MIDTERM EXAM REVIEW SUMMARY (A)
___________________ - Open Ended
___________________ - Multiple Choice
Both Exams Together Are Worth Approximately 10% of Your Final Grade.
Spread your studying out over several days. Use this summary to help you to plan out what you want to
cover each day. Try to leave the night before the exam open as a ‘cushion time’ to check over any
problem areas and to keep the stress level down.
 IF WE COVERED IT IN CLASS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. The attempt has been made to
make this as inclusive as possible, but some may have been left off this list. Be sure to look over your
notes to review any other information. (Study also Scientific method, graphing, and anything else we
covered in class.)
As you review, check off each concept when you’re sure that you understand it. When I say “understand
it” that does not mean that the concept “makes sense” on the night before the exam when you glance
over what you have in your notes!
Understanding a concept means that you
can answer old and new questions about it - with just some general equations - on a blank
sheet of paper and without looking at your book and notes..
know the meanings and uses of all the equations and vocabulary related to it.
A ‘Plug & Chug’ approach to solving the homework will fail you at some point during the exam, so make
sure that you’re making an attempt to familiarize yourself with the physics behind the problems.
Jot down notes on this sheet about different techniques and tips you use to solve each problem. Highlight
trouble spots to review. Right before the exam, instead of flipping wildly through your notes, look
over this review summary instead.
Look over old homework and tests. Don’t repeat your old mistakes on the midterm.
I will provide you with a sheet listing all the equations you will need during the exam. Your problem will
be to know when and how to use them.
Remember, there will be qualitative (descriptive) questions on the exam as well as quantitative
(mathematical); you need to grasp the physics behind the problems! (not just the math!)
 Rework some of problems that have already been worked in class or for homework. These make good
review, especially if you had trouble with them the first time around. Remember, there are concept
review and example questions in the chapters, and a plethora of unworked questions from the end of
each chapter.
Practice good problem solving techniques! (Show initial information, formulas, work and units!)
©Modeling Workshop Project 2002
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Objectives
Unit II: Constant Velocity (Text Ch 2)
What you should know when all is said and done
1. You should be able to determine the average velocity of an object in two ways:
a. determining the slope of an x vs t graph.
x
b. using the equation v 
t
2. You should be able to determine the displacement of an object in two ways:
a. finding the area under a v vs t graph.
b. using the equation x  vt
3. Given an x vs t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the object (starting position, direction of motion, velocity)
b. draw the corresponding v vs t graph
c. draw a motion map for the object.
d. determine the average velocity of the object (slope).
e. write the mathematical model which describes the motion.
4. Given a v vs t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the object (direction of motion, how fast)
b. draw the corresponding x vs t graph
c. determine the displacement of the object (area under curve).
d. draw a motion map for the object.
e. write a mathematical model to describe the motion.
Additional Study Hints:
Look over all the old worksheets and quizzes.
Make up a x vs t graph and see if you can draw the v vs t graph.
Get together with your lab partners and review.
UNIT III: Constant Acceleration (Text Ch 3)
What you should know when all is said and done
1. You should be able to determine the instantaneous velocity of an object in three ways:
a. determining the slope of the tangent to an x vs t graph at a given point.
b. using the mathematical model v f  at  vi
c. using the mathematical model v 2f  v2i  2ax
2. You should be able to determine the displacement of an object in three ways:
a. finding the area under a v vs t curve
2
b. using the mathematical model x  12 at  vit
c. using the mathematical model
v 2f  v2i  2ax
3. You should be able to determine the acceleration of an object in five ways:
a. finding the slope of a v vs t graph
v
b. using the mathematical model a 
t
2
c. rearranging the mathematical model x  12 at  vit
©Modeling Workshop Project 2002
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Objectives
d. rearranging the mathematical model v f  at  vi
e. rearranging the mathematical model v 2f  v2i  2ax
4. Given a x vs t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the object (starting position, direction of motion, velocity)
b. draw the corresponding v vs t graph
c. draw the corresponding a vs t graph
d. draw a motion map for the object (including v and a vectors)
e. determine the instantaneous velocity of the object at a given time
5. Given a v vs t graph, you should be able to:
a. describe the motion of the object (direction of motion, acceleration)
b. draw the corresponding x vs t graph
c. draw the corresponding a vs t graph
d. draw a motion map for the object (including v and a vectors)
e. write a mathematical model to describe the motion
f. determine the acceleration
g. determine the displacement for a given time interval
Additionl Study Hints:
Look over all the old worksheets and quizzes.
Make up a x vs t graph and see if you can draw the v vs t and a vs t graphs.
Get together with your lab partners and review.
Unit VI: Free Fall & Projectiles (Text Ch 3)
What you should know when all is said and done
By the time you finish all labs, worksheets and related activities, you should be able to:
1. Use video analysis techniques to produce position-time and velocity-time graphs which represent
the behavior of an object moving in two dimensions.
2. Determine which model (free or constant force particle model) is appropriate to describe the
horizontal and vertical motion of an object.
3. Draw a motion map for an object undergoing parabolic motion, with velocity and acceleration
vectors for both dimensions.
4. Draw a force diagram for an object undergoing parabolic motion.
5. Given information about the initial velocity and height of a projectile determine
a. the time of flight,
b. the point where the projectile lands
c. velocity at impact
6. Explain what effect the mass of a projectile has on its time of flight.
©Modeling Workshop Project 2002
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Objectives
UNIT IV: Newton’s 1st & 3rd Laws (Text Ch4)
What you should know when all is said and done
By the time you finish all labs, worksheets and related activities, you should be able to:
1. Describe and give examples of Newton's 1st Law.
Newton's 1st Law: An object at rest or moving at constant velocity continues its current motion
unless acted upon by an outside agent (force).
2. Given a diagram or a written description of the forces acting on an object.:
a. draw a force diagram for the object
b. resolve the forces into x and y components, then find the vector sum of the forces.
c. state whether the velocity of the object is constant or changing.
3. Given a diagram or description of an object in equilibrium, including the forces acting on the
object, determine the magnitude and direction of the "missing" force required to keep the object
from accelerating.
4. State Newton's 3rd Law; apply it in situations in which you are trying to determine all the forces
acting on an object.
All forces come in pairs; paired forces are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction and act on
separate bodies. FAB = -FBA
UNIT V – Newton’s 2nd Law (F=ma) (Text Ch 4)
What you should know when all is said and done
By the time you finish all labs, worksheets and related activities, you should be able to:
1. Use Newton's 2nd Law to qualitatively describe the relationship between m and a, F and a,
m and F. (e.g., if you double the mass, the acceleration will…)
2. Given a v vs t graph, draw the corresponding a vs t and F vs t graphs.
3. Determine the net force acting on an object by:
a. drawing a force diagram for an object given a written description of the forces acting on it.
b. resolving forces into x and y components, then finding the vector sum of the forces.
c. analysis of the kinematic behavior of the object.
4. Solve quantitative problems involving forces, mass and acceleration using Newton's 2nd Law.
a. Having determined the net force (as in #3), and given the mass, find the acceleration.
b. Continue to use the kinematical models from unit III to determine the velocity or
displacement of the object, once the acceleration is known.
©Modeling Workshop Project 2002
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Objectives