Topics

Direction

Direction refers to the course or path along which an object or force moves. It is determined by
the orientation of the object or force.

Direction can be described using vectors, which include both magnitude and direction.
In physics, direction is often represented by arrows, with the length representing magnitude
and the direction indicating the course.
Direction is relative, meaning it is defined in relation to a frame of reference.
In order to fully understand the motion of an object, both magnitude and direction must be
considered.

Magnitude

Magnitude refers to the size or amount of a quantity, such as the length of an object or the
intensity of a force.

Magnitude is a scalar quantity, meaning it has magnitude but no direction.

Magnitude can be positive or negative, depending on the direction of the quantity being
measured.
The magnitude of a vector is found using the Pythagorean theorem, by combining the
magnitudes of its components.
Magnitude can be expressed using units of measurement, such as meters, kilograms, or
newtons.

Scalar quantity

A scalar quantity in physics refers to a physical measurement that has magnitude but no
direction.

Scalar quantities can be expressed using a number and a unit, such as speed (m/s) or
temperature (°C).
Scalar quantities can be added or subtracted algebraically.
Examples of scalar quantities include mass, time, distance, and energy.
Scalar quantities are independent of the coordinate system used to describe them.

Vector Addition

Vector addition involves combining multiple vectors to determine the resultant vector,
considering both magnitude and direction.
 Vectors can be added using either graphical methods or mathematically through component
addition.
Vector addition follows the rules of commutativity and associativity.
The resultant vector is the vector sum of all individual vectors involved in the addition
process.
Understanding the concept of vector addition is crucial in various scientific and engineering
applications.

Vector quantity

A vector quantity is a physical quantity with both magnitude and direction, such as velocity or
force.

Scalars only have magnitude, while vectors have magnitude and direction.
Vector quantities can be represented by arrows, with the length of the arrow representing the
magnitude and the direction of the arrow representing the direction.
The sum of two vectors is called the resultant, which can be found using graphical or
algebraic methods.
Vector quantities are often represented using coordinate systems, such as the Cartesian
coordinate system.

Key Terms
Acceleration

Acceleration pertains to the rate of change of velocity per unit of time. It's a vector, implying it
carries both magnitude and direction.

Acceleration involves change in speed or direction, or both.

It's measured in meters per second squared (m/s^2).
Zero acceleration means constant speed and unchanging direction.
Acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s^2.

Circular Motion

Circular motion refers to the movement of an object along a circular path, where the object
continuously changes its direction.

Circular motion involves both linear speed and angular speed.

The centripetal force is responsible for keeping objects in circular motion.
The force required to maintain circular motion increases with the mass and decreases with
the radius of the circular path.
The period of circular motion is the time taken for one complete revolution around the circle.
Component Form

Component Form refers to representing a vector as the sum of its horizontal and vertical
components. It involves breaking down a vector into perpendicular directions.

Components can be found using trigonometric functions such as sine and cosine.
It helps simplify vector operations by dealing with the components separately.
When working with vectors in two dimensions, component form is commonly used.
By knowing the components, you can determine the direction and magnitude of a vector.

Coordinate System

A coordinate system is a set of reference lines used to locate points in a space, typically
represented as x, y, and z axes.

It provides a framework for describing the position of objects or points relative to a fixed
reference point.
Common types include Cartesian, polar, and spherical coordinate systems.
The origin is the point where all axes intersect, defined by coordinate values (0, 0, 0) in a
three-dimensional system.
Coordinates can be positive, negative, or zero, indicating direction and distance from the
origin.

Cross product

The cross product is a mathematical operation that takes two vectors as input and produces a
third vector that is perpendicular to both input vectors.

The cross product is also known as the vector product.

The magnitude of the cross product is equal to the product of the magnitudes of the two
input vectors multiplied by the sine of the angle between them.
The direction of the cross product is determined by the right-hand rule.
The cross product is used to calculate torque, magnetic fields, and angular momentum in
physics.

Displacement

Displacement refers to the change in position of an object in a particular direction, usually

represented by a vector quantity.

Displacement can be positive, negative, or zero depending on the direction of the movement.
If an object returns to its original position, the displacement is zero.
Displacement can be calculated by subtracting the initial position from the final position.
Displacement is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
Dot product

The dot product is a mathematical operation that takes two vectors and returns a scalar value by
multiplying their magnitudes and the cosine of the angle between them.

Calculating the dot product involves multiplying the corresponding components of the
vectors and adding up the results.
The dot product can be used to determine if two vectors are orthogonal (perpendicular) to
each other.
The dot product can be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the angle between the
vectors.
A dot product of zero implies that the vectors are orthogonal, whereas a positive dot product
indicates that the vectors are parallel or pointing in the same direction.

Dynamics

Dynamics is the branch of science that studies how objects move and interact with each other.

Dynamics involves analyzing forces, motion, and energy to understand the behavior of
objects.
Newton's three laws of motion are fundamental principles in dynamics.
Inertia is the tendency of objects to resist changes in motion, according to Newton's first law.
Dynamics also explores concepts such as momentum, acceleration, and the conservation of
energy.

Energy

Energy is the capacity of a system to do work or produce heat.

Energy can exist in various forms, such as kinetic, potential, thermal, chemical, and
electromagnetic.
The SI unit of energy is the joule (J).
The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only
transferred or transformed.
Energy can be converted from one form to another, such as from potential to kinetic energy.

Equilibrium

Equilibrium refers to a state of balance where all forces acting on an object are equal and cancel
each other out.

An object in equilibrium may be at rest or moving with a constant velocity.

Equilibrium can be achieved when an object is experiencing no external forces.
 There are three types of equilibrium: stable, unstable, and neutral.
In stable equilibrium, a small displacement from the balanced position results in a force that
brings the object back to equilibrium.

Force

Force is a push or pull that can cause an object to accelerate, change direction, or deform.

Force is a vector quantity, having both magnitude and direction.

The unit of force is the Newton (N)
Common forces include gravitational force, frictional force, and normal force.
Newton's 2nd law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net
force applied to it.

Friction

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of objects in contact with each other.

Friction depends on the nature of the surfaces and the amount of force pushing the surfaces
together.
Friction can be reduced by using lubricants to create a smooth surface.
Increasing the surface area in contact between two objects increases the amount of friction.
Friction can cause wear and tear on surfaces, leading to the need for maintenance or
replacement.

Graphical representation

Graphical representation involves the use of visual aids such as graphs, charts, and diagrams to
depict data and relationships between variables.

Bar graphs display data using rectangular bars to represent the quantities of the different
categories.
Line graphs show how a variable changes over time or in relation to another variable.
Pie charts illustrate proportions or percentages of a whole by dividing a circle into sectors.
Scatter plots plot points to show the relationship between two variables and determine
correlations.

Gravitational force

Gravitational force is the force of attraction between two objects with mass.

The force is proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.
It is responsible for the motion of planets, satellites, and other celestial bodies.
 The value of the gravitational force decreases with an increase in distance.
Gravitational force is one of the fundamental forces in the universe.

Kinematics

Kinematics is the branch of science that studies the motion of objects without considering what
causes the motion.

Kinematics relies on concepts such as position, velocity, and acceleration to describe the
motion of objects.
The study of kinematics allows us to analyze the trajectory, speed, and time of an object's
motion.
Kinematics does not involve forces or the causes of motion, it is purely concerned with
describing and analyzing motion.
By understanding kinematics, we can calculate the displacement, speed, and acceleration of
an object at any given time.

Mass

Mass is a fundamental property of matter that measures the amount of matter in an object. It is
a scalar quantity, generally measured in kilograms.

Mass is independent of location, including gravitational field variations, making it different

from weight.
Inertia, the resistance of an object to changes in its state of motion, is directly proportional to
the object's mass.
Mass plays an essential role in Newton's Second Law of Motion, influencing the acceleration
of an object.
Mass and energy are interchangeable according to Einstein's theory of relativity, exemplified
by E=mc².

Momentum

Momentum is a property of an object that describes its motion. It is a measure of how difficult it
is to stop or change the motion of the object.

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and velocity.

Momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system
remains constant if no external forces act on it.
Momentum plays a crucial role in collisions and is used to analyze and predict the outcomes
of such events.

Newton's laws of motion

Newton's laws of motion describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the
forces acting upon it.

Newton's first law states that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will
stay in motion, unless acted on by an external force.
Newton's second law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the
net force acting on it, and inversely proportional to its mass.
Newton's third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
These laws provide a fundamental framework to understand the behavior of objects in
motion.

Normal force

Normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it.

The normal force is always perpendicular to the surface.

The normal force balances the force of gravity acting on the object.
The magnitude of the normal force depends on the weight of the object.
If an object is on a horizontal surface, the normal force is equal in magnitude and opposite in
direction to the weight.

Power

Power is the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred. It is measured in watts (W).

Power is calculated by dividing work done or energy transferred by the time taken.
Power is directly proportional to work done or energy transferred.
A device with a higher power rating can do more work or transfer more energy in a given
amount of time.
Power is often used to express the efficiency of machines or appliances.

Projectile motion

Projectile motion is the motion of an object that is thrown or projected into the air and moves
along a curved path under the force of gravity.

The motion consists of a horizontal component and a vertical component.

The horizontal component is constant and unaltered by gravity.
The vertical component is affected by gravity and follows a parabolic path.
The time of flight is the total time it takes for the projectile to reach the ground.

Resultant Vector

In relation to vectors, a resultant vector is a single vector that represents the combination of two
or more vectors.

A resultant vector is found by adding or subtracting the components of the individual vectors.
The magnitude and direction of the resultant vector can be determined using vector addition
or subtraction.
A resultant vector can be determined by using the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric
functions.
A resultant vector can also be represented graphically using vector diagrams.

Scalar multiplication

Scalar multiplication involves multiplying a scalar quantity by a vector, resulting in a new vector
with a magnitude that is a multiple of the original vector.

Scalars can be real numbers or other quantities that have magnitude but not direction.
The operation is distributive, meaning you can multiply the scalar by each component of the
vector separately.
It does not affect the direction of the vector, only its magnitude.
Scalar multiplication is a fundamental concept in mathematical operations on vectors.

Speed

Speed is a measure of how quickly an object moves. It is calculated by dividing the distance
traveled by the time taken.

Speed is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction.

The SI unit for speed is meters per second (m/s).
Average speed is calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken.
Instantaneous speed is the velocity of an object at a specific moment in time.

Tension

Tension is a pulling force exerted by a string, rope, or cable when it is stretched. It is equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction to the force applied.

Tension is an internal force that occurs in objects that experience a pulling force.
Tension is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction.
Tension always acts along the length of the string or rope, away from the object creating the
force.
Tension can be increased by applying a greater force or by using a stronger string or rope.

Unit Vector

A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of 1. It is commonly used to represent a direction
in space.

A unit vector can be obtained by dividing any non-zero vector by its magnitude.
Unit vectors are dimensionless and do not have any units.
Unit vectors have no direction except for indicating the orientation of a vector in space.
Any vector can be written as the product of its magnitude and a unit vector in the same
direction.

Vector Subtraction

Vector subtraction involves finding the difference between two vectors by changing the direction
of the vector to be subtracted and adding it to the first vector.

Subtract each component of the second vector from the corresponding component of the
first vector.
The result is a vector pointing from the end of the subtracted vector to the end of the original
vector.
Vector subtraction can help determine the net displacement or velocity when multiple vectors
are involved.
It is important to pay attention to the order of vectors when subtracting to ensure the correct
direction and magnitude.

Velocity

Velocity is a measure of an object's speed in a given direction and is calculated by dividing the
change in position by the time interval.

Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction.
In physics, velocity is often represented by the symbol 'v' or a variable with an arrow on top.
Positive velocity indicates motion in one direction, while negative velocity indicates motion in
the opposite direction.
Velocity can be constant (uniform) if both the speed and direction of motion remain the same
over time.

Weight

Weight is the measure of the force experienced by an object due to gravity.

Weight is a vector quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

Weight is always directed towards the center of the Earth.
Weight is proportional to an object's mass.
Weight can be calculated using the formula W = m * g, where W is the weight, m is the mass,
and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

Work
Work is the measure of energy transferred when a force acts on an object, causing it to move in
the direction of the force.

Work is calculated as the product of the force applied on an object and the distance it moves
in the direction of the force.
If there is no movement or no force is applied, then the work done is zero.
Work can be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the angle between the force applied and
the displacement of the object.
Work is expressed in joules (J), which is the same unit as energy.