higher content Flashcards
What is inertia?
The idea that without an unbalanced force, nothing will change in terms of speed, direction etc.
How is inertial mass defined?
By the ratio of force over acceleration
if an object is more inert then it’s harder to move
When will a seesaw balance in terms of moments?
When the anticlockwise moment is equal to the clockwise one
What does the principle of moments state?
For a balanced object, clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments
What is the centre of mass of an object?
The point at which the mass may be thought to be concentrated
Where does the centre of mass lie in symmetrical objects?
Along the line of symmetry
Where will the COM be when an object has more than one line of symmetry?
Where the lines of symmetry intersect
Where will the centre of mass be of a suspended object?
The centre of mass will be directly below the point of suspension
How can the COM of an irregular shape be found?
- by hanging the shape from a point and a plumb line is used to draw a vertical line downwards from the pivot
- this is repeated from different points
What is the stability of an object affected by?
- the width of the base of the object
* the height of it’s centre of mass
When will an object not topple over?
When the line of action is within the base
What are the three types of equilibrium when a force is applied to objects?
- stable equilibrium - tilts and falls back to original position
- unstable equilibrium - tilts and falls
- neutral equilibrium - rolls
What happens to the centre of mass when a stable object is tilted?
It is raised
What happens to the centre of mass when an unstable object is tilted?
It is lowered
What happens to the centre of mass when a neutral object is tilted?
It stays at the same level if pushed
What is the equation for momentum?
Mass x velocity
What is momentum measured in?
kgm/s
Why will a ball be harder to stop if it has a large mass and moving at a high speed?
There will be a greater force exerted on the person’s hands by the ball. They will have to exert an equal and opposite force on the ball to stop it
What happens to momentum in a collusion of explosion?
Momentum is conserved, provided that there are no external forces having an effect
What are the external forces that could have an effect on momentum?
- friction which decreases momentum
* gravity (e.g. a collision on a slope)
What does Fleming’s left hand rule show?
The direction of movement of the wire