Physics: Motion

What can forces do?

A force can change the shape of an object or change its motion of its state of rest.

How can we calculate the acceleration of an object?

Acceleration = change of velocity/time taken.

What is acceleration and what is its unit?

Acceleration is the change of velocity per second. The unit of acceleration is in m/s2.

What is deceleration?

Deceleration is the change of velocity per second when an object slows down.

What can we say if a velocity-time graph is a horizontal line?

If a velocity-time graph is a horizontal line, the acceleration is zero.

How do we calculate the speed of an object?

Speed in m/s = distance travelled in m/time taken in s.

How can we calculate acceleration from a velocity-time graph?

The acceleration of an object s given by the gradient of the line on its velocity-time graph.

What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent?

The area under the line on a velocity-time graph represents distance travelled.

How can we calculate distance from a velocity-time graph?

The distance travelled by an object is given by the area under the line of its velocity-time graph.

How can we tell from a distance-time graph if an object is stationary?

The distance-time graph for any object is stationary is a horizontal line.

How can we tell from a distance-time graph if an object is moving at constant speed?

The distance-time graph for any object that is moving at a constant speed is a straight line that slopes upwards.

What does the gradient of a distance-time graph tell us?

The gradient of a distance-time graph for an object represents the objects speed.

How can we tell from a velocity-time graph if an object is accelerating or decelerating?

The gradient of the line on a velocity-time graph represents acceleration.

How can we calculate speed from a distance-time graph?

The speed of an object is given by the gradient of the line on its distance-time graph.

What is the unit of force?

The unit of force is the newton. (N)

What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Velocity is speed in a given direction.

When two objects interact, what can we say about the forces acting?

When two objects interact, they always exert equal and opposite forces on each other.