Physics P1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a physical quantity?

A

A measurement of something and it’s unit

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2
Q

SI base units
(length, mass, time, current, temp, amount of substance)

A

Length - metre (m)
Mass - Kilogram (kg)
Time - second (s)
Current - Ampere (A)
Temp - Kelvin (K)
Amount of substance - Mole (mol)

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3
Q

How do you derive units?

A

Put together the units from the equation that make the physical quantity

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4
Q

What is a scalar of quantity?

A

A quantity that only has magnitude

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5
Q

What is a vector quantity?

A

A quantity that has magnitude and direction

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6
Q

Give 8 examples of scalar quantities

A

Distance, speed, time, area, volume, mass, energy, temperature, electrical charge, frequency

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7
Q

Give 5 examples of vector quantities

A

Displacement, velocity, acceleration, momentum, force, weight

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8
Q

How do you calculate the resultant force of a vector triangle?

A

Use Pythagoras theorem

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9
Q

What does resolving a vector mean?

A

Separating the horizontal and vertical velocities as mutually perpendicular components

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10
Q

Components of a vector

A
  • Velocity in the x-direction = Fcos(0)
  • Velocity in the y-direction = Fsin(0)
  • Angle made by the vector = tan(0)=x/y
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11
Q

How to add non-perpendicular vectors

A
  • Make sure/ rearrange the horizontal and vertical velocities head to tail
  • Create a vector triangle
  • Use the sine or cosine rule to find the resultant force
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12
Q

What is the cosine rule?

A

a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc x cos(A)

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13
Q

What a the sine rule?

A

a/sin(A) = b/sin(B) = c/sin(C)

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14
Q

How do you measure the distance travelled by an object?

A

A meter rule or a measuring tape

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15
Q

Define speed

A

The rate of change of distance

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16
Q

What is the gradient in a distance time graph?

A

The speed

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17
Q

Define displacement

A

The distance in a given direction

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18
Q

Define velocity

A

The rate of change of displacement

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19
Q

How do you calculate velocity?

A

Change in displacement/time taken

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20
Q

In a displacement-time graph, what is the gradient?

A

The velocity

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21
Q

In a displacement-time graph, what does a negative gradient represent?

A

Motion in the opposite direction

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22
Q

What does the gradient of a curve represent in a displacement time graph?

A

Drawing a tangent on a curve determines the instantaneous velocity

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23
Q

Define acceleration

A

The rate of change of velocity

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24
Q

How do you calculate acceleration?

A

Change in velocity/time taken

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25
Q

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

A

The acceleration

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26
Q

What does the area under a velocity – time graph represent?

A

The displacement of the object

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27
Q

What does a straight line on a velocity – time graph represent?

A

Constant speed

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28
Q

What do the letters of SUVAT represent?

A

S - displacement/distance
U - initial velocity
V - final velocity
A - acceleration
T - time taken

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29
Q

What is stopping distance?

A

The sum of thinking distance and breaking distance

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30
Q

Define thinking distance

A

The distance travelled between the moment the driver sees a reason to stop and the moment the driver applies the brake

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31
Q

Define breaking distance

A

The distance travelled by the car from the instant the break is applied until the car stops

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32
Q

What are thinking distance and breaking distance proportional to?

A
  • Thinking distance is directly proportional to u
  • Breaking distance is directly proportional to u^2
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33
Q

Factors that affect thinking distance

A

Reaction time, drugs, alcohol, tiredness

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34
Q

Factors that affect breaking distance

A

Car conditions, road conditions, weather conditions

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35
Q

What is freefall?

A

All objects on the surface of the earth for the same acceleration as long as air resistance is negligible.
This acceleration of freefall is equal to 9.81 m s^-2

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36
Q

How do you determine the speed of a falling/moving object?

A

Light gates connected to either a timer or data locker

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37
Q

Projectile motion - vertically and horizontally

A
  • If an object is thrown vertically there will be a straight line path
  • If an object is thrown at an angle with a vertical force that will be a curved (parabolic) path
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38
Q

What is the acceleration of projectiles if air resistance is ignored?

A

All projectiles on earth will accelerate at 9.81 vertically downwards

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39
Q

Independent horizontal velocity of a projectile

A

The horizontal velocity remains constant

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40
Q

Independent vertical velocity of a projectile

A

The velocity changes and the motion can be described using the equations of motion

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41
Q

Horizontal velocity of a projectile at an angle

A

The velocity remains constant at vcos0

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42
Q

Vertical velocity of a projectile at an angle

A

The initial velocity is vsin0

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43
Q

How do you calculate resultant force?

A

F = ma
For a constant mass F is directly proportional to a

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44
Q

Define the Newton

A

The resultant force that will give a mass of 1 kg and acceleration of 1 ms^-2 in the direction of the force

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45
Q

Define weight

A

The gravitational force acting on the object

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46
Q

How do you calculate weight?

A

Mass x gravity

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47
Q

How do you calculate the vertical acceleration using resultant force?

A

Resultant force = thrust - weight

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48
Q

Define centre of gravity

A

The point where the entire weight of an object appears to act

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49
Q

Define centre of mass

A

A point through which any externally applied force produces straight line motion without any rotation

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50
Q

Centre of mass and centre of gravity on earth compared to space

A
  • The centre of gravity and the centre of mass are at the same point on earth
  • In deep space, there is no gravitational field, there is no sense of gravity but the object has a centre of mass
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51
Q

What is the resistance forces when objects move through air?

A

Drag and upthrust forces - which means an object will no longer accelerate at 9.81

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52
Q

What is drag?

A

A resistance force experienced by an object moving through a fluid

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53
Q

Factors that affect drag

A
  • The speed of an object (the greatest speed, the greater the drag)
  • The cross-sectional area of an object (more air particles hitting, the great of the drag)
  • The type of fluid or its viscosity
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54
Q

For most objects, what is drag force directly proportional to?

A

Speed squared

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55
Q

What is terminal velocity?

A

Where the speed of an object is constant and acceleration is zero
Therefore when net force = zero

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56
Q

A skydivers speed, drag, resultant force and acceleration at terminal velocity

A

Speed = constant
Drag = weight
Resultant force = 0
Acceleration = 0

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57
Q

What is equilibrium?

A

When the forces acting on an object do not produce any rotation or any acceleration

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58
Q

What is a moment of force?

A

The product of a force applied and the perpendicular distance of a line of action of the force from the X axis or point of rotation

Moment = Fx

  • The turning effect of a force acting on an object is called a moment
59
Q

2 conditions, of moments/objects and equilibrium

A
  • resultant force = 0
  • Resultant moment = 0
60
Q

Principle of moments

A

The sum of the clockwise moments about a point or an axis is equal to the sum of anticlockwise moment about the same point or axis

61
Q

What is a couple?

A

Two equal but opposite forces acting on an object (the forces must be parallel and long different lines)

62
Q

What is a torque of a couple?

A

The product of one of the forces and the perpendicular separation between the forces

63
Q

What is a torque measured in?

A

N m

64
Q

How do you calculate a torque?

A

Torque = Fd

65
Q

What is a triangle of forces?

A

Three forces acting on a point object in equilibrium will produce a closed factor triangle or a triangle of forces

66
Q

Resolving forces in the X direction

A

Total force = 0 therefore Fcos0=x

67
Q

Resolving forces in the y direction

A

The total force = 0 therefore Fsin0 = y

68
Q

Define density

A

Mass per unit volume

69
Q

How do you calculate density?

A

Mass divided by volume

70
Q

How do you measure the mass of a substance?

A

A balance

71
Q

How do you calculate the volume of a regular solid?

A

Measure its dimensions using a ruler, vernier calliper or micrometer
B x W x H

72
Q

How do you calculate the volume of a irregular solid?

A

Determine the volume of water displaced when the object is completely submerged. The volume of displaced water can be measured directly using a measuring cylinder.

73
Q

Define pressure

A

The normal contact force exerted on a surface per unit cross-sectional area

74
Q

How do you calculate pressure?

A

Force divided by cross-sectional area

75
Q

What is Archimedes’ principle?

A

The upthrust exerted on a body immersed in a fluid whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces

76
Q

Why does an object submerged in fluid experience and output force?

A

The pressure at the bottom surface of the object is greater than the pressure at its top surface

77
Q

Define work done

A

The product of force and the distance moved in the direction of the force

78
Q

Define a joule

A

1J is defined as the work done by a force of one 1N when the point of application of the force moves a distance of 1m in the direction of the force

79
Q

How do you calculate work done?

A

W = Fxcos0

80
Q

What is conservation of energy?

A

Energy in a closed system cannot be created or destroyed, but it can take many different forms and be transferred from one to another

81
Q

What is energy?

A

The capacity to do work
Work done = energy transferred

82
Q

What is a closed system?

A

Where there are no external forces acting

83
Q

What is kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy?

A

KE is associated with a moving object and GPE is linked to the position of an object in the gravitational field. GPE is energy stored by an object.

84
Q

How do you calculate kinetic energy?

A

E = 1/2mv*2

85
Q

How do you calculate gravitational potential energy?

A

E = mgh

86
Q

Relationship between KE and GPE if the system is closed

A

GPE = KE
mgh = 1/2mv2
(must cancels out)
v
2 = 2gh

87
Q

Define power

A

The rate of work done or the rate of energy transfer

88
Q

How do you calculate power?

A

P = W/t or P = Fv

89
Q

Define 1 Watt

A

1 Joule of work done per second

90
Q

What does rate mean?

A

Per unit time or divided by time

91
Q

How do you calculate efficiency?

A

Useful output energy/total input energy x 100

92
Q

Rules of efficiency

A
  • The efficiency of a system cannot exceed 100% because this would violate the principle of conservation of energy
  • The efficiency of most mechanical systems is less than 100% because of thermal losses caused from friction
93
Q

What is Hooke’s law?

A

The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied as long as the elastic limit of the spring is not exceeded

94
Q

What are tensile and compressive forces?

A

Forces that will cause a material to deform
- Equal and opposite forces that stretch an object/spring = tensile forces
- Equal and opposite forces that squash a spring/object = compression forces

95
Q

Equation of Hookes law

A

F = kx

96
Q

What does the gradient represent in a linear force against extension graph

A

A constant force

97
Q

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

A

The work done

98
Q

How do you calculate the energy of a spring?

A

E = 1/2Fx

99
Q

What is Newton’s first law?

A

An object will remain at rest or continue at a constant velocity and less acted upon by a resultant force

100
Q

What is Newton’s third law?

A

When two objects interact, they will exert equal and opposite forces on each other

101
Q

Principles of Newton‘s third law?

A
  • The forces must act on the same object
  • Forces must have an equal magnitude
  • Forces are in opposite directions
  • They must be of the same type/nature
102
Q

What is linear momentum?

A

The product of the mass of an object and the velocity

103
Q

Define momentum

A

The product of mass (scalar) and velocity (vector)

104
Q

Conservation of momentum

A

In a closed system, the total initial momentum is equal to the total final momentum

105
Q

Kinetic energy in imperfect and perfectly elastic collisions

A
  • In all collisions the total energy and total momentum remain constant
  • In perfectly elastic collisions the total kinetic energy remains constant
  • In an imperfect elastic collision there is a change in the kinetic energy with transformation of energy from other forms (heat, sound etc)
106
Q

Newton second law

A

The resultant force acting on an object is directly proportional to the rate of change of momentum
F = ma

107
Q

What is an impulse?

A

The product of force and time
Change in momentum = impulse

108
Q

In a force – time graph, what does the area underneath the graph represent?

A

The impulse

109
Q

Collisions in two dimensions

A
  • Total momentum in the X – direction remains constant
  • Total momentum in the Y – direction remains constant
110
Q

What is an electrolyte?

A

A conducting liquid that contains negative and positive ions

111
Q

Define electric current

A

Rate of flow of charge

112
Q

Equation for current

A

Change in charge / change in time

113
Q

Define the charge of 1 coulomb

A

The flow of charge in 1 second when the current is 1 ampere

114
Q

Current in metals vs electrolytes

A

Metals - the current is due to the movement of electrons
Electrolyte - the current is due to the simultaneous movement of positive and negative ions

115
Q

Direction through a metal wire in a circuit

A
  • Conventional current move from positive to negative
  • The flow of electrons moves from negative to positive
116
Q

What is Kirchhoff’s 1st law?

A

The sum of current into a junction is equal to the sum of current out of a junction
- Conservation of charge

117
Q

Kirchhoff’s 2nd law?

A

The sum of EMFs in a closed loop is equal to the sum of p.ds
- Conservation of energy

118
Q

What is mean drift velocity?

A
  • The electrons in a metal move around at high speeds and make frequent collisions with the vibrating fixed positive metal ions
  • When the wire is connected to a power supply the electrons gain an additional velocity towards the positive electrode
  • The mean drift velocity is the average velocity gained by the electrons along the length of the metal wire
119
Q

What is number density?

A

The number of charge carriers per unit volume of material

120
Q

Conduction properties of metals semi-conductors and insulators

A

Metals - high number density
Semiconductors - mid
Insulators - small number densities

121
Q

What affects the mean drift velocity?

A

The cross-sectional area, the number density and the elementary charge

122
Q

Equation for current

A

I = Anev

123
Q

Define potential difference

A

The energy transferred from electrical energy to other forms (heat, light, etc) per unit charge

124
Q

What is electromotive force (EMF)?

A

The energy transferred from chemical energy to electrical energy per unit charged

125
Q

What is 1volt ?

A

1 Joule per coulomb

126
Q

What is an electron gun?

A

A device used to accelerate electrons to high speeds

127
Q

Define resistance

A

Potential difference across a component / current in the component

128
Q

Ohms law

A

At a constant temperature, the current in the wire is directly proportional to the p.d across it ends

129
Q

Graph of a resistor

A
  • I is directly proportional to V
  • straight line through the origin
  • Resistance remains constant
    (resistor is an ohmic component)
130
Q

Graph of filament lamp

A
  • Resistance is not constant
  • A curved line through the origin
  • Resistance increases as current or p.d increases
  • Not an ohmic component
131
Q

How does a filament lamp work?

A
  • Metal ions of the filament vibrate more quickly and with increased amplitude
  • The conducting electrons make more frequent collisions with these vibrating ions
  • They transfer greater amounts of energy to these ions.
  • Therefore resistance increases as current p.d increases
132
Q

What is a diode?

A

A component made from semiconductors that conduct in 1 direction
- The diet does not conduct when it is reversed biased
- The resistance is infinite of a negative p.ds
- The diode starts to conduct when it is forward biased and the p.d is greater than the threshold p.d
- The resistance of the diode decreases significantly as the p.d increases beyond the threshold because of the increase in the number density of charge carriers

133
Q

Resistivity (p) equation

A

R = pL / A

134
Q

What is the difference between resistivity and resistance?

A

Resistivity - a property of a material
Resistance - depends on the physical dimensions of the material

135
Q

What is the relationship between resistivity and temperature in a metal?

A

Increasing the temperature of a metal increases the frequency and amplitude of vibration of the fixed metal ions, electrons collide more frequently with vibrating ions and subsequently lead to greater resistance

136
Q

What is the relationship between resistivity and temperature in a semiconductor?

A

Temperature affect the number density of charge carriers in a semiconductor
The number density increases with temperature and this leads to a dramatic increase in resistance

137
Q

Resistance of a thermistor

A

Dependent on its temperature
As temperature increases resistance decreases
NTC - negative temperature coefficient

138
Q

Resistance of an LDR

A

It’s resistance decreases and intensity of light increases

139
Q

Define power

A

The rate of energy transfer

140
Q

What is kWh?

A

The Kilowatt-hour is defined as the energy transferred by a device with a power of 1kW operating for 1 hour

141
Q

Principles of a series circuit

A
  • The current in each component is the same
  • Total p.d is split between components
142
Q

Principles of a parallel circuit

A
  • The p.d across each component is the same
  • Current is split between each branch
143
Q

What is internal resistance?

A

The resistance of the materials within the battery (lost volts)