The Physics of Home Alone



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.

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 along with learn some new concepts. 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?

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