Forces & Motion

Question 1

What is a scalar quantity?

Answer 1

A quantity that has only magnitude (size), not direction.

Question 2

What is a vector quantity?

Answer 2

A quantity that has both magnitude and a specific direction.

Question 3

What is the key difference between scalar and vector quantities?

Answer 3

Scalars have only magnitude; vectors have magnitude and direction.

Question 4

Is displacement a scalar or vector?

Answer 4

Vector.

Question 5

Is distance a scalar or vector?

Answer 5

Scalar.

Question 6

Is velocity a scalar or vector?

Answer 6

Vector.

Question 7

Is speed a scalar or vector?

Answer 7

Scalar.

Question 8

Is acceleration a scalar or vector?

Answer 8

Vector.

Question 9

Is force a scalar or vector?

Answer 9

Vector.

Question 10

Is weight a scalar or vector?

Answer 10

Vector.

Question 11

Is mass a scalar or vector?

Answer 11

Scalar.

Question 12

Is momentum a scalar or vector?

Answer 12

Vector.

Question 13

Is energy a scalar or vector?

Answer 13

Scalar.

Question 14

What is velocity?

Answer 14

Speed in a stated direction.

Question 15

What is the equation for speed?

Answer 15

Speed = distance ÷ time.

Question 16

What is the equation for distance travelled?

Answer 16

Distance = speed × time.

Question 17

How do you find speed from a distance-time graph?

Answer 17

Find the gradient (slope) of the line.

Question 18

What are typical everyday speeds?

Answer 18

• Walking: ~1.5 m/s
• Running: ~3 m/s
• Cycling: ~5–7 m/s
• Wind: ~5–15 m/s
• Sound: ~340 m/s

Question 19

Name a method to measure speed in the lab.

Answer 19

Use light gates to measure time over a known distance.

Question 20

What is the equation for acceleration?

Answer 20

a = (v - u) / t

Question 21

What is the equation for acceleration and distance?

Answer 21

v^2 - u^2 = 2ax

Question 22

What is the acceleration due to gravity (g)?

Answer 22

10 m/s²

Question 23

How do you calculate acceleration from a velocity-time graph?

Answer 23

Find the gradient of the line (if uniform).

Question 24

How do you find distance travelled from a velocity-time graph?

Answer 24

Calculate the area under the line.

Question 25

State Newton’s First Law.

Answer 25

An object remains at rest or moves at constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force.

Question 26

What happens if the resultant force is not zero?

Answer 26

The object will change speed and/or direction.

Question 27

Why is velocity not constant in circular motion?

Answer 27

Because direction is continuously changing.

Question 28

What is centripetal force?

Answer 28

The resultant force that acts toward the centre in circular motion.

Question 29

What is the equation for weight?

Answer 29

W = m × g

Question 30

How is weight measured?

Answer 30

Using a calibrated spring balance or newton meter.

Question 31

What is the relationship between weight and gravitational field strength?

Answer 31

Weight is directly proportional to gravitational field strength.

Question 32

State Newton’s Second Law.

Answer 32

F = m × a

Question 33

What is inertial mass?

Answer 33

A measure of how difficult it is to change an object’s velocity. It is calculated as force ÷ acceleration.

Question 34

What is Newton’s Third Law?

Answer 34

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Question 35

How is Newton’s Third Law linked to momentum?

Answer 35

Momentum is conserved in collisions due to equal and opposite forces.

Question 36

What does the force, mass, and acceleration practical investigate?

Answer 36

How changing mass or force affects acceleration (F = ma), often using a trolley and weights.