Mechanics Flashcards
State the suvat equations
- s = (u + v)t / 2
- a = v - u / t
- s = ut + 1/2at2
- v2 = u2 + 2as
What is the difference between distance and displacement?
- Displacement is a vector
- Distance is scalar
What does a horizontal line represent on a displacement time graph?
- Stationary
What does a straight line where gradient is not zero mean on a displacement time graph?
- Constant speed
How is constant velocity forwards and backwards represented on displacement time graph?
- Constant velocity forwards is a straight line angled up
- Constant velocity backwards is a straight line angled down
How do you represent a stationary object on a velocity time graph?
- Horizontal line at zero
How do you represent a constant speed on a velocity time graph?
- Horizontal line
How do you represent a constant accleration on a velocity time graph?
- Straight line angled up
How do you represent a constant decelleration on a velocity time graph?
- Straight line angled down
What does gradient represent on a velocity time graph?
- Acceleration
How do you represent a stationary object on an acceleration time graph?
- Can’t be shown
How do you represent constant speed on an acceleration time graph?
- Horizontal line at zero
What represents a changing acceleration on an acceleration time graph?
- A straight line angled up or down
What does the gradient represent on an acceleration time graph?
- Jerk
Describe what a displacment, velocity and acceleration time graph would look like if a ball was thrown straight up into the air and then fell back down.

How do you find percentage error of multiple readings?
- Find range
- Range / 2 = Uncertainty
- %d = Uncertainty / Average value
How do you find percentage error of a single reading?
- Uncertainty = Resolution of instrument / Reading
- Then divide by 2
What is a vector quantity?
- Vector quantities have magnitude and direction
What is a scalar quantity?
- Has magnitude only
What is Newtons 1st law?
- States that a body will remain at rest or move with uniform velocity unless acted upon by a resultant external force
What Newtons 2nd law?
- States for a body of fixed mass, acceleration is directly proportional to the resultant force applied to the body
- F = ma
- Δp / t = F
What is Newtons 3rd law?
- States if object A exerts a force on object B then object B exerts an equal and opposite force on object A
What is the equation for gravitational field strength?
- g = F / m
What is the equation for weight?
- W = mg