Edexcel Physics A Level Topic 6 Flashcards

Flashcards for Edexcel Physics A Level Topic 6: Further Mechanics

Angular Displacement

In circular motion, the angle turned through. Measured in radians or degrees.

Angular Velocity

The angular displacement per unit time, measured in radians or degrees per second. Defined in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

Centripetal Acceleration

The acceleration needed to cause a change in velocity as a body follows an orbit and its direction constantly changes.

Centripetal Force

A force felt towards the centre of an object's orbit due to the centripetal acceleration.

Conservation of Momentum

In a closed system with no external forces, the momentum of the system before an event is equal to the momentum of the system after the event.

Elastic Collision

When the kinetic energy of a system before an event is equal to the kinetic energy of the system after the event.

Impulse

The change of momentum of an object when a force acts on it. Equal to the area underneath a force-time graph.

Inelastic Collision

When the kinetic energy of a system before an event is not equal to the kinetic energy of the system after the event. The kinetic energy has been transferred to other forms.