Vector
A quantity with both magnitude and direction, represented by an arrow.
Scalar
A quantity with only magnitude and no direction.
Momentum
The quantity of motion an object possesses, the product of mass and velocity.
Force
A push or pull acting on an object, causing it to accelerate.
Centre of Mass
The point where the mass of an object or system can be considered to be concentrated.
Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity
Impulse
A change in momentum
Displacement
Distance travelled in a given direction. Vector quantity
Net force
A resultant force that results in a change of motion
Velocity
The rate of change of displacement
Mass
The amount of matter in an object
Metres per second ()
Unit for velocity
Metres per second squared ()
Unit for acceleration
Newton (N)
Unit for force
Joule (J)
Unit for energy
Kilogram metres per second ()
Unit for momentum
Newton metre (Nm)
Unit for torque
Balanced forces
Resultant force is zero, so no change in motion occurs
Centripetal acceleration
Acceleration towards the centre of a circle
Centripetal force
Force acting towards the centre of a circle that causes objects to travel in a circular path
Gravitational potential energy
Energy that an object has stored due to its position and the influence of gravity
Kinetic energy
Energy contained in a moving object
Newton’s first law
An object will not change its motion unless acted on by and external net force
Newton’s second law
F=ma
Newton’s third law
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
Newton’s law of gravitation
Power
The rate at which energy is transferred
Watt (W)
Unit for power
Tension
Force along a string, rope or chain that is pulled tightly
Universal gravitational constant
Work
When a force moves an object over a distance
Vertical circular motion
Circular motion where the kinetic and gravitational kinetic energies are constantly changing
Horizontal circular motion
Circular motion where the kinetic and gravitational potential energy remain constant
Too fast around a banked corner
Travel to the outside of the corner
Too slow around a banked corner
Travel to the inside of the corner
Critical speed
Ideal speed to travel around a banked corner, where
Angular acceleration
Rate of change of angular velocity
Radians per second squared ()
Unit for angular acceleration
Angular displacement
The angle that an object has rotated through
Radians (rad)
Unit for angular displacement
Angular velocity
Rate of change of angular displacement
Radians per second ()
Unit for angular velocity
Convert translational to angular displacement
Convert translational to angular velocity
Convert translational to angular acceleration
Torque
A force that causes an object to rotate
Rotational inertia
A measure of an object’s resistance to changes in rotational motion
Kilogram metres squared ()
Unit for rotational inertia
Angular momentum
Product of rotational inertia and angular velocity
Pure rotational motion
An object is only moving rotationally, with no translational motion
Pure translational motion
An object is only moving translationally, with no rotational motion
Conservation of energy in rotating systems
Objects with higher rotational inertia have ____ translational kinetic energy
Lower
Objects with lower rotational inertia have ____ rotational kinetic energy
Lower
Objects with lower rotational inertia have _____ translational kinetic energy
Higher
Objects with higher rotational inertia have ____ rotational kinetic energy
Higher
Translational kinetic energy
Rotational kinetic energy
Relationship between linear and rotational momentum
When the rotational inertia is changed…
Work has been done on the system
Amplitude
The distance from the equilibrium position
Angular frequency
The frequency of a steadily recurring phenomenon
Damping
As object lose energy when oscillating, the amplitude decreases over time. Period and angular frequency remain the same
Frequency
The rate at which something occurs over a period of time
Forced SHM
Driving forces are used to increase the amplitude of an oscillation
Driving forces
Forces with an equal or very similar frequency (the natural or resonant frequency) are applied to an oscillating object to increase its amplitude
Resonant frequency
The natural frequency of a system
Period
The time between occurances
Phasor
A line used to represent an oscillating quantity as a vector
Restoring force
The force acting in the opposite direction of motion to restore the oscillating object to its equilibrium position
Hooke’s Law
F=-ky
Newtons per metre ()
Unit for spring constant
Relationship between period and frequency
Time period in simple pendulum
Time period in spring
Relationship between frequency and time period
Relationship between angular frequency and time period
Angle where SHM occurs
<15 degrees either side of equilibrium position
Geostationary satellite
Satellite that orbits Earth vertically above the same position. Time period is 24 hours
Energy in SHM
Total energy = maximum kinetic or potential energy. Transfers between kinetic and potential energy, with equal amounts of each at the equilibrium position