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AQA A Level Physics(Option A: Astrophysics) > Mechanics > Flashcards

Mechanics Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a scalar?

A

A quantity with magnitude only

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2
Q

What is a vector?

A

A quantity with magnitude and direction

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3
Q

What are free-body diagrams?

A

Diagrams which show a single body on its own with the forces which act on the body, but not the forces the body exerts

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4
Q

How are forces resolved?

A

By splitting the force into horizontal and vertical components

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5
Q

When is a force board in equilibrium?

A

When the ring is at the centre

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6
Q

Define mass

A

The amount of matter in an object

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7
Q

Define weight

A

The force experienced by a mass due to a gravitational field

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8
Q

State the equation for weight

A

W = mg

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9
Q

What is a moment?

A

The turning effect of a force around a turning point

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10
Q

State the equation for moments

A

M(Nm) = F x d

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11
Q

State the principle of moments

A

For a body to be in equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise moments about a point must equal the some of the anticlockwise moments about the same point

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12
Q

What is a lever?

A

A rigid structure rotating around a pivot, in which an effort force works against the load force

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13
Q

What are couples?

A
  • A pair of coplanar (act on the same plane) forces of equal size which act parallel to each other but in opposite directions
  • This produces a turning effect
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14
Q

What is centre of mass?

A

The single point of an object that the whole weight can be considered to be concentrated

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15
Q

State the suvat equations

A
  • v = u + at
  • s = ut + 1/2at²
  • s = (u+v/2)t
  • v² = u² + 2as
  • S = vt - 1/2at²
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16
Q

Define acceleration

A

The rate of change of an object’s velocity

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17
Q

Define displacement

A

How far an object’s travelled from it’s starting point

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18
Q

Define velocity

A

The rate of change of an object’s displacement

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19
Q

Define speed

A

How fast an object is moving, regardless of direction

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20
Q

How does increasing acceleration affect a displacement-time graph?

A

Gradient of the curve increases

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21
Q

What does the gradient of a displacement-time graph represent?

A

The velocity

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22
Q

What does the gradient of a velocity-time graph represent?

A

The acceleration

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23
Q

How is uniform acceleration displayed on a velocity-time graph?

A

Constant gradient

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24
Q

What does the area under the graph represent for a velocity-time graph?

A

The displacement

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25
Q

What does the area under the graph represent for a speed-time graph?

A

The distance travelled

26
Q

What part of an acceleration-time graph is decelerating?

A

Below the x-axis

27
Q

What does the area under an acceleration-time graph represent?

A

The total change in velocity

28
Q

State newton’s first law of motion

A

An object will stay stationary or moving at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force

29
Q

State newton’s second law of motion

A

F = ma, Force is directly proportional to the acceleration of the object

30
Q

State newton’s third law of motion

A
  • If two objects interact, they exert an equal and opposite force on each other
  • Equal = Magnitude of force, Type of force
  • Opposite = Direction of force
31
Q

What is freefall?

A

The motion of an object undergoing an acceleration of g

32
Q

State the freefall equations

A
  • v = gt
  • v² = 2gs
  • s = 1/2gt²
  • s = vt/2
33
Q

What is projectile motion?

A

Motion with a constant horizontal velocity and a vertical velocity affected by acceleration due to gravity

34
Q

What is drag?

A

Friction caused by a fluid

35
Q

What is friction?

A

Force that opposes motion

36
Q

What are the energy transfers that occur due to friction?

A

Kinetic energy is turned into thermal energy

37
Q

What is lift?

A

An upward force on an object moving through a liquid

38
Q

Define terminal velocity

A

The velocity at which the driving force match the frictional force

39
Q

How is terminal velocity represented in a velocity-time graph?

A

The curve flattens at a certain velocity

40
Q

How is terminal velocity represented in an acceleration-time graph?

A

The acceleration = 0

41
Q

Describe the terminal velocity of a parachutist

A
  • Leaves plane and accelerates due to gravity
  • Accelerates until air resistance = weight
  • Once close to ground, pulls parachute which increases air resistance
  • Slows parachutist until air resistance = weight
  • This terminal velocity is safe enough to land at
42
Q

Describe the velocity-time graph of a parachutist

A
  • Velocity increases until it reaches a terminal velocity
  • Rapid drop in velocity until it reaches a new terminal velocity
43
Q

Define linear momentum

A

The product of an object’s mass and velocity

44
Q

State the units of linear momentum

A

Kgm/s

45
Q

What is the principle of momentum?

A

Linear momentum is always conserved, assuming no external forces act

46
Q

What is an elastic collision?

A

A collision where momentum and kinetic energy are conserved

47
Q

Derive the equation for impulse

A
  • F = ma and a = Δv/t
  • F = Δ(mv)/t
  • Ft = Δ(mv)
48
Q

Define impulse

A

The product of force and time which is equal to the change in momentum of an object

49
Q

Define work

A

The amount of energy transferred from one form to another when a force moves an object through a distance

50
Q

State the work done equation

A

W = Fs where s is distance moved, in m

51
Q

Define power

A

The rate of transfer of energy, in watts

52
Q

What does the area under a force-displacement graph represent?

A

The total work done

53
Q

State the equation of the power of a moving object with force acting at an angle

A

P = Fvcosθ

54
Q

State the principle of conservation of energy

A

Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can be transferred to different forms but the total energy in the system won’t change

55
Q

Define kinetic energy

A

The energy of anything moving

56
Q

Define potential energy

A

The energy gained by anything lifted

57
Q

Derive the equation for efficiency of a motor

A
  • E = mgΔh - useful energy output
  • E = Pt = VIt = energy input
  • Efficiency = mgΔh/VIt
58
Q

What are the units for efficiency?

A

Efficiency has no units

59
Q

What is mechanical energy?

A

The sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy in a system

59
Q

What is mechanical energy?

A

The sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy in a system

60
Q

What are the 3 characteristics of projectile motion?

A
  • Vertical and horizontal motion are separate
  • Motion is in a parabolic shape
  • Acceleration is in one plane only

AQA A Level Physics(Option A: Astrophysics) (15 decks)

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