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Unit 1: Mechanics and Materials

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  1. 1.3 - Mechanics

    1. 1.3.1Uniform acceleration equations

      Use the uniformly accelerated motion equations in one dimension: s = (u + v)t/2, v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², and v² = u² + 2as.

    2. 1.3.2Motion graphs

      Be able to draw and interpret displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration- time graphs

    3. 1.3.3Gradients and areas of motion graphs

      Know the physical quantities derived from the slopes and areas of displacement- time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs, including cases of non-uniform acceleration and understand how to use the quantities

    4. 1.3.4Scalars and vectors

      Understand scalar and vector quantities and know examples of each type of quantity and recognise vector notation

    5. 1.3.5Resolving vectors

      Be able to resolve a vector into two components at right angles to each other by drawing and by calculation

    6. 1.3.6Resultant vectors

      Be able to find the resultant of two coplanar vectors at any angle to each other by drawing, and at right angles to each other by calculation

    7. 1.3.7Projectile motion components

      Understand how to make use of the independence of vertical and horizontal motion of a projectile moving freely under gravity

    8. 1.3.8Free-body force diagrams

      Be able to draw and interpret free-body force diagrams to represent forces on a particle or on an extended but rigid body using the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body

    9. 1.3.9Newton’s second law and terminal velocity

      Be able to use the equation ∑F = ma, and understand how to use this equation in situations where m is constant (Newton’s second law of motion), including Newton’s first law of motion where a = 0, objects at rest or travelling at constant velocity Use of the term ‘terminal velocity’ is expected.

    10. 1.3.10Gravitational field strength and weight

      Use gravitational field strength g = F/m and weight W = mg.

    11. 1.3.11Core Practical 1 - freely-falling object acceleration

      CORE PRACTICAL 1: Determine the acceleration of a freely-falling object

    12. 1.3.12Newton’s third law and force pairs

      Know and understand Newton’s third law of motion and know the properties of pairs of forces in an interaction between two bodies

    13. 1.3.13Momentum

      Understand that momentum is defined as p = mv

    14. 1.3.14Conservation of linear momentum

      Know the principle of conservation of linear momentum, understand how to relate this to Newton’s laws of motion and understand how to apply this to problems in one dimension

    15. 1.3.15Moment of a force

      Be able to use the equation for the moment of a force, moment of force = Fx where x is the perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force and the axis of rotation

    16. 1.3.16Centre of gravity and moments in equilibrium

      Be able to use the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body and apply the principle of moments to an extended body in equilibrium

    17. 1.3.17Work done

      Be able to use the equation for work ∆W = F∆s, including calculations when the force is not along the line of motion

    18. 1.3.18Kinetic energy

      Use Ek = ½mv² for the kinetic energy of a body.

    19. 1.3.19Gravitational potential energy

      Be able to use the equation ∆Egrav = mg∆h for the difference in gravitational potential energy near the Earth’s surface

    20. 1.3.20Conservation of energy

      Know, and understand how to apply, the principle of conservation of energy including use of work done, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy

    21. 1.3.21Power, time and energy transfer

      Use P = E/t and P = W/t to relate power, time, energy transferred and work done.

    22. 1.3.22Efficiency equations

      Be able to use the equations useful energy output efficiency = total energy input and useful power output efficiency = total power input

  2. 1.4 - Materials

    1. Use density ρ = m/V.

    2. Understand how to use the relationship upthrust = weight of fluid displaced

    3. A be able to use the equation for viscous drag (Stokes’ Law), F = 6πηrv. b understand that this equation applies only to small spherical objects moving at low speeds with laminar flow (or in the absence of turbulent flow) and that viscosity is temperature dependent

    4. CORE PRACTICAL 2: Use a falling-ball method to determine the viscosity of a liquid

    5. Be able to use the Hooke’s law equation, ∆F = k∆x, where k is the stiffness of the object

    6. Understand how to use the relationships • (tensile or compressive) stress = force/cross-sectional area • (tensile or compressive) strain= change in length/original length Young modulus = stress/strain.

    7. A be able to draw and interpret force-extension and force-compression graphs b understand the terms limit of proportionality, elastic limit, yield point, elastic deformation and plastic deformation and be able to apply them to these graphs

    8. Be able to draw and interpret tensile or compressive stress-strain graphs, and understand the term breaking stress

    9. CORE PRACTICAL 3: Determine the Young modulus of a material

    10. Calculate elastic strain energy using ΔEel = ½FΔx and the area under a force–extension graph, including estimating areas for linear and non-linear graphs.