Module 3 Motion Flashcards
What is a scalar quantity?
one which has a magnitude but no direction (and a unit)
What is a vector quantity?
one with a magnitude and direction (and a unit)
How can scalar quantities be used in calculations?
normally, eg added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided in the normal manner
Remember scalar quantities can be negative
Examples of vector quantities
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Force
Momentum
Examples of scalar quantities
Length
Mass
Speed
Time
Temperature
Volume
Potential difference
Power
How can velocity be defined?
rate of change of displacement
What is a resultant vector?
the value found when adding vectors in a vector addition
Resultant vector has magnitude and direction
How to add parallel vectors
simply add them together to find the resultant vector
What does “acting in the same line and direction” mean?
are parallel
What is another word for vectors in opposite directions?
antiparallel
How to add antiparallel vectors ie parallel vectors pointing in opposite directions?
one direction is considered positive the other negative and add them (assume right, or up is positive, and down or left is negative unless told otherwise)
What are perpendicular vectors?
vectors acting at right angles to each other
How to subtract vectors in opposite directions?
add them as you get a–b = a+b
How to find resultant vector of perpendicular vectors?
at right angles so use Pythagoras
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
How to find direction of resultant vectors
Use SOCAHTOA (trigonometry)
Re angle of a vector - What does to the horizontal mean?
use the angle on the horizontal
Re angle of a vector - What does to the vertical mean?
use the angle on the vertical
What is resolving vectors?
splitting a resultant vector into two perpendicular components (vectors)
same as finding the components