The Physics of Home Alone

Name: ______Date: ______

Objectives: 1. You will be able to see the three laws of motion applied and recognize them in action. 2. You will be able to identify several types of forces including balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, gravity and forces exerted by fluids. 3. You will see and identify changes in energy from one form to another as energy is conserved. 4. You will be able to recognize and identify a variety of simple machines in action and how they help perform work.

This assignment will be the equivalent of a test grade for this six weeks. You may QUIETLY collaborate with a neighbor but remember to focus on the major principles and ideas we have learned since beginning our study of physics. Good luck and enjoy!!!!

1. a. In the scene where the old man is dragging the trash can, are the forces applied to the trash can balanced or unbalanced? ______How can you tell? ______b. Specifically name two of the forces acting on the trash can. ______c. If the mass of the trash can increases, how will the force of friction change? ______2. a. When the dad is talking to the police officer, what two machines does he mention they have in the house to protect it? ______and ______. b. What two types of simple machines are these? ______and ______. 3. List three examples of unbalanced forces that occur in the kitchen while the family sits down to eat. a. b. c. 4. The interruption of what form of energy caused the McAlister family to be late? ______5. a. When the airplane lifts off the runway, what fluid principle causes it to fly? ______b. What are the four forces that are acting on the plane while it is in flight? ______, ______, ______, and ______. 6. a. When Kevin is jumping on the bed, what major energy conversions are taking place? ______changes into ______b. Explain how these energy forms are changing as he is bouncing up and down.

7. How is the machine gun (in the video) more efficient than the BB gun that Kevin used? 8. a. When Kevin slides down the stairs, what causes him to keep going? ______b. What forces are acting on him as he moves down the stairs? ______c. Are these forces balanced or unbalanced? ______How can you tell? ______d. The stairs act as what type of simple machine? ______9. As Kevin is sliding down the stairs and lands in the snow he is exhibiting Newton’s ______law of motion because ______.

10. As Kevin and the sled make their way out of the house, they become airborne. Use what you know about projectile motion to explain the time they spend in the air.

11. Use what you know about work, force and energy to explain what happens to the bookshelves after the first shelf falls down.

12. After taking the toothbrush, Kevin is able to escape from the police using ______on the ice. 13. Give at least two specific examples of how Kevin used simple machines to make it seem as though there were real people moving in his house.

14. a. Explain the energy conversions that take place when the pizza delivery boy’s car tires begin to smoke.

b. What is the role of friction in this situation?

15. The bags Kevin was carrying broke due to ______. 16. a. Explain the energy conversions that take place when the firecrackers explode in the pan.

b. Which of Newton’s laws of motion apply to this situation? ______Why?

17. As Kevin is decorating the Christmas tree he notices the reflection of the burglar in one of the ornaments. What type of mirror does the ornament act as? ______How can you tell?

18. a. Why was water poured on the steps? b. Which force will be affected by this?

19. When the burglar pulled the light switch it acted as a ______that was attached to the iron. The iron fell because of the force of ______. 20. a. The burglars use a crowbar. What kind of simple machine is a crowbar an example of? ______b. Did the crowbar increase or decrease the burglar’s mechanical advantage? ______How do you know? 21. a. What kind of energy transfer was involved when the heating coil was placed on the door knob? ______turned into ______b. Would the effect have been the same if the door knob was made of glass? ______Explain. 22. The nail on the steps served as a ______. 23. The blow torch converted ______energy into ______energy. 24. The fan was what type of simple machine? ______25. How did the ornaments that the burglars stepped on serve as simple machines?

26. a. How did the little cars left at the bottom of the stairs assist Kevin?

b. What forces were involved in the resulting motion of the burglars?

27. Why was it more effective for Kevin to swing the paint buckets rather than to throw them?

28. How did the handlebar rope make it easier for Kevin to get to the tree house?

29. The pruning shears are a compound machine. What two simple machines are they a combination of? ______and ______30. What stopped the burglar’s momentum after Kevin cut the rope?