Section 1 of 16Distance & Displacement
Core Concept
- Core Concept Fundamental principles, definitions, and physical or chemical laws governing this topic.
Mechanism & Behavior
- Mechanism & Behavior Key interactions, structural properties, and process dynamics observed in experiments.
Exam Applications
- Exam Applications Quantitative relationships, key formulas, and criteria required by specification mark schemes.
Section 2 of 16Speed
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Examiner Tips and Tricks The term 'non-uniform motion' sounds much scarier than it actually is
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Uniform means constant, or the same
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So non-uniform just means not constant or changing
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Non- uniform motion really just means changing motion
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The speed of the object changes throughout its journey.
Section 3 of 16Measuring Speed
Measuring Speed
Core Concept
- Core Concept Fundamental principles, definitions, and physical or chemical laws governing this topic.
Mechanism & Behavior
- Mechanism & Behavior Key interactions, structural properties, and process dynamics observed in experiments.
Exam Applications
- Exam Applications Quantitative relationships, key formulas, and criteria required by specification mark schemes.
Section 4 of 16Calculating Speed
Core Concept
- Core Concept Fundamental principles, definitions, and physical or chemical laws governing this topic.
Mechanism & Behavior
- Mechanism & Behavior Key interactions, structural properties, and process dynamics observed in experiments.
Exam Applications
- Exam Applications Quantitative relationships, key formulas, and criteria required by specification mark schemes.
Section 5 of 16Velocity
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Velocity The velocity of a moving object is similar to its speed, except it also describes the object’s direction The speed of an object only contains a magnitude - it’s a scalar quantity The velocity of an object contains both magnitude and direction, e.g
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‘15 m/s south’ or ‘250 mph on a bearing of 030°’ Velocity is therefore a vector quantity because it describes both magnitude and direction The cars in the diagram above have the same speed (a scalar quantity) but different velocities (a vector quantity)
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Fear not, they are in different lanes! Examiner Tips and Tricks Students often get confused around the idea of the directional component of velocity
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In real life, the direction would be left, right, forward, backward, up, down etc., but in calculations, direction is just represented by positive and negative values
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is usually forwards for the object moving
Section 6 of 16Vector & Scalar Quantities
Vector & Scalar Quantities
Vector &
- Vector & Vector & Scalar Quantities All quantities in physics are either vectors or scalars A scalar quantity describes a magnitude only, e.g
A room
- A room a room temperature of 16° C A vector quantity describes both magnitude and direction, e.g
A large
- A large a large pot of rice exerts a force of 40 N downwards on a cooker The table below summarises the vector and scalar quantities related to moving objects Table showing vector-scalar distinction for quantities describing moving objects
Section 7 of 16Circular Motion
Core Concept
- Core Concept Fundamental principles, definitions, and physical or chemical laws governing this topic.
Mechanism & Behavior
- Mechanism & Behavior Key interactions, structural properties, and process dynamics observed in experiments.
Exam Applications
- Exam Applications Quantitative relationships, key formulas, and criteria required by specification mark schemes.
Section 8 of 16Distance-Time Graphs
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are moving with a constant speed, because the lines are straight
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are represented by changing slopes
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The red line represents an object slowing down and the green line represents an object speeding up
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Worked Example Ose decides to take a stroll to the park
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He finds a bench in a quiet spot and takes a seat, picking up where he left off reading his book on Black Holes
Section 9 of 16Instantaneous Speed
Instantaneous Speed
Core Concept
- Core Concept Fundamental principles, definitions, and physical or chemical laws governing this topic.
Mechanism & Behavior
- Mechanism & Behavior Key interactions, structural properties, and process dynamics observed in experiments.
Exam Applications
- Exam Applications Quantitative relationships, key formulas, and criteria required by specification mark schemes.
Section 10 of 16Acceleration
The velocity
- The velocity The velocity of the train decreases from 50 m/s to 42 m/s in 30 seconds
(a) calculate
- (a) calculate (a) Calculate the change in velocity of the train
(b) calculate
- (b) calculate (b) Calculate the deceleration of the train, and explain how your answer shows the train is slowing down
Formula 1
- Formula 1 Formula 1 car 50 Fighter jet 90 - 120 Examiner Tips and Tricks You should be able to estimate the magnitude of everyday accelerations
Memorise the
- Memorise the Memorise the examples given in the table to develop a sense of the magnitude of different accelerating objects.
Section 11 of 16Velocity-Time Graphs
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the object's speed changes very quickly A gentle slope means smallacceleration (or deceleration) - i.e
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the object's speed changes very gradually A flat line means the acceleration is zero - i.e
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The velocity-time graph below shows the cyclist's motion as they cycle along a flat, straight road
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(a) In which section (A, B, C, D, or E) of the velocity-time graph is the cyclist's acceleration the largest? (b) Calculate the cyclist's acceleration between 5 and 10 seconds
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Examiners tend to award credit if they see a large gradient triangle used
Section 12 of 16Area Under Velocity-Time Graphs
Area Under Velocity-Time Graphs
Area under
- Area under Area Under Velocity-Time Graphs The area under a velocity-time graph represents the displacement (or distance travelled) by an object The displacement,
- or distance travelled, is represented by the area beneath the graph If the area beneath the graph forms a triangle (i.e
The object
- The object the object is accelerating or decelerating),
- then the area can be determined by using the following formula: Area = ½ × Base × Height If the area beneath the graph forms a rectangle (i.e
Estimate the
- Estimate the Estimate the distance travelled by the train along this section of the journey
Calculate the
- Calculate the Calculate the total distance travelled by the car on this journey
A common mistake
- A common mistake is to try and find distance by using the equation for speed, distance and time - but this equation will not work if the object's speed is changing
Section 13 of 16Calculating Uniform Acceleration
Core Concept
- Core Concept Fundamental principles, definitions, and physical or chemical laws governing this topic.
Mechanism & Behavior
- Mechanism & Behavior Key interactions, structural properties, and process dynamics observed in experiments.
Exam Applications
- Exam Applications Quantitative relationships, key formulas, and criteria required by specification mark schemes.
Section 14 of 16Terminal Velocity
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The upwards air resistance increases as she falls until it eventually grows big enough to balance the weight force Worked Example A small object falls out of an aircraft
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Choose words from the list to complete the sentences below: Friction Gravity Air pressure Accelerates Falls at a steady speed Slows down (a) The weight of an object is the force of __________ which acts on it
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(b) When something falls, initially it ____________
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(c) The faster it falls, the larger the force of ______________ which acts on it
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(d) Eventually it ______________ when the force of friction equals the force of gravity acting on it
Section 15 of 16Representing Terminal Velocity
Representing Terminal Velocity
Core Concept
- Core Concept Fundamental principles, definitions, and physical or chemical laws governing this topic.
Mechanism & Behavior
- Mechanism & Behavior Key interactions, structural properties, and process dynamics observed in experiments.
Exam Applications
- Exam Applications Quantitative relationships, key formulas, and criteria required by specification mark schemes.
Section 16 of 16Exam Checklist & Tips
Specification Mastery Checklist
- Key Definitions Ensure precise recall of terms and units as required by examination mark schemes.
- Equations & Formulas Double-check balanced state symbols, subscripts, and SI unit conversions.
- Common Misconceptions Verify experimental conditions, controls, and comparative trends across groups.