CAIE AS Level Maths Mechanics Syllabus

This set of flashcards covers key concepts in mechanics from the CAIE AS Level Maths syllabus, including definitions and critical principles.

Kinematics Equations

Equations that relate velocity, acceleration, time, and displacement.

Displacement-Time Graph

A graph that shows how displacement varies with time, where the gradient represents speed.

Velocity-Time Graph

A graph that indicates how velocity changes over time, where the gradient represents acceleration and the area under the graph represents displacement.

Newton's First Law of Motion

An object remains at rest or moves in a straight line with constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting upon it and inversely proportional to its mass.

Weight

The force acting downwards on an object due to gravity.

Normal Contact Force

The force perpendicular to the surface of contact that supports the weight of an object.

Limiting Friction

The maximum frictional force that must be overcome for an object to start moving.

Principle of Conservation of Energy

The principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Momentum

The product of an object's mass and its velocity, representing the quantity of motion.

Work Done

The energy transferred when a force moves an object over a distance.

Gravitational Potential Energy

The potential energy associated with an object's height above the ground, calculated as $PE = mgh$.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of an object due to its motion, calculated as KE = rac{1}{2}mv^2.

Average Velocity

Calculated as the total displacement divided by the total time taken.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

Static Equilibrium

A state in which the sum of forces and the sum of moments acting on an object are both zero.

Connected Particles

A scenario in mechanics where two or more objects influence each other's motion through tension in a string or other connection.

Friction

A force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces in contact.

Pulleys

A system used to change the direction of force and make it easier to lift heavy objects.

Displacement

The change in position of an object, measured as a straight line from the initial to final position.

Gradient of a Velocity-Time Graph

Represents acceleration in a velocity-time graph.

Energy Lost

The amount of energy that does not remain with an object, often converted to another form such as heat.