P4 - Explaining Motion Flashcards
What 2 things does velocity tell you?
- Speed
- Direction of travel
If a lorry travels along a straight road at 15m/s, what will the velocity be? (HT)
+15m/s in one direction and -15m’s in the other direction
Does it matter which direction (in terms of velocity) is called positive or negative? (HT)
No - as long as opposite directions have opposite directions have opposite signs.
Explain how direction is described in terms of velocity. (HT)
- Changes in distance in one direction are described as positive
- In the opposite direction they’re negative
What two things do you need to know in order to find out the speed of an object?
- The distance it has travelled
- The time it took to travel that distance
How can speed be calculated?
Using the following formula:
speed (m/s) = distance travelled (m) / time taken (s)
What does the “speed = distance / time” formula calculate?
An average speed over the total distance travelled, even if the speed of a n object isn’t constant
True or False?
You cannot calculate the average speed of an object over the total distance travelled if the speed is not constant.
False - You can calculate the average speed of an object over the total distance travelled, even if the speed is not constant.
The speed of an object at a particular point in time is called the what?
The instantaneous speed
A car travels 10 metres in 5 seconds. What is the average speed?
Speed = distance / time = 10m / 5s = 2m/s
What is a ‘slope’ on a graph also known as?
The gradient
What is the gradient?
The ‘slope’ on a graph
What is the gradient (or ‘slope’) on a distance-time graph used to measure?
The speed of an object
The gradient (or ‘slope’) on a distance-time graph can be used to measure the speed of an object.
a) The steeper the slope…
b) The flatter the slope…
a) …the greater the speed
b) …the slower the speed
How can speed be calculated by using a distance-time graph? (HT)
By working out what the gradient (or ‘slope’) is
Explain how you can calculate speed by working out the gradient on a distance-time graph. (HT) (4 stages)
- Take any two points on the gradient
- Read off the displacement travelled between these points
- Note the time taken between these points.
- Divide the displacement by time
What is the instantaneous velocity of an object?
Its instantaneous speed together with an indication of direction.
When the line of a distance-time graph is curved, what does that mean?
The speed of the object is changing
What does the gradient (or ‘slope’) of a speed-time graph represent?
How quickly an object is increasing in speed (i.e. accelerating)
What would you call it when an object is increasing in speed?
Accelerating
Complete the sentence in relation to a speed-time graph.
The steeper the slope/gradient…
…the faster its speed is increasing
Where might a speed-time graph be used?
In lorry tachographs
For what reasons might a speed-time graph be used in lorry tachographs?
To ensure that drivers:
- don’t exceed the speed limit
- rest for suitable amounts of time
A student plots a speed-time graph. The graph gives a horizontal straight line. What does that tel you about the acceleration?
It was zero - his speed was constant
A man walks North at 2m/s for 10 seconds, then rests for another 20s. What is his displacement? (HT)
20m North
The quantity velocity has both speed and _______. A change in either (or both) speed and ________ of travel will cause a change in _______. (HT)
- Direction
- Direction
- Velocity
Can a velocity-time graph have negative values for the velocity axis?
Yes
Give the formula used to calculate acceleration.
acceleration (m/s[2]) = change in speed (m/s) / time taken (s)
A car is travelling at 2m/s when the driver accelerates to 10m/s in 4 seconds/ What is the acceleration?
Change in speed / time taken = 10 - 2 / 4 = 8 / 4 = 2m/s[2]
When do forces occur?
When two object interact with each other.
Whenever one object exerts a force on another…
…it always experiences a force in return.
A force occurs when two object interact with each other. Whenever one object exerts a force on another, it always experiences a force in return. Therefore forces work in an _________ ________.
Interaction pair
How do forces work?
In interaction pairs
What do the 2 forces within an interaction pair have to be?
- Equal in size
- Opposite in direction and they act on different objects
Give some examples of forces.
- Gravity (weight)
- Air resistance (drag)
- Rocket and jet engines
How does gravity (weight) work as a force?
Two masses are attracted to each other, e.g. you are attracted to the Earth and the Earth is attracted to you with an equal and opposite force.
Give an example of how air resistance (drag) works as a force.
The air tries to slow down a skydiver by pushing upwards against him/her. The skydiver pushes the air out of the way with an equal and opposite force.
Explain how forces play a part in rocket and jet engines.
The engine pushes gas backwards (action) and the gas pushes the rocket forwards (reaction).
How does a person move? (HT)
A person moves by applying a force to the ground (they push on the ground). There will be an equal and opposite force generated (the ground pushes back on the person). The person moves because they have a much smaller mass than the Earth.
True or False?
Some forces only occur as a response to another force.
True.
What 2 things happen when an object is resting on a surface?
- The object is pulled down onto the surface by gravity
- The surface pushes up on the object with an equal force
When an object is resting on a surface:
- the object is pulled down onto the surface by gravity
- the surface pushes up on the object with an equal force
What is this called?
The reaction of the surface.
What happens when 2 objects try to slide past one another?
Both objects experience a force that tries to stop them moving.
When 2 objects try to slide past one another, both objects experience a force that tries to stop them moving. What is the name of this force?
Friction.
Do objects have to be moving to experience friction?
no
Give an example of how an object can experience friction, even if the object is not moving.
The friction from a car’s brakes stops it rolling down a hill.
Friction and the ________ ___ _ ______ arise in response to the action of an ______ force, and their size matches the applied force up to a ______.
- Reaction of a surface
- applied
- limit
What is used when drawing diagrams of forces to show size and direction of the force?
Arrows
What does the size of an arrow represent on a diagram about forces?
The size of the force
What does the direction of an arrow represent on a diagram about forces?
The direction of the force
a) If more than one force acts on an object they will…
b) The overall effect of adding or subtracting these forces is called the…
a) - add up if they are acting in the same direction
- subtract is they are acting in opposite directions.
b) …resultant force
What is momentum?
A measure of the motion of an object.