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A Level Physics Paper 1 > Mechanics > Flashcards

Mechanics Flashcards

1
Q

Scalar examples

A 
Power
Pressure
Time
Temperature
Volume
Distance
Energy 
Speed
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2
Q

Vector examples

A 
Weight
Velocity
Force
Displacement
Momentum
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3
Q

How do you give the direction of a resultant force

A

Angle

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4
Q

What do you do to find the resultant force if forces aren’t perpendicular

A

Tip-to-tail scale drawing

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5
Q

If a force system is in equilibrium and has two unknown lengths how do you find them

A

Tip to tail scale drawing
Vectors form a closed shape
No resultant force

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6
Q

How can you solve a system in equilibrium

A

Tip to tail scale drawing

Equating horizontal and vertical components

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7
Q

Conditions for equilibrium

A

No resultant force

No resultant moment

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8
Q

What is equilibrium

A

When there is no resultant force
No resultant momentum
So a stationary object stays stationary or moving object stays moving with a constant velocity

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9
Q

Mass vs weight

A

Mass is scalar so only has magnitude whereas weight is a vector so has magnitude and direction
Mass is the amount of material in an object whereas weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object

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10
Q

What is the centre of mass

A

The point through which all the weight is deemed to act

Through which the resultant moment is zero

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11
Q

What is toppling

A

If the weight vector of an object extends outside of its base it will topple

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12
Q

What happens if an objects weight is exactly on the borderline of the base

A

Neither topples or returns to its original position

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13
Q

How do you calculate the maximum angle before toppling on an inclined plane

A

Draw a diagram
Draw a line from centre of object diagonally to edge of corner closes to ground so touching the plane
The lengths of the triangle will be half the height and half the base length/radius
tan-1(radius/half height)

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14
Q

What is a moment

A

The four multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the pivot point
Measured in Nm

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15
Q

Moment formula

A

M=Fd

Perpendicular distance

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16
Q

Principle of moments

A

Sum of clockwise moments about any point is the same as the sum of anticlockwise moments about the same point for a body in equilibrium

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17
Q

Uniform

A

Centre of mass is its physical centre

Consistent density

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18
Q

Couple

A

A pair of equal and opposite coplanar forces

Which do not act along the same line of action

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19
Q

Torque

A

Moment of a couple: force multiplied by the perpendicular distance between the lines of action of the forces

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20
Q

Distance

A

Length of path travelled from start to end

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21
Q

Displacement

A

Straight line length in a given direction from start to end point

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22
Q

Velocity

A

Rate of change of displacement

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23
Q

Acceleration

A

Rate of change of velocity

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24
Q

What is earth’s velocity over a year

A

0ms²
Circle
Start is the end
Displacement is zero

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25
Gradient of a displacement time graph
Velocity since s/t=v
26
Gradient of a velocity time graph
Acceleration since v/t=a
27
How does acceleration act in free fall
Vertically downwards
28
Suvat that isn't given
s=vt-1/2at^2
29
When do you use a suvat
Constant acceleration
30
When do you use speed=distance/time
Constant velocity
31
Examples of free fall
Object dropped or thrown down Object thrown upwards An object projected in any direction as long as it is not touching anything or any forces acting on it
32
First thing to do before attempting suvat
Define positive direction
33
Why does the horizontal component of velocity stay constant
There is no horizontal acceleration If acceleration is zero then velocity remains constant Air resistance is negligible so only experiences force of weight vertically downwards
34
When is velocity zero at the start of projectile motion questions
NEVER
35
When is velocity zero at the end of projectile motion questions
NEVER
36
When catching a cricket ball a cricketer moves his hand a short distance in the direction of travel of the ball as it makes contact with his hand. Why
There is a larger distance So the time taken for the momentum to reach zero is increased If a=v/t, if t increases acceleration decreases From f=ma, decreasing a decreases the force on his hand
37
What is Newton's 1st Law of motion
If no resultant force is acting on an object It will either remain at rest or continue moving with a constant velocity
38
What is Newton's 2nd Law of motion
The rate of change of momentum (acceleration) of a body is directly proportional to the resultant force acting on it
39
How is acceleration related to momentum
Rate of change of momentum
40
What is Newton's 3rd Law of motion
When two objects interact they exert an equal and opposite force on each other The forces are of the same type
41
What is tension
A pulling force carried by ropes or cables when taught
42
Where does tension act
Away from the points of contact
43
What is free fall
I dk check mbook
44
Why can't you use suvats for terminal velocity
Velocity is not constant
45
What is terminal velocity
The constant velocity achieved by an object when its drag force is equal in size to the driving force but acting in opposite directions
46
What factors can affect the size of drag
Velocity Cross sectional area Fluid density Shape of object
47
Why does an object reach terminal velocity
Increased collisions with air particles as velocity increases So drag increases Until eventually equal in size to the driving force but in opposite direction
48
Terminal velocity; start of jump
Vertical component of velocity is 0 0 air resistance Fres is weight Since F=ma, a=9.81ms^-2
49
Terminal velocity; short time after jump
``` Vertical component of velocity increases Air resistance increases Resultant force has decreased Acceleration less than 9.81 Continues to speed up but at a lesser rate ```
50
Terminal velocity; eventually (no parachute)
As velocity continues to increase so does air resistance Terminal velocity reached when weight=air resistance Acceleration is 0 Resultant force is 0 Continues at this speed
51
Terminal velocity; parachute opened
Air resistance increases to be larger than the weight Resistance force acts upwards Decelerate Velocity decreases
52
Terminal velocity; after parachute opened
Velocity decreases so air resistance decreases Fres decreases Deceleration decreases Slow down at a lesser rate
53
Terminal velocity; eventually (parachute)
``` Velocity continues to decrease until weight=air resistance= terminal velocity Acceleration is 0 Resultant force is 0 Continues at this speed Lower terminal velocity ```
54
Explain how the resultant force on a car changes as speed increases
As speed increases, air resistance increases So acceleration would decrease Resultant force decreases because F=ma
55
Explain using Newton's laws of motion why a vehicle has a maximum speed
When the car and the air interact they exert an equal and opposite force on each other (3rd) As speed increases, air resistance increases So acceleration would decrease Resultant force decreases because F=ma Resultant force = 0 Means car will continue moving at this constant terminal velocity (1st)
56
Units for momentum
kgms^-1 | Ns
57
Momentum equation
mass x velocity p=mv
58
Equation derivation from N2nd law
Change of momentum/time=Resultant force mv-mu/t=Fres m(u-v)/t=Fres Fres= vΔm/Δt
59
How do you handle flow rate questions
Consider the fluid after 1 second
60
Impulse
Force multiplied by the time for which the force acts AKA change in momentum Its a vector
61
Impulse equation
I=Δp=Ft
62
Area of a force time graph
Impulse
63
Principle of momentum
For a system of interacting objects the total momentum remains constant providing no external resultant forces act (total before=total after)
64
Elastic vs inelastic collision
Elastic there is no loss of kinetic energy | Inelastic there is some loss of kinetic energy during the collision
65
Totally inelastic collision
Colliding objects stick together
66
How can an inelastic collision be possible if the law of conservation of energy applies
Momentum is always conserved in collisions Total energy is always conserved in collisions But kinetic energy may be converted to other forms e.g heat
67
Explosion
An event where two objects, initially at rest, fly apart f recoil with an equal and opposite amount of momentum
68
Energy is needed for what
Moving objects Heating objects Changing shapes of objects
69
Principle of conservation of energy
Energy cannot be created or destroyed | Only transferred from one type to another
70
Work done
Energy given to or removed by a force
71
Work done equations
W=Fs Must be parallel distance so may have to use trig
72
For no loss of energy, energy is as such...
Ep at start=Ek at end mgΔh=1/2mv^2
73
Work done against friction is equal to
The difference between initial and final energy
74
Power
The rate of transfer of energy | The rate at which work is done
75
Units for power
Watts
76
Power equations
Power=work done/time Power=energy transferred/time Power=force x velocity (Fres=0 and velocity is constant)

A Level Physics Paper 1 (8 decks)

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