Mechanics - Physics Flashcards
What is speed?
Speed is the rate at which an object is moving.
How do we find the average speed?
By dividing the total distance travelled by the total time taken
What are the units used for distance, velocity, acceleration and time?
distance - (m)
velocity - (ms-1)
acceleration - (ms-2)
time - (s)
what is the order of the triangle to find the distance, velocity or speed?
D
V T
On a graph, what type of speed is it if the line is curving upwards?
Accelerating (speeding up)
On a graph, what type of speed is it if the line is curved downwards?
Decelerating (slowing down)
On a graph, what type of speed is it if the line is a straight line upwards?
Constant speed (same speed the entire time)
On a graph, what type of speed is it if the line is completely straight across?
Stationary (stops)
Why do we need to convert 100 minutes to seconds?
Because then the calculations will be wrong, as we have to convert it to seconds.
What is an independent variable?
A variable that stands alone and isn’t changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone’s age might be an independent variable.
What is a dependent variable?
It is something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, how much sleep you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were when you took it.
What is the order of the triangle for acceleration?
V
A T
How to calculate the acceleration
Change in speed divided by the change in time
Josephina is testing her new car by racing it around a racetrack. At the starting line she is stationary. She accelerates up to a speed of 12ms-1 in 2 seconds. Calculate her acceleration
6 ms-2
