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Physics Summary Notes

The document provides summaries of key concepts in mechanics including: 1) Motion concepts such as speed, velocity, and acceleration are defined. Mass is a measure of how much matter an object contains while weight depends on gravitational force. 2) Forces can cause changes in motion and acceleration as described by Newton's Laws. Forces also produce turning effects and deformations. 3) Other concepts covered include density, pressure, work, power, and equilibrium conditions. Scalars and vectors are also distinguished.

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Jumana Elkhateeb
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10 views

Physics Summary Notes

The document provides summaries of key concepts in mechanics including: 1) Motion concepts such as speed, velocity, and acceleration are defined. Mass is a measure of how much matter an object contains while weight depends on gravitational force. 2) Forces can cause changes in motion and acceleration as described by Newton's Laws. Forces also produce turning effects and deformations. 3) Other concepts covered include density, pressure, work, power, and equilibrium conditions. Scalars and vectors are also distinguished.

Uploaded by

Jumana Elkhateeb
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SUMMARY NOTES FOR FIRST TERM EXAMINATION

Motion

 Speed is defined as the distance traveled per unit time.


 Average speed= (total distance)/ (total time).
 Velocity is the speed in a given direction.
 Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

Acceleration = (change in velocity)/ (time).


a=(v-u) / t.
Mass and weight

Mass:
● Mass is a measure of how much matter is in an object.
● It is a property that resists change in motion.

Weight:
● Weight is a gravitational force (the effect of a gravitational field on a mass) measured in
Newtons: 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 𝑚𝑔
● The gravitational field strength on Earth is 10N/kg.
● Weights (and hence masses) can be compared using a balance.

Same object on two different planets:


● The mass is the same
● The gravitational field strength g on the two planets will be different (i.e. not 10 for both) sothe
weight is different.

Acceleration in free fall is due to gravity, and is the same as g, i.e. 10𝑚/𝑠2.

Density
𝑉
● The density is defined as the mass per unit volume:
𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝜌 )= (mass)/(volume)
● The density ρ is in kilograms per metre cubed, kg/m3, the mass m is in kilograms, kg, andth e
volume V is in metres cubed, m3.

To find the density of a liquid:


● Find the mass of the measuring cylinder by placing it on a balance, then fill it with the liquidand
measure the new mass. The difference in masses is the mass of the liquid.
● The volume can be read from the cylinder and the density calculated using the equation.

To find the density of solid:


● Measure the mass of the solid by placing it on a balance.
● If the solid is regularly shaped, measure its dimensions using a ruler or other measuringtool and
then use a mathematical formula to find the volume.
● If the solid is irregularly shaped, immerse it in water and measure the volume of the water
displaced. This is the volume of the solid.
● Find the density using the equation.
The density of water is 1g/cm3; if the density of an object is greater than this it will sink in water - if
less, it will float.
Forces

Effects of forces

● Newton’s first law states that an object has a constant velocity unless acted on by a
resultant force.
● Newton’s second law states that 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 = 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 × 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑭 = 𝒎𝒂
● Newton’s third law states that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force. For
example, the force of the Earth’s gravity on an object is equal and opposite to the force of the
object’s gravity on the Earth.

For example, motion of a body falling in a uniform gravitational field:


● Initially, there is no air resistance and the only force acting on it is weight
● As it falls, it accelerates which increases its speed and hence air resistance
● This causes the resultant force downwards to decrease
● Therefore the acceleration decreases, so it is not speeding up as quickly
● Eventually they are equal and opposite and balance so there is no resultant force
● So there is no acceleration and the terminal velocity is reached

Friction is a force between two surfaces which impedes motion and results in heating. Air
resistance is a form of friction.

To find the resultant of two or more forces acting along the same line, they should be added
together if in the same direction and subtracted if in the opposite direction.

For an object moving in a circle, with constant speed:


● The speed is constant, but the direction is always changing
● This means the velocity is always changing
● Therefore it is accelerating and there must be a force perpendicular to its velocity
towards the centre of the circle.

A force may produce a change in size and shape of a body. This is called deformation:

Hooke’s law states that for a spring, 𝐹 = 𝑘𝑥 where F is the force applied to the spring in 𝑁, k
is the spring constant in 𝑁/𝑚, and x is the extension in 𝑚.

● Gradient is the spring constant, k


Turning effect

The moment of a force is a measure of its turning effect:


𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 ×𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐹𝑑. So its SI unit is Newton-meter (Nm).

Conditions for equilibrium


An object is in equilibrium when the sum of clockwise moments equals the sum of anticlockwise
moments (the principle of moments) and there is no resultant force.

Centre of Mass

The centre of mass of a body is the point at which all of its mass can be considered to act. To
calculate the centre of mass of a card:
1. Hang up the card and suspend a plumb line from the same place.
2. Mark the position of the thread.
3. Repeat the above steps with the card suspended from different places.
4. Where these lines intersect is the centre of mass.

If the centre of mass is below the point of suspension of an object, it will be in stable equilibrium
(e.g. a hanging plant pot). If the centre of mass is above the point of suspension of an object, it will
be in unstable equilibrium (e.g. a pencil placed on its sharp end). If the line of action of the object’s
weight moves outside the base, there will be a resultant moment and it will topple.

Scalars and vectors

● A vector has a magnitude and a direction.


● A scalar has just a magnitude.

Examples:

Scalars Vectors

Distance Displacement

Speed Velocity

Time Acceleration

● Vectors can be represented by


arrows. To determine the resultant of
two vectors graphically, they must be
placed head to tail; the line between
the start and finish is the resultant.
Work and power
 Work is done when a force moves something through a distance. The work done is
equal to the energy transferred.
● Work done: 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 = 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 × 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑾 = 𝑭𝒅

 Power is the rate at which energy is transferred or the rate at which work is done. For
example, a lamp with a greater power will be brighter because it transfers more energy
from electrical energyto light and heat energy in a given time.

Power = (energy transferred)/ time.

Or Power= (work done)/ time.

The SI unit of power is Watt (W) which is joules per second (J/s).

Pressure

 The force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that
force is distributed is known as pressure.

Pressure= force/area

The SI unit of pressure is Pascal (represented as Pa) which is equal to one newton per
square metre (N/m2 ).

 To calculate fluid pressure, use the formula p × g × h = fluid pressure, where p is the
density of the liquid, g is the acceleration of gravity, and h is the height of the fluid.

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