CH3: Space

Question 1

What is geometry?

Answer 1

The branch of mathematics that describes points, lines, shapes, and space.

Question 2

Who is Euclid?

Answer 2

An ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher. Even though he first defined space more than 2,000 years ago, his definitions are still in use today. Known as the father of geometry

Question 3

What were Euclid’s Postulates to define space?

Answer 3

1. A straight line may be drawn between any 2 points
2. Any straight line can be drawn indefinitely in a straight line
3. Given a straight line segment, a circle can be drawn where one endpoint is the centre and the length of the segment is the radius
4. All right angles are congruent
5. Given 2 lines, where a third line drawn that intersects them in a way that the sum of the angles is less than 180⁰, the two lines will intersect

Question 4

(Linear) Spatial Quantities: Scalar

Answer 4

1. Length or spatial distance (s)
2. Speed (v)

Question 5

(Linear) Spatial Quantites: Vector

Answer 5

1. Position or displacement (s or ∆s)
2. Velocity (v)
3. Acceleration (a)
4. Force (F)

Question 6

What is a scalar quantity?

Answer 6

A scalar quantity is used when all of the required information regarding the quantity is captured in the magnitude

Question 7

What is a vector quantity?

Answer 7

Provide both a magnitude and a direction.

Question 8

When defining a vector, what are the three parameters you need to identify?

Answer 8

1. the magnitude of the vector
2. the direction of the vector
3. the vector’s sense. The magnitude of the vector is specific to the physical quantity of interest and is given in the appropriate units for that physical quantity (i.e. force in N, velocity in m/s, etc.).

Question 9

What are the two ways to do vector addition?

Answer 9

1. Parallelogram method
2. Cartesian Coordinate System