Question

1. which scenario would be studied by dynamics?

the force applied by air resistance to a falling skydiver
the acceleration of a person on a roller coaster
the distance a satellite moves each hour it is in orbit
the time it takes a rocket to travel to mars

Explanation:

Dynamics in physics deals with the study of forces and their effect on motion (including acceleration, considering forces like gravity, friction, etc.). Let's analyze each option:

• "the force applied by air resistance to a falling skydiver": This is about a single force (air resistance), more related to statics or force analysis in a simpler sense, but dynamics also involves forces, but let's check others.
• "the acceleration of a person on a roller coaster": Acceleration is a key concept in dynamics as dynamics studies how forces cause acceleration (via Newton's laws, $F = ma$). The roller coaster's motion involves forces (gravity, normal force, friction) causing acceleration, so this is a dynamics scenario.
• "the distance a satellite moves each hour it is in orbit": This is kinematics (study of motion without considering forces), focusing on distance/displacement over time.
• "the time it takes a rocket to travel to Mars": Also kinematics, focusing on time of motion without delving into forces causing the motion.

So the scenario involving acceleration (which is linked to forces in dynamics) is the acceleration of a person on a roller coaster.

Answer:

the acceleration of a person on a roller coaster