Year 10 Physics 2026 Practice Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering Year 10 Physics concepts including kinematics, Newton's Laws, energy, and scientific inquiry based on the 2026 Teaching and Learning Program.

Scalar quantity

A quantity that has magnitude (size) only.

Vector quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction, often represented by vector diagrams.

Distance

A scalar quantity that describes the total path length covered by an object.

Displacement

A vector quantity describing the change in position of an object from its starting point.

Speed

A scalar quantity representing the distance traveled per unit of time, calculated using the formula $\text{speed} = \frac{d}{t}$.

Velocity

A vector quantity representing the rate of change of displacement, calculated using the formula $v = \frac{s}{t}$.

Initial and Final Velocity Symbols

Initial velocity is represented as both $v_i$ and $u$, while final velocity is represented as $v_f$ and $v$.

Acceleration

Defined as the rate of change of velocity, measured in units of $ms^{-2}$. It can be calculated using the formula $a = \frac{v - u}{t}$.

Gradient

The slope of a line on a graph; the gradient on a distance-time graph represents speed, while the gradient on a displacement-time graph represents velocity.

Area under the line (Velocity-Time Graph)

The calculation used on a velocity-time graph to determine the total displacement of an object.

Force

A push or a pull exerted on an object, measured in units of Newtons ($N$).

Inertia

The property of an object to resist changes to its motion, which is directly related to the mass of the object.

Newton’s First Law of Motion

The law stating that an object will remain at rest or continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Free body diagram

A labeled diagram used to represent the magnitude and direction of forces acting on an object.

Net force

The sum of all unbalanced forces (perpendicular and parallel) affecting the motion of an object.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

The law stating the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, quantitatively determined by the formula $F = ma$.

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object, which determines its inertia; it is different from weight.

Weight ($F_{weight}$)

The force of gravity acting on a body, calculated using the formula $F_{weight} = mg$.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion

The law stating that for every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.

Aim

The stated purpose or objective of a scientific investigation.

Independent Variable

The variable in an investigation that is deliberately changed to test its effect.

Dependent Variable

The variable in an investigation that is measured or observed as it changes in response to the independent variable.

Controlled Variables

The factors in an investigation that are kept constant to ensure the results are valid and the test is fair.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction or proposed explanation for a relationship between variables in an investigation.

Validity

The extent to which an investigation correctly tests the hypothesis it intended to measure.

Reliability

A measure of the consistency and replicability of data obtained from an investigation.

Energy

The capacity to do work, existing in various forms including potential and kinetic energy.

Work ($W$)

The energy transferred when a force acts on an object over a displacement, calculated as $W = Fs$.

Gravitational Potential Energy ($P.E$)

The stored energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field, calculated as $P.E = mgh$.

Kinetic Energy ($K.E$)

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated using the formula $K.E = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$.

Energy Transfer

The movement of energy from one object or system to another.

Energy Transformation

The process of energy changing from one form (e.g., potential) into another form (e.g., kinetic).

Law of Conservation of Energy

A principle stating that total energy is maintained in a system; energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed.

Efficiency

A measure of the proportion of energy input that is converted into useful energy output, calculated as $\text{Efficiency} = (\frac{\text{output}}{\text{input}}) \times 100$.

Sankey diagram

A specific type of diagram used to illustrate the efficiency of energy transfers and transformations within a system.

Power

The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred over time.