Kinematics Mayhem

Kinematics is defined as the branch of physics that concerns motion and its equations. Motion comes in 1D, 2D, and 3D, each having its own set of equations. In my physics class, we've studied 1D and 2D motion. The equations for 1D motion are:

• V= V0+at
• Vav=1/2(V+V0)
• X=X0+1/2(V0+V)t
• X=X0+V0t+1/2at²
• V²=V0²+2ax

2D motion has two components to it, an X-component and a Y-component. The X-component equations are:

• X=V0t
• Vx=V0x
• Vx² =V0x²

The Y-component equations are:

• Y=Y0+V0yt+1/2gt²
• Vy=V0y+gt
• Vy² =V0y² +2gy

What I find really difficult about this is the 2D kinematics equations, and knowing when to use which equation in order to find the horizontal or vertical component of the velocity. Understanding how to work problems that have a projectile curving has also been a struggle of mine.

My problem solving skills have major room for improvement... That being said, I feel as though I've done most everything I can to try and improve them, starting with practicing the problems on my own time, to receiving tutoring. My biggest weakness is in the reasoning and math, so I will start there and try to continue to build my (lack of) skills.

Now that I've given a brief introduction to kinematics, please enjoy a word find (courtesy of Discovery Education PuzzleMaker). 

In real life, kinematics can be applied to a sledder cruising down a hill (1D), or a person in the back of a pick-up truck shooting a pellet gun straight up in the air (2D).

Sources:

"Create Your Own Puzzles." Free Puzzlemaker. Discovery Channel, 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/?CFID=2924304&CFTOKEN=60942403>.

"The Kinematics Equations." The Physics Classroom. The Physics Classroom, 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. <http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/1dkin/u1l6a.cfm>.

"What Is Kinematics?" Physics-Online Info. Physics-Online Info, n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. <http://www.physics-online.info/book1/chapt1/Topic1-4.htm>.