OCR Physics A Mechanics (G481) definitions

Definitions for OCR Physics A – G481 Mechanics

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Prefixes

pico – \times 10^{-12}
nano – \times 10^{-9}
micro – \times 10^{-6}
milli – \times 10^{-3}
centi – \times 10^{-2}
kilo – \times 10^{3}
mega – \times 10^{6}
giga – \times 10^{9}
tera – \times 10^{12}

 

Units

newton – The force which gives a mass of 1 \mbox{kg} an acceleration of 1 \mbox{ms}^{-2}.
joule – The work done by a force of 1 \mbox{N} moving an object 1 \mbox{m} in the direction of the force.
watt – The power transferred by one joule per second.

 

Quantities

displacement – the distance moved by an object in a particular direction.
instantaneous speed – the speed at the precise instant that it is measured (e.g. a car’s speedometer).
average speed – the speed calculated during a period of time.
speed – rate of change of distance (\mbox{speed} = \frac{\mbox{change of distance}}{\mbox{time}}).
velocity – rate of change of displacement (\mbox{velocity} = \frac{\mbox{change of displacement}}{\mbox{\time}}).
acceleration – rate of change of velocity (\mbox{acceleration} = \frac{\mbox{change of velocity}}{\mbox{\time}}).
density – \mbox{density} = \frac{\mbox{mass}}{\mbox{volume}}
torque of a couple – one of the forces x perpendicular distance between the forces.
moment of a force – force x perpendicular distance from pivot.
work done by a force – force x distance moved in the direction of the force.
power – the rate of work done (\mbox{power} = \frac{\mbox{energy}}{\mbox{time}}).
force constant of a spring – force per unit extension

 

Concepts

scalar – a quantity with magnitude only.
vector – a quantity with both magnitude and direction.
terminal velocity – the velocity of a falling object when weight = drag.
centre of gravity – a point where the entire weight of an object appears to act.
thinking distance – the distance travelled by the car in the time taken by the driver to react.
braking distance – the distance travelled by the car after the brakes are applied until the car stops.
stopping distance – thinking distance + braking distance.
principle of conservation of energy – Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred into other forms.
principle of moments – For an object in equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise moments about a point = the sum of the anticlockwise moments about the same point.
Hooke’s law – extension of a spring is proportional to the force applied (as long as the elastic limit is not exceeded).
stress – \mbox{stress} = \frac{\mbox{force}}{\mbox{area}}.
strain – \mbox{strain} = \frac{\mbox{extension}}{\mbox{original length}}.
Young modulus – \mbox{Young modulus} = \frac{\mbox{stress}}{\mbox{strain}} as long as the elastic limit is not exceeded.
ultimate tensile strength – the breaking stress of a material.
elastic deformation – material returns to original shape when the force is removed.
plastic deformation – material does not return to original shape when the force is removed.

 

Graphs

Brittle and ductile

Polymeric

Polymeric