Study Guide: GATE 10 - Physics

Objectives

• Measurement of Motion: Understand that the description of motion requires the measurement of time intervals and distance.

• Distance vs. Displacement: Describe the difference between distance (the total path covered) and displacement (the shortest path between two points).

• Calculation of Distance and Displacement: Calculate distance and displacement for 1D and 2D motion, using vector diagrams where appropriate.

• Speed and Velocity: Define the concepts of speed (scalar quantity) and velocity (vector quantity).

• Average Speed and Average Velocity: Apply average speed and average velocity formulae:

  • Average Speed = Total Distance / Total Time

  • Average Velocity = Total Displacement / Total Time

• Acceleration: Define the concept of acceleration (the rate of change of velocity) and use the formulae:

  • a = (v - u) / t (where v = final velocity, u = initial velocity)

  • v = u + at (to calculate unknown variables).

• Displacement and Time Equations: Use the formula s = ut + ½ at² (to calculate unknown variables, where s = displacement).

• Graphs of Motion: Draw, interpret, and describe an object's motion using displacement-time graphs and velocity-time graphs.

  • Calculate an object's speed or velocity from a displacement-time graph.

  • Calculate an object's displacement from a velocity-time graph.

  • Use the gradient of a velocity-time graph to find the acceleration of the object.

• Gravity: Use the acceleration due to gravity (9.80 m/s²) in calculations of motion (including s = ut + ½ gt²).

• Force and Resultant Force:

  • Define force and state its SI unit (Newton, N).

  • Define resultant force and calculate it when unbalanced forces are acting at right angles to each other.

  • Resolve force vectors acting in a 2-dimensional plane.

• Inertia: Define inertia and describe the factors that affect it.

• Newton’s Laws of Motion:

  • 1st Law: A body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

  • 2nd Law: F = ma (the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration).

  • 3rd Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

• Energy:

  • Define energy and state its SI unit (Joule, J).

  • Explain that energy cannot be seen, but can be detected when a change occurs.

  • Recall that energy exists in various forms (heat, mechanical, chemical, electrical, light, sound, nuclear, potential, and kinetic).

  • State the law of conservation of energy.

  • Define kinetic energy (EK) and apply the relationship EK = ½ mv².

  • Define gravitational potential energy (EP) and apply the relationship EP = mgh.

  • Explain the interchange between kinetic and potential energy during motion inside a gravitational field.

• Work and Power:

  • Explain that work is done when a force moves an object (Work, W = Force x distance).

  • Apply the relationship W = Fs, where F is force and s is distance moved in the direction of the force.

  • Define power and state its SI unit (Watt, W).

  • Apply the relationship P = W / t.

• Energy Transformation and Efficiency:

  • Explain that energy can be transformed from one form into others and that most energy transformations result in some undesirable efficiency losses (usually as wasted thermal energy).

  • Calculate the efficiency of energy transformations.

  • Rearrange and apply formulae relating to energy transfers and transformations, including energy changes due to changes in an object's motion or position.