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Physics A level > Section 4 - Mechanics > Flashcards

Section 4 - Mechanics Flashcards

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1
Q

Scalars vs Vectors

A

Scalars have only magnitude
Vectors have both magnitude and direction

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2
Q

Examples of Scalars

A

Mass, temperature, time, length, distance, speed, energy

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3
Q

Examples of Vectors

A

Displacement, velocity, force, acceleration, momentum

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4
Q

Two methods of adding vectors

A

Scale drawings, Trig

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5
Q

Adding vectors using scale drawings

A

Draw the vectors tail to tail and then connect the ends with the resultant vector
Measure the magnitude and angle (from the north vector)

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6
Q

Adding vectors using trig

A

Vectors at right angles can be used to form a triangle, use trignomenty to find the resultant magnitude and angle

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7
Q

Trig

A

SOH CAH TOA

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8
Q

Resolving vectors

A

Using trignometry to split a vector into vertical and horizontal components

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9
Q

What should free body diagrams include

A

The diagram should only include all the forces that act ON the object

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10
Q

If a body is in equilibrium…

A

The forces acting on it are balanced in each direction

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11
Q

Three coplanar forces in equilibrium

A

You can draw a closed loop triangle

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12
Q

Moment def

A

A moment is the turning effect of a force

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13
Q

Components of a lever

A

Effort, Load and Pivot

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14
Q

Principle of Moments

A

The principle of moment states that for a body to be in equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise moments about any point equals the sum of the anticlockwise moments about the same point

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15
Q

Moment formula

A

M=f*d

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16
Q

A couple of forces

A

A pair of coplanar forces of equal size which act parallel to each other but in opposite direction

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17
Q

Moment of a couple

A

size of one force * perpendicular distance between the line of action of the forces

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18
Q

Weight def

A

The force acting on an object due to its mass and the gravitational field

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19
Q

Weight formula

A

Mass*g

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20
Q

Centre of mass def

A

A single point though which the mass of the object acts

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21
Q

Finding the centre of mass of a regular polygon

A

Lines of symmetry

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22
Q

Steps for finding the centre of mass of an irregular object

A

1) Hang the object freely from one point
2) Draw vertical lines downwards from the point of suspension (using a plumb blob)
3) Repeat by hanging from different points
4) The centre of mass is the intersection of points

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23
Q

Stability of an object

A

If the centre of mass lies above the base of the object, it will be stable

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24
Q

How can the stability of an object be increased

A

Using a lower centre of mass and a wide base

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25
Q

Speed def

A

How fast something is moving, regardless of direction

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26
Q

Displacement def

A

How far an objects travelled from its starting point in a given direction

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27
Q

Velocity def

A

The rate of change of an objects displacement

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28
Q

Acceleration def

A

The rate of change of an objects velocity

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29
Q

Velocity f

A

s/t

30
Q

Acceleration f

A

v/t

31
Q

Area under a velocity time graph

A

displacement

32
Q

Gradient of a displacement time graph

A

Velocity

33
Q

Gradient of a velocity time graph

A

Acceleration

34
Q

Area under a acceleration graph

A

Change in velocity

35
Q

Drawing displacement time graphs using a data logger

A

Ultrasound position detector
Data logger

36
Q

SUVAT equations

A

INSERT PIC

37
Q

Experiment to calculate g

A
38
Q

NL1

A

The velocity of an object will not change unless a resultant force acts on it

39
Q

NL2

A

Acceleration is proportional to force

40
Q

NL2 formula

A

f = ma

41
Q

NL3

A

If object A EXERTS a FORCE on object B, then object B exerts AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE FORCE on object A

42
Q

Friction def

A

A force that opposes motion

43
Q

Two types of friction

A

Fluid Friction and Dry Friction

44
Q

Factors that influence fluid friction

A

Fluid Viscocity or thickness
Speed (Friction increases as speed increases)
Shape of object

45
Q

3 main points to remember about friction [3]

A

1) They always act in the opposite direction to the motion of the object
2) They can never speed things up or start something moving
3) They convert kinetic energy into heat and sound

46
Q

Lift definition

A

The upward force on an object moving through a fluid

47
Q

How lift works

A

The shape of an object causes the fluid flowing over it to change direction

48
Q

Three stages of reaching terminal speed

A

1) Object accelerates from rest with a driving force
2) As speed increases friction increases
3) Eventually driving force and friction are equal so there is no acceleration

49
Q

Factors that affect an objects terminal speed

A

Increasing the driving force
Reducing the frictional force

50
Q

Terminal speed during free fall

A
51
Q

Momentum formula

A

p = mv

52
Q

Conservation of momentum

A

The total momentum before two objects collide is equal to the momentum after the collision, assuming no external forces act on it

53
Q

Elastic Collision

A
54
Q

Inelastic Collision

A
55
Q

Principle of impulse in words

A
56
Q

Principle of impulse formula

A

Ft = mv-mu
impulse = change in momentum

57
Q

Reducing force in a collision

A

Increase the time taken for the collision, reducing the force

58
Q

Work done

A

The transfer of energy, energy change

59
Q

Work done formula

A

W = Fs

60
Q

Assumption, formula of work done

A

Assumes that the direction of force is the same as the direction of movement

61
Q

Joule

A

One newton moving an object by a distance of one metre

62
Q

Area under a force-displacement graph

A

Work Done

63
Q

Power def

A

The rate of doing work

64
Q

Power Formulae

A

Work done / time (P = W/t)
Force*Velocity (P = Fv)

65
Q

Watt

A

1 joule per second

66
Q

Principle of conservation of energy

A

Energy can not be created or destroyed, it con only be transferred from one form to another but the total amount of energy in a closed system will not change

67
Q

Efficiency f

A

useful output power/input power

68
Q

KE f

A

1/2 m v^2

69
Q

GPE f

A

mgh

70
Q

Elastic strain f

A

1/2 k l^2

71
Q
A

Physics A level (12 decks)

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