate pushed by 90 N with mu_k = 0.5 for five seconds, then decelerate, showing it reaches a pit after 20 m and falls in.
Exercise 7: The Flea Jump (Episode 16)11:37
analyze the flea’s takeoff with a free-body diagram, compute the net force and accelerations, then apply suvat to find the 0.72-meter landing from the starting point.
Exercise 8: Th Asymmetric Rope (Episode 17)5:13

Turning Forces (Torques): a 5-Step Technique to Solving Questions.14:28
One of you on Udemy has sent me a problem with forces. Turns out, using Torques was required to find the solution. Torques are also called Moments or "Turning Forces". In this video, I show you how to solve problems with Torques in 5 steps, like I did in this course for standard translational forces. I go through the technique quite fast (a few minutes). So, if you think it would be relevant to produce a full detailed course on the subject, please let me know, and I will put in on my list!

Requirements

Basic algebra.
Being familiar with the concept of vectors (some basic notions will be reminded in the course).
Basics in trigonometry (some basic notions may be reminded in the course).

Description

Have you ever been stuck when trying to answer a mechanics question involving forces?

Maybe you are clueless on how to begin, or maybe you often get stuck at a certain point?

Well, this course is there to solve that problem!

This course presents a 5-step technique that can guide you through any physics problem involving force. It is structured in 3 sections.

The first three episodes contain a summary of the 5 steps and 2 solved examples. The goal of this first section is to for you to get an overview of the technique before diving into the details.
The second section consists in 6 lesson videos. The process of applying each step is presented in detail and in various situation. The conceptual and mathematical tools required to carry out each single step is also presented (1 step = 1 video + 1 extra video about the manipulation of vectors). You will learn here how to draw a free body diagram, how to express a resultant force mathematically, how to manipulate vectors, when and how to apply Newton’s Laws etc…
The third section is your play-ground! You will find 8 exercises for you to train your skills in applying the 5-step technique to solve physics problems. After giving you a chance to solve each question yourself, the presenter carries out a detailed correction on the white board. This section also contains a video lesson about mechanical friction forces.

I have been a private teacher for 7 years now, helping every year, dozens of students with their study of physics. One observation I can report is that many students manage to get by a mechanics problem, and even find a correct numerical solution, without truly understanding the concepts they used, and without any structure to their thinking…

The problem shows up the day of the exam when confronted to an exercise they have never seen before… Exam day can then easily turn into panic day. This is why I produced this course, to avoid such a situation.

If you follow the course seriously and work on the exercises diligently, you will learn much more than just a bunch of equations. You will learn how to approach any dynamic problem (at the high school level) and thus learn how to begin the resolution process when confronted to a new question.

When this approach becomes second nature to you, you will realize that Physics is actually pretty easy to handle: the patterns of thinking presented in this course are commonly used in many areas of physics, and could be very useful to you in your studies.

The level of this class corresponds to the last years of High School Physics Programs. This makes it an ideal tool as support for the lessons you get at school, and to prepare any High School Diplomas in Physics, like for example IB Physics, A-Level Physics, AP Physics etc.

I hope you enjoy the course and wish you a productive study,

Edouard Reny, PhD, Tutor in Physics.

Note: This course comes with manually edited captions. So even if you are not a native english speaker, you can still make the most of this course!

Who this course is for:

High school students taking Physics.
Any student having difficulties in solving Physics problems where forces are involved.
Any person that wishes to understand how to manipulate forces and use them to solve physics problems.
Engineers, university students, and any person that wishes to revisit the basics of Dynamics,

How to Solve Physics Problems with Forces (Mechanics).

What you'll learn

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Course content

The 5-step technique to solve physics problems with forces (Introduction)3 lectures • 20min

The 5 steps in detail (Lesson Videos)6 lectures • 56min

Applying the 5-step technique (Exercise Videos)9 lectures • 50min

Bonus Videos1 lecture • 14min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: