Cars and Kinetic Energy--Some Simple Physics with Real-World Relevance

Autor/in	Parthasarathy, Raghuveer
Titel	Cars and Kinetic Energy--Some Simple Physics with Real-World Relevance
Quelle	In: Physics Teacher, 50 (2012) 7, S.395-397 (3 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0031-921X
DOI	10.1119/1.4752039
Schlagwörter	Motor Vehicles; Kinetics; Energy; Physics; Relevance (Education); Prediction; Science Instruction; Science Activities + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Motor vehicle; Kraftwagen; Kinetik; Energie; Physik; Relevance; Relevanz; Vorhersage; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht
Abstract	Understanding energy usage is crucial to understanding modern civilization, as well as many of the challenges it faces. Energy-related issues also offer real-world examples of important physical concepts, and as such have been the focus of several articles in "The Physics Teacher" in the past few decades (e.g., Refs. 1-5, noted further below). Here, I illustrate how a basic understanding of kinetic energy--a topic encountered early in any introductory physics course--enables significant insights into the nature of automobile transportation. Specifically, we can accurately predict how much power the average driver in the United States uses, and explain what determines this, without needing to consider any aspects of mechanical engineering or engine design. (Contains 2 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10