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Physics A level > Section 4 - Mechanics > Flashcards

Section 4 - Mechanics Flashcards

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
Speed def
How fast something is moving, regardless of direction
26
Displacement def
How far an objects travelled from its starting point in a given direction
27
Velocity def
The rate of change of an objects displacement
28
Acceleration def
The rate of change of an objects velocity
29
Velocity f
s/t
30
Acceleration f
v/t
31
Area under a velocity time graph
displacement
32
Gradient of a displacement time graph
Velocity
33
Gradient of a velocity time graph
Acceleration
34
Area under a acceleration graph
Change in velocity
35
Drawing displacement time graphs using a data logger
Ultrasound position detector Data logger
36
SUVAT equations
INSERT PIC
37
Experiment to calculate g
38
NL1
The velocity of an object will not change unless a resultant force acts on it
39
NL2
Acceleration is proportional to force
40
NL2 formula
f = ma
41
NL3
If object A EXERTS a FORCE on object B, then object B exerts AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE FORCE on object A
42
Friction def
A force that opposes motion
43
Two types of friction
Fluid Friction and Dry Friction
44
Factors that influence fluid friction
Fluid Viscocity or thickness Speed (Friction increases as speed increases) Shape of object
45
3 main points to remember about friction [3]
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
Lift definition
The upward force on an object moving through a fluid
47
How lift works
The shape of an object causes the fluid flowing over it to change direction
48
Three stages of reaching terminal speed
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
Factors that affect an objects terminal speed
Increasing the driving force Reducing the frictional force
50
Terminal speed during free fall
51
Momentum formula
p = mv
52
Conservation of momentum
The total momentum before two objects collide is equal to the momentum after the collision, assuming no external forces act on it
53
Elastic Collision
54
Inelastic Collision
55
Principle of impulse in words
56
Principle of impulse formula
Ft = mv-mu impulse = change in momentum
57
Reducing force in a collision
Increase the time taken for the collision, reducing the force
58
Work done
The transfer of energy, energy change
59
Work done formula
W = Fs
60
Assumption, formula of work done
Assumes that the direction of force is the same as the direction of movement
61
Joule
One newton moving an object by a distance of one metre
62
Area under a force-displacement graph
Work Done
63
Power def
The rate of doing work
64
Power Formulae
Work done / time (P = W/t) Force*Velocity (P = Fv)
65
Watt
1 joule per second
66
Principle of conservation of energy
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
Efficiency f
useful output power/input power
68
KE f
1/2 m v^2
69
GPE f
mgh
70
Elastic strain f
1/2 k l^2
71

Physics A level (12 decks)

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