Topic 06: Further Mechanics

Question 1

Angular displacement

Answer 1

In circular motion, the angle turned through. Measured in radians or degrees

Question 2

Angular velocity

Answer 2

The angular displacement per unit time, measured in radians or degrees per second. It is different from angular speed as it is defined in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction

Question 3

Centripetal acceleration

Answer 3

As a body follows an orbit, its direction constantly changes. This produces a constantly changing velocity and the centripetal acceleration is needed to cause this change in velocity

Question 4

Centripetal force

Answer 4

A force felt towards the centre of an object’s orbit due to the centripetal acceleration

Question 5

Conservation of momentum

Answer 5

In a closed system with no external forces, the momentum of the system before an event is equal to the momentum of the system after the event

Question 6

Elastic collision

Answer 6

When the kinetic energy of a system before an event is equal to the kinetic energy of a system after the event

Question 7

Impulse

Answer 7

The change of momentum of an object when a force acts open it. Equal to the area underneath a force-time graph

Question 8

Inelastic collision

Answer 8

When the kinetic energy of a system before an event is not equal to the kinetic energy of a system after the event. The kinetic energy has been transferred to other forms