ATAR Physics Unit 1: Motion, Forces & Energy Review

A set of practice flashcards to review concepts related to motion, forces, and energy in ATAR Physics Unit 1.

What defines a scalar quantity?

A scalar quantity is defined by its magnitude only, with no direction.

What are examples of scalar quantities?

Distance, time, speed, and mass are examples of scalar quantities.

What defines a vector quantity?

A vector quantity is defined by both magnitude and direction.

What are examples of vector quantities?

Displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force are examples of vector quantities.

How do you represent vectors graphically?

Vectors are represented by arrows; the length indicates magnitude and the direction indicates direction.

What is vector addition?

Vector addition involves combining vectors to find a resultant vector, which can be calculated graphically or algebraically.

What operation is used for adding scalar quantities?

Scalar quantities are added simply as numerical values.

What is the significance of the slope of a position-time graph?

The slope of a position-time graph represents the object's velocity.

What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent?

The area under a velocity-time graph represents the displacement of the object.

When are the Pythagorean theorem and SOH CAH TOA used in vector calculations?

They are used when resolving or adding vectors, especially in right-angled triangles.

What is the formula for average speed?

Average speed is calculated as total distance travelled divided by total time taken.

What is the formula for average velocity?

Average velocity is calculated as displacement divided by time taken.

What units are commonly used for speed and velocity in physics?

Metres per second (m/s) is the standard unit for speed and velocity.

How is acceleration defined?

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity.

What is the standard unit of acceleration?

The standard unit of acceleration is metres per second squared (m/s²).

What does the term 'displacement' refer to?

Displacement refers to the change in position of an object, including both distance and direction.

How do you describe the direction of a vector in a two-dimensional plane?

The direction can be described using angles, bearings, or directional conventions (like north, south, east, west).

What happens to the velocity of an object when it moves upwards against gravity?

The object's velocity decreases until it reaches a maximum height, at which point the velocity is zero before it starts to descend.

What happens to the velocity of an object in free fall?

The object's velocity increases downwards at a constant rate due to the acceleration of gravity.

In vector subtraction, how is the operation performed?

Vector subtraction is performed by adding the negative of the vector being subtracted.

What is the difference between distance and displacement?

Distance is a scalar quantity measuring total path length, while displacement is a vector quantity measuring the shortest path between start and end points.