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Physics > Section 4 - Mechanics > Flashcards

Section 4 - Mechanics Flashcards

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1
Q

What is meant by a scalar quantity?

A

A quantity that only has magnitude

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2
Q

What is a vector quantity?

A

A quantity that has magnitude as well as direction

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3
Q

Is acceleration a vector or scalar quantity?

A

Vector

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4
Q

Is mass a scalar or vector quantity?

A

Scalar

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5
Q

What is the difference between mass and weight?

A

Mass is a scalar and is not dependent on the gravity acting upon it
Weight is a vector and depends on the gravitational field strength

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6
Q

What is the principle of moments?

A

If an object is in equilibrium the sum of the anti clockwise moments would be equal to the sum of the clockwise moments

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7
Q

If an object is in equilibrium it means…

A

The object is not accelerating so is either
* Stationary
* Moving at a constant velocity

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8
Q

How can the forces acting on an object be shown to be in equilibrium?

A
  • Adding the horizontal and vertical components of the forces acting on it, showing they equal zero
  • Or if there are 3 forces acting on the object you can draw a scale diagram, the scal diagram forms a closed triangle, then the object is in equilibrium
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9
Q

What is a moment?

A

A turning force: force multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the point to the line of action of the force

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10
Q

What is meant by a couple?

A

A pair of equal and opposite coplanar forces

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11
Q

What is meant by the centre of mass?

A

The point through which all the mass of an object acts, for a uniform object the centre of mass is the centre of the object

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12
Q

If you have a uniform object, where would its centre of mass be?

A

At the centre of the solid

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13
Q

What can be described as ‘the change of displacement per unit of time’?

A

Velocity, instantaneous velocity can be found by measuring the gradient of a tangent to a displacement-time graph

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14
Q

What is the area under a velocity-time and acceleration-time graph?

A

The displacement travelled and the velocity respectively

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15
Q

What is the relationship between speed and air resistance

A

Air resistance is directly proportional to the square of speed

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16
Q

A ball is projected off a castle at 6m/s, how does its horizontal velocity change from its launch until it hits the ground?

A

The horizontal velocity remains the same as there is no acceleration in that direction

17
Q

How do the SUVAT equations refelct that all objects fall at the same rate?

A

Mass is not included, showing that the mass of an object doesn’t affect its speed or acceleration

18
Q

In projectile motion, what is the vertical acceration?

A

The vertical acceleration is equal to gravitational field strength (g)

19
Q

What is meant by terminal velocity?

A

When the forces acting on the falling object become balanced, the acceleration becomes zero and the object is moving at maximum velocity

20
Q

What is meant by friction?

A

A resistance to motion between an object and a surface or an object moving through a fluid
Friction is a force that acts in the opposite direction to the movement

21
Q

What is Newton’s third law?

A

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction

22
Q

What is Newton’s second law?

A

F = ma

23
Q

What is Newton’s first law?

A

An object stays moving at a constant velocity until a force acts upon it

24
Q

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

A

In an elastic collision the kinetic energy before is equal to the kinetic energy afterwards
In an inelastic collision the kinetic energy at the end is not equal to the kinetic energy at the start

25
Q

When is linear momentum conserved?

A

Always

26
Q

What can the rate of change of momentum be described as?

A

Force

27
Q

What is impulse?

A

The change in momentum

28
Q

What does the area underneath a force time graph represent?

A

Impulse, the change in momentum

29
Q

Wat is the defintion of power?

A

The rate of work done

30
Q

What is efficiency?

A

Efficiency = the useful output power / input power

31
Q

What is the principle of conservation of energy?

A

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred into other forms of energy
Therefore the total energy in a closed system will always remain the same

32
Q

What is lift?

A
  • An upward force which acts on objects travelling in a fluid
  • It is caused by the object creating a change in direction of fluid flow
  • Acts perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow

Physics (14 decks)

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