A-LEVEL PHYSICS: 3.4.1: Force, Energy & Momentum PMT Flashcards
Scalars & Vectors are…
Physical Quantities.
What are ‘Scalar Quantities’?
Scalar Quantities are Physical Quantities with Only Magnitude.
What are ‘Vector Quantities’?
Vector Quantities are Physical Quantities with both Direction & Magnitude.
Common Examples of Scalar Quantities: (4)
-Distance
-Speed
-Mass
-Temperature
Common Examples of Vector Quantities: (4)
-Displacement
-Velocity
-Force/Weight
-Acceleration
There are 2 Methods that you can use to Add Vectors: (2)
-Calculations: These Should be Used when the 2 Vectors are Perpendicular.
(Pythagoras, Trig., etc…)
-Scale Drawings: These Should be Used when Vectors are at Angles Other than 90’.
To Draw Scale Diagrams of Vectors, you Must Use…
A Ruler & a Protractor.
The Opposite of Adding Vectors is Called ___ ___. How is it Done?
Resolving Vectors. It is Done Using Trigonometry.
What is ‘Resolving Vectors’?
Resolving Vectors means Breaking Down a Vector into it’s Vertical & Horizontal Components.
It makes certain Calculations Easier.
For an Object to be in Equilibrium, …
The Sum of All of the Forces Acting on it Must be 0.
If an Object is in Equilibrium, it has No ___ ___, & so therefore it is either at ___, or it is Moving at a ___ ___, as According to…
Resultant Force, Rest, Constant Velocity, Newton’s First Law of Motion.
You Can Show that an Object is in Equilibrium by: (2)
-Adding the Horizontal & Vertical Components of the Forces Acting on it, Showing that they = 0. Hence, there is No Resultant Force, & the Object is in Equilibrium.
-If there are 3 Forces Acting on the Object, you can Draw a Scale Diagram. If the Scale Diagram Forms a Closed Triangle, then the Object is in Equilibrium.
What is a ‘Moment’?
The Moment of a Force About a Point is the Force * Perpendicular Distance to Line of Action of Force from the Point.
Moment = …
Force * Perpendicular Distance to Line of Action of Force from the Point
What is a ‘Force Couple’?
A Force Couple is a Pair of Coplanar Forces (Meaning that they are Forces within the same Plane), where the 2 Forces are Equal in Magnitude & Opposite in Direction.
A Force Couple is a Pair of Equal & Opposite Forces, Acting within the Same Plane.
What are ‘Coplanar Forces’?
Coplanar Forces are Forces that Act within the Same Plane.
How do you find out the ‘Moment of a Force Couple’?
To find the Moment of a Force Couple, you Multiply One of the Forces by the Perpendicular Distance Between the Lies of Action of the Forces.
Moment of a Force Couple = …
1 of the Forces * Perpendicular Distance (between the Lines of Action of Forces)
‘The Principle of Moments’: …
The Principle of Moments States that, for an Object in Equilibrium,:
“The Sum of Clockwise Moments About a Pivot is Equal to the Sum of Anticlockwise Moments.”
The Principle of Moments:
Sum of Clockwise Moments = …
Sum of Anticlockwise Moments.
What is the ‘Centre of Mass’?
The Centre of Mass of an Object is the Point at which an Object’s Mass Acts.
If an Object is Described as Uniform, its Centre of Mass will be Exactly at its Centre.
Where does the Mass of an Object Act?
At its Centre of Mass.
If an Object is Described as Uniform, its Centre of Mass will be…
Exactly at its Centre.
What is ‘Speed’?
Speed is a Scalar Quantity which Describes how Quickly an Object is Travelling.
What is ‘Displacement’?
Displacement is the Overall Distance Travelled from the Starting Position.
It Includes Direction Travelled, so is therefore a Vector Quantity.
What is ‘Velocity’?
Velocity is the Rate of Change of Displacement.
What is ‘Acceleration’?
Acceleration is the Rate of Change of Velocity.
What is ‘Instantaneous Velocity’?
Instantaneous Velocity is the Velocity of an Object at a Specific Point in Time.
It Can be Found from a Displacement-Time Graph, by Drawing a Tangent to the Graph at the Specific Time, & Calculating the Gradient.
How Can ‘Instantaneous Velocity’ be Found?
Instantaneous Velocity Can be Found from a Displacement-Time Graph, by Drawing a Tangent to the Graph at the Specific Time, & Calculating the Gradient.