P2: Forces Flashcards
(44 cards)
What tools are used to measure short distances accurately?
A metre ruler or tape measure.
What tool is used to measure long distances (e.g., in a field)?
A trundle wheel.
What tool is used in experiments for precise timing of short intervals?
Light gates connected to a timer or data logger.
What tool is commonly used for manual time measurements?
A stopwatch.
What is the formula for calculating speed?
Speed = Distance ÷ Time
What are the standard SI units for speed, distance, and time?
Speed: m/s, Distance: m, Time: s
If time is given in minutes, what must you do before using the formula?
Convert time to seconds.
How do you convert km to m?
Multiply by 1,000 (1 km = 1,000 m)
How do you convert hours to seconds?
Multiply by 3,600 (1 hour = 3,600 s)
How do you convert m/s to km/h?
Multiply by 3.6
Example: 10 m/s × 3.6 = 36 km/h
How do you convert km/h to m/s?
Divide by 3.6
Example: 36 km/h ÷ 3.6 = 10 m/s
What is a rate in physics?
A quantity divided by time (e.g., speed = distance/time)
What is a scalar quantity?
A quantity with only magnitude (size), not direction.
What is a vector quantity?
A quantity with both magnitude and direction.
Is distance a vector or scalar?
Scalar
Is displacement a vector or scalar?
Vector
Is speed a vector or scalar?
Scalar
Is velocity a vector or scalar?
Vector
What is displacement?
The straight-line distance from start to finish in a specific direction.
Can displacement be zero even if distance isn’t?
Yes — e.g., when an object returns to its starting point.
What does a horizontal line on a distance-time graph mean?
The object is stationary (not moving).
What does a straight sloping line on a distance-time graph mean?
The object is moving at constant speed.
What does a curved line on a distance-time graph mean?
The object is accelerating or decelerating.
What does the gradient (slope) of a distance-time graph show?
The speed of the object.