Year 10 Physics 2026 Practice Flashcards

WA10SSUP1: Motion can be quantitatively determined. Key quantities including time, distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration can be classified as scalar or vector. Vector diagrams are used to represent the magnitude and direction of motion.
WA10SSUP2: Newton’s laws of motion are used to predict motion. The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration of objects can be determined quantitatively.
WA10SSUP3: The law of conservation of energy is applied to analyze system efficiency regarding energy inputs and outputs, as well as transfers and transformations.

Classification of Quantities:
- Scalar Quantity: A physical quantity described by magnitude only (e.g., time, distance, speed).
- Vector Quantity: A physical quantity described by both magnitude and direction (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration, force).
Vector Diagrams: These are constructed to represent the magnitude (indicated by length) and direction (indicated by arrows) of displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force.
Distance vs. Displacement:
- Distance: The total length of the path traveled by an object.
- Displacement: The straight-line distance between the initial and final positions of an object, including the direction.
Calculations: Total distance and total displacement are calculated along one-dimensional and two-dimensional planes. Trigonometry is utilized for calculations in two-dimensional planes.

Speed vs. Velocity:
- Speed is a scalar quantity defined as the distance traveled per unit of time.
- Velocity is a vector quantity defined as the rate of change of displacement.
Velocity Notations:
- Initial velocity can be represented as either $v_i$ or $u$ .
- Final velocity can be represented as either $v_f$ or $v$ .
Core Equations for Motion:
- Speed/Velocity calculation: $v = \frac{s}{t}$
- Horizontal and vertical acceleration: $a = \frac{v - u}{t}$
- Final velocity (rearranged): $v = u + at$
- Displacement: $s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$
- Extension equation: $v^2 = u^2 + 2as$
Units and Conversions:
- Velocity is often measured in $m\,s^{-1}$ .
- Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity, measured in $m\,s^{-2}$ .
- Conversion between units: Conversion between $km\,h^{-1}$ and $m\,s^{-1}$ is required for solving problems.

Distance-Time Graphs: These graphs represent how far an object has traveled over time. The gradient of the line on a distance-time graph is used to determine the speed.
Displacement-Time Graphs: These graphs represent the change in position of an object over time. The gradient of the line determines the velocity.
Velocity-Time Graphs:
- The gradient of the line on a velocity-time graph determines the acceleration.
- The area under the line represents the displacement of the object.

Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia):
- Force: Defined as a push or a pull, measured in Newtons ( $N$ ).
- Inertia: The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.
- Mass-Inertia Relationship: There is a direct relationship where the mass of an object determines its level of inertia.
- The Law: An object will remain at rest or continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced (net) force.
Newton’s Second Law (Force and Acceleration):
- The acceleration of an object is dependent upon the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object.
- Formula: $F = ma$
- Weight vs. Mass: Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. Weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass.
- Weight Formula: $F_{weight} = mg$
- Gravity: Objects experience acceleration due to gravity ( $g$ ) when unbalanced forces act upon them.
Newton’s Third Law (Action and Reaction):
- For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.
- Forces always act in action and reaction pairs.
Vector Representations: Forces are represented using labeled free body diagrams and vector diagrams. Net force problems are solved when unbalanced forces, either perpendicular or parallel, affect motion.

Critical Safety Devices: Investigations focus on how seatbelts, helmets, crumple zones, airbags, and safety barriers reduce the likelihood of injury during collisions.
Inquiry Process:
- Propose investigable questions and hypotheses.
- Plan and conduct valid, reproducible investigations with associated risk assessments.
- Use equipment and digital tools to record precise data with appropriate sample sizes.
- Construct representations including tables, graphs, descriptive statistics, and models.
- Analyse data to identify patterns, relationships, and anomalies.
- Evaluate the validity and reliability of methods and conclusions, identifying sources of error.
- Summarize findings via live or virtual poster presentations.

Energy: Defined as the capacity to do work. Forms include potential and kinetic energy.
Work: Calculated as the product of force and displacement.
- Formula: $W = Fs$
Gravitational Potential Energy ( $PE$ ): Energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field.
- Formula: $PE = mgh$
Kinetic Energy ( $KE$ ): Energy of an object due to its motion.
- Formula: $KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$

Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed. The total energy of a system remains constant.
Energy Transfer vs. Transformation:
- Transfer: Energy moving from one object to another in the same form.
- Transformation: Energy changing from one form to another (e.g., potential to kinetic).
System Efficiency:
- Energy is often lost or "wasted" (e.g., as heat or sound), which reduces the useful energy output.
- Efficiency Formula: $\text{Efficiency} = \frac{\text{output}}{\text{input}} \times 100$
Sankey Diagrams: Used to illustrate the efficiency of energy transfers and transformations within a system.

General Motion: Vector quantity, Scalar quantity, Displacement, Distance, Speed, Velocity, Gradient, Acceleration, Motion.
Dynamics and Force: Inertia, Force, Gravity, Weight force, Free body diagram, Net force, Unbalanced force, Mass, Weight, Newtons ( $N$ ).
Inquiry and Investigation: Aim, Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, Controlled Variables, Hypothesis, Validity, Reliability.
Energy and Efficiency: Energy, Work, Potential, Kinetic, Transfer, Transformation, Conservation of energy, Efficiency, Power, Gravitational.