gcse to alevel physics - maths

physical quality

property of an object/phenomenon that can be measured

S.l. units of mass, length, and time

kilogram (kg), metre (m), and second (s)

what base quantities do the units A, K, and mol represent

current, temperature, amount of substance

prefixes

pico (p) 10⁻¹²

nano (n) 10⁻⁹,

micro (μ) 10⁻⁶,

milli (m) 10⁻³,

centi (c) 10⁻²,

deci (d) 10⁻¹,

kilo (k) 10³,

mega (M) 10⁶,

giga (G) 10⁹,

tera (T) 10¹²

scalar quantity

quantity with a magnitude (size) but no direction

vector quantity

quantity with a magnitude (size) and direction

two equations to resolve a force in perpendicular components (Fx and Fy)

Fx = F cosθ

Fy = F sin θ

difference between distance and displacement

distance - scalar

displacement - vector

what does the capital letter Δ (delta) mean

change in

equation for average speed

v = Δx / Δt

instantaneous speed

speed of an object over a very short time period

what does the gradient of a displacement-time graph tell you

velocity

how can you calculate acceleration/displacement from a velocity time graph

acceleration - gradient

displacement - area under graph

acceleration

a = Δv / Δt

what do the letters suvat stand for

s - displacement

u - initial velocity

v - final velocity

a - acceleration

t - time taken

what are the 4 suvat equations

• v = u + at

• v² = u² + 2as

• s = ½(u+v)t

• s = ut + ½at²

stopping distance

distance travelled from when the driver first sees a reason to stop, to when the vehicle stops

thinking distance

distance travelled between the moment you see a reason to stop to the moment you use the break

braking distance

distance travelled from time the brake is applied until the vehicle stops

free fall

when an object is accelerating under gravity with no other force acting on it