Unit 2 Mechanics

Distance and displacement

Speed and velocity

Acceleration

Graphs describing motion

Equations of motion for uniform acceleration

Projectile motion

Fluid resistance and terminal speed

Objects as point particles

Free-body diagrams

Translational equilibrium

Newton’s laws of motion

Solid friction

Kinetic energy

Gravitational potential energy

Elastic potential energy

Work done as energy transfer

Power as rate of energy transfer

Principle of conservation of energy

Efficiency

Newton’s second law expressed in terms of rate of change of momentum

Impulse and force–time graphs

Conservation of linear momentum

Elastic collisions, inelastic collisions and explosions

Determining instantaneous and average values for velocity, speed and acceleration

Solving problems using equations of motion for uniform acceleration

Sketching and interpreting motion graphs

Determining the acceleration of free-fall experimentally

Analysing projectile motion, including the resolution of vertical and horizontal components of acceleration, velocity and displacement

Qualitatively describing the effect of fluid resistance on falling objects or projectiles, including reaching terminal speed

Representing forces as vectors

Sketching and interpreting free-body diagrams

Describing the consequences of Newton’s first law for translational equilibrium

Using Newton’s second law quantitatively and qualitatively

Identifying force pairs in the context of Newton’s third law

Solving problems involving forces and determining resultant force

Describing solid friction (static and dynamic) by coefficients of friction

Discussing the conservation of total energy within energy transformations

Sketching and interpreting force–distance graphs

Determining work done including cases where a resistive force acts

Solving problems involving power

Quantitatively describing efficiency in energy transfers

Applying conservation of momentum in simple isolated systems including (but not limited to) collisions, explosions, or water jets

Using Newton’s second law quantitatively and qualitatively in cases where mass is not constant

Sketching and interpreting force–time graphs

Determining impulse in various contexts including (but not limited to) car safety and sports

Qualitatively and quantitatively comparing situations involving elastic collisions, inelastic collisions and explosions